Capítulo 3: 2. Bad News
Autumn's POV
"What do you mean all my bookings are cancelled?!" I caught the slightly terrified eyes of Fred -my driver- looking at me through the rear view mirror.
"T-They said they didn't want to associate with a person with such scandal. It could affect their businesses and companies." Lance- my manager -stutters out of fear. Who could blame him?
"Such scandal? So now am like a virus or something?" My voice was calm but the anger that seeped through was easy to detect.
"Their words, not mine." He quickly retorts. I could picture him raising his hands in a surrending form.
I didn't even know I was clutching my phone tightly in my hand. "What about Eloise Remington? Does she still want me to design her wedding dress?" She's a british royal, who is getting married in a month. She picked me to design her wedding dress.
"No." Lance replied but it was more of a mumble, still very terrified of me.
I exhaled to release the anger that was threatening to break out of me. "She's a royal, of course she wouldn't." Lance continued speaking some more but my thoughts was quick to block him out.
After last night, things for me has not turned out the best way. It was just the next day and I have already lost all my bookings as a cover girl and one of my biggest client.
"Autumn. Autumn....a-are you the--" I cut the call. Inhaling and exhaling rhythmically before stepping out of the car.
My bodyguard looked professionally expressionless but he flinched when I slammed the car door, making my way into the tall commerical building with Snow Dynasty labeled boldly on it.
I turned back to him before I could step into the building, "You can wait here." I say and he gives me a curt nod.
I dragged the attention of different eyes to me as I walked in. I could feel the sting of their stares like shooting arrows.
Attention always drew to me even when I didn't want it. It went both ways, I either felt exhausted or extremely powerful.
You decide the one you think I like most.
I was almost annoyed that they couldn't see my eye roll in response to their pitiful judgemental stares, because of my shades that was hiding my eyes.
I know the scandal has spread like wide fire but even without it, people have always looked at me like a slut, a spoiled rich kid or a straight up Bitch!.
My outfit was clearly an intimidation to the ladies alone, cause their jealously was as sad as their basic cooperate wears.
They do know my Dad can easily fire each one of them just for their unreasonable judgementally, right?
My palepink leather dress mirrors on the clean tiled floor. My Dad's assistant comes out from the elevator and the sound of my echoing heels easily brings his focus to me.
I reach the elevator just as he approaches me. "Miss Autumn." He smiles at me, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Your family has been expecting you." My brows automatically furrowed.
My family?
My Dad said we need to talk, clearly he left the part about the whole family being here as well.
I walk into the elevator after my Dad's assistant excuses himself somewhere else. I obviously know this emergency meeting is about the breakout scandal about me.
I am only just realizing how this can affect my entire family and not just me, which has clearly started already.
The elevator stops at the top floor, opens, before I stepped out. This was one of the many branches of the Snow Dynasty Inc.
My family are The Snows, filthy billionaires with businesses and companies scattered all over the world that I could never keep up with.
My Dad has branched into so many kinds of businesses as long as he like it and sees profit in it. He bought a massive plot of land and turned it into a ranch in Texas, just because he liked the way sheeps look.
It didn't take long to find my Dad's office. The first person I noticed through the see-through glasses was Keith laying on the couch face flat.
"Why didn't you tell me we were having a family meeting?" The words sprung out immediately I entered the office.
I ignored Keith who looked like he was half dead in his sleeping position. "And good afternoon to you too darling." My Mom stands up from her chair and walks towards me with open arms, smiling so brightly.
"Mom is here too?" I question my Dad as I hugged her. He stands from his spinning chair and walks to me. "That's one way to greet you mother." We pulled apart and I chuckled lightly to her statement.
"And of course, why wouldn't I be? Am still part of this family." She adds proudly.
My parents Fredrick Snow and Sophie Hayworth are divorced but somehow still very close. Sometimes it feels like they are still happily married. I am honestly glad that it is the way it is, even if they are not married anymore.
"Elle." My Dad calls softly. I walk into his open arms and he places a kiss on my forehead. Even with my heels, he was still hovering over me.
He's the only one that normally calls me Elle because he gave it to me. "You look lovely princess," My Mom compliments and I smile at her.
"You know I never do any less." I responded proudly.
"Wake up Keith. Your sister is here." My Dad says loudly at him, causing me and my Mom to laugh. For a second I thought he didn't hear my Father but he grumbles lazily like a child, seconds after.
"Why did you have to come so early?" He stretches and yawns, standing up from the couch. "It's 2am dumb-shit." He stuck his tongue out and I did the same.
He's my older brother, although I love to bully him. We are just two as siblings.
We all walk to my Dad's big desk, each taking a chair before it while he went to his spinning boss chair.
My Father was in L.A for the weekend, so he stopped by the branch here and insisted we use this location instead of our family house in Seattle, like we usually do.
My Mom and I stay in L.A, Keith stays in Vegas while my Dad in Seattle.
"So what's this meeting about?" I clearly know what the meeting is about but asking about it still feels like a good option.
"She doesn't know, does she?" Keith says to my Dad with a certain tone. "Know what?" I asked confused.
"We agreed we will tell her here together." I turn to my Mom and my confused look makes her shift her gaze away from me.
"I don't like this little secret thing you guys are doing. What don't I know?" I look at my Dad this time but he tears his eyes away from me as well.
His radiant blue eyes which I inherited, roomed with things I couldn't understand. I took My Dad's blue eyes, golden blonde hair like my Mom and 5'8 height from her as well.
Keith inherited oppositely. Brown eyes like my Mom, chocolate brown hair and 6'2 height like my Dad.
"Your scandal--" My Dad starts but I stopped him with a tilt of my head and arched brow. "Sorry. The false scandal has created problems for us." I knew it has everything to do with this.
"What kinds of problem?" My Mom and Keith sits quietly, while I go back and forth with my Father.
"Investors are pulling out. Deals are being called off. The scandal really went wide and far. Apparently, people don't want to associate with a family that has a bad reputation."
This is actually a lot worse than I thought.
"So am I like the downfall of The Snows now?" I asked a little worried but they only chuckled in response. "Your grand-uncle Philip filled that spot a long time ago." My Father stated.
"Those allegations are not even true." I point out, "Well most of them." I add.
"Why did you have to go ahead and punch a reporter Elle? You know we could've easily gotten him removed from his job." Stress lines were already showing on my Dad's face. This thing must've really hit him hard.
"He verbally abused me Dad. Insulted this family, my family and you taught me to always defend and stand up for my family at all times. I only defended myself." I say straightforwardly.
"We know Autumn. You did the right thing by standing up for yourself and this family obviously- even though you punched a guy- but people don't always see things for how they actually are." My Mom states, smoothing out my already smooth hair with her palm.
My Dad pours himself a glass of whiskey. "I'd like some too." Keith requested, so did my Mom.
He holds up the whiskey bottle, asking if I wanted some too. "You know I don't drink." He nods and takes a sip of his before speaking again.
"I know for a fact that Octavia Castillo was being too much when she filed that restraining order against you and after her Dad who was our biggest alley broke our contract because of his daughter, we have been on a rocky path for months. We can't afford any more broken deals and losing partners." He explains, taking another sip of his whiskey.
"I didn't know this would affect us so bad." I say more to myself. "It's not your fault sweetie," My Mom says.
"Well it actually is. I would've just ignored the reporter that day like I always do. I wouldn't have given Octavia the satisfaction of getting to me that day before we got into a fight, after she ruined my designs and show." I don't regret what I did honestly because I don't take nonsense.
I only wish I knew the aftermath of how they would all turn out, which is now affecting me and my family.
I didn't even know if I was feeling anger or just feeling bad, but either one wasn't good with this bad news.
"Come on Autumn. It's not your fault." Keith says from besides me. "You were only doing what you know how to do best....putting little shits in their place." He smiles at that and my lips drags up to a smile too.
"Obviously it's not my fault. Am only angry that I did something that is affecting our family even if it was for the right cause." They all nod in understanding.
"But everything from Kaden's mouth had absolutely nothing to do with me. He spilled lies and the world chose to believe him." Keith sighs with annoyance at my statement.
"That fucker." His face hardened. "He isn't worth it darling." My Mom's action didn't stop on my hair as she spoke. I turned to my Dad as I thought of something.
"Don't you have friends and connections in the media who can handle this for us?" I asked with hope but to crush it, he shook his head.
I guess even being a billionaire doesn't make you immune to the challenges of life and evilness of humans.
"They all refused to help. I even tried to pull some strings but to no avail, they didn't work." My Dad states.
Money can't really fix everything.
"Well all except one." Keith joins in. I turn my face to him, then my Dad.
"Really? There's one?" My hope arises again but the fact that my Dad was now avoiding eye contact with me was confusing me.
"Are you guys gonna tell me who the person is?" My impatience was like a weight on my shoulder.
"One of your Father's rivals agreed to help him. It was a long time ago but he wanted to put things behind him and help us." Mother speaks up, now holding my hand.
"Why would your old rival want to help you?" I asked a little confused. Father finally looks at me again.
"It's not for free Elle. His son controls one of the largest media networks in the world and he can easily take this ridiculous scandal down." The rest part of his explanation was mute to me.
"Can we go back to the not free part?" I used my fingers to gesture like the way Fallon Carrington would in the Dynasty series.
The fact that they all thought I didn't notice the communication between one another by their eyes was actually really dumb. "I see the eye contacts guys." I remarked, massaging my temples.
My Dad releases a deep breath before speaking again.
"My old time rival is Luke Hayes. We are talking about the Hayes Empire." The name ringed in my head like a bell, causing my eyes to involuntarily widen- just slightly.
"The Hayes Empire?" The surprise/unbelieve present in my tone even surprised me. But it's The Hayes Empire, I have the right to be a little astound.
They all nod their heads. "Luke Hayes was one of your rivals?" I almost chuckled at the actuality of that sentence.
My Dad only sips his whiskey again. "Why did you ever think to compete with Luke Hayes? Although, I gotta give it to you Dad, you're pretty impressive for competing with a man of great power like that." I even clapped to assist my statement and he laughs.
"Oh so am pretty impressive now?" He arches a brow and I nod.
"Okay back to the subject at hand. Luke agreed to help you but only on one condition." I roll my eyes mindlessly.
Of course there's always a condition.
"What is it?"
"Do you know his son? Reece Hayes?" I looked heavenwards, trying to recall the name and nod when I did.
"Yes. His first son right?" They all nod their heads. "I've heard of him naturally but I haven't seen him. What about him?" Father pours himself another glass of whiskey or I thought it was for him.
He hands me the glass but I didn't take it, "Trust me cupcake, you will need it." He says and I take it reluctantly with a suspicious look.
My Mom and Keith adjust themselves awkwardly on their chairs but I ignored it. "He has a lot of power in the media and he can take down those allegations about you with a snap of his fingers." I nod in understanding, pushing him to go on.
"We know it's old-fashioned but Luke only agreed to help us if you only.. " he cuts himself momentarily.
"If I only what?" I don't even know why I was so eager to know.
"You have to marry his son. Reece Hayes."
a/n:
Thanks for reading!
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