You don’t mess with the Vision- Chapter Three

Cursed Love: Sometimes Love can surprise you

Nadir shook off the specks of frost that covered the shoulders of his winter jacket annoyed that the first frost had barely waited until the end of October before it fell. He unbuttoned his jacket, about to head upstairs when he heard the sounds of a commotion on the main floor. He frowned surprised. He had thought everyone would still be working.

He, himself had been planning on finishing the last of his paperwork for the day at his home office. He walked around the corner and saw that Natalie had the assistants running around reorganizing flower arrangements and setting up silk banners between the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Now, what is my mini-hurricane of a sister doing now?” Nadir asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow as Natalie whirled around in shock. He wasn’t sure what exactly had brought on the change but instead of Natalie fighting with him about his sudden engagement that neither of them had wanted, she had thrown herself into the preparations. Preparations and leaving little gifts and notes for Nadir at his bedroom, the office, and occasionally in his Jaguar.

“What are you doing, back from work so early?” She asked. “I thought you were in back-to-back meetings all day?” Natalie said her eyes narrowing at Nadir who grinned wildly at her. “They finished early. Thankfully.” He said. Natalie stood with her arms crossed staring distrustfully in Nadir’s direction. “What about you? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” he asked in return.

“I took the rest of the week off. Nothing is messing with my vision.” Natalie said gesturing at the mini transformation the entrance hall of the main floor was currently undergoing. “What vision?” Nadir said putting his hands on his hips as he looked at the area. Natalie whacked him in the chest not impressed with his snark.

“This is why you are not in charge of decorations.” She said. “What are the decorations for?” Nadir asked. Nearly getting whacked again as Natalie whirled around her eyes wide. “Are you kidding me? It’s for your engagement party? You know the one you’re having on Saturday??” Natalie said. “The invitations went out yesterday.”

“Oh,” Nadir said looking around, at all the gold and ivory decorations that suddenly made sense now. The engagement hadn’t exactly been on the forefront of his mind with everything that was going on. Especially since all, he could currently think about was the fact that Dylan Tomas was apparently close enough with Cate to be going on hiking trips together.

“If it’s my engagement party shouldn’t I be helping?” Nadir asked. “You only have two jobs as the groom. Go get a suit that will make you look fabulous, and show up.” She said ticking off her fingers as she spoke. “I’m in charge of the rest,” Natalie said triumphantly. “Well, unless you want Grandmother to get involved,” Natalie said. “No thank you.” Edward one of the assistants sang as he walked by, making the siblings laugh.

Nadir frowned. “You took the week off… for this?” Nadir asked. “I’m starting to be glad I did,” Natalie said. “Did you really forget that you’re getting engaged in less than a week?” Natalie said in a hushed voice. Nadir bit his lip. “I guess with everything going on, I’d put it out of my mind,” Nadir said. Natalie grabbed Nadir’s forearm and pulled him into the kitchen. “No, you’ve been distracted the past week. Ever since you ran off that evening without telling anyone.” Natalie looked around shiftily. “Did you go to see Cate?” Natalie asked. Nadir closed his eyes. “Not exactly,” Nadir said quietly. Natalie looked at him sharply. “What exactly?”

“I just needed to get out. Away from the house. From everyone. I took a long drive and ended up on the hiking trail.” Nadir said, looking away from Natalie. “And then I bumped into Cate. And Dylan Tomas.” He said with an edge in his voice. “I’m sorry. Dylan and Cate? Were they…Together?” Natalie asked carefully.

“I honestly have no idea,” Nadir said. “I may have just left.” He said. Natalie looked at Nadir in disbelief. “Nadir!” Natalie said whacking him in the arm. “You and Cate seriously should communicate,” Natalie said. “I don’t think that’s going to help anything now,” Nadir said with a sigh. “I never agreed with Charlotte a letter goodbye isn’t going to solve anything. Are you just going to ignore her for the rest of your life?” Natalie asked. “It’s probably too late anyway,” Nadir said looking behind them as his mother walked into the kitchen.

“As I live and breathe. Both my children home on a weekday?” Eliza Reign said with a smile as she went to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle as both children grinned in response. “I took the week off, to help with whatever I can for the engagement party,” Natalie said.

“That was kind of you,” Eliza said, giving Natalie a one-armed hug. “And you, Nadir?” She asked politely. “I finished the meetings early, so I came home,” Nadir said. Eliza glanced at both of her children morosely. “I know we never really talked about everything.” She said hesitantly looking at her son. “I’m okay. I promise.” He said.

Eliza took a breath. “I am sorry, that all of this is happening. I was looking forward to Cate eventually become a part of our family. She basically was. Your father, for all his faults, cared deeply for her as well. He would’ve fought but your grandmother talked to the board about the merger before she told us anything. She made sure that we would have no choice.” She said. Nadir smiled. “Just knowing that both of you understood my feelings about this is enough for me. I made a promise. I’m going to uphold it.”

Cate’s Apartment

“Okay, your starting to freak me out,” Ruby said putting her book down as she looked over at Cate. “You’ve been staring at that envelope for a really long time now.” She said. Cate glanced away from the ornately embroidered envelope to look over at Ruby. “I am freaked out,” Cate said testily. “I’m guessing I don’t want to know what is in that envelope,” Ruby said leaning over the coffee table to grab a highlighter.

“It’s an invitation,” Cate said with a sigh. “To Nadir’s engagement party,” Cate said, rubbing two fingers together. A nervous gesture she’d gotten back when she was younger. Ruby looked up in shock. “WHAT?” She said putting her textbook aside and getting off the couch.

Before ruby could walk over and grab the invitation off the table like she wanted to, there was a sudden knocking on the door. Frustrated, with one more glance towards Cate, she answered the door. “Jake,” she said in surprise, as he walked past her into the apartment.

“And you tracked in snow.” She said with dismay as he shook his shoulders and then for good measure put his hand and shook his hair towards Ruby’s direction making her huff. “It’s really starting to come down.” He said bending down to pull off his boots, as he went to take off his jacket he finally noticed Cate.

“Cate?” he asked questionably as his eyes went to the invitation on the table. His eyebrows raised in surprise. “They sent you an invitation?” Jake said with surprise.

Cate looked up at him. “Amrita delivered it this morning.” She said morosely. “And you know what that means.” She said with a sigh. They both turned to look at the invitation. “Eleanor.”

“Eleanor?” Ruby asked sitting on the arm of the couch hugging one of the pillows. “Eleanor Reign. Practically the scariest person in Boston.” Jake explained.

“I shouldn’t go. Right?” She asked looking at Jake. He stared down at Cate who looked miserable at the prospect. He wanted to tell her that of course, she shouldn’t. That he would go with her anywhere else. But he knew what he had to say. “Of course you have to go. You and I both know that if Eleanor made such a point to invite you, you have no choice.” Jake said. He pulled out the folded piece of ivory cardstock from his pocket. “But you won’t be going alone,” Jake said.

Cate narrowed her eyes at the piece of paper and took it from Jake, opening it up to see a duplicate of the invitation she got except instead of her name it said ‘Dylan and Jake Tomas’. Cate looked up surprised. “Your both going?” She asked. “Yeah. We could pick you up if you want.” He said cautiously. Cate handed him back the invitation and shook her head. “No, I’m going with a date.” She said as she straightened her shoulders and grabbed her keys from the counter, making Ruby frown. “Where are you going?” Ruby asked confused. “To go tell him.” She said as she pulled on a jacket and roped her scarf around her neck. She shoved her boots on, rather forcefully. “Cate, it’s snowing,” Jake said calmly.

“Maybe the cold air will do me some good.” She said walking out of the house. She didn’t bother with her car, because she knew where and who she was looking for. Thankfully while the snow was falling it wasn’t actually staying on the ground. So it didn’t take her very long to make it to the main thoroughfare of the University village. She walked up the small incline, and walked into the cheery café, smiling at the greeting the counter people said as she walked in.

Cass smiled brightly as he saw her walk in. “Cate! It’s lovely to see you!” He said beaming. She smiled at him. “Hey, is he here?” she asked and Cass pointed to the adjoining room. She walked through the doors to where the main dining was and immediately saw who she was looking for. Abraham had donned off both his overcoat and jacket and sat quite comfortably in his shirt and suspenders looking every bit the investigative journalist that he was. She smiled, walking over to him. Abraham for his part happened to look up and beamed at seeing her. “My favorite cousin!” he said getting up and squeezing her in a bear hug as she got closer.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite cousin.” She said with a smile as she took off her coat and stole a fry as she sat down. “You don’t ever change your routine, do you?” she asked. “Traditions are a staple in society.” He said pointedly. Cate nodded to his notebook. “Ever the diligent worker, I see.” She said. “Only way I know how to be.” He said. He smiled at her. “How have you been? Really?” He asked gently. Cate smiled slightly. “Some days are better than others.” She said with a sigh. “I really hope you don’t have plans this Friday,” Cate said. “Why? Where are we going?” Abraham asked. “An engagement party,” Cate said with a gritted smile.

Abraham’s eyes narrowed at her voice. “Whose engagement party?” he asked. Cate sighed. “Eleanor invited me. I couldn’t really say no,” she said with dismay. “Do you want to say no?” Abraham asked. “Of course I want to say no. Do you really think I want to go to my Ex’s engagement party?” Cate asked. Abraham sighed. “Well, I guess I need to go get a suit.” He said with a sigh. “Really? You’ll go with me?” she asked.

“Of course I will. Someone has to.” He said with a deep sigh. “I hope you have a nice dress. This shindig is probably going to be fancy.” He said. Cate grinned. “Sometimes I really love you.” She said. “Good. You remember that when I punch out Nadir’s face for harassing my little cousin.” He said with a huff, making Cate laugh. “As if you could punch out anyone.” She said. “I’ve punched people before.” He said with a frown. “People you’ve also spent the night playing COD with?” she asked. “No one has ever beaten our high score, okay. We don’t mention COD ever.” Abraham said.

One of the waitresses came by handing Cate a Baileys coffee piled high with whipped cream. “From Cass.” She said with a smile before she left. Cate happily took a sip making Abraham cringe. “You better not be driving home.” He said. “Don’t worry I walked here.” She said with a smile. He narrowed his eyes. “I’m taking you home then.” He said firmly. She grinned. “I was counting on it.” She said in a sing-song voice. “Besides the invitation, how were you doing really.” He asked quietly.

“I’m doing okay. As I said, some days are better than others. I saw him the other day.” She said quietly. “Nadir?” Abraham asked his eyes wide. “Yeah. We didn’t really talk, but it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.” She said, thoughtfully. “My friends have been a great help. And knowing you’re here for me is everything.” She said with a big smile.

“I always will be.” He said. “We’re family.

“How about you? Are you really going to be okay, going to Nadir’s house? When was the last time you saw Natalie?” she asked carefully. “About a week and a half.” He said making Cate gasp. “What? And you didn’t tell me!” she said furiously. Abraham laughed. “We bumped into each other at the Sinkhole.” He said making Cate roll her eyes. “I can’t believe you still frequent that bar,” she said. He smiled. “It was okay. We spent most of the time talking about Nadir. And about you.” Abraham said. “Oh, great,” Cate said making a face at him.

“I told her that I had loved her before,” Abraham said softly. Cate’s eyes widened. “What did she say?” Cate asked softly. “There are no words for a bombshell like that. We just sat there drinking before we moved on to other subjects.” He said. “We’re quite a pair aren’t we.” She said with a soft smile.

“I think half the reason Nadir is allowing this whole thing, is his terror that this might be pushed on his sister.” He said. “Nadir has always been overprotective of Natalie,” Cate said. “She is his baby sister, and he loves her with the ferocity of a lion. I just wish you hadn’t been hurt because of all this.” Abraham said sadly. “Love isn’t love, without pain. And I will always love Nadir. He has my heart. But we both need to face each other to move on.” She said. “Maybe that’s why Eleanor sent the invitation. To make sure there are no more loose ends.” She said.

“When you put it that way, it makes me think that it's Eleanor I should punch,” Abraham said with a sigh. “That would be quite the sight, wouldn’t it?” Cate said. “You punching out the matriarch of the Reign Dynasty,” Cate said with an unfeminine snort. “I hope the girl who’s marrying Nadir knows what she’s getting into,” Abraham said with a sigh. “Serilda Ryn looks quite capable,” Cate said. “Either way, we’ll see at the engagement party. Won’t we?” Cate pointed out. Abraham sighed. “Ah. The things we do for family.”