AN:/ Hey guys, classes start this Monday for me but don't worry, I'll be working on more chapters. Here's another chapter, enjoy.
(C)
Chapter 4
"What do you mean you're arranged to marry?" screeched Risa. Alys uncovered her ears from the horrifying screech of her best friend Risa Holden.
"It was my Uncle's idea," Alys tried to explain, but Risa wasn't going to have it.
"That man needs to stop making your life a living hell! When are you going to speak up and defend yourself? They have hurt, beaten and tortured you since you've been in their home when is enough going to be enough?" Risa lectured.
"Remember the last time I defended myself against him," Alys said with ache.
Risa did recall what happened last time and it wasn't pretty. She remembered when Alys came to her house all bloody. Her arms were broken in three-ways and a twisted left leg in a strange way that looked painful. Her hair was matted and the clothes on her back were tattered. Risa had never seen Alys look like a..like a..like a broken doll. Risa watched as the EMT's place Alys on the gurney and put her in the back of the Paramedic truck, she watched as doctors and nurses running to the ICU with Alys, and she watched as a machine was breathing for a non-moving Alys. Risa would jump at the sound of the heart monitor going off every ten minutes. She would pray for her best friend to stay on earth for another day. It was that day she knew that she had to be there for Alys no matter what.
"Do you even know this thing you're forced to marry?"
"No. I was supposed to meet this week, but we had to come here," Alys said.
"Well, then, it's a good thing that we're here then. Let's get something to eat and go to the showcase," nodded Risa.
"Okay, but what do you want to eat? Here at the hotel or on the way to the event?"
"On the way out and eat here when we get back," Risa planned.
"Fair enough," Alys said. They grabbed their purses from the beds and went out of the room to go to the showcase.
At L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Selendrile, Tira, Listria, Corvin and Taurus watched as Etta tries to find Alys number in her phone, but really she forgot the number for the operator. Una decided to sit right next to Selendrile to get to know him. Selendrile scoffed and scooted closer to Corvin since the perfume Una was wearing was too much for his sensitive nose. Tira rolled her eyes at Una's attempt of getting her little brother's attention, it was almost laughable. Listria and Taurus were starting to get bored and Corvin was playing games on his phone.
"Honey, did you find the number yet?" Gower asked nervously through his teeth.
"Yes, have you? It shouldn't be taking you this long to find a dang on cell number," Atherton seethed.
"Just wait a ...Hello?"
"Bonjour, my name is Julia. How may I help you this evening?"
"Yes, I need to call my niece; her name is Alys."
'It took that long just to find the operator's number," thought the Golden Dragon Family, 'please let this Alys girl have more sense than these fools in front us.'
"Okay, give me a minute ma'am."
Ring...Ring...Ring
"Hello?"
Jewelry Showcase
Berlin, Germany, the country that has the biggest crystal jewelry showcase in the world, but their showcases were different than the rest. Berlin's showcase has models already for the show. Each company has their own appointed numbers of models for the catwalk. Alys and Risa were running around like chickens heads cut off to be in two different directions. The reason was that their booth was right smack in the middle where the best traffic is at and they have to get the models ready.
"Whew, I'm sick and tired of all this running and with this stupid wig getting in my eyes," Risa complained tossing the strawberry blonde hair out of her face.
"I know and I feel the same," Alys agree to toss the blackish-blue hair, "we need to go back soon, though."
Risa groaned.
"Well well, look who's here. It's loser one and two," said a snooty voice. Alys and Risa knew who that voice belonged to. Dira Seelma, the spoilest and worst jewelry artist ever. The girls really don't like Dira because of her high and mighty attitude that reminds them of Una.
"What do you want, Dira?" Risa and Alys asked with crossed arms.
"I just wanted to see my two best friends before I beat them, receive the award for best crystals and brag in your face," Dira dreamily sighed.
Alys and Risa turned to look at each other and rolled their eyes. 'Oh brother,' they thought. Alys was about to say something, but Dira was talking about her new jewelry that her father had gotten for her business. The event was only three hours long and Dira could talk about herself for hours on end unless someone stops her. An hour was already gone and she was still talking. Patrons were coming over to the booth, looking and gazing at the jewelry, buying, and ordering. Alys and Risa gave out business cards and showed the Judges different kinds of crystals. The Judges left and Alys started closing the booth, Risa was putting the cases away in their safe and Dira was still talking. A second hour was passing and Alys and Risa were starting to nod off.
"Than I got this blue diamond from my Uncle for my nineteenth birthday and then.."
"Really now? Well, thank you for visiting us Dira, but we have to close and go back to the runway," Risa interrupted shaking her head to wake up.
"You do? Well, darn and here I am still wanting to brag. Oh well, I'll see you two never," Dira said walking away. Risa exhaled with the utmost relief and turned to wake up Alys, who was asleep from Dira's long winded speech.
"Alys wake up. We need to go back to the stage and get the models ready," Risa whispered shaking Alys' shoulder. Practically it didn't take Alys very long to wake up since she was having another nightmare. She just groaned and rubbed her eyes.
"Is she gone?" Alys asked warily looking around. Risa nodded yes, "Thank God! Alright, let's get back and go back to the hotel."
They fully closed their booth and headed over to Jewelry Show just in time to see a bit of a commotion between the host and the model directors. The models were sitting around waiting and watching the fight going on with worry. Risa and Alys were wondering what was going on so they asked Tommy, one of the male models that they knew.
"Hey Tommy, what's going on here?" Alys asked. Tommy turned and smiled down at Alys and Risa, who were his favorite ladies to work with when it comes down to fashion trends in the jewelry markets. He walked towards them waving and gave them both crushing hugs and a peck on the cheek.
"Two models are really late and the model director doesn't have any replacements so the host is pissed off," Tommy replied gazing over the fight with a frown. Risa looked over at the fight again and started thinking about how to solve the problem.
"It looks like they're about to go fist to fist pretty soon," Alys said getting worried.
"Should I get in between those two?" Tommy shook his head no and started to change her mind.
"I got it. Alys, we can be the replacement models," Risa said jumping up and down with excitement.
"WHAT!?" Alys screeched. "No, absolutely not. We're not models but jewelry artist, Risa."
"Hey, that's a good idea, Risa. Not only are you saving the model director's hide but it's your stores turn to go down the runway," Tommy agreed.
"Tommy. Don't encourage her.."
"But Alys, this will get us more recognition. Also, we are fashion models and actresses; why not be jewelry models too?" Risa explained. Alys was almost sold until Tommy and Risa started shoving her towards the arguing men because she was talking to long to answer.
"Hey, we can be the replacement, models." The men turned and glared at Risa for interrupting their discussion.
"Why should we take you as models?" asked the host angrily.
"Yes, why should we?" echoed the model, director.
"Well, one, we have experience in the modeling field; two, Tommy right here, can vouch for us; three, we are the owners of Love to the Eye jewelry and four, I don't see anyone else coming forward to do volunteer to go twice," Risa vocalized with a hint of a sparked heat.
The men froze and turned to each other. They knew Risa and Alys very well from the fashion and jewelry industry and did found the truth of what Risa meant when no one else wasn't volunteering more of their energy to walking down the runway. The host was afraid of Risa very much and agreed wholeheartedly. The model director told them to get ready for the runway. Risa smiled a winning smile and grabbed Alys by her hand and dragged her to the clothes rack.
Risa changed quickly in a periwinkle blue dress and silver shoes. The back was really low, there was slit on the left side that wasn't too high to be called slutty. The dress was sleeveless but had a v-cut down the middle from the collarbone to the lower chest area. She had on dyed pink crystal earrings, rings and a giant pink crystal on a choker. Her makeup was very light. The eye shadow was gray and blue. Her lips were glossed with a crushed raspberry hard candy. Her eyelashes were encrusted with a snow white mascara.
Alys changed into a deep red gown with black shoes. The shirt of the gown was in a wrapped design that changed into a train at the very end. At the back of the dress, there are wings that only release by nerve reflexes. The crystals that she was wearing were two-toned that only activates by light. She had a blood red crystals on her finger, ears and the necklace went down to her and turned into a belt. Her makeup was also very light. The eye shadow was red on the left and black on the right. The mascara was black on the top lash and the bottom lash was red. He lips were glossed with marbled black and red hard candy.
"Wow, you guys look amazing. Man, if I wasn't taken by my lady, I would definitely go out with you two," Tommy whistled enthusiastically coming back from strutting down the runway. Risa and Alys giggled with appreciation.
"Alright, ladies let's get a move on, please. Risa, you're up next, darling," the host announced.
"Alright, wish me luck guys," Risa said with energy. She closed her eyes, did her breathing exercises and started walking. Camera lights were flashing from fashion magazines photographers at Risa strutting down the runway like a powerful lioness on the prowl. Her hair was flying about which made her look more astoundingly innocent looking. Risa looked like Flower Nymph coming to chat to her flowers to make them grow. She posed at the end of the runway and turned back with her crystals shining bright guiding her to the passageway she came through.
"Alys, you're up and make it memorable, love," encouraged the host.
Alys nodded. She went up to the opening. With her eyes closed, she started walking. The worried gasp and murmurs about Alys falling off the stage, but she didn't. Before she was almost at the end when she stopped. More murmurs exploded around the stage. No one knew what was happening, but she surprised them. When Alys opened her eyes, the wings became unleashed. The wings started fluttering and they were covered with tear shaped crystals. She started walking again and the camera lights were flashing so fast at the beauty. She looked like a Faerie Queen coming down to meet her people from her rose perch. The crystals started changing from blood red to midnight black. The crowd went wild. Alys stopped at the end to pose and turned to go back.
"Alys, you were so awesome out there. Oh, and the wings popping out like that was great," Risa praised with a hug when Alys arrived back.
"Ha ha, thanks, Risa," Alys laughed hugging her back.
"You guys were marvelous out there. Ha, you two showed these newbies how it's really done," Tommy congratulated. Alys laughed once more before one of the judges came over and placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned to him and he motioned her to follow him.
"I'll be right back," Alys said walking away with the male judge; that was when her phone started to ring. Risa went towards Alys purse and grabbed her phone.
"Hello?" Risa answered.
"Hello, my name is Julia and I'm the operator. May I know whom I'm speaking to?"
"Oh, hi Julia, it's me, Risa."
"Risa? Oh hey, how's it going girl? I haven't heard from you and Lyly in a long time."
"Everything is fine. Work and school, you know the deal. So what's up?"
"Oh yeah, I have a Mrs. Bollinger on the other line wanting to talk to Alys."
"Alys will be back in a minute, but I will take the call," Risa said grudgingly.
"Alright, I'll see you later in the week."
"Hello? Alys?"
"Hello Etta, Alys is busy at the moment but I can help with whatever you need," Risa answered.
"Where is she then? We have an important meeting with her betrothed and she is not here and she needs to be here," Etta half yelled through the phone. Risa could already imagine Etta's face turning red and she started laughing.
"What are you laughing about, young lady?"
"Nothing really. A friend of mines was doing something really stupid…"
"Risa, Risa, guess what? Guess what?" Alys yelled running back.
"Oh, here she is now. Alys, it's your Aunt Etta." Risa handed Alys the phone and went over to sit down in one of the chairs to remove the makeup.
"Hello Aunt Etta, is something wrong?"
"Yes, there is. You're not here where you're supposed to," Etta seethed. "Why didn't you tell any of us that you were leaving?"
"I left a message on the fridge that I would be gone until Monday morning. I didn't know that we would be meeting today…"
"You better get here now or you're in big trouble Missy."
"Alright, I'll be there but where is the meeting going to be at?"
"At L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Now, get here or else," Etta yelled and hung up.
"Sigh. Risa, I have to go back home," Alys said solemnly. Risa could see Alys shaking from the emotions that were trying to overpower her. Tommy already left and the place was empty of people except for them.
"Well, let's go and see this guy you're engaged to and come back to enjoy our little vacation. But first, we need to find something to wear before we go."
"Okay." They got dressed into their clothes and l started to leave the building. Risa hailed them a cab to their hotel and to Berlin Tegel Airport for a quick trip back home.
"They're going to feed us, right? I'm starving and we had to change our plans."
"Yes and if not, I'll buy you something to eat."
"You better." Alys rolled her eyes at her best friend but smiled that Risa was still the same girl from when they were children. The girls arrived at the hotel, ran upstairs to change and ran back into the cab. The cab guy drove them to the airport and they paid him handsomely. Risa went inside the building to get their tickets and they both ran to the plane. The pilot started its engine and they went off.
At L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Selendrile watched Etta talking on her phone to someone on the other line. Her face was getting red, her voice was getting high and she was spitting every time she was talking.
'I wish I had an umbrella to cover me from the spit cloud,' Selendrile thought with disgust. Etta hung up her phone with a huff.
"My goodness, that irritating girl."
"Is she on her way?" Gower asked his wife.
"Yes, she's coming. I can't believe she's out of town and didn't even tell us!" Etta exclaimed.
Selendrile and his family just stared at the couple and were thinking by what Etta was saying was that their niece was a troublemaker. Listria gazed upon her husband with concern on who she is going to be marrying her little boy. Taurus agreed, but he would rather judge the girl himself to see if she was right for his son.
"If you don't mind me asking but do you know where she's coming from?" Tira asked. Sure she loved to annoy her little brother but she still cared for him. Hearing them talk about their niece like that made her worry for Selendrile.
"Y...eh no, I didn't," Etta admitted with her head down shamefully.
Corvin stared at Etta with a dumbstruck expression. I mean, here is this family talking bad about a girl they offered to them but they didn't even care enough to ask where she was or how long it will take her to get back in the town. He didn't believe them one bit. Selendrile just rolled his eyes from the out bursting lie. He heard the whole conversation between Etta and who he thought was his betrothed. She told her that she left a message but how would Etta know if she just got back in town herself from a trip coming straight here instead of going home and check to see. He knew Corvin didn't believe the couple right away, but his sister and his parents would need physical evidence to surmise what they're being told.
'I don't like people deceiving me. I hope she'll prove them wrong.'
Another hour went by when the waiter came back with a smile and was being followed by two ladies.
"The final guests are here and I'll be right back with your menus. Is there anything you would like to drink?"
"My family will just have water," Taurus ordered.
"We'll have your best red wine," Gower smiled smugly.
""I'll have my regular old tap," said Atherton.
"Of course, sir. What about you two ladies? What would you like to drink?"
"Your Passion Fruit Tea," Risa ordered and Alys ordered the same.
"Great choice. I'll be right back with your drinks and menu." The waiter pulled out their seats and left to get the drinks and menu. The males stood up and sat back down in greeting to the girls.
"Hello, my name is Alys Lisle and I humbly want to apologize for being so late. We were out of town for a business venture," Alys introduced.
"Hello, my name is Risa Holden. I'm Alys best friend and I also apologize for our tardiness and my unwanted presence," She replied.
They both sat down and waited. They were sizing up the family that was before them. The family were stunning looking and could be models. The waiter came back with their drinks and menus. Risa smiled politely at him and began grazing the menu to see what she wanted. Alys already knew what she wanted and kept studying the family that she would be joining by marriage. It seemed like Alys wasn't the only one sizing her up. Selendrile was staring intently at Alys since she came. He noticed that she was wearing black shorts with a puffy blue blouse and three-inch white heels. She didn't wear a lot of makeup or jewelry. Her perfume was light and matched wonderfully with her natural scent. Her mahogany hair was up in a curly ponytail and her hazel chocolate eyes were expressive but were gate doors that were hiding something mysterious. She intrigued him and he wanted to tease her mercilessly to no end.
"How rude of us. My name is Listria Presd'eaux and this handsome fellow is my husband, Taurus, my daughter Tira, my two sons Corvin and Selendrile," Listria said a little embarrassed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Alys and Risa said together.
The waiter came back to take their orders. Alys gave her order then Risa, and the rest of the party ordered right after. Everyone was quiet. Una was playing with her hair still trying to get Selendrile's attention, Atherton was straightening his silverware, Gower and Etta were on their phones, Alys and Risa were staring at the paintings on the wall. The Presd'eaux family was staring at Alys trying to see what she was all about. The waiter came back a fifteen minutes later with their food and began eating and Gower started discussing business.
"Alys, what do you do? Are you working or going to school?" Listria and Tira asked.
Listria was getting quite tired of listening to Gower talking on and on about what was important if they were in a business meeting instead of marriage meeting. Tira was starting to feel nauseous from this man talking about something that she didn't really care about.
"I work and go to school," Alys answered before taking a sip of her tea.
"What kind of work do you do?" Tira asked.
"It's not as big as owning businesses, I'm sorry to say," Alys replied with a little laugh. Selendrile glanced up at from his plate at Alys from her comment. Risa perked up a smile and went back to eating.
"Alys, where do you go to school and what are you studying?" Taurus asked, trying to get back to business. He took a sip of his water while he waited for Alys to answer.
"I go to the University of Burgundy. I am studying Humanities and Life Sciences," she answered. "The courses are hard but it feels goods learn about how the environment works and reading different literature from different eras is so exciting. I would like to travel to understand other culture literature."
"That's great! I wanted to go the Burgundy but sadly it didn't have my field. Study hard, you hear," Taurus said.
Alys nodded and smiled. She continued to talk with Taurus almost for the entire meeting. Selendrile continued on eating and glancing up here and there at Alys. He noticed that she would smile when need to at her family but more at his family and her best friend. But there was something that bothered him and he just had to know about it.
"What kind of work lets you go off to Berlin, Germany if it's not for business?" Selendrile asked. Alys gave him a look of annoyance and decided to ignore his question.
"Enough about me, tell me about yourself?" Alys asked, giving him smile.
"I own a business and that's all you need to know about me," he replied taking the challenged.
"Well, that's fine with me," Alys replied, "besides who wants to get to know you with that high and mighty attitude." Selendrile glared at her and Tira, Corvin, and Risa started to laugh. Alys smiled at her victory.
"Alys, how old are you? I don't want to date someone that acts childish," a pissed off Selendrile said.
"Alys, how old are you? I don't want to date someone that acts childish," a pissed off Selendrile said.
"I don't date pedophiles if that's what's asking," Alys uttered with a teasing smirk. Risa was on the ground laughing and everyone else was in total shock. Gower and Atherton were blushing a deep red in anger. Una and Etta's mouth were wide open. You could see the steam coming out of Selendrile's ears.
"Wow, this is getting better by the minute. I like her," says Tira.
"Yeah, she put Selendrile in his place. I've never seen him like this before," Corvin said. Alys looked around confused. She answered his question as honest as she could, did she say something wrong. She felt bad and wanted to clear the air a bit. Alys already knew if she didn't then she would be getting her 'punishment' from her aunt and uncle.
"I'm sorry. I guess I kind of went a little overboard with my answer. I'm eighteen years old." Risa got up from the floor and started to calm down from high. Listria and Taurus were in shock, but they got over it since they realized she was just teasing their son. Selendrile started calming down and stared at Alys. He noticed how sincere she was. Her face was shrouded with concern and worry.
"That was unexpected, but I don't think I'll accept your apology," Selendrile said with a smirk.
"Really? Then I take it back. Risa, it's time for us to go before we get in trouble with our boss," Alys replied. Corvin and Tira started laughing at their brother's pain. Taurus shake his head at his son for not taking the apology when he had the chance. Risa nodded and gave a shock angry Selendrile a smile and grabbed her stuff. Alys did the same and was about to leave when Listria stopped her.
"Wait Alys, before you leave; how about you and Selendrile exchange numbers."
Alys really didn't want to give this jerk her number, but the look Listria gave made her stop. She wasn't used to getting that look of hoping. She sighed and agreed to give Selendrile her number grudgingly. Listria smiled with glee. Selendrile didn't want to exchange numbers but if it means that his mother would get off his back. He got out his phone and gave it to Alys and Alys did the same. Risa took Selendrile's phone after Alys put her number in so she could give him her number as well. She handed it back to him with a smile and left.
"It was nice meeting some of you. I hope we'll meet again," Alys said with a smile. She gave Listria, Tira, Corvin, and Taurus a thankful nod and to Selendrile, she just gave him a frown and she left.
AN:/ Alys and Risa met with the family and there is already problems between Selendrile and Alys. Risa is having fun watching and can't wait to see what's going to happen next.