Chapter 8

• Aurélien groaned and ran a hand through his spiky, golden locks as he got distracted again while trying to review the plant's package. He stared at the figures on the file in front of him and blew a raspberry.
• His sparsely furnished office felt stuffy after an hour of trying to calculate the figures.
• “What do you think about the ongoing Montgomery-Renard drama?” The TV presenter was asking his guests on the show.
• He counted the figures again and attempted to add them up to the former ones, his mind wandering to the show.
• “Well, honestly. I'd say Vivienne Renard is bringing herself a bit low and cheap.” A high-pitched voice replied, garnering Aurélien’s attention.
• ‘Brittney. Of course.’ He scoffed.
• “We all know she was abandoned at the altar. But don't you think chasing after a man who doesn't love you is a bit extreme and cheap?”
• Aurélien turned to glare at the blonde actress.
• “So, what you're saying, Miss Brittney is, you can't act like the heiress?”
• “You won't catch me dead doing that.” She confirmed haughtily.
• Aurélien dropped his pen and pushed a button on the telephone residing on his table.
• “Boss?” A female voice breathed from the other end.
• “Make a note not to accept any dinner plans or any sort of invitation from Brittney Dale.” He said, nonchalantly, twisting a piece of paper between his fingers.
• “Okay.”
• He replaced the phone and rested back in his chair with a smirk.
• “Let’s see how you do it, in your style.”
• He grabbed the remote off the table, reclined into his chair, and pushed the off button on the remote. He immediately found his mind wandering to Vivienne for the sixtieth time that morning. Just the thought of her silver-blue eyes made his heart race.
• “Vivienne…” He said as though he were testing the name on his tongue, liking the way his accent accentuated the French name nicely.
• He groaned and closed his eyes. ‘Get over yourself, Aurélien.’ he cautioned and smiled sadly.
• “Brother,” Léa yelled, barging into the office without knocking. She was dressed in warm, fashionable clothes.
• Aurélien sighed and turned towards the entrance, opening his eyes to see his annoying little sister bustling around the room with numerous shopping bags scattered all over the floor. His mouth fell open as he took in the sight.
• “You might catch a fly, Aurélien.” Lea giggled and started emptying the contents of her shopping bags on the floor. Aurélien watched in disbelief as all sorts of odd items she didn't need fell tumbled out, ranging from a royal blue-colored suit to a new watch, perfume, and other things.
• “Did you buy that for your new boyfriend?” He asked languidly.
• She turned to him with a smile. “It is for my brother.”
• Aurélien sighed and didn't reply, running his hand across his face, he lurched forward in his seat to continue with his calculations, trying to ignore his sister and her feminine stress.
• She continued with her business, not minding the fact that he ignored her, so the room was quiet for some time. But Aurélien wasn't convinced, expecting her to start her rantings any moment.
• Thirty minutes passed, and she didn't say a word to his surprise, he curiously craned his neck to see what she was doing that had made her ignore her favorite sport of stretching the mouth.
• His eyes widened. ‘Flowers? Just what is she up to this time?’ He wondered, hoping it wouldn't be too bad for him.
• “Oh. Did I forget to tell you? Guess what.” Léa excitedly exclaimed, breaking the silence.
• ‘Here goes.’ He thought and sighed.
• “You know, I am not good at that dang game.” Aurélien groaned in frustration, still wondering what she was up to this time.
• Léa smirked and the cat walked over to his table. “I scheduled a meeting with Vivienne Renard under your name at one of the finest restaurants this evening.” She explained, cackling gleefully like a deranged little imp.
• “What?” Aurélien’s eyes popped open, threatening to fall out if opened wider. “You didn't…tell me you did not just set a date for me…and this evening?” He exclaimed loudly as her cackles rose higher in pitch, which wasn't supposed to be possible, and he was sure if he glinted at her very hard he was going to make out the outline of a pair of horns, a spiky long tail, a pair of rubbery red wings and two bloodied fangs.
• “I did!” She confirmed feeling proud of her actions.
• Aurélien launched out of the chair after her, as she ran into the toilet and locked herself in, as though expecting this move. “How could you, Léa?” he yelled, banging on the door.
• “I am sorry, brother, I just couldn't bear it any longer. You have been in love with her for years. It's time you confessed your feelings.” She yelled back.
• Aurélien groaned and rested his head on the door, clenching his teeth angrily. He couldn't believe his sister would foolishly go to the extreme to make him happy.
• He sighed and went back to his seat. Forlornly imagining about Vivienne's possible reactions to his sudden, impromptu appearance after so many years. As much as he would have loved to go, he decided to cancel the plans.
• He ran his hand through his hair, groaning. He can't see her now, not while everything was still overwhelming for her.
• Lea didn't hear his voice for some time and decided to go out of the bathroom. She slowly tiptoed to his table and found him deep in thought, his golden hair spiky and all over the place. Her heart clenched at his downcast face.
• She had thought he would jump up for joy when she told him about it but was met with the opposite. She had only wanted to make him happy.
• “I am sorry, Ré.” She whispered quietly, her lips trembling with shame.
• His beautiful bright golden eyes met her subdued ones. The kindness in it was overwhelming as he motioned for her to go to him.
• She shamefully bowed her head and went to meet him behind his desk. He smiled and raised a hand to pat her head fondly.
• “It's fine, we can always cancel the appointment, can't we?”
• “No, to make her believe me and agree to the date,…” Léa stopped and looked down at her fingers. “I told her it was crucial.”
• Aurélien groaned and sighed, his hands falling limply to his side.
• “I guess I will have to honor the date!”
• .....
• Vivienne Renard sat alone in a corner booth of a small, plush restaurant, fidgeting with the napkin on the table.
• She had been waiting for nearly half an hour, and the mysterious person who had texted the location to her still hadn't arrived.
• Although she knew how dangerous her action of meeting with a strange unidentified person was, she had decided to go regardless of that.
• But now, here she was starting to worry that he wasn't going to show up.
• ‘I must be really getting sick in the head coming over here.’ she thought.
• As she was about to give up and leave, she heard the sound of the door opening. She turned to look, and her heart sank. It wasn't her date. It was a paparazzo, his camera already clicking away.
• “Miss Renard,” he said, his voice loud and unwelcome.
• Vivienne glared at the paparazzo, her eyes cold and hard. “I'm not interested in talking to you,” she said, her voice low and firm. “Please leave me alone.”
• She had had enough of them chasing after her everywhere she went, to the extent of her hating the sight or thought of a camera.
• But the paparazzo was undeterred. “I have some questions I need to ask you,” he said, his camera still snapping away. “It'll only take a few minutes. Please?”
• Vivienne felt her anger rising, but she tried to stay calm. “I'm not answering any questions,” she said, her voice growing louder, attracting the attention of some other patrons.
• The paparazzo became more persistent, and Vivienne lost her patience. “I've asked you nicely to leave me alone,” she said, her voice now raised. “I'm not going to answer any of your questions. Now, please go.”
• But the paparazzo wasn't backing down. “This is a public place,” he said, his tone challenging. “I am entitled to be here, and I have the right to ask you questions.”
• Vivienne felt her temper reaching a boiling point. She was ready to lunge at him and give him a punch when her mother's threats rang in her ears.
• “If you don't comport yourself and stop ruining the family reputation, I will lock you up!” Juliet had threatened her that afternoon when she had barged in, crying again.
• Vivienne took a deep calming breath and stood up to leave, but the paparazzo suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, trying to prevent her from leaving. “I'm just doing my job!” he said, his voice defensive.
• But Vivienne wasn't going to be deterred. She wrenched her arm free and glared at the paparazzo. “Get your hands off me!” she shouted. “I've had enough of this!”
• The restaurant had gone silent, and all eyes were now on the embarrassed Vivienne and the paparazzo. Vivienne could feel her face burning, and she knew that her privacy had been violated.
• As Vivienne and the paparazzo were arguing, a tall, lanky man approached them, his footsteps heavy and purposeful.
• Vivienne turned to look at him, and her heart nearly stopped. ‘This can't be.’ She thought as she took in his golden hair and eyes.
• But before she could say anything, the man pushed the paparazzo aside and put his arm around her shoulder. “Come on, let's get you out of here,” he said, his voice deep and soothing.
• Vivienne was confused, but she went along with him, trying to make sense of what was happening.
• The man led Vivienne outside, away from the paparazzo and the stares of the other restaurant patrons. They walked in silence for a few moments, each lost in their thoughts, they reached a small park nearby.
• The man stopped and turned to face Vivienne, his golden eyes kind and reassuring. He led her to sit on a bench.
• “Sorry about that back there,” he said, his voice gentle. “Are you alright?”
• Vivienne felt like she was in a daze, but she managed to nod. “I'm fine,” she said, although she wasn't sure if that was true.
• “I-I don't know if you remember me?” He asked, his voice clear and confident. “I am Aurélien by name.”
• Vivienne was still in shock over his appearance, but she decided to act like she didn't know him, shaking her head, and not trusting herself to talk.
• He nodded, understanding her situation, although he was downcast about her lack of recalling even his face. “It's okay,” he said. “We were just kids when we last saw each other. But I want to try to jog your memory if that's okay with you.”
• Vivienne took a deep breath and looked at Aurélien, her mind whirling with questions. But something about him, the way he spoke, made her aim to give him a chance like he secretly wanted her to remember him. “Alright,” she said.
• Aurélien smiled, and he started talking about their childhood together. He told her about the games they played, the times they had shared, and the secrets they had kept. With every word, Vivienne felt more sparks of recognition.
• She listened to Aurélien, feeling a knot of joy in her chest. She didn't know why, but she felt happy to finally see him after so many long years.
• Although, during their childhood phase, she wasn't as close to him as she was with Edgar, they were pretty close because of their family and their shared nationality.
• Aurélien tried to study her face to gauge her reactions, but she kept it impassive.
• “I don't really understand what you're saying, Mr. Aurélien,” she said, trying to be gentle. “But I think you got the wrong person.”
• He shook his head. “No, that's not possible.”
• “But you did. And I would appreciate it if you don't call out someone you don't know and start spewing out childhood gibberish…not especially a celebrity.” She said calmly. “Thanks once again for tonight. I will leave first.”
• Vivienne stood up and hurried away into the dark, her coat billowing out behind her.
• Aurélien only sat there for some time looking confused and hurt.