Chapter 68 The red carpet
Rachel watched him work away from her as he went to meet Alice who came in all black dinner gown with a V Opening down her chest and down the side of her thighs and wearing a black lipstick with glass steep heels as Xander took her hands and led her up the stage before putting a hand on her back and led her into the red carpet. Rachel completely forgot that she was still right in the middle of the red carpet...
Yandel who was watching the whole drama take place quickly rushed out and placed a hand on Rachel's back and kissed her on the forehead snapping her from the shock Xander and Alice left her in. Loud gasps erupted from the crowd, even guests who were hanging around stood watching in complete shock, Yandel tightened his hands around her as if to assure her that he was there with her. The flashes seemed to increase in it's number and it didn't stop until Yandel and Araceli both walked off the platform into the side of the auditorium where there were less people and no light flashing at them. She knew the amount of drama that just occured was going to be the topic of her sunday, the business times were going to turn it into a bigger feud than it appeared but who wouldn't.
"Wow..." Yandel said first, breaking the few seconds old silence which just entailed both of the breathing at first nothing more.
"Fuck...My Dad is going to fucking kill me me, so much for don't stain my company with unnecessary drama when it's yours to run," Yandel continued.
"I'm so sorry," Rachel let out her first set of words since the whole drama on the red carpet which was literally minutes ago.
"For what, what the fuck are you apologizing for because it sure as hell ain't that red carpet moment right there that we just had because just for the few momemts I got to claim you as mine in front of those cameras were the best I have felt with anyone," Yandel said with a dreamy daze in his eyes. He really looked happy for someone who just fucked up his own company for her at the middle of a mental breakdown. For the first time as Araceli, she was out played and embarrassed in front of live videos and cameras, and if she wasn't saved from that shame by Yandel, she would have been completely shamed live on TV.
"Thank you," Rachel hugged him tightly and he wrapped his hands around her securely.
"We still got this, our plan would work, trust me," Yandel assured her.
"I hope so, because right now, anything we do we are going to be playing into their hands," Rachel said, releasing Yandel.
"That's why we are not gonna do anything," Yandel told her, taking out a pack of cigarettes out of the pocket of his blazer. "We are not," he continued.
"I mean, aren't we the victima here, aren't we traumatized and shocked about everything that just happened, besides I'm a very good friend of yours who couldn't watch you suffer in embarrassment in fron of the crowd watching from home," Yandel smirked at her. "Damn was he smart," Rachel thought, she could already see where this was heading too, she needed to really play the victim role before he released any statement to the public and Yandel was playing the role of a good friend and a kind business partner who cared.
"It will work...trust me," Yandel said, putting a cigar in between his lips before he got it slapped away from him and matched on.
"Hey, what the hell," Yandel exclaimed.
"No smoking, remember you said you are quitting," Rachel reminded him.
"Merde..." Yandel cursed in French meaning *shit*, it was kind of a habit for him ever since he was a teenager and he couldn't curse in front of his siblings because they were kids, so he developed his french vocabulary so that he could curse in french.
"I know you just said shit," Rachel looked at him unimpressed.
"You speak french?," Yandel asked surprised.
"No, I went to school so I know a few words here and there," Rachel replied.
"Bloggers are going to print the first shitty story first thing at midnight," Yandel laughed.
"Oh tell me about it,"
"Something like... Billionaire's fiancé abandons her in the middle of a red carpet for a strange woman...that would have been the end of it, but no, Yandel had to be in the story too, CEO of the Baldwin Ink tech enterprise (BIEE) abandons date and goes to save secret love interest in the middle of the red carpet..."Lovers in Feud!"... The perfect heading for tonight's drama" Rachel spoke with a newscaster's voice putting her hands together making Yandel burst into a fit of laughter.
"Wow, was the fake British accent necessary though?," Yandel chuckled, even though it was funny, it was also spot on. He stood there watching her giggle at her own voice and all he saw was a very pretty, strong and heavily witted beautiful woman in front of him thst he wanted so badly, maybe there was a reason for his trying to make her better ever since he got to know her as a person, he always thought he was irritated by her but he guess it was actually more intrigued about her than anything else.
"But seriously Yandel, would the plan work?," Rachel asked him in a serious tone, she couldn't afford another show down like this again.
"I don't know honestly, but let's see how it goes, remember we are playing the victim and you are the woman in this case so the public is going to buy your story better because you are the one he left live on TV, plus remember, you need to get more social media followers, what we need is for you to slowly start building your side of the story of anything in case they decide to bring anything that could pull you through in the mud.
"Wait what do you mean by I'm the woman?," Rachel asked offended, was he trying to say women are less overdramatic than guys and therefore will deliver a better story than you is a lie.
"Well like it or not Araceli but Things and situation like this do go in favor of the woman not the man but specifically in this case, the whole thing will be in your favor because he left you, now stop worrying and lets get inside please, I'm sure your friends are waiting for us after that kind of drama we pulled out there," Yandel said with a smile, adjusting her fur on her shoulder.
"Now put a smile on that face and
let's go," He took her hands and lead her to the hall entrance. There were still a few people outside, some were making a call, others were with a cigarre in between their lips and others were in discussion with someone. Just as he predicted Ricky, Amy and Ben quickly approached them and Amy went to give Araceli a tight hug, Rícky next
éli
gave her a hug and Ben just gave her an awkward pat om the back before looking weirdly at Yandel
decided to make a conversation with the other were going to be busy talking between themselves.
"So....How are you I guess?," Ben went off a bad start, he didn't know how to start conversations properly, he doesn't even know how he ended up with a really social and talkative person like Ricky Wesley, he always made fun of him whenever he's boyfriend was named after a book character amd his origins, no he was actually from thd united kungdom and non... Wow, he got One of the most shittiest British accent when they went to eat at a five star restaurant.
He could remember the day they started talking. He went into his private inbox to send him a message about how he could do first away with all those feelings, what he said back to help me thinking of the very feminine aspect. They started dating some months Back after their first meet up at the cafe where he walked.
The truth was he was looking for an
out going guy who was proud and out and didn't care what people thinks about him, he needed to tap from that kind of energy because he was still not completely out and he still felt the fear of been watched by his brothers over his shoulder but that was one thing Ricky cared less about, he was a foster kid who left his shitty foster home at seventeen for college and was finally going to graduate college together, he made his life look so easy when he was going through actual fucking hell but he rather distributed his time to people to make them happy because that was all that mattered to him, he believed the more people were happy, the more people could be happy because happiness is more contagious than any other feeling.
Benjamin spaced off looking at Ricky who was holding Araceli by the side as Amy readjusted her makeup.
"You really love him, don't you?," Yandel asked, snapping him out of the staring trance.
"Dangerously, I don't think he's aware how I do, but I think its better this way," Ben said, sighing.
"What do you mean?," Yandel asked, not understanding how it was okay for someone not to know how much you loved them.
"I mean when we first started seeing each other, I was looking for closure and he was looking to heal, the moment I healed him and assure him I was here to stay, he loved me wholly, just like you, Right now, you are doing everything for Araceli because she needs someone ti be there for her and you are being that person, but at the end, she might end of loving you more than you love her even though deep down, you know you love her more," Ben rambled, he still saw a look of unsureness on his face so he gave up explaining.
"I think I know what you mean, the person you fight for ends up loving you more than you do, even though you know you love them more," Yandel muttered.
"Exactly...but that's just my theory, it could be really different in different people," Ben said.
"What are you boys talking about?," Ricky said, appearing at Ben's side giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks for waiting," Ricky whispered to him.
"It's okay, a friend of yours is mine,"
"How's she holding up?," Ben asked.
"You know shw didn't lose a family or anything right, we just wanted the tea and help her reapply her makeup.
"Tea...?," Yandel asked in confusion.
"It's gay for gossip or details," Ricky replied him.
"Alright guys, let's go in, she's fine, the shot missed her heart by far, so she's okay," Amy announced to them in a dramatic voice.
"Jesus..." Rachel muttered under her breath as Yandel laughed at her embarrassed faced.
In three's Amy, Ricky and Ben and two's Rachel and Xander walked into the occasion room, there were round tables with schairs, each one had a family name on it and as usually, it was in terms of hierarchy and the top three were lined in front, the Azariah's, the Garcias and the Millers followed by the Jacobsons and Alhassans. There were beautiful golden lights everywhere and the whole occasion was definitely an over night planning because of how simple yet elegant it was, there was nothing special, just the same kind any other business personel will throw.
They headed to the sit where Rachel's mom was sitting since it was the assigned number on the spot. Kissing her mother on both cheeks, Rachel sat closest to her followed by Yandel before Amy, Rick and Ben. The whole space was presented in the middle so this wasn't just going to be an ordinary ball, this was going to be some ballroom kind of thing.
"Hey, I heard what happened outside, tell me in detail," Mrs Garcia asked.
"We Were taking pictures on the red carpet, it didn't last long till his mood suddenly changed and he left me and went to Alice immediately when she arrived," Rachel told her.
"I can't believe I once believed this idiot over my own daughter, I guess I was just obsessed witj trying to find a nice and perfect man for you and I completely missed the mark by agreeing to set you up with
a bloody feel bad, he's lucky I can't you gun him down like a restless chicken," Mrs Garcia spat, she felt more her fault, because she even knows didn't know him well or study him.
"Well as you go to his house, it's kinda poisoning so that he would feel most uncomfortable." Mrs Garcia said.
"Alright Ladies and gentlemen...shall we begin..."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐