Chapter 7- problem unsolved (2)

Book:Heart of the Past Published:2024-5-1

Amelia’s POV
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Annual party
Finally, the day arrived. The day of the annual party for the company was busy. The party was to start at 9 pm but I went to the venue around 7 am to make sure everything was perfect. The planning committee was really helpful in the decoration of the hall. It was decorated beautifully with a white and gold color. chandeliers and flowers were hung at the center of the table while a long red carpet was laid at the center of the hall.
“Beautiful right?” One of the planning committee members whose name was Tyler said as he stood beside me while we stared at the hall.
I nodded in response and continued staring at how perfect the hall was.” Would you mind being my date to the party”? Tyler asked politely.
I nodded and smiled at him. “Of course Tyler, it would be my pleasure ” I replied.
“I’ll pick you up by 8:30 ” he grinned and I nodded. We exchanged contacts and I gave him the address to my home.
“I’ll be waiting for you then,” I said and walked away. After supervising the hall and seeing if it was perfect enough, I left around 2 pm to prepare for the event at night.
“Here Amelia, wear this dress. I kept the dress for you seeing you would need it one day” my mother handed over a red dress that she had prepared for me and I couldn’t be happier it was the dress I had always admired in her wardrobe. It was a V-neck dress that had a slit in the middle of the dress. When I wore it, it fitted me perfectly and hugged my body like a second skin.
“Thanks, mum, I love you.”
“I bought this a year ago, I wanted to give it to you but I think now is the time,” my mother said as she handed over a pair of diamond necklaces and earrings to me. I squealed and hugged her as if my life depended on the necklace and earrings.
“Go get ready baby, I’ll give you a makeover that will make guys go crazy for you at the event.”
I laughed at her words “mum no guy is going to go crazy for me, I’m plain old me” I rolled my eyes and got slapped on the shoulder by her. “Ouch!”
“Never say never baby, go take your bath and get ready for Lucy’s makeover” she joked and I laughed.
A few minutes later, I sat in the front of the mirror and let my mother do justice to my face with her incredible makeup. After an eternity, she tapped me to look into the mirror.
” Now look at the mirror pretty,” my mother said.
I smiled as I saw a different woman staring back at me. My mother did a perfect job of remodeling my face.
“I’m this pretty?” I asked and my mother nodded.” wow thank you mother,” I asked and she kissed my forehead.
“Go get ready baby” she signed and walked out of my room. I wore the red dress and the accessories and stared at the mirror again. I picked my only heels from my closet. It was a black heel that I bought while in college. I wore it and adjusted the red dress and just then, the doorbell rang.
” Hey Tyler, come in I am almost done,” I told him I walked to the front door and opened the door. “Hey,” I greeted but instead of replying, Tyler stared back at me.” What?” I asked him wondering why he was staring at me.
“you look amazing, gorgeous, beautiful” he complimented and kissed my hand.
“Thank you, I’ll just pick up my bag and we will be on our way,” I told him and walked to my room. When I returned, I saw him with my um.
” oh you’ve met my mum” I exclaimed and he nodded. ” She is deaf so she can’t hear you, ” I told him thinking he was going to say something bad or mocked her but he smiled instead.
” my grandmother is deaf so I can sign”
“Oh alright. mum I’ll see you later” I kissed her cheeks and waved at her.
” Have fun,” she mouthed.
Tyler opened his car door for me like a gentleman and I entered smiling as a lady would on her first date with a man she likes.
We reached the venue at exactly 8:40 pm and I realized that I was late because I was in charge and I needed to keep things in order.
We both headed into the hall while holding hands.
“Smile for the camera Amy” Tyler whispered into my ears causing me to shiver and blushed like a teenager.
We both posed for pictures until we had enough. just as we turned to leave Dylan and Anna made their appearance. They both came in a limousine. Dylan wore a black Armani suit while Anna wore a white mermaid v dress. They both looked good as a couple and walked towards the hall with their hands entwined after posing for pictures.
“Welcome Sir” I greeted him but he didn’t reply, he stared at me and then looked at Tyler who was holding my hands.
“Who is he?” he asked.
Tyler wanted to reply to him but I answered on his behalf. “Tyler is my date,” I smirked at him.
“How did you get that dress because I know you can’t afford it” Anna mocked
I ignored her and looked toward Dylan.” sir, I will lead you to your table “I announced and walked away with Tyler. I walked them to their table and then went to sit opposite them with Tyler.
” Don’t let her get to you, she is just jealous of your beauty” Tyler joked and we both laughed.
I noticed Dylan’s burning gaze on me but I ignored him. He was on a date with the woman he loved so I had no idea why he would continue staring at me.
A few minutes later, the guest began to arrive and I was congratulated by the directors for a wonderful job.
“I must say I am an impressed lady but watch your back” the director of finance came over to congratulate me but it sounded more like threats.
“You did an amazing job, Amelia, I love your dress, it’s beautiful” Sarah complimented and walked away to her table.
The guests began to increase in number and just then I saw my nightmare entering the hall. Rebecca Blackstone entered the hall elegantly and smiled at the camera, she held an older woman’s hand that I recognized as Dylan’s grandmother.
They both walked to where Dylan’s table was and sat on their chairs. When I noticed Rebecca looking at me, I lowered my head and avoided contact with her.
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked and I nodded in response. The party began and Dylan was called for his speech. When he was done they all clapped for him including me because he sounded great.
“Amy, amelia brown!” Someone called my name and I turned to look at the person.”I knew it was you when I saw your hair. Sophia , my long-term best friend, squealed and rushed to hug me.” Oh my God, you look amazing”
“Sophia, wow you look pregnant!” I chuckled as I stared at her bulging stomach, she touched her stomach and smiled.
“Yeah, I’m pregnant. five-month pregnant, ” she announced .” Larry and I got married a year ago. I wanted to invite you but I lost contact with you,” she said sadly.
“Larry Banks?” I asked to make sure because Larry banks were Dylan’s best friend back then when we were dating. He was like a brother to me and he was the only one who knew the truth about what happened years ago.” wow, your dreams finally came true ” I joked and we both laughed.
Sophia had fallen in love with Larry the first time she saw him and as a good friend, I linked them and now they were together and happy.” I’m happy for you Sophia,” I hugged her again.
Tyler who stood beside me cleared his throat and pointed to himself.
“Forgive my manners, Tyler this is Sophia my friend, and Sophia this is Tyler my date,” I introduced them and they both shook hands.
“Pleasure to meet you Tyler,” Sophia said sweetly.
“Same here, I must say you look amazing ” Tyler complimented.
“Oh really, say that again and I’ll punch your face,” a voice said and we all turned to look at the person.
“Oh my God, Larry” I screamed and hugged him.
“Hello Amy bear, how are you?” He asked
I’m good. so happy to see you, Larry.” I beamed and hugged him again.
“Who is he?” He pointed toward Tyler
“That’s Tyler Amelia’s date, be nice to him” Sophia shouted and slapped him on his back.
“Sorry babe, ” he winked at her. “hello Tyler” he shook hands with Tyler and tightened his grip on his hand.
“I’m good,” Tyler groaned in pain. They both stared at each other for a while until Larry decided to let him go. We all sat down and reminisced about old memories.
” But I’m still pissed Larry, you could have sent me an invitation ” I frowned at the thought that they didn’t invite me to their wedding.
“Don’t frown Amy bear, you will look ugly” Larry jokingly said and we all laughed.
“Larry and Sophia” a voice called but I already knew who it was.
“Dylan Blackstone” Larry called his name and they both hugged.
“Glad you could come, hi Sophia” he waved and Sophia waved back.
“Hi, you must be Larry am Anna, Dylan’s fiancee” Anna introduced herself and shook hands with Larry, Sophia didn’t bother to greet her.
“Thanks for coming bro, I appreciate it.” Dylan smiled at him. ” I have to meet the other guest now. Amelia let’s go” he called my name.
“Why me? Anna can escort you, I am having a bonding time with my friends and I also have a date” I stated angrily
“You are in charge of this party and you are my assistance so I need you to escort me to greet the guest,” he said glaring at Tyler.
What is his problem? Is he bipolar or what? I thought and slammed my hand on the table.
“Fine, Sophia we will talk later okay,” I blessed her with a kiss and stood up. ” Larry, you still owe me a dance, and Tyler I’ll be right back” I stood up and walked away with Dylan and Anna.
” Is she going with us?” I asked, looking at Anna who was clinging to Dylan’s shoulder.
No,” he stated. ” Anna go meet mother and grandmother I’ll come to meet you soon”
“Why her? I want to escort you ” she shouted and drew attention towards us including Rebecca. The woman I was desperately trying to escape.
” Don’t cause a scene here Anna, go” he ordered and Anna obeyed like a lost puppy and walked away to Dylan’s table.
Dylan took me to all his business partners, he introduced me to some and he didn’t to others. After the introduction, he walked outside and I followed him. “Why are we going outside sir?” I wondered why we were going outside because there was no guest outside.
Without giving me a reply, Dylan grabbed my hand and pinned me to the wall.
“Who is Tyler to you, Amy?” He asked, sounding jealous.
“What the fuck is wrong with you Dylan, I’ll go out with whosoever I want. And it is none of your business who Tyler is to me” I yelled at him.
” It became my business when you started working with me. ”
“No rule said I shouldn’t date ” I replied to him but he only laughed.”what funny?”
“You are funny Amy, I don’t want to see you with Tyler again”
” you can’t tell me what to do, you are not the boss of me”
“Oh, you’ve forgotten that I am your boss, cut all ties with him and stop whoring around. I don’t want you going about and breaking other people’s hearts! you deserve to be single for the rest of your life!” he mocked.
That was it.
I pushed him away angrily and he stumbled but didn’t fall.
” Coming from someone who replaces me the second I left, you don’t tell me what to do Dylan!” I pushed him on the chest. ” I’ll date whoever I want and go out with whoever I want. It’s none of your business! stay away from my life Dylan and stop poking into my affairs. Don’t you hate me already? haven’t you made my life miserable enough? You and your family ruined our lives! ” I shouted at the top of my voice and quickly covered my mouth when I realized what I had just said.
I didn’t want him to know.
“What do you mean by my family ruining your life?” He asked but I ignored his questions.
“Stay away from me Dylan,” I said and ran away from him, I ran into the bathroom and cried. I was mad that he hated me without realizing the truth about what happened seven years ago. I wiped the tears off my face and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Thankfully, my makeup was still perfect.
“What is your wretched self doing here?” A voice said behind me. I didn’t have to turn because I already knew who it was.
Rebecca Blackstone, Dylan’s mother, and my nightmare.