Chapter 104. Annual Event/ Part 1
Jackson Johnson
Saturday morning, I was having breakfast in my penthouse. My mother had come the night before to go over the final details of the event. I ended up with a headache that even the pill couldn’t alleviate.
“Would you like some more orange juice, sir?” the housekeeper asked.
“Thanks, but no, it’s given me a bit of heartburn,” I replied. She frowned. “Just some jam, please.” She handed me a jar, and I continued eating at the counter while watching her organize the day’s tasks. When I finished, I brushed my teeth and asked Richard for the car, as I wanted to finalize the last details at the venue for tonight. I was anxious, nervous, and my stomach was in knots. The heartburn had returned, and by the time I reached the venue, I was already irritated. Upon arrival, I saw my mother next to the organizer, both arguing heatedly. I approached them to see what was going on.
“What’s happening?” They both stopped talking and looked in my direction.
“We have to change the chef at the last minute.” I opened my eyes in surprise. I looked at the clock; it was eight in the morning, still early enough to find a good chef.
“We have time. What happened to the other one?” I asked curiously. My mother glanced at the organizer, who seemed uncomfortable with my question. “Mother?” I addressed her directly, seeing that the other woman wasn’t going to say anything.
“She fired him.” I looked in her direction.
“If the event hasn’t started yet, why did you fire him?”
“He wasn’t suitable for the event, but I have several candidates.”
“Well, we need to choose one of them to handle the banquet, and quickly.”
“Yes, sir.” She then left, leaving me alone with my mother, who looked very upset.
“Are you okay?” I asked. She looked at me and shook her head.
“Jacob isn’t coming.” That really surprised me.
“What do you mean he’s not coming?” She pressed her lips in annoyance.
“Leah can’t accompany him, and he said he won’t come.”
“But if she can’t come, he can still come. He’s part of this too.”
“Tell him, make him understand. He’s not answering my calls or messages anymore.” I searched for my phone in the pocket of my dress pants and then called him. One ring, two, and then he answered.
“Where are you?” I heard noise on the other end of the line.
“Hi, Jackson.” His tone was serious.
“Hi, why aren’t you here at the venue? We’re going over the final details of the event. I thought you’d be supporting our mother.”
“I can’t, I have a lot of work to do…”
“Can’t you do it on Monday? It’s Saturday, and you don’t work.”
“Oh, it’s just…” He paused, and then I heard a long sigh. “I can’t,” he finally said. I stepped away to speak more privately with him.
“What’s going on? Talk to me.”
“You’ll say it’s ridiculous.”
“Talk.”
“Leah turned down the invitation to the event.”
“So? You can come without her, right? You’re part of this event too. I thought that was clear.”
“I know, I can come, but I’m not in the mood.”
“What’s wrong with you? Since when does your mood prevent you from attending an obligation?”
“I don’t want to go, damn it! Leah’s not going! It was supposed to be our first official date! And she’s not going!” he exclaimed, agitated. He had left me speechless; Leah was really starting to affect him.
“Alright, calm down.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to respond so rudely.”
“Calm down, I understand. Do you want me to talk to Lilly to convince her to go?”
“No, no, I have to respect her decision.”
"It's very mature of you, Jacob."
"I don't want to pressure her and make her distance herself from me."
"You're doing the right thing. But do you know why she won't go?"
"I don't know. She just called to apologize for not accompanying me. I don't know the real reason."
"Alright, calm down, take a bath and relax. I'll handle the details with Mom."
"No, no, I'll change and come to you. Maybe getting out will clear my mind."
"Alright, we're waiting for you." And we ended the call. I was still surprised by how my brother was handling things. I called Lilly to find out what was going on, even though I shouldn't interfere, I needed to know.
"Hi, honey," Lilly answered.
"Hi, sweetheart. Is it too early?"
"No, of course not. I'm having breakfast with Leah."
"Oh, by the way, is she coming to the event tonight?" There was a silence.
"Well, she's not coming. She has some things to do."
"At night?"
"Oh, yes, let me see if I have it in my bag." I furrowed my brow.
"What thing?" I asked, confused. I heard noise and footsteps.
"Sorry, I couldn't talk. Leah is a bit... restless."
"Restless about what?" I asked.
"About your brother. Apparently, she likes him a lot."
"If she likes him, why not go out with him today? According to Jacob, today was their first official date."
"That's exactly why. It seems to make her a bit... restless."
"I don't understand this 'restless' thing..." I confessed.
"Well, what do you feel for me?" Her question caught me by surprise.
"A lot of things," I said immediately.
"Of all the things you feel for me, aren't you afraid?" Then I understood what she was getting at.
"Oh, the fear of getting lost in your feelings, maybe? That it's too good and from one day to the next... everything goes bad? That one day you have everything and the next day, nothing..." There was a long sigh on the other side of the line. "Something like that?"
"Something like that," she said after a brief silence. "I told you she never had real dates, just occasional outings. But it seems your brother really moves her, and she's scared."
"Oh, I see. We're all afraid of giving ourselves and getting hurt."
"But she's stubborn."
"Then be more yourself. Encourage her to come tonight. If she needs a dress, we'll buy one. Jacob is a bit puzzled; he was really looking forward to coming with her to the event."
"I can imagine. I'll try to convince her."
"Good. If you need to go get a dress for her, I'll send Richard to pick you up and take you to Windsor."
"I'll let you know, honey."
"Alright, I'll wait for your message, sweetheart." And then we ended the call. I sighed and thought about my brother.
"Were you able to talk to Jacob?"
"Yes," my mother waited for me to say more. "He's on his way to help us with the remaining details."
"How did he sound?" My mother was really worried.
"He sounds a bit discouraged, but Lilly will help me convince Leah. Apparently, they really like each other. More than like, they have strong feelings for each other." A smile appeared on her lips.
"Very well, if you need my help, just let me know. Tonight... could be magical for many."
"What are you plotting now, Mom?"
"Me? Nothing. If fate brought you and Lilly together, it can do something for Jacob and Leah."
"Are you talking about 'fate'? You?"
"Do you think what you have with Lilly wasn't fate?"
"Maybe fate had something to do with it."
"Who could know for sure?" I noticed a look of complicity in her eyes, but I didn't know what it was about.
"Or did you have a hand in it?"
"Oh, my dear son, ask the universe for good things, and it will give them to you abundantly. It must have listened to me..." My mother winked and then returned to the living room. She was incredibly intuitive, and that... never ceased to amaze me.