Fate in Captivity

Chapter 21- Pushing through

(Aubrey)

This happened at the day of event...

Morning came since we had that unbelievable night,  I did not expect that he would still give me that ridiculous effect I got from last night, I woke up feeling light and happy. I walked towards the kitchen while drying my hair with a small towel. I heard the phone ringing on the counter top and I grabbed it before I opened the fridge. I saw on the screen Aly's name and I answered it while putting it on speakerphone. 

"What do you want?" I asked to her and got myself a bottled water. 

"We have a problem." she firmly said and I stared on the phone while gulping it down. 

"What problem do we have this early in the morning?" I asked. 

"The visitors got the wrong date of invitation, they said they were excited to see the fashion show today." she reported and I got choked by the water I got. 

"What?! Who distributed those invitations?!" I yelled and quickly run towards my closet. 

"I have no idea, but I guess it is that venom woman." she answered and I could sense that she rolled her eyes. 

"Woman? Do you mean Janna? She won't do that." I said to her and Aly chuckles. 

"Are you sure she cannot?" she suddenly asked and I stopped for a while. She is right, Janna is beyond capable of doing those stuffs, things that can make you feel unfair and deceived. 

"See? You cannot also believe to the things you personally said." Aly said and I snapped. 

"I will be there in five." I said and ended the call. I grabbed the car keys and left the apartment. 

I arrived at the parking lot and I saw Ken standing by a car. I was about to ignore him when his car rings its signals and he walked towards the passenger seat and opened the door. He tilted his head towards it like saying I should get in and he would drive me. I have no choice but to some with him, this is his kindness and I don't think I should reject it nonchalantly. I get in and he walked towards the driver's seat. I saw him get in and I realized that I should ask Julius if he already know about it. 

"Don't bother calling that jerk." I heard Ken said to me and I looked at him while waiting for Julius to answer the call. 

"What do you mean? Where is he?" I asked to him while still dialing Julius' number. 

"He told me he cannot come." he firmly said and I abruptly stopped typing. There is no way Julius cannot come especially if there is an emergency like this, he might be a jerk but he is not irresponsible. I just stayed quiet while texting him. 

"Can you stop being a fool?" he said and I looked at him. 

"What are you saying?" I answered and keep my phone after I sent numerous messages to him. 

"How could you like that guy? He is a jerk, he left you and he came back claiming you back." he continuously said to me and this is the first time I saw him irritated. His kind smile vanished and his eyes are now looking sharp while glancing at me and at the road. I just chuckles upon hearing it, he stopped at the side road and faced me. 

"Why are you laughing? I am not being ridiculous here." he firmly said to me and I just can't stop laughing on his reactions. 

"Sorry, I just find you funny." I answered to him. 

"What?" he asked in disbelief. 

"This is the first time I saw you being true to yourself. You don't have to pretend in front of me, I could see those masks." I answered to him and he did not answer me back. 

"Just drive, Julius would come, I know it." I plainly said and I think his words escaped his mind and he just drive without saying anything. 

We arrived at the building and we went at my office together, people are looking at us but I don't have time for their rumors and I quickly went in the elevator. We arrived at my office room and I saw Aly walking in there back and forth and looking stress than I could ever find her since the day she worked for me. 

"What happened?" I asked and she looked behind me- at Ken and to me. 

"The visitors are now on their way here." she reported to me and I looked through my computer and the schedule. I was surprised when I saw the calendar, the event was changed into today from the original date of it to be held next week. I grabbed my phone and called Julius but he is still not answering, is there something really bad happened to him? Why is he not answering my calls?

"Can you call Julius?" I said to Aly and I saw Ken let out a deep sigh like he was being done with me. 

"He is not answering my calls." Aly answered. 

"Still, the event must push through." I announced and the two were surprised. 

"What?! The organizers and the hall is not yet ready. How could you fix it in just three hours?" Aly exclaimed to me and I grinned. 

"She is right, what about those clothes?" Ken asked. 

"Call Janna, say that the event should be done today. She must fix the runway according to the plan and should also prepare the models for the clothes." I commanded to Aly and she just stare at me. 

"Go! Chop chop!" I yelled and she snapped, she run out of the office and I looked at Ken. 

"You, you must help me." I said to him. 

"What do you want me to do?" he asked. 

"Close the deal with the venue and decorations." I commanded. 

"What?! How could I get those agreements in this short span of time." he asked to me. 

"Oh, I think Julius can." I firmly said and he stared at me, weighing if I am saying it for the sake of urging his competitiveness, or is it just the truth. 

"What about you?" he asked. 

"Me? I should entertain those visitors." I answered and looked at my watch. 

"I should hear the positive reports in an hour." I said and left him alone in the room. 

I get out of the office and quickly entered the comfort room. I looked myself in the mirror and I saw myself looking nervous and anxious about what could be the ending of this event. I don't know what to think but I know that I must remain to be calm and unfazed despite of those mishap, trust of the people is the important thing I always think about and I must not create any issues that might destroy those huge trust. I grabbed my phone and let out a deep sigh before I finally dialed her. 

"Grandma..." I called her upon she answered the call. 

"Aubrey! What a surprise you called me." she greeted to me in her usual high tone. 

"I have a problem and I need your help." I directly said to her. 

"What is it? I would everything I could do to help my granddaughter." she sweetly answered to me. 

"Please stall time for us." I said. 

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

"The event suddenly became today and my people are not ready for it. We cannot finish everything in just three hours." I explained to her. 

"Then, what do you want me to do?" she asked.

"I want you to talk to them, I know you have that power. You know them perfectly." I said to her in pleading. 

"That was piece of cake. Send to me the names of those invited, I should talk to them." she quickly said to me and I felt somehow relief by it. 

"I got it, thank you very much grandma!" I exclaimed and she chuckles as she ended the call. 

I sent through messages the names of the rich people of were invited for the event. These are all our closest ones especially to Julius' family. I kept on calling him but he is still not answering, I don't know if I should worry for him or to the event itself, I don't have time for my focus to be divided into two. 

*Phone rings*

"Hello?" I answered. 

"Aubrey! What do you want me to do?! Fix everything between those little time?" Janna yelled at me and I distanced the phone from my ear. 

"Why Janna, don't you think we don't know that you are the one who messed up everything? Do you think it would affect me? Dream on, if you did not finish my orders within the time, it is Julius' brand that would carry the blame not our company. You should think it first before acting stupidly!" I yelled back on her and she did not answer immediately. 

"You are such a bitch." she firmly said to me and hang up on me. You cannot bring me down, Janna. You must humiliate and kill yourself first before messing my life, I thought. I went out of the bathroom and walked  directly to my office. I saw Ken sitting at the couch and calling all the people I told him to close the deal. He saw me entered but he is still talking with someone on the phone. I saw him putting down the phone and looked at him. 

"I already talked to the organizers and they said they would check their supplies." he reported to me. 

"Really? Did they ask for additional payment?" I asked. 

"Yes, they said it is for a sudden rush and request." he answered and I nodded. 

"It's alright, the company would cover it." I said and grabbed my bag. 

"Let's go." I said to him. 

"Where?" he asked in confused. 

"Venue, I must see the whole process." I said and my phone is still on my hand. I don't want to miss if Julius would call me. We get in the car and we arrived at the venue where of course Julius, personally chose for this event. If he is here, I would introduce him to my grandma, she always asked me who is the guy that my parents arranged for me and I just can't say his name or his family. I want her to see Julius' personality than his family background. 

"I told you, don't wait for him." he firmly said to me. 

"I am not waiting for him." I plainly answered and entered the building where the hall is located. 

"You cannot trick me, Aubrey." he said as I walked ahead of him. 

"Then, good for you Mr. Trust issues." I answered and entered to the hall. 

I saw their employees are now starting to fix the hall we chose that day. They were now cleaning and even the organizers are already here. How could they acted so fast in just one call of him. I looked back and I saw Ken talking to the leaders of each team here. He don't look like an intern, he has that initiative to lead and finish the project, the downside is, he looks pretentious and a dirty player. 

After an hour, I saw Janna glaring at me while entering the backstage of this venue. She is with the models and the clothes were one by one transferred inside. 

"You must be excited." Janna sarcastically said to me. 

"Yeah, I can't wait to start the event." I answered and chuckles. She just rolled her eyes and entered the backstage. I looked at my wristwatch and I saw that in about an hour, the visitors would now be entering the hall. I looked at the complete look of the venue, and I felt satisfied by it. This really looked like what Julius explained last time, but he must be here of course. 

The preparations ended and I saw grandma entered the hall with all those people behind her. I chuckles when I see how they followed her, if you are still new, my grandma is the leader of all women gatherings. She knows almost everyone who has a huge business in this district and of course the others would now be because of connections. She winked at me and I just smiled, the event started and they were now seated. I already finished my opening speech and almost the time for the fashion show itself. I looked at the entrance door but no Julius showed up, am I really wrong on judging and knowing his personality? Is he really that jerk in and out? After thirty minutes, the whole event finished and I stood by the door to greet each people attended. 

I looked at the other way outside the hallway and my smiled suddenly changed, I saw him standing and looking at me like he was hesitating if he should approach me or not. That is right, I know something happened and I won't ask for his explanation until he would tell it personally to me. I don't want him to feel burdened that he should act according to my words, I want him to decide for himself and be the man he wanted for himself. That is why, I called him without expecting in return or being mad. 

"Julius!" I yelled his name and people looked at the person I called. I moved my hand and asking him to come towards us. 

"This is Julius, the son of the president of the brand." I introduces him to those visitors, I saw grandma smiled and looked at him dearly, that was a great view for me. 

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