Elara
Until next weekend I'll be staying at Sel's place. I do a quick check to see if I have left anything other than a refrigerator on.
The driver unloaded my luggage from the car when we reached. And I was greeted by Sel's mother and father. Also known as Cassie Sterling and Alex Sterling. Cassie pulls me, leading me to the living room.
Alex Sterling, the Tech king, The one who's been ruling the Tech biz for four decades now, is the childhood best friend of my dad. Their friendship has no bounds.
They are more like brothers.
Selene and I grew up to be the mini versions of our dads. She's a year older than me, but since I started crawling she's been my best friend. And Cassie Sterling, My favourite person and the reason I have hopes.
It's their elder daughter's wedding this weekend. 2 years ago the rumours of Vanessa dating Richard Vaue were spreading in the country like a wildfire after which Alex officially announced the wedding.
Right now, I'm here for our monthly sleepovers, which is our thing. Since it's Friday noon, Sel is at the office, and Vanessa is in Singapore for a business meeting.
And I? I have to write the last few chapters of my book, but my mind is a mess, and I need that last-minute panic to kickstart my creativity.
For the last 10 years since the day I moved out from my parents' place, the 3rd weekend of every month became our sleepover days. No matter what, we do not skip this. But since nessa will have to take a long leave because of her wedding, she has a lengthy list of company related work to complete within this sunday.
Being a CEO is a tough job! Not as easy as it is shown in the dramas.
"Here, your favourite strawberry smoothie" aunt Cassie carefully hands me a glass full of strawberry smoothie.
I make sure to come here early so I can spend some time with aunt cassie. In other words she may be my aunt, but she's always been like my mom, a mom which I never had.
"Guess what?" I ask taking a sip of the oh- so- delicious smoothie before pulling out a book from my handbag.
"First edition of 'Professor Cupid' Oh My GOD!" She squeals as I place the book in her hand. "Thanks sweetheart! I just can't thank you enough"
Her eyes look like 2 inverted crescents as she smiles.
"Thanks Ela, for gifting two days of peace" Alex playfully teases.
"I'd say 12 hours of peace at most" I answer after I gulp the strawberry pulp.
"Oh please!" Aunt Cassie rolls her eyes before asking her helper to bring her specs. "Sel told me she'll come home early today"
"So that's the surprise she was talking about!"
"Oh no! I just spoiled the surprise for you!" She regrets slapping her palm to her forehead.
"And I'm so happy you did! Now I can pull a reverse card on sel!" I raise my glass along with my brows.
"I see It's going to be a fun night for the girls," Alex says, scribbling a number on the sudoku he's been working on.
I wait in the guest room to jump on her the moment she walks down the hall. I have applied 2 cups of powder on my face for special effects! But the thing is I can't open my eyes fully, a minute ago I tried and almost had to pluck my left eye out. But I have a slit of blurry vision to guide me.
The door knob turns and as the door opens I jump, and my face hits something firm, is that the door? No it doesn't feel that hard. I step back and I hear sel wheezing.
"You- Ela- " her voice is high pitched as she continues laughing.
I fumble trying to search for the light switch and turn on every switch on the switch board.
I turn around after wiping my eyes with both the palms. My vision is still blurry and it stings, my eyes widen at the sight. A map of my face is pressed on Aubery's Deep blue T-shirt.
He's staring down at me, I can't see his face clearly but I know he's so mad about this. I slowly look at his left and Selene is trying to breathe, one hand is on her stomach and the other on Aubery's arm.
"Sorry" I blurt out before dashing out of the room
Oh shit.
Sel follows me and manages to get in my room before I can ram the door behind me.
"Finally! You pulled a prank and I can assure you it's the best prank of the decade!" She starts wheezing again and holds my shoulder to stabilise herself from falling down. "Even- even a party pooper like nessa would have enjoyed this scene!"
My knees are wobbly and I give in to the nerves as I pull sel down on her knees along with me.
"What Do you think is the probability of your cousin telling his staff to mix cyanide in the food ordered by me when I visit any hotel owned by Kingsley's?"
She pushes her head back, a total soundless laugh erupts out of her as she tries to hold on to my shoulder!
"Do you think I'll survive this night and if I do you think I'll survive to attend nessa's wedding?"
"Pi- ple- pin-" she tries, and I understand.
I pinch her inner arm, I pinch so hard all the blood rushes to the point when I release her skin.
"Fuck, Ela" her voice is hoarse because of all the laughing she just did.
"I have to write a few more chapters of the ongoing book, you know I can't die just yet, because I have to write 2 more books which will complete this ongoing series. And oh my god! It's not even stand-alone, I can't let them go through this misery! Selene!!" I shake her from her shoulders.
She sniffs, her hands are pressed on her eyes.
Aubery looks like a gentle and empathetic person, but I know he's not, he's anything but a human with a warm heart. I did not realise it until a few years ago, I went through all our memories and the way he appears in front of the media just to find out what kind of person he is. He's always been Egoistic, cold, intimidating and merciless!
It just took me so many years to realise that!
After a quick shower I dress up in my comfortable pyjamas. The powder made my face so dry I had to use a spoonful of moisturiser to not feel like my skin is crumbling down.
It's time to have dinner but I don't feel hungry. Not because of what happened earlier. Or maybe. But there's no way I can escape dinner.
Aunt Cassie won't let me sleep if I skip the meal and she won't let anyone eat unless everyone is at the table so here I go.
As I step down the stairs I see Aubery is already at the table with uncle and aunt, I should have waited for sel.
Anyway I walked down but as soon as I reach near the table my heart starts acting weird.
"Calm the fuck down, aunt cassie and uncle are here and sel will be here in a few minutes." I reassure myself by pulling the chair.
"Sweetie, look who has joined us for dinner" aunt Cassie points at Aubery who's sitting right in front of me.
He came back after what? 10 years? I don't even remember!
Whom am i fooling? I remember every little thing. Every little thing that's even remotely related to Aubery Kingsley.
Aubery, Selene's first cousin, is also the heir of Kingsley's hospitality empire, half of the empire is under his name already. He mostly manages the hotels, resorts, cafes, casinos, bars and all the outlets that provide food plus entertainment facilities.
This man has dedicated a decade of his life to build an impeccable reputation in the industry. As a businessman he still is ruthless but I've not seen anyone as dedicated towards their work as much as him, and I know him as a man who values his work over his family.
Before he left for Australia I rarely saw him when our family gathered every month for dinner, unlike his younger brother, Victor, But when he came for dinner he always sat away from us, never wanting to be a part of our world.
I thought I knew him, I used to follow him around when we were kids, we don't have many memories together, but during my graduation even though I knew he would not come, I invited him. I don't know why, but I wanted him to come, be a part of my memorable day. All he did was leave me on read. For years.
I smile at her not knowing how to respond, but in my rescue she continues.
"It's been years Aubery! The Last time I saw you in person was when you were leaving for Australia" aunt specifies.
"My dad is to be blamed for that, wasn't he the one who decided to pack and parcel me to Australia?" He gave a blinding bright smile.
That's the smile we get to see on every other business magazines. He has become the cover boy of every business magazine and is no less than a celebrity at this point. I wonder how many modeling contracts he must have received. He has his own fanpage on instagram, millions of ladies swooning on that deathly handsome face.
"That guy is so cunning, he knows we'll taunt him about stealing our nephew from us so he planned to send you here for the week!" Uncle scoffed.
For a week??? So he'll be staying here till nessa's wedding too.
"He's a master at planning things ahead of time" He winks, cutely grinning.
That grin, he sports that every time he seals an acquisition deal. He's ruthless, he's the king of snatching the deals.
Kingsley's hospitality services was known all over the country, but over a decade, from the time Aubery set his foot in the business he has dominated the hospitality industry like anything, he has expanded their empire from countrywide to worldwide.
Most of the services belong to Kingsley's now, and those which are not under Kingsley's are struggling or on the verge of giving up. Aubery being the ruthless man has decided to make them suffer.
I came across many articles glorifying his act of snatching the deal from others or making poor mid sized outlets give up their business for him.
"What plan?" Sel looks confused as she settles down beside me.
"They have planned to announce all your secrets to the public " Aubery smirks.
"So maybe now's the time you pull out a document full of terms and conditions to negotiate with them." sel points a finger gun at him.
"I'd sign a deal just to reveal everything by myself " he smirks.
"Don't forget the most important secret, the devils deal!" sel places her arm on the table.
"These kids!" Aunt cassie winces as the helpers start serving the freshly made dinner for us.
"What are you going to do about the date Ela?" Sel asks picking out the peas from the plate.
She caught me off guard with her question, out of nowhere she had to ask this now, in front of everyone. She's the type who'd forget what she was thinking if she doesn't put it out while she's thinking about it.
"I asked sanchez about it, I don't think he can make it to the wedding, he said he might or might not be able to come back on friday, so probably I'll be solo" I clarify.
"Aubery, who's your date for the wedding?" Aunt Cassie asks and I'm not sure why my ears feel like they'll fall off my sides, as I feel them leaning towards the person who's answerable and I can't stop it!
My brain is too curious.
"Is it mandatory to have a date? It's a private wedding"
As expected from him. He thinks it's a business meeting and he has to attend just to crack a deal.
"Oh it is so mandatory, it's a wedding Aubery, come one!" Aunt cassie defends.
"It's too late but I think my secretary can manage to set someone up for the day, I'll inform him to" he glances at me, or did I imagine that?
"Aren't you a Cruel man? He was sent with you to Australia, now he's back and is on vacation and you want to make him run an errand for you?" Sel defends Aubery's secretary, who has her heart.
Aubery rolls his eyes at her before replying to aunt cassie.
"Okay that means I won't have a date for the wedding."
This time I find him staring at me. And I struggle to gulp the food down.
"That's great!" Aunt Cassie smiles at him before glancing at me. "You and Ela will look good together so it would have been a waste if you had a date!"
My hand trembles ever so slightly as I pick the greens from my plate.
What's happening? Feels like I'm on a rollercoaster. And that too against my will. Nothing about this feels right also nothing feels wrong at all.
"Are you okay with this,sweetheart?" Cassie asks, glancing at me softly.
"Yes." I nod trying to look as normal as I can. I don't want to disappoint Cassie, if this makes her happy, I'm more than ready to do this.
"And what about you sel?" Cassie asks.
"Don't you know me, mum?" Sel answers before putting a spoonful in her mouth.
Dinner was great. But it seems like it's stuck in my throat, drinking gallons of water has not helped to push it down.
I walk to the patio with my notebook and pen. I need to write something, some how I need to trick my mind into writing. I sit on the cushioned chair, popping my earbuds out of its case and inserting it into my ears. Now I feel like I can finally breathe.
Hmm good Ela, I mean 3 pages of progress is not bad, though I'll have to remove at least 70% of what I have written right now it does not matter as long as I scribble something.
My heart skips a beat as I see something move in my peripheral vision. I move my eyes slowly to my right and catch Aubery sitting in the other corner.
My eyes drop to his hands, just to check if he is unarmed! Girl gotta know if she'll live to see another sunrise!
My shoulders slump in relief when I know that I'm safe. My gaze slowly moves up to catch him staring right at me.
Shit!
