160 Please Don't Lose I

"Are you going to Rose Gold Jewelries?" Hayley asked as she met Amber in the hallway.

"Yes, the day is close so I have to finish it fast," Amber replied.

"I'll go with you, Arlene called me and said that mine's already done. Wait for me for a bit," she happily said.

"Go on, I'll wait for you downstairs," Amber replied with a smile.

Upon meeting in the ground floor, they have decided to use Hayley's car. Amber will just commute when she's done with what she needs to do.

"Say Amber, there's this event I want Alissa to join," Hayley started.

"Hmmm? What is it?" Amber asked.

"Uhmmm that is, it would be a weekday and when I checked her schedule I saw that her weekdays were the ones that was filled but the event would be during the night," Hayley started with uncertainty.

"Hayley, I already told you, Alissa will still do her events. If you think that it would help you and Alissa promote yourselves better then I would give my full support," Amber smiled as she said this.

Hayley heaved a sigh of relief, "Very well, I'll schedule it then."

"When will it be?" Amber asked.

"Around the second week of February," was her answer.

"Very well go and tell aunt Jacqueline about it and say that you have an additional on her schedule. I'll be away during that time," Amber nodded as she said this.

"I understand," Hayley happily said.

"Oh and one more thing," she once again said.

Amber looked at her.

"Uhmmm I have finished my designs already..."

Amber's eyes shifted upon remembering her latest designs before remembering her promise. That Hayley will have a break for their anniversary.

"Your vacation?" she asked as she smiled at her.

Hayley nodded slowly.

"Very well, I promised after all. Five days, I'll give you five days," was her reply.

"Your the best!! Thank you so much Amber," Hayley exclaimed as her whole face lighten up.

After Hayley got her order and left, Arlene spoke with Amber.

"She seemed excited and happy, something good happening? About that ring as well?" she asked.

"I wish you could keep this a secret," Amber winked at her as she placed her forefinger in front of her lips.

Arlene smiled, being in the entertainment world doesn't mean it was all fun, there are still people who loves making a big deal out of something so small.

"Very well, it would be my pleasure to keep quiet about it," she then replied before the two of them walked inside to the workroom.

*****

Another week and somehow Amber was able to address almost everything she needs to address.

Jake already returned but she had him focus on his designs for her mind was already rolling, stopping now would make it difficult for her.

Both he and Amber were inside the office working on separately.

*BANG*

"Welcome back," Amber said in a deadpan manner.

"Why Amber? Why? You told me it was because of the transition, that is why you had the production of my designs into 25 percent of the normal," Hayley started crying.

Out of frustration and feeling betrayed.

Amber didn't speak and just looked at her, Jake didn't speak either, as he remained seated looking at the two of them.

"Why is it that this time you didn't produce ANY OF MY DESIGNS!!"

"Before I answer your question, can I ask you something?" she asked without a change in emotion.

Hayley could only wipe her tears that were falling nonstop. She just looked at Amber, her eyes filled with pain.

"I gave you five days, why is it that you returned after seven days?"

"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking me that? That has nothing to do with what I am asking right now," Hayley complained as she started getting angry again.

"Nothing? Are you sure Hayley? Are you sure that this lateness of yours has nothing to do with why I had your design's production decrease?" Amber remained emotionless as she said.

"I don't understand, don't go having riddles with me, I am not as smart as you are," she complained.

Amber scoffed, something that shocked Hayley.

Amber never once did look like this in front of them, through the phone or personally. She always had her smile and patient look.

But this time she looked so much different.

"Very well, look at this," Amber pulled out an envelope among the files on her table.

Placing it in front of Hayley.

Hayley sat down across her and opened it, pulling out its contents.

She furrowed her brows, as the contents were all her designs since she started.

She looked at Amber in confusion.

Amber pulled another and handed it to her.

This time it was all her designs for the past year, to be precise her designs after being with Mark.

"What is it? You're still giving me riddles," she asked.

"Didn't you notice anything?" Amber asked.

"What should I notice, will you just get straight to the point? If you just want me to stop designing then just say so," Hayley snapped at her.

"Wow."

The way Amber said it was so sarcastic that Hayley became even more infuriated.

"AMBER!!! What is wrong with you? You have truly changed ever since I last met you, have you become so devoted with money that you have forgotten about our friendship already?!?"

Amber propped her head on one hand, as she remained staring at Hayley.

And instead of saying anything about what she had just said, she instead asked, "You really didn't notice anything?"

"You are a fashion designer, aunt Jacqueline was already an exception. But can't you notice what Alissa noticed? What miss Batton noticed? What I noticed?"

Hayley looked back at all the designs in her hands, this time she looked at them even more carefully than a while ago.

Slowly something crept inside her heart, something she wanted to deny.

"Seeing your look, I guess you already saw it but you seemed to still be denying it. Very well, look at this."

Amber opened her laptop and turned it to Hayley, this showed all the sales of Hayley's designs for the past month.

At first it was clearly on demand and the 25 percent was not enough but as days passed the sales slowly dropped until it reached the single digits.

This was something that never happened to her before.

"Explain that to me then, tell me why is it that the public no longer wanted to buy them?" Amber said as she saw the changes in Hayley's face.

Hayley was rendered speechless, she didn't expect such outcome, she didn't expect that the designs she rushed would have such result.

"You must be thinking why? I finished them on time, I did my best to draw them beautifully, so why?" Amber started speaking again.

"It's simple," she then stood up and walked to her side.

"Rushed."

Hayley looked up at her upon hearing this word.

She felt like a cold water was suddenly poured on her.

"You have rushed them Hayley. Rushed them to the point that your designs have become lifeless as compared to the past. You have noticed it right? Upon giving it a closer look?"

Hayley looked down, she was truly too shock and couldn't fully digest what just happened.

"I gave you the chance as your friend by having a 25 percent production but you ended up making more designs that could no longer be sold. You finished ten of them in a week just for that break?"

"And you even came back late, I gave you five days but you went ahead and took an off for seven days. Then when you return, you were actually fuming mad at me…"

Seeing as she remained bowing down, Amber spoke, "Look at me Hayley."

Hayley couldn't reject her words as she slowly look up and she felt like she was suffocating, all her anger and feeling of betrayal were gone, replaced only by shame and guilt.

"Do you really have the right to get mad at me right now? When I myself should be the one getting angry for your negligence?" Amber asked, her voice was neither mad nor patient.

It was void of anything that Hayley didn't know how she would react.

So instead, she stood up and bowed deeply, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I was wrong it was my entire fault. I shouldn't lash out without checking if something was wrong about me."

Amber bit her lower lip as she walk back behind her table, her back facing Hayley as she look out the window.

"Amber, I'm really sorry. I will do my best, I will no longer rush things. I guess my success went to my head and this is the outcome. Please, please forgive me. I also didn't have the right to tell you, you have changed."

She became fidgety as guilt started feeling her heart. She actually got mad and said those words to Amber?

She started trembling upon realizing this, it was this time that Amber was able to rein in her emotions and looked back at Hayley.

Seeing her trembling look, Amber sighed, "I know that was because of your anger but I am begging you Hayley. Please, don't do this again. Please reflect on this and I hope that this will never happen again. I am begging you."

"Yes I promise, no… I won't promise. But I'll do it, I'll definitely do it. I'm so sorry."

She kept apologizing not intending to approach Amber for she really couldn't believe how she lashed out.

"And Hayley…" Amber called making Hayley looked up at her once again.

"I'm begging you for one more thing, our trust and belief in you, please don't lose it."

*****

"I'm amazed, she was actually able to foresee such outcome and their lost was too little. Such mind is great for our company," Isaac commented as he look at the sale report of Hayley's clothing line.