SEBASTIAN
I went home last night too tired to remember the movie we watched, what happened in the end or anything that happened afterwards.
What happens now?
The plan is complete so that's Libby's part of the job done, now it's Audrey's turn to step up to the podium. How she will make Rachel fall for Oliver remains a mystery.
The day after the plan was carried out, after Rachel saw what happened, she avoided me like the plague. If I turned the corner and she was there, she would walk into the crowd and slither her way out. In the dining hall, she avoided my gaze and constantly looked anywhere but at me. To say I was happy would be a lie, Rachel was my childhood friend and I've lost her but losing her and seeing her move on is better than watching her suffer.
I was even more fed up as I hadn't seen Audrey in the past two days. She was busy working out her plan and making sure everything would go well, that meant she couldn't have any distraction, including me.
I was thrown out of my train of thoughts by someone repeatedly saying my name.
"Sebastian? Seba- ah, he's awake. Good to have you back, brother."
"What is it?" I snapped, scowling and glancing at my phone, anxiously checking for messages.
"Ooh watch out everybody, bitter party of one here," Jackson replies, his smirk just as sly as the twinkle in his eyes, "Are you, waiting for a text from a certain beautiful lady?"
"Ugh! Go choke on some silk." I retorted, rolling my eyes at his act to look hurt.
Jackson barked a laugh, "Ha! Seems Audrey's taught you some insults."
"Yeah bro, you need to chill." A bored Marcus mumbles, glancing at me from behind his phone.
"Chill? Sebastian wouldn't know how to chill even if we shoved him into a freezer." He crooned, ruffling my hair despite my protests.
"Oh shut up. Why are we here anyway? Why am I here?" I slapped his hand away, once again checking my phone.
"Because mum needs us to pick up the info from the bride on her wedding dress and mum can't make it; so I'm the next best thing." He shrugs, checking the Rolex watch our parents got him as a Christmas present, "And plus, I don't like being lonely."
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean? Aren't you always by yourself, reading books. And you went through that whole awkward stage the second year of high school where you wouldn't talk unless talked to."
"Just because I'm alone, it doesn't mean I like being lonely. Ah! Here she is." He jumped up in surprise before I could reply, holding his arms out wide for the bride.
"Hello everyone, sorry I'm late, the traffic here is crazy." She apologised, her Italian accent was thick with every word.
"Hey, no worries. I'm Jackson King, Alicia King's son and heir of King's Boutique. My mother can't make it today so I will be in her place, just for today anyway." He beamed, watching her take her place beside Marcus, across from Jackson.
"Very pleased to meet you. All of you." She was beautiful, especially when she smiled. Her eyes were a deep shade of blue, they were entrancing; I instead found myself longing for the comforting chocolate brown instead.
"The pleasure is mine. This is my little brother, Sebastian," He introduces, gesturing at me and then to the male sitting beside her (who was extremely focused on his phone screen), "And this is a close friend of ours, Marcus. They won't be helping but I like having company."
"Yes, I understand that quite well." She smiled again and placed a white folder in front of her.
"So what can I do for you. My mother has shown me her sketches and I also have them here. Today is to finalize the design but small alterations can be made up to three weeks before the wedding." It was strange to see my brother in business mode. He was always the more energetic, bundle of fun between the two of us. Seeing him so serious just felt wrong, it irked me to not see a smile on his face.
"Yes, that's fine, I want the dress to be simple anyway. Honestly, it was my fiance's idea to go to a professional designer for my wedding dress whereas I would've just gone to a shop. But anyway, I was thinking of bringing in that Juliet vibe from Shakespear's play."
"Ah, yes, since you met Matthew in Venice."
"Yes, who would have thought the man who crashed his car and came to my father's shop last minute would be the one I marry, fate must be having a laugh but, what can you do?" She giggles, slightly shrugging.
I zoned out, ending up on my phone, like Marcus. The only amusement I got was when the guy from last time came over with our order and Marcus turned beet red- we were meeting in Starbucks and Marcus insisted that he come along.
Finally, three agonizing hours later, the meeting finally ended. I stress the word meeting because Veronica was actually really nice and we just talked like normal people for a while. After about an hour, her fiance called and she had to leave. Marcus stayed, however, in hopes of being able to talk to his crush after his shift.
So here I am no, sitting in the front seat of my brother's car, the bright glare of the light hitting the glass as we pass under a bridge.
"What's wrong Sebastian? You're more quiet than usual. Missing Audrey that much?" He scoffed, keeping his eyes on the road.
"I think- ah I don't know. I'm...weird. Everything's confusing and all. The Black Cupid's already done her work, now Audrey needs to do hers, but what happens after?" I run my hands through my hair, groaning in frustration.
"Oh, wow, you're serious. If you're that worried then just join the database. Or ask Audrey to be your girlfriend since you like her so much." He shrugged, his attention sliding to the passing cars beside us.
"What are you talking about? I don't like Audrey, you're delusional."
"I may be delusional, but you're worse. You're so fricken oblivious to your own feelings. Look, trust Audrey, I've seen her at work and she doesn't fail or allow a single second to be wasted on a failure. Just talk to her about it. Audrey will be to answer but you need to ask." He replied, finally turning his gaze to me. His face showed determination and pride, in Audrey, in his experience with her.
I've seen Jackson's work and it's devastatingly genius, but if even he puts his whole faith in Audrey, that means I can't doubt her.
I then realise, I never did.
AUDREY
The voices of my family were tuned out, I didn't feel the need to listen. Instead, I focused on the marvellous room I currently sat in. The floor was white marble streaked with navy and gold, a pain for anyone wearing high heels. The walls were a baby blue, making the pristine white stands for vases and statues stand out. My family lounged on the light grey sofas, sipping wine from glasses rimmed with gold on a deep oak table. I leaned my head back, gazing up at the seemingly endless dome of a ceiling, the gold-accented details glowed in the sun, as did the colossal chandelier.
The paintings, the statues, the mansion - remnants of Victorian nobility preserved impeccably well. It's over the top in my opinion.
"I can't wait! The castle will look beautiful for the day of the wedding, the dresses, the flowers. Everything will be beautiful!" My mother's eyes gleamed with excitement. I smiled a little, it was a rarity to see my mother excited, normally she's all formal and quiet but without my father around she's...free.
I quietly groaned and leaned my head back against the sofa, once again keeping my eyes on the ceiling.
It felt like an eternity had passed before we left, my bones were stiff from sitting in the same position. I rolled my neck, my arms, my fingers, anything to crack the concrete that was my muscles.
"Geez, mum can talk for ages so long as you're to be married."
"Oh be quiet Margo I'm just so excited." She protested.
"But it's true." She whined loudly, earning a joyous giggle from my mother.
In the midst of silence, my mother turned to me, her smile strained, the twinkle barely visible.
"How's work going, are you feeling confident in taking over the company?"
I stared at her, observing her before answering, "I'll take over the company when father and grandfather see me fit."
"Good." The car was filled, yet again, with another silence.
"There's no one better than Audrey - to take over the company." I smiled at my sister's failed attempt at breaking the silence.
I could feel us encased in a cocoon of awkwardness, and I couldn't take it.
"Lewis, can you drop me off in the main city please?" I ask, leaning over the seats to see our driver, Lewis, focusing on the road in front of him.
He slightly turned his head to the left, towards me, "Of course my lady. Anywhere in particular?"
"No, anywhere will do," I reply, thanking him before resting in my seat again.
"Audrey where do you plan on going? How will you get home? What if something happ-"
"Relax mother, I'm just going to see Victor." I interrupt, climbing out of the car, "See you at home...maybe."
The door slams closed and the car is long gone before I realise it. I made a mental note to thank Lewis for everything he's done today, and also to tell him to stop calling me my lady.
When I was younger, the staff let me watch a movie for my birthday in secret, Lewis being one of them. It was based in Victorian England and I grew to be obsessed with that era. Lewis, being more of a father figure than an employee, caught on to how happy it made me (not that I showed it) and began addressing me as my lady and never stopped.
I walked through the quiet streets, the area more familiar than it should be to a daughter of 'one of the world's elite' (don't ask me, ask the media). I turned the corner, the bricked building stood proudly under the street lamps.
I made my way to the door, half walking, half running. The excitement began to rise within me. I threw open the door, causing a few people to look at me as if I were an alien, and ran straight for his office. I passed a few buff men on the way, some waving a 'hello' to me as I passed by, some gawking in astonishment as to why there was a girl sprinting down the hallway looking like a deranged woman.
I could hear a faint voice, reduced to murmurs through the walls and doors, "I can hear someone running, it reminds me of when Audrey would visit me."
I didn't allow him to say anymore as I barrelled through the door (throwing it open first) and flying into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Princess!" His deep baritone voice was filled with happiness and surprise. His arms wrapped around me as we swayed from side to side.
"Hey Victor, it's been so long." I nuzzled my face into his chest immediately recoiling, "Ew, you stink, I hope you haven't outdone yourself in training this time."
I gazed up at him and the face that hasn't changed. His cheeks were plump with happiness and his smile was hidden under a dark, unruly beard, but I knew it was wide and bright.
He pushed me away, glancing me up and down, "Princess you're getting too big, stop growing! Last I remember you were a tiny wee thing." He holds a hand against his waist, pointing at what was my previous height.
I snorted, "Yeah, when I was seven, Victor I saw you last month and you said the same thing. I should really be saying the same thing about you." I retort, "So, how's Cass?"
At this, his cheeks begin to burn, bright red like a rod just out of a fire. "She's good, I saw her last night." He smiled shyly and began avoiding my stare.
I took in the sight before me, thankful that whoever was in here before had already left. Victor, a very kind man with the height of a staggering six feet and four inches, cowered in embarrassment before me. His body was well built from many years of fighting and at first glance, he looked like he would hang your remains on a meat hook, he's a very shy and timid man who is very sweet when you get to know him.
"You really like her don't you." I tease, poking his stomach. My finger felt like it was poking a wall, except that wall was his muscle, I learnt that the hard way from running into his stomach, almost passing out straight after.
"Don't mock me," he flicked my forehead, "She's a very lovely woman and we just so happen to be able to talk for longer than ten minutes."
His face showed determination, determined to prove me wrong. I mentioned that he was a very shy and timid man right? Well, that can be seen here in exhibit a, as he once again looks anywhere but me as I stare him down.
Eventually, he gives in, scratching the back of his neck, "I guess I do. I think I love her." He pauses for a moment before burying his face in his hands, "God! I'm so embarrassed."
I chuckle, "It's alright big man." I assure, placing my hand on his shoulder.
"Whatever, here, we need to catch up." He guides me to the sofa as his secretary (coincidently at the right time) walked in, a mug of tea in each hand for us.
For the next three hours, I sat on his sofa drinking tea, with the leader of the Phoenix Universum.