CHAPTER 60
I step inside the house, and the first thing I do is lie down on the couch. I am so tired I can’t even wait to take off my work clothes before lying down. I just got back from work. It’s a few days left before my trip with Jason.
“Hello dear,” Uncle Jack says, walking into the living room
“Hi,”
“You seem exhausted.”
“I am; work has been hectic this week”
“Why”
“Jason and I’s trip is this weekend. We are trying to wrap up all his important businesses before we leave.”
“Oh, that’s true.” Uncle Jack says,
“Yeah, how was work today?” I ask, sitting up.
“The same; nothing new happened.”
“Any plans for tonight,” I ask, removing my heels.
“No,” He says, staring at the TV. I don’t know why but I feel a little guilty for why he does not have plans tonight.
“Uncle Jack,” I say, to get his attention away from the TV
“Yes, dear,” He says, turning away from the TV to face me
“Do you like Vivienne?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Please just answer.”
“I did,”
“Do you want to get back together with her?”
“Where are all these questions coming from?”
“Do you?”
“I don’t think it matters if I want to or not.”
“It does because the woman is a mess without you in her life and since I have forgiven her. I want to know if you still have feelings for her”
“Vivienne is a mess without me?” He asks, worried
“Wow, after everything I said, that is the only part you got. You still have feelings for her.”
“You could say that.”
“I don’t mind if you date her.”
“Huh,” He says, not sure he heard me.
“I don’t mind if you date Vivienne.”
“Really, you don’t, since when.”
“Since I decided to forgive her and forget all the horrible things she did to me.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it.”
“She apologized to me.”
“Oh, now I can.”
“Yeah”
“I can’t date her even though you give us your blessing.”
“Why,” I ask, confused. I thought he didn’t want to hurt my feelings by being with her.
“She lied to me, Eleanor. I can’t just overlook that.”
“Actually, she didn’t. She just didn’t tell you we work together.”
“Same thing”
“She explained that night that she was worried you would leave her, and it happened. You can’t blame her for not telling you.”
“I know I can’t blame her for not telling me, but what if she lied about something else or would do the same thing in the future.”
“You just said future. If you don’t forgive her now, how will they be any future between the both of you.”
“You make a good point, dear.”
“I know,” I say with a little smile. “I also know deep in your heart you know her feelings were true regardless of the fact she kept the truth about where she works from you.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
He does not say anything for a few seconds. He seems to be thinking about everything I said. “I really like her, Eleanor,” He says, passing his hand through his hair.
“I know you do, and so does she. That’s why while I am away next week. You will make sure you use the house to the fullest. Just make sure not to do it anywhere I eat,” I say, shaking my head as the image of him and Vivienne having sex drifts through my mind.
“I haven’t agreed to forgive her yet.”
“I know you already did a few minutes ago, and you will call her while I go take a shower.”
“Do you think she will pick up?” He asks, sounding nervous
“Of course she will.” I stand up from the couch to walk to my room
“Thank you, dear.”
“That’s what I am here for,” I say, walking into my room.
Two weeks have passed since I spoke to Uncle Jack about Vivienne. Jason’s annual charity event is this week, so we had to move our trip. We plan to fly out after the event. I am on my way to the hotel where the event will be held. I am in charge of organizing the event this year.
I give my car keys to the valet and walk inside the hotel. On my way to the ballroom, I hear someone screaming. I increase my pace and walk to the ballroom to find out what’s happening.
“Amelia, what’s wrong,” I say once I see the event planner is the one screaming in pain.
“Thank God, you are here. I am so sorry, my water just broke. You will have to take over from me.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“What, your water broke. How are you feeling? Do you need me to drive you to the hospital” I ask, worried about her and her baby
“I am fine; my assistant will take me to the hospital. Will you be able to handle things while I am away?”
“I don’t have a choice; you are going into labor soon. I will have to figure it out,” I say, holding her hand as I walk her outside.
“I am so sorry to put you in such a situation, Eleanor. You can call me if you need help with anything. I will have my phone with me at all times.”
“Don’t worry about me; I will be fine. All that matters now is that you get to the hospital and have a safe delivery,” I say, helping her into the car.
“Thank you,” She says,
I walk back to the ballroom to pick up from where she left. It’s a good thing I worked closely with her for the event. I don’t even want to imagine how hard it would have been to take over from her if I didn’t.
In the next few days, the hotel becomes my office. I can’t remember the last time I visited the office this week. I drive from home to the hotel and back home once I am done. Today is Thursday, a day before the event. I am about to go crazy because of what Amelia’s assistant did this morning. She came in earlier than me and changed everything I had done. She said that was what Amelia and I agreed on, which is a lie. The only reason I have not ripped her head out of her body is because Amelia’s staff members are holding me back. I can’t believe she wants to ruin something. I worked my ass off to make perfect for Jason.
“Bless the Lord; you are here, Vivienne; she wants to kill me,” Amelia’s assistant says, running towards Vivienne, who just walked into the ballroom. They must have called Vivienne the moment I started screaming at Amelia’s assistant.
“Eleanor, you need to calm down. I don’t think you want to go to jail,” Vivienne says
“Can you imagine what she did, Vivienne? Look at the tables, please. Who in God’s name would mix these colors” I say, pointing to the table. The color I picked for the table cloth is gold, white and black.
Amelia’s assistant, Racheal, went to change them to pink, yellow and red. “Who the hell uses these colors in this kind of event? I know she is Amelia’s daughter, and she is still learning but come on, pink. Does this look like a breast cancer fundraiser” I scream at Racheal, who is hiding behind Vivienne’s back?
“Eleanor, I know she made a big mistake, but you need to calm down so we can fix it before it’s too late.”
“You are lucky Vivienne is here. If not, I would send you to an early grave,” I say, taking a deep breath to calm my breathing.
“That’s better; take another one,” Vivienne says, referring to the deep breath I took. I do as she says and takes another deep breath.
“I am calmer now but still get out of here, Racheal.”
“I am sorry,” She says, picking up her handbag from a table
“Sorry, I can’t imagine the stress you are under right now,” Vivienne says once she walks out
“You don’t even want to imagine Vivienne” I feel under a lot of pressure because this is the first event Jason has asked me to handle. I know he won’t be angry if I make any mistake, but I still want to try my best and make it perfect for him.
“You are doing a great job, and I am sure once Jason sees it tomorrow night. He will feel the same”
“I hope so.”
Vivienne and I, these past two weeks, have become good friends since she apologized to me. She also got back with Uncle Jack. I smile every day when I see her at the office, and she is happy. I can’t imagine how much pain she must have gone through without Uncle Jack in her life. It would have been the same one I would have felt if Jason’s grandmother had succeeded in separating us. I feel I would not have been able to continue with life if Jason was not in it. It’s a good thing she failed. It also made me know that my feelings for Jason are no longer small and are turning into something bigger. I don’t know what they are turning into yet, but I am sure with time, I will know.