Chapter 60-Proposal
Third person's POV...
Three months later...
"Is everything ready?" Audrey asked, looking around. "I don't want any mistakes at all. Today has to be great and go as planned,"
She was launching her fashion house, Maison Aurielle.
Over the past three months, Audrey had been building a fashion empire. She wasn't just going to model alone. Now, she was owning her brand and expanding it worldwide.
She had built a luxury fashion house, where her team created haute couture collections, ready-to-wear pieces, handbags, shoes, jewelry, fragrances, and beauty products that would be sold in flagship stores around the world.
She planned to launch Audrey Fashion Week, an annual event she planned to turn into one of the biggest fashion spectacles in the world, bringing together designers, celebrities, buyers, and media from across the globe.
Her fashion house was going to be on the lips of everyone.
"Everything's ready," Lena said. "The guests have started arriving and as a matter of fact, we've gotten a few hundred emails requesting to join our Model academy,"
Audrey gasped. "Really? But we've not even launched the program yet,"
Lena shrugged. "They must have wanted it so badly and also to secure their spots to learn from the GOAT herself,"
Audrey smiled. "Thanks,"
"Our editors have got the cover for our fashion magazine and need you to check it out," Lena said.
"Whatever you think is good, then let's go with it,"
"I should pick out fashion magazine brand colours and all?" Lena asked.
"I know you can do that. We'll go with whatever you decide,"
She smiled. "I will then,"
Audrey giggled. "It honestly feels like a dream. Finally launching my own Fashion House. I can't believe it's all real,"
"Well it is and I must say congratulations. It's been God all along,"
"Thanks for being a best friend and an amazing manager as well," she said and embraced her.
"Audrey," someone called. They detached from the hug. It was one of their team members.
"Everyone's here and they're waiting for you,"
"Oh... already?" Audrey asked.
"Everyone on the invitation list is here. No absentees," she added.
"Okay. I'll be there in a minute," she said and the lady left.
"You know, you shouldn't be so stressed and worried," Lena said. "It seems you're forgetting something,"
"I know what you want to say," Audrey rolled her eyes.
"It's your birthday for crying out loud. It's your special day so leave all the worrying and stressing to me, okay?"
"Okay then," she shrugged. "Just make sure you get me a very good birthday gift,"
Lena smiled out of the corner of her lips. "You're going to love it and won't even realise how much you wanted it,"
"I'll be waiting then," Audrey said and turned to go but paused. "Did you later send out the invite to Jonathan?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I sent him an exclusive invite, but he didn't respond to that,"
Audrey lowered her head. She would have loved it if he was here. But again, she was just his ex.
"That's fine. His silence simply means he declined," she said and left.
"Meet you in the grand hall," Lena said after her.
"Good day ladies and gentlemen," Audrey started. She was at the podium, giving the welcome speech.
"It is with great honour that I welcome you to today's occasion. I'd like to thank God for making this dream become a reality. And to my family and friends, I say a very big thank you. For the support, the love, the encouragement to keep going. I'm so grateful and thankful for you,"
She paused and looked around. "To our partners, I'm grateful for trusting us enough to partner. And to everyone seated here, thank you. For taking the time out, to honour our invitation,"
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... Maison Aurielle," she said as she demonstrated to the wall, and a projector lit on, showing their brand logo.
Applause echoed in the grand hall. From where she stood, Audrey saw Alexa. She was beaming at her.
'Congratulations' she mouthed.
Audrey just smiled.
"Here's to turning a dream into a reality," she said, raising a glass of champagne. "May Maison Aurielle inspire, innovate, and make a real impact. To our bright future of long life and good health,"
She had made sure to get only champagne that wouldn't trigger Jonathan's allergy, but he didn't even make an appearance.
"To the start of something extraordinary. May we always stay passionate, driven, and ready for the journey ahead,"
She continued. "And to the risks we take, the hard work we've put in, and the success that is waiting for us. Cheers to Maison Aurielle!"
"Cheers," everyone responded.
Audrey walked down from the podium. It was time for the guests to take a look around and probably, meet with others and build connections.
She entered a hallway and entered the nearest room. That was the room where fabrics and designs were kept.
She got a feeling in her stomach. A feeling of unease, like something was going to go wrong.
"Nothing can go wrong," she whispered to herself. "I need to get Lena,"
Just then, the door creaked open and shut.
She sighed in relief. "Lena, thank God you're here..." she trailed off as soon as she saw who had just entered.
"I hope I'm not too late," he said, a smile tugging at his lips.
Audrey was too stunned to speak.
"Congratulations," he added. "I'm so proud of you,"
"Jonathan?" She managed to say after finding her voice.
She gaped at him like she couldn't believe he was there.
"You... you came?" She asked.
"Yes," he nodded. "I did,"
He approached her and took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Then, he reached into his suit jacket and brought a little white box and handed it over to her.
"What's this?" She asked.
"Open it to find out,"
She opened the box and as her eyes landed on what was inside, she gasped.
"You... you... you got me this?" She stuttered.
"Happy birthday," he smiled.
"Oh my goodness, Jonathan," she smiled, looking at the jewelry in the box.
"You got me a diamond jewellery set?" She looked at him. "Why'd you do that?"
He sighed. "It's your birthday,"
"Even at that..."
"Audrey," he cut her off. "Just take it,"
"No," she shook her head. "You can't just show up now and get me a... diamond jewelry," she said.
"If you're giving me this because I gave you my necklace, and you're feeling indebted. There's no need to do that,"
"That's not it,"
"It's been six months," she said. "Six months since we called it off. You've moved on," she dropped the box on the table and moved towards the tinted glass window.
"Lena invited you, but you didn't reply. You don't even love me anymore, so why do you want to make me delusional again and imagine things that'd never happen,"
He walked towards her and slipped his hands around her waist. "I never said I didn't love you anymore,"
She turned and faced him. "You did. I asked you if you still loved me and you..."
"I said I was sorry," he cut her off again. "Audrey," he called as he held her hands. "How can I move on from you when you're the only person that makes me feel like myself and sees me for who I am?"
"Don't talk like that," she said.
"I haven't been able to focus on anything since you left," he said as peered into her eyes. "My life has been messy and it seems like your absence left a void in my heart,"
"I tried," he blinked. "I tried to forget you. But the more I fought what I felt for you, the harder it was to move on. I'm done fighting,"
"What do you want from me now?" She asked.
"Do you still love me?" He asked.
"Jonathan," she called. "That doesn't answer my question,"
"I love you Audrey. I still do. I can't just keep living like this. My life is a mess without you," he said.
"If you claim to still love me, why didn't you come a long time ago? Why didn't you try to stand for our love?" She asked. "I left so I could give you time to work things out with your dad, but you never came back,"
"I'm sorry," he said. "I was scared you wouldn't want me back. I was scared if you had moved on. And then, when we met in France and I saw how happy you were, I thought you didn't think of me again,"
Her eyes watered and the tears threatened to fall, but she quickly wiped them with her palms.
"But it's too late now,"
"No," he shook his head. "It's never too late,"
"What would people think?" She asked. "It doesn't even make any sense that we still love each other even after six months of being separated,"
"People can think whatever they want," he said. "And we still love each other because what we had was real. It was genuine,"
"I still love you Jonathan, but we can't go back to how we were. Just forget me,"
"The heart cannot be told whom to love or forget. I've really missed you,"
A tear slipped down her eyes.
"I miss you too,"
He stroked her cheeks, staring into her face. She bit her lips as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
He pulled away slowly. "I'm sorry about that..." he was saying, but she cut him off as she put her hands around his neck and pulled him in, then she kissed him.
She was leaning by the tinted glass wall as she kissed him. His hands were around her waist as they kissed.
She knew her lipstick would probably be smudged, or even wiped away completely. But she didn't push him away or stop kissing him.
"Audrey?" The door burst open immediately and Lena barged in.
The both pulled apart, stepping away from each other. Audrey's head was lowered as she was too embarrassed to look at either Lena or Jonathan. How could she not be embarrassed after her best friend saw her kissing her ex?
"I'm sorry," Lena said "I didn't know you were... busy,"
"But wait a minute," she added. "What are you doing here?" She asked, looking at Jonathan.
"I... uh... I'm a guest remember,"
She scoffed. "A guest who only honours invitations last minute,"
"Lena," Audrey finally said. "What is it?"
"There's someone wanting to see you,"
"Right," she muttered. "I'll be there soon," she said.
Lena looked at both of them and a faint smile made its way to her lips.
"If you need some time alone, I can ask them to wait,"
"No. No. I'll be there," Audrey said.
"Okay," she replied and shut the door. Then opened it again.
"I'll get you someone to touch up your makeup. You look like you just... kissed someone," she snickered and left.
Audrey sighed. "I have to go," she said, not looking at him. She didn't wait for him to answer, then left.
She walked down the hallway and entered the bathroom. She placed both hands on her chest. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"Why am I feeling this way?" She asked herself as she stared at her reflection.
"Can it still work between us?"
There was a knock at the door. She straightened up and moved towards the door.
She smiled at the woman by the door and hurriedly left. After having her makeup retouched, she met with her future students who had already signed up for her academy.
As she was still with them, she noticed that everyone was staring at something behind her.
She turned around slowly and gasped.
Jonathan was kneeling on one leg and in his hand was a... ring.
Her mouth fell open. What was he doing?
"Audrey, I'm sorry for how things ended between us. But, I want to make things right now, if you'll give me the chance,"
Audrey was too stunned. He was... proposing?
"I promise to love you and cherish you," he paused. "Will you marry me?"
Hearing him say it out loud, felt so unreal to her.
She watched him. The pleading look in his eyes. She knows he loves her, so why not accept the love he's willing to give her?
Her hand extended towards him.
"I will," she said with a smile. His face beamed and lit up in happiness.
As soon as the ring entered her finger, the hall exploded in applause and cheer.
He stood up and embraced her.
"Thank you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you so much," she confessed.
He detached a bit and held her face. "I love you so much more. Happy birthday,"
She smiled as a tear escaped from her eyes. "Best birthday ever,"
She could see Lena, among the guests, smiling at her. Richard was standing next to her and they both held hands.
She gave her thumbs up.
"I'm sorry for everything that happened in the past," he said.
"Sshh," she shushed. "It's okay. We should forget the past and focus on the future," she sniffed as she raised her hand and admired her ring. "You copied the exact design from the necklace I gave you?" She asked and he nodded.
"You're so sweet," she pecked his lips.
"Don't mind me," she said. "These are just tears of joy,"
"I know," he nodded and wiped her cheeks with his thumb.
Then... he kissed her and everyone screamed in excitement and took pictures of them.
Now again, they got engaged. But this time, it wasn't based on a contract, but on true and genuine feelings.
Finally, after so many trails and all, they ended up together. I cried out of excitement when I wrote this. It feels just like yesterday when they started out as sworn enemies.
Well, I won't be writing an epilogue for this book. I think an epilogue(like ten years later or 5 months later) will alter the emotional impact of this ending. So, I'm not going to write one. Everything ends here.
I really hope you enjoyed this book. I know you do actually. So, see you guys later in maybe, a thank you chapter from Audrey and Jonathan.
Thank you sooo much my beautiful and amazing readers and also Jonathan and Audrey lovers, this book came this far because of your huge support. I love you all. Muaaah ?? Thank so much.
Byeeee... For now.