Chapter 19 — Engagement from hell

Jane's POV:

I took in a deep breath as I looked at myself once again in the mirror.

It was night.

D-day, no, more like N-night.

My aunt had prepared me to go to the so-called engagement party. I had a complete makeover, hair, clothes, makeup. She said, and I quote, 'You have to rule that party! Crush them girl!'

I sighed again for the millionth time as I ran my hands over my dress that was sticking to my body like second skin.

It was a white form-fitting dress that reached mid-thigh. It had only one diamond embroidered strap with no sleeves. A semi-curvy, diagonal part crossing from the top right part down to the left side of the dress. It was see-through with diamonds similar to that of the strap on it.

I had my hard in a high bun with several strands falling down to curve my face.

I didn't want to cake my face up so I only styled on some eyeliner, mascara, some blush and lip gloss.

My aunt wanted to doll me up more but I saw that this was enough. I looked good and I was satisfied with how it turned out.

"You ready sweetheart?" I turned my head towards the door when I heard my aunt ask.

She was standing near the door in all her elegant glory.

She was wearing a full-sleeved, form-fitting red dress that covered her whole length beautifully.

She had a hand fan with red fur on the top and the big hat that engulfed her whole head completed her look.

She looked like someone you'd see coming out from prince charming's ball.

I offered her a small smile then nodded.

"Yes. I'm ready."

**

The Hemington's residence was, to say the least, lavishly decorated.

Small light bulbs decorated the walls surrounding the house and a lot of lavishly dressed people were entering. Everyone was coming out of a very looking expensive cars, driven by assigned drivers.

I had my doubts that I might stand out from the crowd, but after seeing what the ladies were wearing, I was rest assured.

Our car stood in front of the door and a man in a red uniform hurried towards my door and opened it.

I took in a deep breath as I got out of the car with my aunt following.

"Welcome Mrs. Freeman." The man greeted with a slight bow.

My aunt offered him a small smile.

"This way please. Mr. And Mrs. Hemington are in the back yard." The man stated as he ushered with his hand towards the front door.

"Very well. Thank you." Aunt Em replied and started walking gracefully inside. I didn't waste time and quickly followed. 

As we made our way deeper inside, my nerves were starting to go crazy. I was nervous beyond belief and I felt like I would collapse any second.

Suddenly, I felt someone hold my hand. I looked beside me to find aunt Em looking at me with an assuring smile.

"Be strong girl. If not for yourself then for Luca." She whispered.

Yes. I have to be strong for Luca.

I smiled widely at her.

Soon, we reached the back yard, more like a gigantic garden. It was decorated with small lights everywhere. Two large buffet tables were set on each side and medium-sized, round tables were set near them along with matching chairs.

People, mostly elders, were talking and laughing around, each holding a glass in his or her hand, probably containing some sort of alcohol.

Men and women in uniforms were walking around, holding trays of different appetizers and drinks and distributing them to the guests.

A man came up to us, offering a couple of glasses filled with a clear looking liquid.

I reached to grab one but was stopped midway when someone slapped my hand away.

I scowled at my aunt.

"You're still too young to drink." She hissed at me in a whisper.

She then turned towards the man and chuckled humorlessly.

"She's alcohol intolerant. We don't want her to cause a mess now do we." She reasoned as she grabbed a glass for herself.

The man nodded curtly before turning to a group of men and women who were standing near us.

I glared at aunt Em. She felt my eyes on her and turned around to look at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Got something to say kiddo?" She asked.

I glared at her for a bit more but didn't reply.

"Thought so." She mumbled.

"Come on, the people we need are over there." She said and grabbed my hand, leading me through the crowd.

We were targeting the shareholders that will buy shares from the Hemingtons' and the Hardings' after they merge their companies.

"Ah! If it wasn't Lady Freeman herself." A man in a black suit said with a huge smile.

He appeared to be in his late forties with a couple of white hairs between the black strands.

He was a big man, tall and wide.....sort of.

"It's always good to see you Frank." Aunt Em replied.

"How's Brady?" He asked, referring to aunt Em's husband.

Aunt Em sighed. "Busy as always."

"He didn't make it today?" The man, Frank, asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Aunt Em shook her head. "No, but I got someone else with me." She replied before grabbing me by the shoulders and bringing me in front of her to face the group of men.

"This is my niece, Jane." Aunt Em introduced.

Frank grinned widely at me and extended his hand for me to take.

"Frank Govan, CEO of the Fine Group." Frank introduced. 

"Er...Jane Adams, uhmm....I'm a group admin on Facebook?" I asked more than stated, earning a couple of chuckles from the men around me.

"Well, it's nice to see you miss Jane, admin of a Facebook group. You look lovely." Frank said and kissed my knuckles.

The rest of the men took turns introducing themselves. They ranked from CEOs to general managers to bank managers and sole investors.

"I'll go talk to some people, I'm sure you'll find talking to my niece here very interesting." Aunt Em announced.

"Of course, we already like her, Jane, admin of a Facebook group, right?" Frank replied as he winked at me in the last part.

A faint blush crept on my face.

Aunt Em chuckled then turned around to leave.

"So Jane," Frank started, earning back my attention. "What do you think of this merger?" He asked.

"I don't like it." I stated bluntly.

Frank raised his eyebrows at me.

"And why is that?" Roby, a bank manager asked.

"From the amount of reading and observing I did, I noticed that the Hardings keep on buying estates recklessly. They don't seem to have a good business plan for their company." I explained.

"But they're increasing their assets." Roby said.

"No, they're actually increasing their liabilities and expenses instead. They don't give themselves time to recover from a recent buy and move on to the next. Half the lands they bought to build something are still barren. Hell, they still didn't fully finish paying for the last five."

Murmurs started around me and it looked like some of the men when thinking what I said through.

"But buying a lot of lands means that their assets will grow. They can sell it a benefit from it when needed." Mark, another CEO said.

"With all due respect sir but I don't think you know what is really meant by assets. The definition differs greatly from what's written in books to what it really is in the real life." I retorted.

Mark raised his eyebrows at me and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh yeah? And what do they mean in really life miss Jane?" He asked sarcastically.

"Assets simply means the things that put money into your pocket while liabilities are the things that take money out of your pocket. Things like houses are great liabilities because a house doesn't bring you money. Most, if not all people think that their houses are their greatest investment, their biggest asset but it's really a liability. The house makes you pay money for the mortgage, the bills, the furniture you want to buy and the food you want to eat." I explained.

All the six men around me had expressionless faces. They were staring at me in shock which soon turned to amusement.

"How old did you say you were again?" Frank asked as a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Age doesn't matter Mr. Frank. If you know how to manage your money properly, you'll be successful no matter how old you are. The trick is to make your money work for you and not work for the money."

Frank looked dumbfounded and I tried my hardest to not laugh at the men's reaction towards what I just said.

Thank God for all the reading I did and the business lessons aunt Em gave me. The book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' helped like no other.

"You seem well educated about money." Frank stated after he recovered.

"Yeah, where did you learn that?" Mark asked.

"I did my reading." I replied with a shrug.

"So, you don't think this merger is beneficial?" Frank asked.

"Yes, if I was a potential shareholder, I would've run to the hills a long time ago." I replied.

"You're starting to play with our minds her Jane." Fred said suggestively.

"Oh no. Don't make my words influence your decisions. I'm only stating what I've observed and since you asked for my opinion, I'm giving it fully."

"Is this the only reason why you're against this merger Jane?" Frank asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"You think it's bad only because the Hardings don't manage their money well. I mean, don't you see for example that a partnership between those two families won't be successful?" He elaborated.

"Partnership between those two will be disastrous." I stated. "Especially that Sarah Harding is already cheating on her fiancé." I mumbled the last part, but made sure they heard.

"What?" Frank gasped.

I faked innocence. "What?"

"What did you say at the end? Sarah is already cheating on her fiancé?" He asked.

I acted like I didn't want them to hear.

"Er...I'm sorry. Can you overhear that?"

"No Jane. We have to know now!" Mark whisper yelled.

I sighed. "Yeah, you heard it right. Sarah is cheating on Luca."

"I knew something was up!" Roby exclaimed. "Wait...do they even like each other?" He asked.

"Is know for sure that Luca doesn't like her." I stated.

"I knew it. When they greeted us, Luca looked like he's seen a ghost or something. His expressions were fake and his stance was rigid." Roby said.

My heart started beating wildly. I hope he's okay.

"Not only that, but I also heard that Mrs. Hemington is cheating on her husband too." I whispered.

"This is bad from all sides." Frank sighed and all the men nodded in agreement.

I was dancing in my head as I realized that our plan might work. Now, we have to spread some rumors around and with the help of the gossiping ladies, news sure will fly around like a hurricane. I'm sure Ain't Em has already done her part and started the rumors about Sarah's disloyalty.

"Excuse me gentlemen, I'll go fetch something to eat." I stated. 

"Sure. It was really nice talking to you Jane." Frank said with a wide smile.

"That won't be the end of me Mr. Frank." I replied with a smirk. The mean chuckled at my words.

I turned around and started heading towards one of the food tables.

My eyes searched frantically for Luca but I couldn't find him, Sarah or his parents anywhere. A part of me was relieved that I didn't bump into Sarah or his parents and I hoped to God that this plan works.