chapter 66

Chapter 66. Help me save a contract.Aria walks into her daughter’s room and finds her having a tea party with her dolls. She shook her head and chuckled.“I thought you had grown past these dolls,” she said and smiled.Lena looked up and wrinkled her eyebrows. “Not all of them mom, I still love Princess Sofia and Cinderella, they are my best friends.” She whined“Oh, best friends huh? I thought you said mommy was your best friend?” Aria grumbled, crumpling her face and folding her arms in each other.Lena sighed and bumped her fist on her forehead. “Well yes, mommy used to be my best friend but these days she barely has time for me. Princess Sophia and Cinderella are always there for me so they are my new best friends,” she replied boldly.Aria came closer and squatted beside her. “Hmm… So what if mommy told you that she is taking you to see daddy and aunt Rosie tomorrow, would you make her your best friend then?” she smirked.“Huh? Yes! I would love that Mommy, I promise you would be my best friend if you do that!” she yelled in excitement.“Alright then, you should get ready, we will be boarding a flight to Las Vegas tomorrow night,” she announced.“Wow! Really mom? That is the best news ever, I would finally take lots of photos with daddy and show them off at school, Gwen and her friends would be so jealous,” she said.“That is right; let me tell you a secret. Do you know why they would be so jealous? It is because your daddy is really cute and rich,” Aria whispered to her ears and she smiled.Princess smiled, revealing her cute little dimples and shiny white teeth. “I will start packing immediately mom, I can’t wait,” she exclaimed in excitement.Arianna had not only accepted Rosie’s invitation because she had made her swear on their friendship, she had also seen it as an opportunity to introduce Princess Lena to her father, after everything that happened, she thought that her daughter deserved to know her father, even if it was just for a few weeks, then they would travel back to London.She was only worried about one thing. Not like she cared less about her best friend but the contract she had been giving was a very huge one, the biggest one of her life. If she lost it, she would go down the line in the list of most popular models and whoever received it in her place would rise above her with a huge difference.There was a lot of competition in the modeling department as new models were emerging from around the globe every new day. She had to work hard to keep her fame and influence in the business.Aria walked into her room in thoughts, she was worried that if she left London for the wedding, that she might not make it back on time to work. She desperately needed a way to keep that contract and still attend her best friend’s wedding.She decided to call her manager to know if he can help her, Mike had quite the influence in the business so he might be of help to her.Mike picked the call at the first ring. “Hey miss beautiful, what’s up?” he said in a neutral voice.“Um… I don’t know Mike, I am in a dilemma right now and I am confused on what decision to take. In fact, I want to make both choices because they are both very important but I don’t know how I can do it.” She complained.“Okay, calm down…tell me what the problem is,” he requested.She took a deep breath before announcing. “Mike, I am leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow night, I need to attend my best friend’s wedding and I will be away for maybe two to three weeks.”“What? You need about two weeks of practice before you perform on the grandest stage of all, and it is very important that you are there. You cannot risk losing this contract, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Mike replied with a serious tone.“I know Mike, and that is why I said I am in a dilemma, I really need your help.” She pleaded.“Oh Aria, this is really difficult, is there no way that you can leave the wedding or stay there for just one week and come back? Starting from next week, you would need to practice for the performance, you can’t risk losing this contract,” he emphasized.“Yes Mike but unfortunately I cannot stay back, the wedding will be in two to three weeks from now and that is just a week away from the date I have to perform. I really need your help. I was wondering if you could try speaking to the company on my behalf, asking them to shift the date to two weeks after the proposed date,” she pleaded.“Oh my God Aria, what you are asking for is quite very difficult, it would take a lot to convince the board. This contract was supposed to go to Eliza but I fought hard to get it for you. If I tell them that you  would not be available on that date, they might not even consider you again, try to understand,” he replied.“I understand what you are saying Mike, I know you have already done more than enough for me but please try to get me this one more favor. Speak to whoever you have to, any of your contacts might be able to help us. I would appreciate it if you can get me an extra two weeks but if you can't, then it's fine… I also understand, I will just have to make the sacrifice,” she said.“Alright then, I will try my best. Call me when you get to Las Vegas,” he replied.“Oh, I sure will… Thanks a lot for everything, I am really grateful.”“You don’t need to be, it is my job okay? Alright, goodbye… I am hanging up now, I need to get to a meeting,” He concluded.“Alright then, take care of yourself,” she replied and he hung up.Aria took a deep breath in and out; she knew that the company would only consider her request by God’s grace. What she was asking for was way out of bound, she was asking too much of them. To reschedule an event with so many major sponsors with no valid reason was almost impossible, but if she is lucky once again, then her will might be done.Sammy walked into Oliver’s office with a smug smile on his face; he was certainly up to something. Oliver looked up and wrinkled his face in scrutiny, wondering what was going on with his best friend.“Hey Boss, you are still here,” Sammy said with a smile.“Yes of course, where do you expect me to be? It is just Four pm,” he replied.“Oh… of course, anyway… I just wanted to ask you to be late to work tomorrow, or if possible, don’t even come at all,” Sammy instructed“Huh? Why?” Oliver asked with his eyes searching through Sammy for answers.“Well, you know you deserve a break, just stay back for a few hours or something, believe me you wont regret it,” he said.“Um… is it my birthday or something?” he asked curiously. Well these days he barely remembered which day was his birthday again, so he always relied on Sammy to remind him of those events.Sammy burst into laughter. “The almighty Chief Executive Officer and founder of Stark Enterprises has no idea which day is his birthday,” he replied in mockery.“Don’t mock me Sam or it is coming off your paycheck,” Oliver warned with a stern face.“Hahaha… you always threaten me with that, not fair at all… anyway, it is not your birthday, so don’t think about that.”“What are you up to Sammy? You just walk into my office and ask me to be late to work or even stay back entirely, spill it.” Oliver ordered.Sammy chuckled and sat on the chair on the other side, he placed his foot on Oliver’s table and smiled. “Just do what I say boss, be three hours late, there will be a surprise for you.”Oliver scoffed. “Fine, since you are the boss now, we will do what you say. I will spend more hours at home than usual, but bear in mind that there would be a reduction in your salary,” Oliver warned with a smirk.He expected Sammy to frown and grumble as usual but his best friend smiled. “Alright, I think that is a sacrifice I am willing to make, after all… you are sponsoring my wedding,” he chuckled and stood up, and then he walked out being all dramatic.Oliver shook his head sideways. “Is he taking cracks now or what?” he muttered to himself.He started to think of what the surprise would be. He had no idea what his best friend was up to. Rosie’s character was starting to rub off on him, these days, he was something of a psycho himself.