15. French Fry
"Well?" I asked Shannon through FaceTime, smoothening the bottom of my dress.
Today was the stupid brunch I was being forced to go to and so I had to put on a stupid dress and put a stupid smile on my face. And on top of it all it was one of those stupid days where I felt ugly in every stupid thing I wore.
Today was stupid.
"Turn around," she said.
I gave her a three sixty, waiting for her comments after.
"Hmm," she observed. "Hmmmmmm..."
"Okay Shan, I don't have all day," I interrupted.
She laughed. "I'm teasing, you look amazing. This is definitely the one."
I looked at myself again in my mirror and sighed. "I look like a potato."
"Honey, you better not be putting yourself down or I will jump out of your screen and slap your senses back into you," Shan told me.
I chuckled. "Well sorry if I offended you."
She rolled her eyes. "Morgan, you're not a potato. You're a french fry."
I rose an eyebrow. "A french fry?"
"Yes, a french fry. A fucking tasty, sizzling hot french fry that everyone wants a bite off, not a sad boring potato," she said.
I laughed. "You're so sweet."
"Now say it with me girl," she ordered. "I am a french fry!"
I rolled my eyes, smiling. "I am a french fry."
"Like you mean it," she told me.
I laughed and said it more confidently. "I am a french fry!"
"That's right, a fucking french fry," she laughed.
She was really the best hype woman.
Then I heard my mom yell my name.
I sighed. "Gotta go Shannon, I'll talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you more," she said. "And remember, french fry!"
"Yes ma'am," I laughed and then ended the call.
I slipped on a shiny pair of silver heels and looked at myself one more time.
"French fry."
That was probably going to be my daily mantra now.
I took my phone and left my room, walking down the hall. Jean was coming out of hers as well.
"Hola gorgeous," I remarked, taking in her beautiful blue jumpsuit. Her straightened hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
She shut her door gently and smiled at me. "Hello beautiful, you know you always look amazing, but black, really?"
I nodded. "It's an extension of my soul today."
She chuckled. "Hold on."
She re-entered her room and I waited outside for a couple of seconds before she returned, a silver clutch purse in her hand.
"Here." She handed it to me.
"Really?" I asked.
She shrugged. "What? It's cute. Plus it matches your shoes and you won't look so morbid."
I laughed softly, accepting it and dropping my phone inside.
"Girls!" mom yelled.
"Let's go before we unleash the monster," Jean joked, linking her arm in mine.
I sighed and went downstairs with her, to find my mom waiting. She was dressed in an all white blazer and white jeans.
That would never be me. Being way too clumsy, I'd probably fall or bump into something that would most likely leave the world's most giant stain on my all white ensemble.
Because the universe plays with me like that.
My wedding day would probably end with me crashing into the chocolate fountain.
And yes, there would be a chocolate fountain.
Because well...who doesn't want a fountain dripping with heavenly chocolate?
"Oh, you two look fabulous!" she gushed. "Okay, now let's go."
We followed her outside and she got into the back of her white Escalade with a driver in the front, while Jean and I climbed into the black Range Rover we usually rode around in.
We soon arrived at my father's company. The building stood tall and wide with it's seven floors, flooded with security. I guess some important people were showing up. We parked and the door was opened, body guards ready to secure my sister and I. They led us, my mom ahead, to a spacious garden with a long table with about twenty chairs. There were already adults standing around, talking to one another.
"Thank you," Jean told them as they left us.
"This is about to be one boring day," I muttered and she chuckled, nudging my arm with her elbow.
"Lighten up sis."
"Easy for you to say, you were made for all this," I said.
"I don't think anybody is ever made for long boring meetings Morgan," she told me. "But then again I'm used to it so I know how to suck it up. Just smile and nod, always works."
She was immediately whisked away by some guy in a suit, a supposed producer or something like that. I wasn't close enough to hear the rest of their conversation.
I groaned, pulling out my phone. My mom approached me just as a man with a camera walked towards us.
"For goodness sakes Morgan try and look like you want to be here," she said through her smile as we posed for the camera. "Smile a little at least."
Somebody tell me to smile one more fucking time and I'll lose it.
"How's this for ya?" I asked her, a wide fake smile on my face.
She sighed and turned to me after the photographer was done. "Morgan, I know you're annoyed, but at least try for me."
"Fine," I gave in. "I will try to enjoy myself."
Or at least look like I am.
She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
I gave her a small smile as I was left alone once more.
Then I spotted my dad, and a genuine smile formed on my face. I hadn't seen him since I met him at the restaurant some weeks ago, where I met Josh too. He was talking to a grey-haired man dressed in army uniform. He was probably a general or had some sort of high rank, given the number of medals on the front of his uniform.
I waited till they were done and walked over to him.
"Father," I joked.
He opened his arms and received me in a hug. "Hey there sweetheart."
"Back from London? Or are you just going to take off again?"
He laughed. "I'm going to be in town a while..."
"Until..." I trailed.
"Until I have to leave for Japan," he said guiltily.
"That's why you delegate dad," I told him.
He laughed softly. "I like to see things through myself Morgan. You know, Jean has probably found her thing by being on stage and tv, but you Morgan, I think you could run this one day."
He always said that, and I always denied. I used to follow him to work a lot when I was little, but now, I just couldn't see myself in such a position.
"I'm barely making it through one brunch," I deadpanned. "What makes you think I could run an entire company one day?"
He looked at me. "Character."
He winked, and then went off to talk to an associate after patting me gently on the shoulder.
"Morgan?"
I turned around and rolled my eyes. "Oh God, anyone but you please. What are you doing here?"
"My manager's in business with your dad. Plus I'm working with your mom now remember?" he answered.
I didn't say anything.
"You've been ignoring me," he said.
"As I should," I stated.
"Can we at least talk like we're not six year olds?" he asked.
"Nope," I answered, looking away.
"For crying out loud we work together."
I turned faced him once more. "Work together? As far as I'm concerned it was one photo shoot. You and I are done Josh."
"As far as I'm concerned you don't have a freaking clue what's going on do you?" he chuckled.
I folded my arms. "What is?"
"It's this thing called a contract," he said in this condescending way that made me want to smack him on the head. "You see the deal was that I promote your mom's line if I get something in return. And working with Morgan Hall was bound to do that. I mean, look at all the buzz we generated. We're both more famous now more than ever."
"I never signed a contract," I told him.
"You're under eighteen, legally your parents have the right to allow or disallow you from engaging in things like these," he said. "Your mom signed the contract on your behalf."
"Let me get this straight," I began. "So...the terms and conditions of your partnership with my mom was that I basically do promos with you?"
"Yup," he answered, a smug smile on his face.
"And what if I don't?" I challenged.
"You don't want to break the terms of a contract, trust me," he answered.
I was fuming.
"So if I were you," he whispered in my ear, stepping close and snaking his hand around my waist. "I would stop acting like a spoiled brat and try to be civil."
He released me and smirked, before walking away.
"Oh and Morgan?" he called once more as he left. He still had that smug look on his face. "You look stunning."
I wanted to slap the taste out of his mouth so bad.
I was at a loss for words. That bitchy bitchy boy. And my mom...
"Excuse me?" she called, getting everyone's attention. "Brunch is served, so let's enjoy."
I slowly made my way to the table, feeling the urge to flip it over along with everything else.
I rolled my eyes when I saw that the only open seat left was beside Josh. Reluctantly I sat down, not saying a word to him throughout. I didn't say a word to anyone. Not that I even had anything to contribute. They were talking about their businesses or music or acting careers and I had nothing to do with that. Besides, I was feeling a storm stir up in my chest that I was afraid of what may have come out of my mouth if I attempted to speak.
She had the nerve to approach me after we were done.
"Morgan, are you okay? You barely touched your food," she said.
I just shook my head. "You really do all you can to bend heaven and earth just so you can get what you want don't you?"
She looked taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"Care to tell me anything, mom?"
"What on earth are you going on about?" she asked. "Morgan, watch your tone with me."
"How about you start with the law binding contract!" I hissed. "You know, the one you apparently signed without consulting me."
"Morgan, not now," she said.
"Then when, mom?" I asked, getting riled up. "You went behind my back to put me in a situation that I didn't want to be in and didn't even have the decency to tell me about it!"
"Morgan I am your mother!" she scolded. "You will not speak to me that way, and you will certainly not do it here. People are staring."
"Let them stare!" I said. "Why won't you just listen to me?"
"Morgan," she warned again.
"You know what?" I told her, calmly this time. "I'm done with this stupid brunch. I'll see you at home, mother."
I turned on my heel and ignored her calling my name, telling me to stay.
"Morga-"
"Not now Jean, I'm leaving," I interrupted.
I stormed to the car and luckily the driver was hanging around.
"Could you um...please take me home?" I asked.
He looked like he was about to object, but then refrained from doing so when he saw my expression.
"Of course Miss," he said, unlocking the door so I could get into the car.
I got home and went straight up to my room, slamming the door shut.
And then I picked up my pillow and screamed my all into it.
I was ready to punch a hole through the wall.
I hated this. I hated this so damn much.
A/N
Well that was frustrating for Morgan wasn't it?
Anyway I'm happy because I'm done with this semester's finals. Online school is stressing me outtt. There's no way I can keep learning math through a computer. I barely get it in person like...
Sigh. I need this to be over.
Hope you liked the chapter though! You're going to get a little more Aaron in the next ;).
- amani