Chapter 34 Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Four
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Mirah
“What about this color?” Nessa held up her phone at me, and with barely a glance at it, I grunted in response. Takeout boxes littered the floor, as we slouched on the floor. The perfect weekend. Nessa was checking photos of cats online for a suitable one she'd buy. And though I didn't hate cats, I just wasn't into pets.
I came across a photo of a hot guy on Instagram. “Nessa, I think it's high time I gave dating a chance. I mean, take a look at this guy!” I gave a girly shriek.
"Mirah, you have to see this-”
I continued anyway. “It can't be hotter than this guy.” I double tapped on the love reaction, pushing back a drool.
“Mirah-” Her curt tone made me look up.
My heart skipped a beat. “What-” my words trailed off, as she handed me her phone quietly. The news headline sent my heart racing. I looked up at her, and back at the phone. “This-”
Her face gave way to a pitiful look. And no matter how many times I glanced at the phone, the headlines stubbornly refused to change.
HAS AUREL CORPORATION GONE BANKRUPT?
It was there, written in capital letters. I shook my head with a little laugh. “It's fake. Vermont media can't be counted upon for credible news.
“It's everywhere.” She threw in quietly.
I shook my head, gently at first, then it turned violent. Disbelief crowded my sense of reasoning. My father's business couldn't have gone bankrupt. James Aurel was everything but a bad businessman. Single Handedly, he'd led the corporation to greater heights. And now, everything-
I suddenly found it hard to breathe. Blaming it on my tight dress, my hand strayed behind me to loosen the belt. The flat pattern reminded me that I was putting on one of my favorite big shirts, rather than a tight dress.
“Nessa-” My voice cracked, as she came over to hug me.
“You could be right, you know. The news could be fake.” She assured me, patting my shoulders.
And just like a timer, my phone rang out. We exchanged glances, and I grabbed it from the phone where I'd kept it. My sister's name displayed on my phone's screen held an uncanny resemblance to a grim reaper. I subconsciously held my breath as I placed the phone close to my ear.
“Hello Kathryn,” I breathed into the mouthpiece.
There was a momentary silence from the other end. “Have you seen the news?”
Every single doubt and false hope I'd been trying to give myself for the past few minutes, crashed like a thin piece of ice. When I replied, my voice bore no semblance to mine. “Yeah, I just saw it.”
Another pause.
“How's Father?” I asked with a little sniffle.
“Why do you care?” She retorted.
I wanted to ask her why she called. Instead, “What about Mother?” I asked.
“She's been bawling her eyes out. Father left an hour ago in a fit of rage. This is the best time to appease him. Jayden is your fiancè. Convince him to help.” She said in that snappy bossy voice of hers.
My vision turned blurry. “Jayden is not my fiancè.” I retorted.
“I don't care. He'll help you, if you ask him. I presume you wouldn't want to watch our family's company crumble, would you?” She asked slyly.
My stomach churned. “I can't.”
She laughed. With a sneer, she continued, “Do you think you have a choice?”
A retort was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to remind her that older sisters didn't act the way she did. That older sisters stood up for their younger sisters. That, they didn't just push them under the rug whenever problems crept up.
But by the time I could respond, she'd hung up. The beep sound of my phone snapped me out of my haze. I looked up at Nessa who was still watching me. She asked no questions, squeezing my shoulders instead.
I was being pushed into a tight corner. I could easily run away. Go somewhere far from Vermont. But my conscience and past would always haunt me.
My chest constricted, as I leaned against Nessa's chest. Rather than the tears I was expecting, I felt my eyes stung. But there were no tears.
“What should I do? I really can't marry that asshole of an heir.” I sniffled.
“I can ask my parents for help.” Nessa suggested.
I shook my head. “You don't have to.” We were friends, yes. But I couldn't bear the thought of Nessa falling out with her parents for my sake.
The thought made a realization dawn on me. I was on my own.
…
I downed glass after glass of tequila, as I leaned against my chair. Barcon wasn't as full as I'd thought. Thank God.
I wasn't on duty tonight, and even though my workplace was the last place I could count on to make me forget my pain temporarily, here I was anyway.
My head pounded, as I gulped yet another glass. My screen lit up, and I drunkenly glanced over it. It was Nessa. I ignored it, just as I did her previous calls. I hadn't even told her where I was going, when I left the house.
I knew she'd be worried, but I couldn't help it. I felt like shit.
Tried as I could, the events of this afternoon replayed across my mind. And increased my headache.
Here, at a lone corner of Barcon, my tears flowed down freely. I was allowed to be vulnerable here. No one cared. No one could see me. I hiccuped, and requested for another full bottle of tequila. The bartender, my colleague, raised a brow at the number of glasses I'd quaffed. But he served me anyway. My legs wobbled as I returned to my seat. I plopped down and winced.
“Fuck,” I cursed in a low voice.
After Kathryn's call, my mother had called in too. I hadn't picked up. I knew what she was going to say.
Something like what Kathryn had told me. Or worse.
My throat burned at the bitter-spicy taste of my drink. I'd rather die, than ask Jayden for help. But deep down, I knew Kathryn was right. I couldn't watch as my family's company crumbled.
I suspected Jayden was behind the bankruptcy. That sonofabitch. A full bottle of grape wine later, I rose to my feet, almost stumbling. I stood at a spot, trying to regain my balance. I paid, and made to go out of the club. I almost bumped into a young guy outside, on the way to my car.
“Sorry,” I slurred. Through my drunken gaze, I observed his face. He had bangs, and a boyish smile masked his face.