Fate in Captivity

Chapter 27- Which a Star

(Aubrey)

I suddenly got my conscious on and I quickly get up and looked around, the sun was about to set and I feel like the whole floor is quiet than the usual it should be. I stood up and walked towards the door, I slowly opened it and peeked through the gap. I can still see Aly on her desk while having her huge stretching and the two guys were still here, working like the usual. I closed the door and looked at the watch, it is already four in the afternoon and in just one hour, it is now time to get home. How long did I slept? I looked again on the clock and realized about the meeting earlier, I just asked for a break but I did not notice the time past by. I quickly went out of my office and they all looked at me in shocked. 

"is there something wrong, ma'am?" Aly asked to us and I stare at them, I exchanges glances towards Aly and the other two who were holding documents. 

"What happened?" I mumbled and they are just looking at me. 

"Are you still half-asleep?" Julius asked and I glared at him.

"I am not, where are the board? The meeting?" I continuously asked and was about to run back inside my office when someone grabbed my shoulder. 

"Calm down, it has ended." Julius said to me and I suddenly got chills. 

"What? Why did you not wake me up? What would they say about this rudeness of mine?" I asked to them and they were only looking, my head was about to explode, this is very embarrassing. They are the boards, the huge people behind my company and now I just slept through the whole meeting? I sudden got hysterical by it. 

"Hey, hey! You have to calm down. I already spoke to them and they already agreed. Don't worry." Julius said to me once again and the looks on his eyes calmed me down. 

He guided me inside the office and I sat on the couch. I saw him walking towards the pantry and got me a bottled water. He gave it to me and I had it to calm myself first, to let my brain function well. 

"So, what did they say?" I asked as soon as he sat down in front of me. 

"They already let me do the task for the first collection and I would report to them directly." he answered to me. 

"First collection?" I mumbled and this is the first time I realized and recollected all the memories and organized thoughts that should have been with me since the beginning of this problem. 

 "Right, I forgot about that." I said to him and he nodded. 

"I know and I saw you resting a while ago so I did not bother you anymore. I can do it from here." he said to me trying to reassuring that everything is alright. I just nodded to him and looked at the clock, I stood up and grabbed my bag. 

"Where are you going?" He asked and I grinned. 

"You said you can do it from here, right? Then I should go." I answered and walked towards the door when he chased me and blocked the doorway. 

"You cannot leave without me." he firmly said to him, I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder. 

"Oh sorry, but I can." I answered and nodded. I went out of the office and went by Aly's desk. 

"You can now go home, I will be leaving early today." I said to her and she nodded. I looked at Ken and he was only smiling to me, something is different with him nowadays, I just can't pinpoint what could that be. 

I went out of the building and get in the taxi lined in front of the building. I quickly said the place to the driver and he started the engine. While the drive, I get my phone in my bag and dialed someone. 

"Are you guys ready?" I asked through the line. 

"Of course, when will you arrive?" someone asked and a devilish smile flashes on my face. 

"Will be there in five, I think." I answered and look through the window as I check the place where I am currently driving on. 

"Alright, don't be late." a person said to me. 

"I know and I got it." I said then ended the call. 

Minutes passed by and we now arrived in front of a steel huge gate. There were security guards standing by the huge gate even if no one could ever climb it up and if someone may be successful of climbing it, barbed wires will welcome him in open arms. 

"Ma'am, I think I should stop here." the driver said and the gate is not opening despite of seeing a taxi cab in front of it. 

"Wait here, sir." I said and pulled down the window. I put out my hand and signaled something to them. All of them were shocked and they immediately opened the gate. 

The driver drove in and I just kept on telling him the directions. I cannot let him put the location in his navigation, this place is restricted to other people but for you not to be traced, don't ever use your own car when going in this place. I get off and gave the driver something, it was a pass for him to get out. He needs that for him not to fall into deep suspicious. I entered into a huge estate, so big that you must walk first to a long side road with grass and trees everywhere before you could actually arrive at the house. 

"Aubrey! You are late!" Cheen yelled at me and I just rolled my eyes. 

"How could I not be? Your guards out there won't let me in, I have to give them the signal first." I ranted to her. 

"Really? Well if that is the case then I should increase their pay this month." she answered to me and I just chuckles. You are guessing it right, this is the estate owned by the family of Cheen. Between the four us, she is the richest, owning numerous hotels and restaurants worldwide, of course it would bring them wealth even if they were just lying down the rest of their lives. 

"Where are the others?" I asked and she pointed somewhere and I can see the other two were drinking and playing games with the other visitors with our age. These people were our classmates and they were also invited in this celebration of hers. If someone would have ask why Cheen is throwing a party tonight? The answer is that interview with the celebrity gathers more investors and income so today would be the congratulatory and bragging celebration for their family. 

"Wait, did you not come with Julius?" Cheen asked and I looked at  her in confused. 

"Why do I have to come with him?" I asked and she scoffed as a reaction. 

"I also invited him." Cheen said. 

"Julius!" someone yelled his name, talking about the jinxed and timing of his arrival. 

"Oh, the devil is here." Cheen said and walked towards him. She gave him a glass of wine and Julius gladly accepted it and smiled. His eyes went over and see me, he did not get surprised, instead he grinned at me. He was about to walked towards me when his friends blocked his way and dragged him together with them. I just went over the place where Zy and Camilla and sat beside them. 

"Aubrey! When did you arrived?" Camilla asked while looking on the cards she is holding. Looks like she and Zy were partners and they are playing with others who are playing the game individually. 

"Just now, you?" I asked to them. 

"Hmm, I think hours ago and I hate to say that I already lost $500,000. Do you think my parents would kick me out?" Camilla said and I can't believe my ears, just how much did  she played with?

"Did you lost how much?! Are you insane?!" I yelled and all of the people around them looked at me. 

"Alright! We won the bet!" Zy suddenly yelled and I was confused. 

"What are you doing?" I asked. 

"Of course that was a joke, do you think we would actually bet money on this?" Zy said while collecting bills from the participants I think. 

"I hate both of you." I said and they are just laughing while fanning the pile of bills she got from them. 

"Aubrey! Julius is here, would you confess once again?" I heard someone yelled those words and I looked the person who said that. And of course it was Liam, he is Julius' bestfriend and also his bully mate. 

"Shut up before I kill you." I answered and the crowd went wooed over it. 

"Don't be a downer, I heard you are marrying him? Janna, are you okay with it?" I was surprised when Liam mentioned Janna, I did not notice her here. 

"Of course, there is no rule that I cannot snatch him away from her." Janna answered to me sharply and the crowd once again went wild with her answer. 

"Oh really? Well, I don't care. You can get him now, put it in your pocket and pet him until you feel tired." I answered to her and I am not backing down with her. If she is a viper, then I am a lioness. 

"You grew tough, Aubrey." she said to me and I just smiled at her. 

"And I could come at you whenever I like." I said and she did not answer. Instead, she was only smirking at me like she did not lost at me. 

"Aubrey, don't ask for a fight." Camilla whispered to me and Zy nodded beside her. 

"I am not, okay? I am just defending myself." I answered and peeked through their cards. 

"Looks like you were about to lose." I said and they looked at their cards and me with their sad faces. 

"I will just grabbed some wine, and also fresh air." I said and left. I went over the long table of refreshments and drinks and I got myself a mild drink, I don't want to get drunk knowing that there might be people who wanted to see me wasted. 

I went outside at the porch and I saw a small lake, can you imagine? there is a small lake inside their estate? I mean, that was very much a big deal for me. I walked towards it and the grasses were touching until the height of my ankles. I looked at the sky and looks like today was a clear and fine day, there were many stars shining and they all looks majestic to me. I sipped my drink and inhaled the fresh air surrounding me, the smell of the trees as well as the pleasant evening- it was perfect. I am enjoying my peaceful momentum when I heard the grasses sounds, there are people walking nearby but I cannot see even one. 

"Who is that? Show yourself before I could kill you." I firmly said with my voice sounding like some threat. 

"Why do you have too many people to kill tonight?" I know that voice, he went out and of course it was him again. 

"Why are you here?" I asked. 

"I saw you went out, just decided I should come and check you." he answered and looked at the view I was looking, we were just stargazing and I am not answering or talking with him. 

"Hey, can you know which of those stars were the planets?" he suddenly asked and I was curious by it. I looked at him and he was still staring like he was searching for those galactic things. 

"Same as can you know which person you are going to love?" he continued and looked at me, our eyes met and it was an unknown sensation that I cannot looked away or just even a blink. 

"Don't be afraid, it won't crashes that easily." he said once again and that is the signal for me to get myself together. Am I still tired? Do I still need some sleep?

"I am not afraid, that is why trusting easily crashes everything." I answered and drank all of my drink. 

"If you are asking me which a star would looked like a planet to me? Then ask yourself of which a person would trust you easily after building herself once again." I finally said and left him. 

Star means it looks so close to gaze but it is far to touch- you might be sure of your love, but I am not. 

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