Author's Note: And you are now entering the world of rides for this story. First let us have the carousel shall we?
What would you do if life is the one hindering you to have the person you love?
When everything is so wrong
And I don't belong in you precious memory…
Coz you know I would walk a thousand miles
If I can just to see you tonight…
(A thousand miles)
Chapter seventeen: Round and round
"Whoa, Vause you might want to slow down. I know that you want to get their as fast as you can but we have to be there in one piece." Nicky said after a while. I nodded and tried to calm my nerves but I can't stop my jaws from clenching.
"You know I don't really take our flying classes seriously but I have heard from one of our professors that when you are flying an aircraft you should be calm just like when you are driving." Nicky added after a few minutes.
"Hmmm." I answered grumpily.
"It is the first time, I'm seeing you like this." Nicky said chuckling.
"What?" I snarled at her and breathed in and out. I don't want to be one of those pilots who made an error in the sky.
"Even when you are faced with the most difficult problem in your life, I have only seen you mad several times and heck I have only seen you cried thrice. Usually you only showed emotions when it is your family involved. You are always compose and knows what to do. But now seeing you seethe in anger, makes me wonder how deep Piper has affected your life." Nicky explained long.
"Of course, I will be furious because I need Piper to execute my plan! She is mine and no one touches what is mine." I answered briefly.
"No. She is not yours. And I don't believe you when you said that." Nicky answered calmly. I ignored her to focus more on flying the plane.
"Piper! Piper!" Polly shouted in the waiting area. My face is almost split in to two when I have seen my best friend. It has been a few months since we last saw each other and it is great to know she volunteered to fetch me in the airport.
"Polly! I miss you." I said then hugged her tight.
"Yeah. I miss you too." She said then hugged me too.
"Okay. Before I see some girl drama in here, give me your bag, Piper and let us go." Peter said jokingly. We laughed hard and after walking to the parking lot, we hop in to Peter's car.
"So tell me Piper, how was your stay in New York?" Polly asked excitedly.
"It is fine. Actually quite interesting." I answered dreamily.
"Interesting?" Polly asked with an eyebrow raised.
Alex is sexier when she do that.
"You had sex with someone in there." Polly said nonchalantly. I nodded dreamily then her words hit me.
"Oh my goodness, Polly! No! Of course not!" I shouted to my shock.
"Oh, Piper, honey, do not fool me. I know you better than your mother." Polly said enjoying the sight of me panicking.
"Fuck you!" I said embarrassed that Peter could hear us.
"Fuck you too. But seriously Piper, who was it this time? The curly blond or the hot one?" Polly asked.
"The hot one." I answered briefly then blushed hard.
"Good. Good. I don't want you to mess up with the curly one. She looks like a player." Polly commented.
"How did you know I did "it:" " I asked Polly after a few minutes.
"You have a different glow and you have feelings for her. I had seen that look, Piper, many times." Polly said. I nodded cause I know what she is talking about.
"She is different, Polly. So much more than what I have experience before." I said while looking at Polly's eyes.
"I hope she is casue I don't want to see you hurt anymore, Piper. You have enough fair share of pain." Polly said seriously.
"I hope so too." I said to Polly.
"So Polly, do you have any idea why would my family want me here?" I asked seriously.
"None but have you heard about the recent news about your company?" Polly asked me carefully.
I shook my head and listen to Polly intently.
We landed in LAX airport safely and without a hitch. The car I requested is already waiting for us and the driver opened it for us. My phone rings while the driver maneuvered the car out of the airport and drive to the hotel my secretary reserved for us.
"Hello." I answered briefly.
"Ms. Vause, you have a meeting with Mr. Caputo and the Mr. Chapman tomorrow morning. Ms. Red agreed to look at your business in here. And I have already arranged my flight going in there" my secretary said immediately.
"Good. I want it to be smooth tomorrow. Can you fax everything I needed?" I asked.
"Yes, Ms. Vause. Is there anything else you needed?" My secretary asked.
"Yes. Please confirmed with Mr. Caputo that I will be coming to his house now to have an advance meeting. After that, prepare everything you need to go in here. Have a safe flight." I said then hung up the call.
"Even in this kind of situation, you are really efficient." Nicky said while smirking then offered a glass of wine.
"I have already prepared everything ahead of time." I said and accept the glass.
"Vause, can I give you a piece of advice?" Nicky said. I nodded and looked at Nicky's eyes.
"Forget about the shit of your past. What you have now with Piper is fucking way wonderful and I think that only few people can have it. Not all the living people here on earth would be lucky enough to have the chance to meet someone who can make your world in a beautiful chaotic thing. So don't mess it up." Nicky said seriously. It was the first time I have heard Nicky advise me like that, usually she don't want to dip her hands in my mess.
"You don't know what I have to gone through just to ake this happen. And don't worry I won't regret anything." I answered and wishing that what I have said is true.
I walked silently inside the house after a maid open it for me.
"Where are they?" I asked not bothering to look at the maid.
"They are already waiting in the dining room, Ms. Piper." The maid answered then get my bag.
"I really have a bad feeling about this, Piper."
Me too.
I walked towards the direction of the diner and was astonished to see that my family is complete. It is a rare thing for us to have everyone in the house and that is usually because a big event is going on in the family. Everyone greeted me politely and I sit gracefully in my designated sit.
"So Piper, how are you?" My mom asked me.
"Fine." I answered briefly.
"I have heard that one of your novels is going to be a film. Congratulations, Piper." Cal said happily.
"Thank you." I sincerely thank Cal.
"Well, congratulations, Piper. Why didn't you tell us about it? we could have thrown a party for you." My mother said dramatically.
"Well you are too busy with your life." I answered as I tried not to roll my eyes.
"You can't throw a party, honey." My father said seriously.
"Why is that? It is an accomplishment." My mother said. A ball of anger was threatening to surface in my throat on how my father look at me.
"Because it is about the prison book she wrote." My father said with vehemence. Everyone in the table stop what they are doing and looked at me.
"Pineapple anyone?" Cal said after a few minutes of silence to break the awkward feeling.
"I think I'm done. Can you please excuse me?" I said then pushed my chair and get up.
"I need to talk to you, Piper. Come to my study room." My father said to me then walked out of the dining room. Cal caress my arm before letting me go which made me more suspicious why I'm here. I knocked on my father's study room and heard him said come in. I saw my father holding a glass of whiskey and his back is facing me.
"Dad?" I asked after a few minutes that he is not talking. I heard how he gulped down the whole content of the glass. He sat on his chair facing me and I could see how his face tried to imitate his usual authority but could still see the pain in his eyes.
"Do you remember how my father build our company, Piper?" my father asked me seriously.
"Yes, father." I answered.
Chapman Trading Company was built by my father and two of his best friend from scratch. After a few years in the business, it became lucrative and growing. For some unknown reason, the two founding members gave up their share and the company now belonged to us.
"This is the legacy of my father in this world." My father said not really looking at me. I nodded not really knowing why we are having this conversation.
"Sadly, this legacy is threaten to be taken away from us and I don't want that to happen. I don't want to disappoint my father. I think you have heard about already the situation of the company" My father continued seriously.
"I really don't get it, dad. I'm not a businesswoman so there is nothing do to help you. I could give you money but I don't think it would be enough to stop the bankruptcy." I said.
"Oh but you have everything we need to get out of this mess." My father said now looking at me in the eyes intently. I tried to read what is on his mind but couldn't. I really don't know my father well.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"The Bloom Trading Company offered to help us in one condition." He said then look away. I waited for him to tell me what the Bloom Trading Company wanted from us then a thought hit me.
"No." I whispered weakly.
"Yes." My father confirmed what I'm thinking.
"You can't do this father!" I shouted trying to stop the tears flowing in my eyes.
"Yes, I can! You will do it. You will be married to Larry Bloom to save our company. We will have a merger with them." My father said firmly.
"No. I'm not a thing to be played in this game of your!" I said not anymore aware of the commotion I'm making.
"First and foremost, you are a Chapman, Piper. I am your father. And I have every right to decide for you!" my father said with authority.
"No! No! No!" I shouted on top of my lung then sobbed more loudly.
"This is for your own good and for our family." My father said not budging with his decision.
"No! This is for your own good and the company. I hate you." I said vehemently.
PAK!
My eyes went wide when the realization hit me. My father slapped me in the face. It was the first time he laid his hand on me like that and the sound is louder in my head and heart. I looked at him hurt and run out of his office. I locked my door and cried some more while thinking why this kind of things is happening to me.
Three Hours Later
"Thank you, Mr. Caputo. You don't know what this is means to me." I said sincerely after the meeting.
"Don't thank me yet, Ms. Vause. The plan is not yet executed." Mr. Caputo said.
"Don't worry everything will be alright." I assured him.
"Oh, I would love to see his reaction when he saw what is coming for him." Mr. Caputo said with a malicious grin.
"Ms. Vause, I think Mr. Chapman is now ready for you in the other room. " My secretary said after Mr. Caputo went out of my room.
I walked with a predatory smile in my face.
