FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 68 💍

Becky came down the stairs looking especially pretty today. She was grinning from ear to ear even though she was about to attend the engagement party of the woman she loved. Ma and Richie gasped in awe.
"You're pretty today" Richie said
"You're beautiful Becca." Ma said

Becky exited the house and entered Richie's car. It had only been a week since she had passed but she'd been driving in London for years.

Becky pulled up to Toey's HUGE house.
"Hey! Thanks for picking me up!" Toey said
"Of course, you've driven me enough times I feel like I'm in debt." Becky said as she set off into the city.

"How are you doing?" Toey asked
"We're getting there. Richie is still taking it very hard but he has Irin..... That's not weird to say at all." Becky mused
"I bet" Toey quipped
"We're okay though" Becky said
"You know, when I said YOU, I actually meant YOU." Toey said
"Oh I'm okay .. I am .." Becky said

"It must feel a little strange going to her engagement party." Toey said
"A little" Becky said
"I bet" Toey said
"I think it is just a business marriage though" Becky said
"I have no doubt about that. Are you guys finally going to talk it out today?" Toey asked
"I'm not sure there's much else to talk about. We talked at... the barbecue" Becky said
"And?" Toey said
"I think she's with someone else now." Becky said
Baitoey smiled.

When they arrived at the venue the hall was already filled with people and the press. This was an extremely high profile event.

Freen was standing right next to the door when Becky walked in.
"Becky!" Freen exclaimed
It felt like the world stopped for a moment when they locked eyes. Freen smiled warmly with a little worry in her voice.
Freen grabbed Becky's hand and pulled her in for a hug to Becky's shock.
They embraced each other for a moment and when Freen finally let go she kept hold of Becky in order to keep her close. She brushed the hair away from Becky's eyes caressing her cheek in the process.

"Miss Chankimha, an interview please. With all the chaos surrounding you brothers kidnapping and Khun Sa's campaign against the royal family, is the wedding still going ahead this month?" A reporter said whisking Freen away at that moment.

Becky took a few moments to compose herself before letting out a sigh of relief. Becky entered the hall and walked to her designated seat. After a few moments Nam  joined her on the table sitting on her left, then Heidi sitting on her right.

The table was completely silent for a good 10-15 minutes before Heidi broke the silence.
"Freen's secretary right?" Heidi said
"Urmmm yes" Becky said
"More like her torturer" Nam said under her breath
Becky heard her and hung her head a little ashamed
"Hey Nam! That was too harsh." Heidi said
"What? It's true." Nam said

"Don't listen to her Becky. Freen loves You." Heidi said
"Despite my best efforts" Nam said
"What? Aren't you and Freen... special friends?" Becky said
"Well yes..." Heidi said

Becky hung her head again. Those words were hard to hear.
"In that she's my ex" Heidi continued
"Your ex?" Becky said
"Yes, young love, puppy love, or whatever you call it. She'll always have a special place in my heart and me in hers but she's head over heels in love with you. Nothing we ever had can compare to the love she feels for you. I realised that quickly." Heidi said
"Which is why I'm watching you little girl. Noey has managed to convince me that you're not a scoundrel, hard to believe but Baitoey said the same thing too so I decided to give you one more chance. If you hurt her again. I'll kill you." Nam said snapping her eyes sternly.
At that moment Noey joined their table.

Becky was in shock. She couldn't speak. She scanned the room looking for Freen but didn't find her.
"You okay Becky? You look a little pale?" Noey said
"Uh, yeah" Becky said

"Thank you miss Chankimha" the reporter said
"No worries" Freen said

Freen immediately turned around to find Becky but bumped into Non.
"Freen, I've been looking for you." Non said
"Yeah?" Freen said, still scanning the corridor in search of Becky
"We should talk" Non said
"Okay." Freen said

They exited the building and found a quiet spot out back.
"What's up?" Freen asked
"Freen, I know about the genies." Non said
"What?" Freen said
"When Billy was investigating Heng's kidnapping and happened upon the connection. He then came clean about a family secret of ours that's only been privy to Billy's lineage and the sitting kings. I consulted my brother and found it was true." Non said
"What was?" Freen asked
"The royal family have been using genies for generations to maintain our power and influence with no problem. We've been using the Mukhtar for research into genies. Which explains why they'd been allowed to terrorise the criminal underworld for so long." Non said

Freen stepped back.
"You mean your family are the ones behind my parents death and my family living in fear?" Freen said
"Yes" Non said solemnly

Freen began to breathe heavily.
"I didn't know. Billy and even my uncle Wo didn't know the extent my father went to in order to gain the powers of a genie. My brother did though." Non said
"Gain the powers?" Freen asked
"Yes, before my father died he stripped a genie of their power and made it his own, indirectly cursing our family. He selfishly granted himself all of his own desires but left us barren. Literally. That is why my brother has not been able to continue his line and bare children of his own. Here I was thinking marrying you would have fulfilled my duty to continue our line. It wouldn't have... uh sorry that was presumptions. I mean if you wanted to have children." Non said

"Wouldn't. Past tense? So...You don't need me anymore?" Freen said
"Need you? That was never the reason why I was willing to marry you. It was just a plus that I knew you would have been a great mother... Don't worry I will still marry you. I know your company is still counting on the influx of cash." Non said
"Actually... we managed to recoup all our losses while Heng was kidnapped. The people really rallied behind us. All press is good press I guess?" Freen said
"Oh. That's amazing to hear." Non said
"I'm sorry Non." Freen said
"It's okay. It's the price we should pay for our sins. The sins of my family go back generations." Non said

Non smiled at Freen.
"Anyway, I'll make the announcement towards the end of the night. So enjoy the party anyway." Non said
"Thank you." Freen said
"Oh. And I'm happy for you and Becky." Non said as he went back inside

"BECKY!" Freen thought.
Everything seemed to be falling in place but Becky was still going to die. Freen felt a pang in the pit of her stomach as she rushed inside to find Becky.

She rushed into the hall and over to the table assigned to her closest friends and loved ones.
"Noey, have you seen Becky?" Freen said
"I think she went to the toilet" Heidi answered

Freen rushed out of the hall and walked towards the bathroom as she caught her breath.

Becky emerged from the bathroom into the corridor and caught sight of Freen.
"Freen" Becky said
"Becky" Freen said
"I want to talk to you" Becky said, her voice shaking.

Freen and Becky went into the back room where Freen had done her makeup and hair.
Becky twiddled her fingers for a while looking down until Freen grabbed her hands and smiled.

Becky looked up into Freen's big beautiful eyes.
"I've been holding this in for a long time because I didn't think I deserved to say it but I have to say it now." Becky said

Freen paid special attention in anticipation. Freen thought it would be better if Becky was the one to tell her voluntarily that she was going to die rather than trying to pry it out of her.

"Freen, I love you." Becky said with a tear trickling down her cheek.
Freen smiled and wiped her tear then caressed her cheek.
"I know."