David would have to forgive her because she had two more glass of wine while she waited for her father. Having David around had helped her in spending most of time she would have used in waiting. In an hour or two, her father would be back. With nothing to do and tired of thinking while laying on the bed, Amy opted for more drinks. Well it was futile anyway, she ended up getting lost in thoughts, obsessing over how the talk with her father would go.
Working, she realized, was one thing that kept her sane. And it had not taken her long to discover that without it she would fall into some very bad habits to cope. She was not a saint. What was her father expecting her to do with all this time. Modeling for her mother was a once in a while need. She needed something of her own to do.
She was pouring another glass before she caught herself. She sighed. The last one, she decided.
As she finished the third glass, her father came in.
Amy could hear his raised voice from the kitchen, talking to whom she guessed was Isaiah, his right-hand man. The voice became louder as they walked further into the house and reduced as they went into his study.
Amy stood up and began to walk to the study. As she drew near, Isaiah came out looking worried and hurried.
"Amy", he acknowledged, nodding at her as he walked past.
"Hi" she said in response.
She opened the door to the study and went in. "Is there a problem?" she asked as she took a seat tentatively.
"Oh Amy" He glanced up at her then returned his focus to the files he was searching through. "There's a delay in the shipping. It's causing problems. Nothing to worry about, it will soon be sorted out". He obviously did not want to go into the details with her, but she was not interested either, so she did not press for more.
"Okay", she muttered looking down. She began to second guess her intentions to talk with her father. It did not seem like a good time to talk with him.
"I wanted to talk with you Father ", she began anyways. "I'd like to continue working"
Robert paused what he was doing and stared at her for a while. She wondered if he noticed she was a bit flushed. But if he had any idea that she was a little tipsy, he made no indication about it .
"We talked about. You will be busy with other things now not work", came his response.
She sighed in exasperation. "Working will not affect the engagement Father. There is really no use in not continuing with my work. I mean there is nothing to do with all these time I have"
"When the preparations start..."
"But it hasn't ", she interrupted before she realized what she did. She continued nevertheless. "It could be anything else. Maybe something that does not require going to the office as much as before".
She sighed placing her hands gingerly on her laps, ready to present her case to her father. Her voice became quiet again. "If working at the company is the problem, I can work elsewhere. I'm old enough, I've got the qualifications".
Her father considered her for a long time, it made her worried that she had only angered him. But she was even more surprised that he had not immediately dismissed the idea. It gave her a little hope.
He glanced at her, then at files on his desk, as if contemplating which to deal with first. That hope dwindled when he turned back to his work before responding, "I'm busy now. I'll talk to you later". His phone rang then and he answered the call, dismissing her. She did not want to linger because the call had begun sounding more serious than as it had began.
With a sigh, she left the study for her room. She had to be careful and control herself more. Angering her father would do her no good.
She picked up her phone deciding to call David.
"Hey" he answered
"Hi"
"Miss me already?". She let her silence answer his question.
"Ouch. Okay what's up?"
"When did you say was the reunion?"
"Tomorrow. Why? Did you change your mind?"
Yes. Where?"
"At a club. Essence. Would you like me to pick you up?"
"Yes sure"
"Alright then. But why", he asked hesitantly.
"Why what?"
"Why the sudden change of mind? Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Why not? I have nothing doing anyways and I thought it would not be a bad idea"
"It won't". She could almost hear the smile in his voice.
For the get-together, reunion or whatever it was, Amy decided to go with a red dress. It had a low v-cut but it was not so low that it would be considered too exposive. She did not know who would be there, but she could guess most of them would be from wealthy families. Knowing David though, it might not be just be the rich kids in attendance. David was not type to select friends based on what they had to offer. And she was most definitely sure it would be more than just a simple get together. It was more likely to be a party, especially since it was happening at a club.
She did her night routine to prepare for bed. As she finished putting her hair in a loose braid, her mother knocked before entering the room.
"Amy", she called.
"Good evening. I didn't know when you came in".
"I know. You were talking with your father then".
"You heard us talk?"
"Yes. Yes I did". Amy looked away from her. Was she there to make her change her mind, because she would not. Amy hoped she would help her stand her ground instead.
"You know, he's most likely to think about your request.".
Amy wanted to smile but she was sure she would only look and feel more pitiful. So she decided not to.
"Will he?" She asked quietly.
"I will speak with him too. You should work if you want to".
Amy hmmed then laid on the bed.
"I need your assistance again dear. I need you to try on somethings for me. I've seen some nice ones that will be really lovely on you too".
She closed her eyes, already feeling herself dozing off. "Why bribe me with clothes. Where would I wear them to. I don't go to your parties".
"I know. But you may need to attend them more often now that..."
"Hmmm". Was the last thing Amy heard herself say before she fell asleep.
David picked Amy up in the evening of the following day.She had told no one where she was going except for the house keeper, and she had told the woman that she was going to be out with David, just in case her father asked. Though she doubted it. The issue that was going on with his work seemed to occupy his mind the most lately. And she was not complaining.She considered taking the car with her driver just to avoid her father worrying, but decided against it. She did not think she would like to be the reason the man's night would suddenly become busy, ruining any possible plans he might have had. And besides, David was picking her up. If she happened to leave before David, then she would just call the driver or take a cab. The latter was more likely.David watched her as she walked down the steps towards him."Hey", he greeted giving her a side hug. "You look pretty""Thanks", she smiled. "I wasn't sure how big this gathering is". She said looking at him knowingly.He raised his ha
As they stepped out of the building, Amy took in a deep breath. She turned to face David. "You didn't have to follow me out"He looked at her dryly, "Its the least I could do Amy, since I brought you here. I'm sorry if you didn't enjoy yourself"."What? No. It was okay. I just didn't want to stay too long. I'm kind of tipsy already""Okay. You sure you dont want me to take you home?""No. It won't be nice if you left because of me. You should enjoy your time David"David led her to the cab that had been called for them. "Alright. Let me know when you get home""Sure" she smiled at him. She entered the taxi while he paid the driver then waved him goodbye.She asked the driver to drop her at the front of the gate, not wanting him to go through the trouble of turning to drive out. She walked carefully since she was on heels and she was not completely sane. She could not injure her head before she could get married now, could she?As she opened the door and entered the house, the housekee
Reynolds checked the time on his watch as he strode down the short hallway to his father's study. He maintained a calm posture as his father came into view, trying not to look as hurried as he felt. Because the truth was he was impatient and absolutely did not want to be there.This was the second time that week. He was beginning to rethink his decisions. He had had to put a vital meeting on hold when he got his father's call to be there. It was apparently urgent. Why then did the man seem so much at ease, on his wheelchair behind his desk, casually flipping through a file?"Father", he called out."Ah, there he is. You came quickly". He wheeled his chair closer towards Reynolds with the same ease that was starting to make Reynolds annoyed."It sounded urgent". He sat down. "What's wrong?""Everything!", his raised voiced boomed through the room. "Everything is in shambles!"Reynolds leaned on the chair handle, massaging his temple. His father could sometimes be dramatic. And yet aga
The following day, Reynolds ate at the family's house. It would have been pleasant if it had ended as quietly as it had begun, but halfway through the meal, his mother suddenly started. "Oh. Did I mention I went to Juliet's store. Juliet Martins, Amy's mother. She has an incredible taste. A good stylist..."Reynolds and his father shared a look. He felt a little sympathetic towards his mother. Once she had owned her own brand. She had eventually let it go when his father had gotten stuck to his wheelchair. She was no longer actively managing it as before."...she helped me decide on my dress for your father's party""Party?", Reynolds paused from drinking from his glass of water.It was his father who answered. "My birthday. There will be a party. Don't worry. It's a small affair. Just family and close associates”. Gerald waved his hand as though it was unimportant. "Your future engagement should be announced then".'Should' meant ' it would'. He wondered if the Martins were already i
After meeting with Reynolds, she met up next with Ava. Ava had gotten to her through David. Amy had chosen the coffee shop she and Reynolds had first met together for them, since she was not sure anywhere else would be appropriate to meet.Being there earlier, she was going through the menu before Ava arrived."Hii". Ava greeted. They did not go through the hugs, kisses or shakes; but Ava did smile sweetly at her before taking a seat. "Did you wait long?""No, just arrived earlier than we planned""That's a relief. I thought I had kept you waiting".She looked around the shop. "This place is cute. I like it""It's nice", Amy agreed.Ava looked at her, smiling again before placing a bag on the table. "Here I brought this for you".Amy reached over, taking the bag off the table and looking in it. It was a bottle of red, her family's brand it seemed.Ava's family made breweries. It was something that had always been in the family, kind of similar to how the Bennet's business had begun in
Amy's head rested on the white desk with a low bang. She sighed. It had been about three days since she started working. She had not expected it to be easy, considering everything Isaiah had explained to her that the business had gone through. Like he had said too, more staff was needed. They would conduct interviews for the ones that needed to be immediately filled tomorrow. The rest, they could do once the company was more stable.She raised her head and looked round her office. Compared to where she had met with Reynolds the last time, it was not overly large, but it was not small either. His office had a large mahogany desk, curved at the sides and imposing. The large desk would have seemed too much to Amy on any other day, the amount of stuff that had been on the desk that day, she supposed it was not too much at the time. But despite how crowded it had been, the desk had not looked completely disorganized. It gave Amy an idea of how the businessman was in terms of orderliness.A
The meeting ended very late that day. His father had shown up later on into the meeting. He had come deliberately late, but he had come. Reynolds escorted his father home, upon his request, if he was to even call it that."You won't even take your father home?". The old man had asked when he had thought Reynolds was about to leave.. Reynolds had chuckled before helping his father into the car."I still don't understand why you had me handling everything if you had plans of getting involved and showing up". He said as he wheeled his father into the house."It's my business. Why wouldn't I be involved?", cane Gerald's nonchalant reply.It was exactly his point, Reynolds thought. Already tired from the day, he decided not to broach the subject any longer. The meeting was held and they had a solid plan. Hopefully his father would disturb him less now."I'll be leaving now". Reynolds announced, turning to leave."Already? Stay for the night. Your mother has been complaining non-stop that y
Pulling back, he gave her a satisfied smile. Amy didn’t know if that was for the camera or if it was because of the kiss. But what she knew was that there was a fluttering feeling in her stomach which quite scared her. Reynolds took her arm in his and led her to where their parents stood. Everyone took turns congratulating them, some even sharing their supposed love stories about how they had met their spouses and it somewhat irritated her. As if these people knew anything about love. Most of their marriages had been arranged just as hers was. She smiled when she saw David approach their group. “Congratulations, Mr. Bennet, Amy,” David offered a hand to Reynolds who took it firmly. Amy watched as both men shook hands but couldn’t help but notice the hardening smile they exchanged and how David’s eyes turned to slits. And before anyone could notice it, they masked their expressions but she of course had seen it. Amy had always been good at reading people probably prior to years of play