Fatal Alliances: Chapter 19
It’d been two days since Mr. Dawnly died. Depression lingered in the air and never left. I’ve been so worried, Finny told me that they’re sorting everything out and that it would take a few days. Everything is just so confusing now, it isn’t the same as before. Playing around with my fruit smoothie outside the coffee shop, I thought about how grateful I was that Jenna bought the lie that I was taking a few days off from work. I didn’t tell her about me getting fired yet because I never got the right chance. Maybe it was for the best? There are lots of other jobs out there anyway.
“Juliet?” I suddenly heard a familiar voice.
As I snapped my eyes up, I saw Alexandria Blake standing in front of me with a smile. She wore a little yellow sundress and a white Chanel bag over her shoulder. Although she was a lot taller than I saw her before, maybe it was because of the six-inch heels she wore.
“Alexandria.” I smiled back at her.
“I didn’t expect to meet up with you again. How’s everything? How’s Mr. Fiancé?” she playfully teased as she took a seat next to me.
I almost forgot what Vandermir had told everyone about the whole engaged deal. Maybe I should just go along with it, I didn’t want to get myself in any awkward and embarrassing situation again these days. There was already so much going on.
“He’s fine. How are you though? You came by yourself?” I asked and changed the topic.
“Actually, I came with my mom and little sister. They wanted to have a ‘girls day off’.” she laughed.
Something about this girl was actually quite different, even though she wore the spoilt little bratty girl look I don’t think she really was. She honestly seemed like a genuine girl, and I couldn’t blame her for how she was brought up with a silver spoon in her mouth. Besides, girls these days hardly have time for anyone but themselves yet she was spending time with her family. So was she really that bad a girl? I highly doubt it. Who was I to dislike her anyway? I mean, she was the only one who truly spared time and searched her bag for that painkiller for me. Everyone else was just gossiping about me. Don’t get me wrong, I admit the girl has a bit of an attitude but so did I anyway. And quite frankly, who’s perfect?
“Oh! There they are.” She giggled as she pointed to an older woman and a young girl approaching us.
They all resembled each other immensely, like a walking past present and future image, no doubt.
“Mom, this is Juliet. Adrian Vandermir’s fiancée.” She introduced.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Blake.” I smiled sweetly at the woman who mirrored my expression.
“And this is my little sister, Megan. She’s a terror Julie, don’t get too close to her.” Alexandria laughed, “Oh, before I forget, we’re staying at Vandermir’s hotel these few days so maybe we could hang out more. I hear the spa is great there.”
“Well, that sounds nice. Don’t worry Alexandria, I’m sure we’ll hopefully meet up sometime soon.” I said when suddenly my phone’s message tone went off.
“Everything okay?”
“Um, I have to get going now. It was good seeing you again though, we’ll catch up soon.” I replied as I got up from my seat.
The girl and her mom simply nodded and smiled as I left. Looking at my phone again I felt a sense of panic watching the message.
‘We need to talk’- Jenna.
Did she realize that I was lying to her all this time? Did she figure out I was fired? Did she know about the whole partnership situation? Hurriedly, I got home and opened the door easily. Jenna sat at the big armchair reading a magazine with her legs folded and her lips in a thin straight line.
“Jenna?”
“How long Juliet? You’ve lied to me before… but this… this is the biggest lie you’ve ever kept from me. And I want answers right now. No more lies.” She stated flatly.
I felt my heart leap out of my chest, did she know? Wait, what did she know?
“I…”
“No, I want an explanation. Now.” She said firmly as she tossed the magazine at me.
Looking at the page she was on, I almost felt breathless, but not in the good kind of way. There was a picture of Vandermir and me close to each other and what was written on top was big and bold. Engaged.
Yeah, how are you going to get yourself out of this one Greene?
What was I going to tell Jenna? I was already a terrible liar, what would I say now? I knew I couldn’t tell her the truth because if I did I would have to tell her about Mr. Dawnly’s death and the partnership and mom. I didn’t want to stress her out anymore, all my life I was doing that to her and I just couldn’t do it anymore.
“Jenna, it’s not like that,” I spoke softly.
“Adrian Vandermir! As in the billionaire businessman! What the heck is all this? Engaged! You- you never even told me you liked anyone, Julie! This isn’t a joke!” she shouted, obviously losing her cool at the moment.
“Because it’s- well- I-”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Thank goodness, this was my fortune, whoever came was my ticket to calm Jenna down.
“I’ll get it,” I stated quickly and went to the door.
As I opened it and saw who was on the other side, I just felt like dropping dead at the moment.
“Vandermir!” I panicked and closed the door a bit behind me.
Out of all the days, all the moments, all the situations, he had to just come in front of my doorstep at this time. No, this wasn’t happening. I was dreaming. I was having a nightmare and now I would wake up.
Nope, not dreaming.
“Julie, who’s at the door?” I heard Jenna’s voice echo behind me.
“Oh, it’s no one, just some kids playing pranks,” I said.
Adrian, on the other hand, looked at me quite confused as he raised an eyebrow.
“Julie, I know there’s someone there.” She said as she walked up and pulled the door wide open.
Jenna seemed a bit startled as she saw him. This was definitely not good.
“Good evening, Miss Greene, is it?” he asked her in his charming silky voice, “Actually I came to meet Mrs. Ginger Dawnly, is she available at the hour?”
“Are you sure it’s Mrs. Dawnly you came to meet?” she asked.
This was weird, Jenna was the nice sister and suddenly she had an attitude? She never questioned anyone before, nor made anyone feel uncomfortable, and never spoke out of line. Maybe it had just slipped out of her?
“Beg pardon?” Vandermir asked, a bit taken back.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Come on in, she’s upstairs.” Jenna apologized and allowed him to come in.
“We were just talking about you, Mr. Vandermir.” She laughed as she led the way.
I had to tell him else she would suspect something.
“Adrian,” I whispered as I lightly tugged his shirt.
I knew Jenna would hear me if I said anything to him now, she was listening.
“Why don’t you sit here and I’ll tell someone to call Mrs. Dawnly for you.” She smiled and
looked at me, “Julie?”
Just as I feared, now she’ll talk to Adrian alone and probably realize that something is weird between us. She’ll probably get even more confused when Adrian doesn’t give her the responses she would want. Forcefully, I walked up the stairs. This cannot be happening. Jenna shouldn’t find out about any of this, I don’t want her to be in the mess I was in.
Think Greene, think.
Pulling out my phone, I dialed Vandermir’s number when I reached upstairs. I heard him pick up,
‘Adrian – she knows, she saw the magazine and-and-’
‘-I know.’ He responded and switched the call off.
How could he know already? Did he figure it out so quickly? Or maybe he saw the magazine on the ground?
Whatever it was, I was glad. I felt relieved. He always knows what to say and I trust he wouldn’t want to drag Jenna in the same business I’m in with him already. I was his dead weight anyway. And honestly, I don’t think he would want another. After telling Mrs. Dawnly that she had a visitor, I went back downstairs. Jenna seemed fine and so did Adrian, they both were sipping their drinks like they were the best of chaps playing tea party.
“Mrs. Dawnly said she’ll be here in a moment,” I said as I came down the stairs.
It didn’t seem like they heard me because Jenna was nodding at something Adrian said. Vandermir must have cleared up whatever misunderstanding between us because my sister seemed relaxed. I didn’t expect it but Jenna laughed and placed her hand in his while her other hand removed her light brown hair from her face. That moment she just looked so pretty, but I couldn’t help but feel this weird pinch inside me. Was she physically flirting with him? She was his age anyway, they were both mature and hardworking, my sister was the perfect one out of all my family members, and so was Adrian, he was perfect in everything he did and said and looked… but this….this sight of them wasn’t feeling so nice inside me.
“Excuse me, Adrian.” She said as she got up and went into the kitchen taking his and her coffee cups.
Adrian? She got to call him by his first name and he was alright with that?
Where was the harsh and cold Vandermir? He was certainly not present around Jenna. And oh yes, they both loved coffee and sugary stuff. I hated coffee and I detested overly sweet treats.
“I said, Mrs. Dawnly would be here in a moment,” I spoke a bit louder.
“I heard you the first time Greene.” He stated and spared me a quick glance sideways raising both eyebrows at me and turned away.
“Oh, I thought you didn’t,” I replied feeling my throat get a little dry.
“I don’t have to look at you to hear you. I listen with my ears.”
“Well, it’s only polite,” I muttered.
“You’re going to teach me about manners?” he softly retorted.
As he was speaking, he never even looked at me. He was just flipping through that magazine and I knew he wasn’t even reading anything. But, when Jenna was there, even when she wasn’t speaking, he wasn’t able to take his eyes off her. That for some odd reason irritated me a lot.
“What did you tell her, about us?” I asked.
“There’s nothing between us so what would I even have to say?” he answered dryly.
I didn’t know why, but that actually hurt. I mean, it was the truth wasn’t it? We had nothing to do with each other. There was nothing between us. I just, as he said, got in his way. He suddenly got up and neared me.
“Mrs. Dawnly,” He said as he brushed his arms against mine but ultimately went up to greet her.
Nope, not me.
I stood at the side as he spoke to her. She seemed a bit cheered up quite frankly when they spoke to each other although he was meeting her for the first time and just giving his condolences on her husband’s death. Apparently, he did business with Mr. Dawnly before, I didn’t know that. Adrian spoke so sweetly to her and it really seemed to change the mood Mrs. Dawnly was in before. It just made me feel so ashamed that I couldn’t bring about that change in her myself. These days all I was doing was just worrying. I was so useless.
“Oh my, let me just get that old picture from upstairs. I’ll be right back.” She said as she went back upstairs.
“It isn’t very polite to stand right there when others are speaking.” He said to me.
“This is my house, I can stand anywhere I want.” I shot back, about to leave, when he stopped me.
“And don’t make calling me a habit Greene, it’s quite annoying.”
“Adrian I’ve made some chocolate brownies this morning.” Jenna suddenly spoke from behind as she placed the tray on the table and sat down.
“Go Adrian,” I said mimicking the way my sister said his name, “Go and stuff your mouth with her horrid brownies and stare into her eyes when she’s not talking. Oh, and don’t forget to choke while you chew on it.”
He seemed amused when I said that and I could have sworn I saw the edge of his lip form a gentle yet wicked curve. I didn’t care. Let me just leave them to be the perfect little couple. Why should I be in their business anyway? With that, I went back upstairs, who cares….certainly not me.
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