10. VIP Invitation!

Meghan lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, the harsh words from her family echoing in her mind. She felt trapped, torn between her loyalty to Gavin and the increasing strain on her relationship with her family. The threat of being fired from the family's business weighed heavily on her, and she wished Gavin could understand the pressure she was under.

She picked up her phone, hesitating for a moment whether she should dial Gavin's number or not. She wanted to know how he was doing and where he was staying at the moment. She debunked the idea, opting to call one of her team members at the office.

She told the team member to tell the other members of the team to go ahead with the assignments they were supposed to work on together, informing her that she won't be coming around to the office anymore.

Sitting alone in her room, Meghan couldn't hide the emotional turmoil churning within her. On one hand, she desperately wanted to earn her parents' pride and approval, just as Sophie had. On the other hand, she wasn't ready to give up on Gavin.

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Harry and James came to the house later in the evening of that same day. After the last dinner meeting with the Stallions which didn't go as planned because of Gavin, they've not really had a time out with the Stallions again. 

"Harry, James, you dropped by?" Katherine asked, surprised to see them without a prior notice.

"Oh yes. There's an elite party coming up soon and we've got some VIP tickets for everyone," Harry announced, swelling with pride. 

"Really?" Sophie asked, unable to hide her surprise.

"Yes, the party is exclusively for the elite and since we'll be family soon, I thought it wise to have you attend," Harry added.

"Oh! Is that so?" Katherine asked. The thought of attending an exclusive elite party sounded so nice to her. 

"These are VIP tickets for everyone." Harry said, handing over the tickets to them one after the other.

Oliver too got a ticket and it left him swelling with pride. With Harry he felt proud looking forward to the wedding between him and Sophie.

Sophie couldn't hide her surprise. She had always dreamt of attending such parties where she'll meet high class businessmen and businesswomen.

"That's so sweet, Harry." Sophie said, closing Harry in a warm embrace.

James noticed that Meghan wasn't present prompting him to ask if she was at home or not.

"What of Meghan? I've not seen her, James asked, concerned. 

Even if Meghan had left him at the restaurant the previous day because of Gavin, he was still concerned about her. He really loved Meghan and was ready to do anything to have her and take her away from Gavin.

"Oh, Meghan. Forget about her." Sophie scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.

"Why? I've got a ticket for her too?" James said, expressing his genuine concern for Megan.

"What? You got a ticket for Meghan?" Sophie asked, her eyes almost falling from their sockets.

"Come on, James. Let's forget about Meghan." Katherine said, sounding indifferent.

Meghan came out of her room to find James and Harry in the house. A wave of shame washed over her as she recalled leaving James at the restaurant the previous day.

"Meghan," James called out, his face lighting up at the sight of her.

"James..." Meghan began, but her voice faltered. She didn't know how to start apologising.

"What party are you guys going for?" Meghan asked, having overheard from her room.

"It's none of your concern. It's not as if you'd be attending anyway." Sophie scoffed.

"What's the meaning of that?" Meghan asked, unable to take Sophie's rudeness towards her.

"You heard me right, Meghan. The party is for the elite and not some low class wife to a peasant of a husband," Sophie replied coldly, not sparing Gavin of any of her insults.

Katherine couldn't resist adding her input to the conversation. "Calm down, Sophie. Meghan is free to attend the party, but only on one condition."

"And what's that?" Sophie asked, surprised that her mother was considering allowing Meghan to go with them.

"She'll have to agree to date James. After all, James got the ticket for her," Katherine revealed.

All eyes turned to Meghan, the room suddenly charged with expectation. Oliver and Sophie watched her closely, waiting for her response. James, too, couldn't hide his anticipation, his hope clear as he awaited Meghan's agreement to Katherine's request.

Meghan, however, chose to remain silent. The weight of her inner turmoil was too much to bear. Torn between her feelings for Gavin and the desire to appease her family and James, she found herself unable to speak. 

"What do you have to say?" Sophie asked, her eyes narrowing as she awaited a response.