When it's arranged...

Chapter 25

It wasn't even half an hour later before I got a call from Catherine and answered it as nicely as possible

"Catherine, how are you doing? more importantly where are you?" she ignored what I said 100% and just continued with what she wanted to say anyway

"there is no chance you're withdrawing from this position Kate, you're the only thing keeping me going at this point. I know Austin and I had a fight about you and all but..." I interrupted before she could continue

"about me?" I asked devastated, did I just ruin the two kindest people in the world's wedding?

"what, you don't know?" she was shocked "of course he wouldn't tell you, ok Kate, please just meet me at Brown's cafe right now" she hung up before I could respond

I turned on the car's engine and sped to Brown's cafe, as I drove into the parking lot I saw Catherine sit there, looking a lot better than Austin did when I saw him, she sat with her wedding diary jotting things down and wore a pair of glasses that I never knew she had. I walked in to sit in front of her making her look up smiling widely when she saw me stand ahead of her.

"you made it" she looked at her watch "that was quite quick, thank you Kate" she stood up to hug me and then we both sat down

"so, why are you and Austin fighting" I struggled to get the next part out "about me" I finally choked

"oh that, I almost forgot about that, this wedding has been keeping me so busy. he's mad at you and says you're a terrible cheater but i stood up for you and told him that on the video you can clearly see that that guy came on to you. anyway the flowers aren't ready yet, I need you to go check in with the florist while-" I interrupted her.

"Catherine, what video?" she looked up at me with a frown "what video did you and Austin see? Austin thinks the wedding is off, Catherine I think you should talk to him, the wedding is in two weeks, of course the flowers aren't ready yet. relax. talk to Austin, now" she looked at me with big eyes "what video?"

"the reenactment video of your and Christopher's kiss" she stood up and packed everything up "I think you're right, Austin deserves to know that we aren't fighting" she stood up and practically ran out the door

Before I could do anything the door opened again and Lily stormed in, looked at me and walked up to me slowly

"Kate" she softly spoke as if greeting me "we need to talk"

I stared at the only friend of mine who knows everything about me

"we really do" I stood up to hug her and to my great amazement she hugged me back

"I messaged the only paparazzi guy I know and shockingly he knew you had come here" she spoke boringly

"Lily, I don't want you to feel like I'm choosing Luke over you, you're my best friend, FOREVER. I want to tell you everything about my life. Lil I don't want this fight, I don't want this engagement, I don't want any of this anymore" I started to cry as Lily came to hug me

"Katey, I won't ever leave your side" she started laughing "we signed a best friend contract when we were like 15, I'm not breaking that now" she made me laugh as well.

"Lily, you won't believe what happened" and then I told her everything, from Christopher's kiss up to me buying Albatu industries

"you did what?" Lily laughed at me

it felt refreshing to have someone back on my side, and i could finally tell someone who'd be happy for me about getting into university.

"I was mad, so I bought Albatu industries to spite my dad and Luke in the process, but I keep thinking that it'll actually help me in the future" she looked at me happily, she enjoyed this too much

"and now? now with Christopher and Luke and all of that?"

"nothing, Luke's dad forced him to come home so I haven't been home since, and everyone believes" she cleared her throat making me rethink my wording "knows the engagement is a hoax. I really don't know what to do anymore, if I cancel it all I'd be letting Luke and his whole family down and if I don't I'd have to live a terrible photo ready life. Lily I really have no idea anymore"

Lily is extremely smart and always knows how to handle my problems

"you know what you're going to do? you're going to go home and get the media to love you and Luke, best couple ever. then you're going to go to Catherine's wedding, then directly thereafter you're going to go run your new company, call it a pre-wedding separation, let publicity spread the word, whatever happens, mad or not, you're going to marry Luke and you're going to put up a show for as long as your families want it, and with that, you will forever have me by your side"

I jumped up, "thank you Lily, I need to go home, get the media to look at us positively and then just go about my own life, or well the life my stupid parents made for me" I turned around and then turned back to Lily "I hate my parents" I moaned

"I know"

I got out of there and when I got home I found Luke sitting by the pool on the phone

"yes" he spoke on the phone "yes" I couldn't make out who he was talking to but I do know that he doesn't know I'm here "she isn't coming to that no" he continued "shut up" we were fine just a couple of weeks ago, I thought I really like him but now I'm standing behind the person who now hates me listening to a phone conversation he's having "fine, I'll tell her, bye" he hung up giving me an opportunity to speak

I walked over to the pool and put my feet in it making him se me and roll his eyes, we just sat there and he stared at me, he kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something but closed his mouth again every time. it was quiet until he finally spoke

"you heard that conversation?" he finally asked

"not really, no" I spoke softly kicking the water

"I need you to come with me to Mexico right after Austin's wedding"

"no." I spoke remembering Lily's plan for me

"what?" he asked angrily making me regret saying no

"I was thinking" I played with the water in the pool a bit more "right after Catherine's wedding we should take a pre wedding planning break"

"what?" he stood up and walked over to me glaring at me "what is that?"

"take a break from each other before planning our wedding, but before that I think we should create a great image for the press, they aren't to happy with us now" he sat down next to me looking like a baby who's candy was just taken away

"Kate, that's ridiculous. not a chance" he sighed heavily "what's gotten into you?  we're going to Mexico together and that's final"

"No" I stood up and stormed off into the house "the only reason we need to even see each other is for the media and that is what I call final"