From My Perspective (BWBM)✔️

VIII

Auriella Bradford
July🌞
TX📍

I watched as Sasha or Sarah or whatever her name slid her dress on before strapping on her heels.

"So, see you around?", she asked hopefully. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I will be on the first plane back to New York in the morning, so I just nodded.

As soon as I opened my door to let her out, I saw Porter kissing Cleo. Both of them wearing last night's clothes. Sally looked at me, before saying a quick goodbye and rushed past the two of them, making them pull apart. Cleo finally noticed me standing there and blushed. Porter turned around and nodded at me.

"I'll see you two later.", he said.
"Bye.", Cleo said shyly. He smirked and walked next door to his room. I shut my door and nearly pushed her into her room.

"Tell me everything!", I said excitedly as I jumped on the couch. She laughed and sat down beside me.
"There's nothing to tell. We literally just talked all night until we fell asleep. He looked at my sketches and then we just got to talking about our lives."

I squealed and clutched my heart.

"You two are already so adorable. I've never seen Porter so into someone. Do you like him?"
"I do. It feels a little strange. I feel like I've known that man my entire life and it's only been a day. He's sweet and funny. I've never dated before and I c-."
"Wait, like never? Not even in like high school?"
"I was homeschooled. I only had one friend that I met from an art class. I just never met anyone, I guess.", she said before she let out a breath and turned to me.

"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Would you be mad if I left Brad Enterprises?"
"For the art gallery?"
"Porter is talking to his friend today. I let him take a few pictures of my sketchbook. He thinks she'll love me."
"I think you should go, Cleo. I've seen a few of your sketches. You obviously have a passion for it."
"It's kinda scary. This will be the first thing that I do on my own merit. I mean, yes, Porter's helping me, but my own art will be at the forefront."
"Cleo, you're talented. I don't get why you're stressed."
"My dad has literally orchestrated my entire life. This is the first time I will have to rely on myself. Every single thing that I wanted to do, my Dad made it happen. I wanted to go to Paris for fashion week and my dad personally flew me there. These have been the worst couple of months of my life with my family losing everything, my mom killing herself, and my dad going to prison."
"You never told me that about your mom. I wondered how she died. The tabloids just said it was a mysterious death."
"She shot herself with my dad's gun the day he was arrested."

Cleo Mitchell
July🌞
TX📍

I sat in my father's office and glanced around the room. It doesn't feel right to be in here without him. I don't think it's fully set in yet that just a few hours ago, my father was just arrested in our home.

I looked at the wedding photo of my parents. Their smiles, which usually made me feel safe whenever I looked at this picture, now made me feel unnerved.

I thought this was all going to be taken care of when Dad drained our bank accounts to pay back everything he stole. I never imagined seeing my father being placed in handcuffs.

I watched as my phone began buzzing and saw that my friend Aiden was calling me. I flipped my phone over before walking out of my dad's office to check on my mom.

I knocked on their bedroom door that I heard shuffling behind.

"Mom, are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich.", the shuffling behind the door stopped before I heard something slide against the door.

"Mom? Can I come in?"
"Baby, I'm sorry.", was all I heard before the loud bang of a gunshot ranged through my ears.

"I just ran to my dad's office and called 911. I couldn't see my mom like that. From what they told me she died instantly. She barely felt it. I guess that's the good part."
"I'm so sorry, Cleo. I hate that you had to go through that alone.", she said before pulling me into a hug.

"You know you can always talk to me, right?"
"I know, Auri. Can I ask you something else?"
"Of course."
"Who was that girl leaving your room?", I asked. She looked at me with wide eyes and shook her head.
"I honestly can't tell you her name."

After getting breakfast and preparing for the conference, Leo, Auri, Porter, and I finally arrived at the ballroom where the conference is being held.

"I already set up your booth. It's in L3.", I told Leo.
"Okay, I'm in L6, so I'll see y'all in a few.", Porter said before discreetly squeezing my waist. Well, not that discreetly because Leo saw and immediately rolled his eyes.

"I got it from here. You can leave.", he dismissed me. Auri glared at him.
"What? Why?"
"You're no longer needed. I'll arrange your flight home and we'll see you on Monday."

I shook my head and caught Porter's eye who had noticed Leo's animosity.

"Fine, I'll see you then."
"Come on, Cleo. I'm coming too. I'll have them get the jet ready.", Auri said as she brushed past her brother.
"Wait, you're not even going to stay?", he asked Auri.
"You got it from here, remember?"

She grabbed my hand and we walked back upstairs to our rooms.

"I'm going to call for the jet. Let me know when you're finished packing and we can go.", she smiled at me.
"I'm sorry if I make things harder for you and your brother. I'm trying to figure out what it is that I do that makes him so upset, so I can stop it, but I don't know what it is."

She frantically shook her head and made me look her in the eyes.

"You are not the problem, Cleo. He is. I do not want you to change a thing about yourself just to please Leo. Hurt people hurt people and that's something that Leo needs to deal with, not you.", she told me. I smiled and nodded at her, which seemed to be enough for her because she let go of my shoulders and grabbed her room key.

"See you in a bit."

As soon as I enter the room, my phone began ringing.

"Shouldn't you be telling a bunch of people how your company is set to be the next GE Motors?", I said as I answered. I grabbed my suitcase off the floor.
"I had to step away. I was worried about you.", he spoke softly. I could hear the busyness of the room.

"I'm fine. I'm just going home earlier than expected."
"I wanted to spend more time with you."
"Well, it's a good thing we live in the same city then."
"You're right about that.", I could almost hear his smile.
"I'm moving in with Auriella, so at least you'll know where I'll be."
"Good. Now, I know where to pick you up for our first date."
"Are you asking me out on a date, Porter?"
"Of course I am.", he laughed.
"Then my answer is yes."
"Good. I'll see you back in New York."
"See you then."