Chapter 25 The fundraiser
Ariel
I must have done something wrong, right? Or else why would Anastasia have me blocked the very next day after our meeting? Like what?! I went through the coffee date and conversations we'd had in my head.
What did I do? What could I have done? Wait, oh my God, is it because I refused to follow her for drinks or whatever she said we should go do after the coffee date?
Really?
Ugh. I should have just gone with her. At least then she would have agreed to a second date and I would have had the opportunity to know more about that party and how to get an invitation.
"Ariel!" I looked up from the messages I had been staring at between me and Anastasia and raised an eyebrow when I saw Kylo, the producer, staring at me.
"I said we need to record the harmony again. See if we can tune it better."
"Oh." I shut off my phone and stood up to go do whatever it is he wanted me to do. I was totally out of it nowadays, thanks to the anxious thoughts I've been having concerning this fucking task and those men.
It's been what? Five days since the Vanity Fair party, and I still haven't been able to get the invitation. What if they decide right now that my time is up?
"Okay. Go." I placed the headphones on my head and proceeded to sing the damn harmony.
After everything I had to do that day on my schedule, I decided to do something crazy. Well, not exactly crazy, just something I wouldn't do on a normal day if I didn't have something at stake. I decided to pay Anastasia a visit. Anywhere she might be.
I know. Stupid. Why would anyone do that after getting blocked and without any explanation? I know but I was desperate. If she was mad at me for something, let me at least get the chance to make it right, and if it was that she just doesn't want to acquaint herself with me anymore, then I'll at least prepare for my impending doom.
So I got on the internet in my team van on my way back home and searched for any events she might be planning to attend soon. There was a lot, an awful lot, and lucky for me, one this evening.
Oh thank God.
I tapped on the related article.
Biotech billionaire Victor Coleman set to host the annual cancer research gala tonight. Appearing with Wife Eleanor and Model Daughter Anastasia Coleman.
Okay. So it's a fundraising gala, it's glamorous, and it has started, according to what I could see from all the pictures and videos of guests arriving at the event that were roaming on the internet.
If I headed to the venue the minute my team dropped me off at my apartment building and left, maybe I could make it to the venue in time to see Anastasia leaving or something.
I needed to start this friendship thing all over again and this time, I need to be direct.
By 10 pm, I arrived at the venue in my car. Aurellia, a luxurious high-rise hotel that reminded me of the Grand Meridian in every way. God, I just hope this stupid plan of mine works.
It had been a last-minute thing. Put on a fancy dinner dress, do your hair, put on some makeup and try to convince the security at the venue that I was in fact meant to be at the event.
I had done the first three parts of the plan, immediately after the team dropped me off at my apartment and left and now i had just one more part of the plan to do before I was in.
"Ma'am, your ticket, please." I closed my eyes and winced inwardly when I heard what one of the security men at the entrance to the event floor said.
Entering the hotel hadn't been a problem. Nope, in fact, I had been able to talk to the receptionist at the front desk, who had told me exactly where the event was being held. A unique floor below the ground floor, mainly for events. She had told me with a wary look, though, because, according to her, if I were actually a guest, wouldn't I know my way to the designated entrance designed just for the event?
Uhm... If only she knew.
"Sir?" I said dumbly as I moved towards the man that had said that. I immediately put on a bright smile for whatever effect that might give me.
"Your ticket. You can't go in without it, ma."
Oh shit. "Really? I was invited, though..."
"Then you should have the special invitation card."
Ugh, fuck me. "An invitation card?"
"Yes, ma."
"Right. Yes. The invitation card... but oh my..." I made a show of looking in the purse I had thought to bring with me. "Shit, I think I forgot to bring it." I looked up at him with a distressed look.
"That's quite unfortunate but I'm sorry, we can't let you in without the invitation card or ticket."
Ah... I should have known it would not work.
I made another show of looking around, tapping away on my phone as if texting my manager or something, and then walking away when none of that worked when...
"You do know you can get the ticket for the event on the foundation website though, right? The event is still in its early stage so you're likely to get one."
I turned to him, ears perked up. "I can buy the ticket?"
"Yes, ma'am, the ticket represents your donation for the cause which grants you entry into the event."
Wow. This would have been so easy if I'd known this from the get-go.
Okay then. Let's get the... uh...
I swallowed back my words almost immediately when i saw just the price for the tickets
What?
I called Jonas for help with money. Yes. The one person I would rather have not involved in all this but I didn't have anyone else to call. I had pondered calling those guys. The killers but then, I had thought, what if that pisses them off and they decide to just eliminate me for that?
Jonas was appalled when he heard just how much I needed.
"Two hundred thousand dollars?!" I winced inwardly. Yes, I know; I had been appalled too. "Why?"
"I urgently need it for something."
"What?"
"Uh... A purchase..."
He went silent for a moment. "Why can't you... Make it yourself?"
"Uhm..." I stuttered yet again. I should have known he would ask that question.
Why can't a well-known growing artist pay for a two hundred thousand dollar purchase when I've made well over that throughout the years and raked in a lot of income for the label? Jonas knew quite a lot about my earnings or had an idea about them, but he had no idea who the money had actually been going to.
"I..." I struggled to give him an answer as I tried to think of a plausible lie he would believe. Sometimes I believe he sees through me and can tell when I'm lying. I have seen it in his eyes
"Just send your account number," he said after a few minutes of silence again. "We can discuss it tomorrow... if you want."
Oh. "Okay."
"Okay then."
A few minutes later, i received the money, purchased the ticket and i was let in.