Chapter 12

"Aurora Kings, we did it!"

And I sat down on the bed, my sleep formally ruined with my assistants screaming over the phone.

I managed to sit up while rubbing my eye to get rid of the sleep. "Emily Smith, have you looked at the time, it's 2 AM. What was so important that you couldn't wait till the morning? Or at least for a civilised hour, two in the morning! Girl, you ruined my beauty sleep." I muttered in anger as I stood up and went to the mirror checking if I had any baggage under my eyes.

Yup! I take my beauty really seriously.

"To hell with your beauty sleep Aurora, You will scream louder than me when I tell you what exactly happenedy

I rolled my eyes, she was talking as if we got selected in my Miss Worlds. beauty pageant.

"What happened Emily?" I asked.

"My dear Aurora kings, We got selected for the world’s biggest jewellery show. Oh My God, I can’t believe our designer house got such a big opportunity."

I frowned. "What! But how is that possible Em! We never participated in any show?"

"Well," she cleared her throat and took a dramatic pause before speaking again. "It was me who sent your designs to them, as your last design was unique in itself. And I thought why not give it a try."

"Seriously, you did it, without asking me?" I was shocked. How could she do that!

"I know I should’ve asked you, but at that time, we were running short of time, so I sent it urgently and forgot to ask you. Please don’t be angry Aurora, and see we got such a unique opportunity, isn’t it?" She said, When I remained silent she started speaking again.

"Please don't be like this, Aurora. It's a great opportunity for us. Many big Jewelry designers crave to be in this show but we got this opportunity. Can you believe it? You know, in excitement, I’m still pinching my arm as I think it’s a dream in which all these things are possible. Damn! I can’t believe luck has done such a huge favour. If we win this show, our Jewellery house will be recognised just like Tiffany and many renowned and well-known personalities of the world will get associated with us."

"Just imagine, our dream of having our own brand will come true if we win this show. We would do it on our own, Aurora, you will do it on your own."

I didn't know what to feel. I was nervous, excited, happy and everything. A shiver ran down my body imagining Emily's excitement. I wanted to believe it but couldn't. There was an nth number of emotions running in my mind right now.

"Oh Aurora, If we win this show we could be the next, Belle or Tiffany's…"

My heart was beating so fast that it took me a minute to calm myself and control my emotions. "Emily, tell me everything now!" I ordered her.

"Okay, so we were the final contestants of this contest. There are almost 19 more contestants. There will be some jewellery shows in every round based on the themes given by the judges and you will cry happy tears hearing the name of the judges of the show."

"Who are the judges?" I asked, her excited smile rubbing on me now.

"The names include Rawls, you know that famous designer from The Belle…"

I was astounded. "Rawls…" I whispered. That man was one of the most celebrated designers in North America. He worked with The Belle, one of the most popular jewellery designers here in the USA. And everyone knows how strict he is about his work. I still remember the day when I first went to meet him with my designs after dad called him. There he told me that he couldn't accept me as an intern because my designs were not fresh. Since then, I have worked day and night to bring out the rawness in my designs.

I went numb for a moment hearing his name. Do I even stand a chance in this competition, a feeling of self-doubt immersed inside me? I bit my lip in anticipation but then Gabe's words came to my mind over me having no identity of my own. His words hurt me fiercely when he suggested that I would be depending on him after marriage and offered me a job as a dishwasher in his restaurant. The feeling of self-doubt was still there but another feeling enthralled inside me.

The feeling of self-respect. Yes, my dad treated me and still treats me like a princess but I have an identity of my own and after marriage, I would not be depending on him.

I can earn my own money and I will prove it to everyone.

"Hello...Aurora, are you listening to me or not!!"

I shook my head coming out of my thoughts. "Yes, I am listening. Tell me about the details."

"Alright, so listen to me carefully now. We have to go to Vancouver for two months as the competition will be held there. If you accept the contest rules then you can't come back to Boston before two months due to the copyright issues over the designs. The sponsor of the show could ask you to work for him and according to the rules you can't deny that…"

I was listening to everything carefully. The details, the rules and everything she told me. "Emily, what if I don't want to work with the sponsor…"

"Well! That's the point, Aurora, you can't deny and it's not like they won't pay you and trust me girl it's a big opportunity if you get to work with the sponsors. They will pay you handsomely for your designs and most importantly you will get experience to work with one of the most precious Jewellery brands in the world. You could get an opportunity to work with Rawl itself."

I was excited and anxious at the same time. Cupping My chin between my thumb and fingers, I thought about all the pros and cons of accepting this show's rules.

"Oh come on Aurora, what are you thinking about? It's once in a lifetime opportunity, grab it. Trust me on this girl, I am your agent and I have gone through all the details of this contest's contract. It's only about two months." She tried to persuade me.

I sighed, lowering my hand. "But Two months in Vancouver, without Gabe…"

"This again…" she whispered but I heard her. "Aurora, Gabe is not going anywhere but this opportunity will. You see if you didn't sign the contract till tomorrow, they will replace you with someone else. There are thousands of people who are dying to grab this opportunity, and here you are thinking about it."

I closed my eyes, trying to make a decision and the scene of Gabe telling me about washing dishes in his restaurant appeared like a dream or I Say nightmare.

I opened my eyes, determined. "I am ready Emily. Send me the contract and I will sign it."

"Bravo! So I have already shown it to our lawyer, and Anderson is pretty much okay with it. No need to go through it again, just sign it and then we are off to Vancouver, baby."

"Wow! Just thinking about winning the contest is like a dream to me…" she squealed over the phone.

Even my tummy fluttered in excitement." oh and yes, I am standing outside your home, open the damn door, sweetheart."

I walked downstairs and opened the door. There stood my agent, manager, or whatever you call it. She stepped in and I hugged her tightly in excitement. "I can't believe it, Emily." I almost screamed in happiness.

"Wait till you win it, babe…"

I nodded because I couldn't find the words to explain my feeling. We both walked to the living room and settled on the sofa.

"Want something, water or coffee…" I asked her out of hospitality.

"Coffee would be great but of course you don't know how to make one so I'll pass the offer because I don't want to make it myself." She mocked me and I pouted.

"Well, servants are sleeping and I don't want to disturb them because a guest appeared at the ungodly hour so sue me! At least I asked."

She rolled her eyes. "Hm! Anyway, leave our jabs for another time and sign it so that I can send it to sponsors." She said give me a rich leather folder which has the contract inside it. My eyes sparkled seeing the Logo of The Belle on it. My favourite jewellery brand!

"Sign it, girl!"

I didn't think twice before signing it. It was like a dream to me. If I win this I would be working with them, The Belle! I could work with Rawl, the man who's designs are an inspiration for me.

And without thinking about it again I signed the contract.

Emily clapped. "Here we come to Vancouver!" She chirped.

I nodded as we high five each other.

"What the hell is going on here?" We heard a startled voice of none other than Susan. We both looked at the walking figure of Susan as she came to us and stood with a hand on her hips, raising her brows in question.

"Hey, bitch!" Emily greeted Susan who rolled her eyes at her and gave her a middle finger. "Fuc* you!"

"I am all in…" Emily teased Susan who gave her a disgusting look. Then she turned towards me and raised her brows in askance.

"What is going on here, Aurora?"

I sighed and told her everything. She blinked, once, twice and then let out an ear wrenching scream putting both her hands to her cheeks, her eyes as wide as saucers and mouth hunger open while she jumped up and down on the floor.

"We...we.. got selected! Omfg!"

I stood up. "Wait, you knew?" I asked, stunned.

She didn't even look at me but Emily who patted her back. "You, I know I am great and you are really thankful for what I did but if you really want to thank me then make a cup of coffee because I am tired as fuck and this woman over here is good for nothing in the kitchen," She said pointing her finger at me.

Susan faked a smile. "Girl, why would I thank you when it was I who chose the designs made by our darling Aurora but because you gave me a mind fucking good news I will make that coffee."

She glanced in my way. "You want some, ?"

I fluttered my eyelids and flashed my teeth in mocking. "Me!" I said pointing my fingers at myself. "Oh! So you both remember that I am present here. I thought you forgot that?"

Susan moved her hand evasively. "If we would have informed you, your first words would be…" she cleared her throat and started mimicking me.

"Alright! Let me ask Gabe first…"

Okay! That really hurts. Even my friends are mocking me over Gabe now. "I mean come on, Aurora. It's your career, you can't behave like a lovesick puppy all the time. I mean I went on a date tonight, had fun and came back. That's It, I can't allow my personal life to take over my professional one and mind you girl! You need to be clear about your life now!"

I crossed my hands to my chest and gulped. They both didn't know the depth of my love for Gabe and even if I try to tell them they won't understand. "Susan, I love you but you don't know what you are saying. I am committed to my career but Gave is an important part of my life now. I am happy that we got selected for this show but think about it. I have to be in Vancouver for two months without Gabe."

I heard Emily sighing. Susan shook her head in annoyance. "Look, Aurora, You are going for work in Vancouver and if I remember correctly Gabe always moves from one city to another without even informing you about it. Then how is that different from you being Away from him…"

I gulped. I had no answer to it. Susan always hit on the head of the nail. She was absolutely right, Gabe left two weeks ago to New York without even telling me and came back after two weeks. And when I asked him about leaving without informing me he just gave me a single line answer that he went for work.

I tried to ask him more but he told me in a strict tone that he didn't like any interruptions in his work and asked me not to ever question him about it again.

I was lost in my thoughts when Emily and Susan hugged me from both sides. " we love you Aurora and we can't see you getting blind in love." Emily said while Susan sighed, got away from me and said.

"Girl, You have been my best friend since we were eight years old. My Dad even forgot that he has a daughter from his first wife now that he is on his sixth wife." She rolled her eyes and continued.

"He might give me a monthly allowance but you are my real family Aurora. Trust me when I am saying this, I won't let Gabe or anyone else walk all over you. I like Gabe and his pride, I understand where he is coming from but that doesn't mean he will transform you into a woman you are not."

I remain silent. What else could I do? When I feel the same way about Gabe sometimes but what would I do with this stupid heart which beat for Gabe only.

"I love him, Susan," I whispered, fidgeting my fingers and looking down.

"I know and that's the only reason I am not telling you to break up with him because at the end of the day. You decide to make it. But Girl, don't let him decide things for you. Please."

I looked at Emily who nodded in agreement with Susan. I left the breath I was holding and looked at both my girlfriends. Flashing them a smile, I pulled my phone out of my night suit pocket. Typed a message telling, not asking! That I would be going out of the States for work and turning it off!

"Cool!" I asked them and they both gave me their best smiles.

"So cool! Let him taste his own medicine for once." Susan chirped while we three hugged each other.

Yes, let him have a taste of his own medicine. I love you Gabe but now you need to learn to respect my boundaries and my decisions. Susan was right, I might love him but that doesn't mean I will give up on my identity and you were wrong in that case too, Gabe.

I have an identity of my own. My selection in this show proved it and when I won this show everyone would get to know about my identity.