JUST LIKE EARLIER, my eyes blinked repeatedly in bewilderment. My heart pounded so loud that I almost couldn’t hear anything but its beating.
“Don’t worry, it’s a business party.” He maliciously chuckled.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t,” I abruptly refused.
Why don’t he just invite Alessandra instead of me?
“Again, it’s a business matter,” he clearly said to me.
“Why don’t you present your wife instead of me?”
His brows creased and looked at me darkly. “Alessandra has nothing to do with this, besides, Marcus and Sarah will both attend the party tonight.
I sighed heavily at that, if I didn’t know Alessandra or if he’s another person, I’d probably go with him. But hell, yes! He is my husband, and as the world gets smaller between us, the more I want to just go away.
This is what I wanted in the first place, to be close to him. But not that way, I don’t want to put him into too much risk just because I can’t decide for what’s better for us both.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really feel well today,” I slowly said, lowering my head down to avoid his sharp eyes that wants to search the truth through my soul.
I instantly flew my eyes on him when he suddenly stood up to walked closer to me. I nervously took one step backward but his hand settled on my forehead.
“You seem okay,” he mumbled.
I bit my inner lip and averted my eyes to avoid his gaze. I can’t control the beating of my heart, I’m afraid he might hear how loud it yearns for him, so I stepped back to set a distance.
“You are going with me, whether you like it or not.” he declared, eyes remaining dark and showing sudden seriousness.
My eyes widened, my heart violently beated against my chest, like it will explode anytime.
“Don’t worry, we’re not acting like a couple one at the party,” he said with a chuckle as he gave me a malicious smile.
I pressed my lips tighter as I raised my eyebrows at him. How dare him accuse me of things like that? I’m the one who should remind him of this, even though it’s what I actually thought in the first place. Damn it!
If I base my decision on his words, it looks like there’s nothing wrong. Besides, Marcus and Sarah will be at the party, too. The only thing I worry about is the possibility that someone might recognize me. Our family is known to be rich and popular when it comes to businesses in the east coast, it’s not impossible for someone who knows me to attend—and worst case scenario, someone might also recognize Hezekiah.
“I’m really sorry,” I refused his offer once more.
He laughed loudly that seemed to deafen the whole room. I was stunned at his sudden action.
“I’m not asking you to accompany me. I ordered you because I said so! I’m your boss and you are my secretary. Who are you to disobey me?!” His voice wretched my heart out.
I gulped and cowered my head, having no strength to defend myself. The way he spitted out those words hurt me, I felt my heart tightened as I absorbed every word. Is that what I am to him? Does he really not remember a single thing about me? About us?
He sighed heavily and reached for my chin gently. Due to shock, I instantaneously lifted my gaze.
“Be my date for tonight.”
The night came, the hazy orange skies were replaced by the dark night sky.
I slowly looked up the sky above and smiled a bit, the moon arrived dauntlessly. It was bold and courageous but somehow it’s lonely, so full of insecurity and imperfections. I’m just like the moon, lonesome, doleful but just like the moon, I shine bright even with a blanket of darkness.
I took a deep breath, filling my insecured little self up with an ample amount of self-esteem. I fluttered my curly hair nervously and shut my eyes close when I spotted a car.
I readied myself, pulling my sling bag and not glancing at the mirror anymore.
I opened the door for him, I was stunned like I always do. My heart danced to an erratic rhythm when it showed his face.
A light stubble on his square jaw matched his gray suit and his tawny brown hair, giving him a mutinous look.
He stared down at me with his pitch-black eyes. I saw a bit of astonishment in his face but it quickly disappeared and was replaced by an expressionless mask.
“Shall we?” he asked after a second of silence.
I nodded, not minding how his eyes scrutinized my red-colored dress.
The warm atmosphere suffocated me, as we get closer to the event’s location, the more my heart thumps. I draw a lot of sighs beside him, he was just silently maneuvering the car in a cool manner.
“I asked Alessandra to join us at the party,” he said, then he shrug a bit.
I turned to him with an agitated expression. I wanted to ask him about how Alessandra reacted. Is she angry that I was the one who accompanied Gabriel? But then… I was too shy to ask.
I guess I’m just being paranoid. I don’t understand why I felt concerned about it.
I don’t know how many breaths I released today, but I heaved a sigh again. I heard some gnashing of teeth while his two hands are stuck maneuvering the steering wheel.
“Is she angry?” I can’t stop but to ask.
He chuckled,
I gulped for the nth time. What am I thinking? I’m just assuming. Alessandra’s not that kind of person.
“She was very disappointed,” he said coolly before shrugging his shoulders.
My back lifted from my seat as I faced him. My brows arched in confusion, my heart still dancing chaotically into a rhythm of the unknown.
“Don’t worry, she’ll understand,” his thick, velvety voice uttered.
But it’s not enough to make myself at ease. I breathed before facing him again.
“Gabriel—”
“I said, don’t worry.” He cut me off, lazily beaming back to look at me.
“She’s out of the town right now to take care of a big event, she’s just dissapointed that she can’t attend Reisha’s birthday party,” he explained in a soft tone.
“Okay,” I mumbled after a long moment. I’ll trust his words, like I always did.
I focused my attention outside the car windows where I saw our car entering the pavilion. It was huge and elegant, you can already see how grandeur the event even from outside.
Again, my heart was pounding fast, two hands clasped nervously. Different expensive cars lined up perfectly, I guess the party has commenced.
My heart danced again as my heels stepped onto the doorway. I looked around, hearing the loud music reverberating through the big hall, and just as I expected, the majority’s heads turned to our direction.
“Mr. Magnus!” Reisha greeted him with hugs and a kisses.
Witnessing that movement, I quickly averted my eyes, even more so when Gabriel lifted his hand to reach for Reisha’s back.
My lips pursed a bit, though my eyes kept on avoiding them, how she intentionally touched Gabriel with her fragile skin didn’t escape from my peripheral vision.
She was wearing a black velvety dress that enhanced the shape of her slender body, her ebony black hair was in loose curls and her syrup-sweet lips was tinted with red.
“Where is your wife Alessandra?” she asked after she blew away.
“She’s out of the town right now, but she has a gift for you…” he enunciated before giving her the box he was carrying.
“Oh, that was sweet! Thanks.” She received the present and gave it to the man—whom I think is his butler or bodyguard—beside her.
“Let’s get inside.”
She shamelessly hugged Gabriel’s arm to escort her inside. My feet was frozen at the doorway while I witness how everyone looks at them happily, unaware that this man is already married.
Excuse me.” I heard a sweet voice echoed at my back, I turned sideways to give way to her but she stopped and faced me.
“Have we met before?” she asked curiously.
The shivers traveled from the soles of my feet and up, feeling the coldness of the night as I stared at her, mouth shut.
“You look so familiar,” she continued, studying my face more intently.
I stammered, “I’m sorry… I–I don’t think so,” I said, nervousness enveloping me and turned my heels, intending to walk away.
“Wait!” She caught my arm.
Leaving no choice, I faced her with fear in my eyes. She opened her mouthed to speak, but before she could, someone interrupted us.
“Julianna?”
I turned around to face that voice. My lovely mouth widened, “Marcus?” I uttered in relief.
He glanced at me for a second and nodded at me before facing the woman he called.
“It’s nice to see you again!” he politely said to the woman in front of me.
“Oh, hi!” she walked towards Marcus and gave him a warm kiss on the cheek though Sarah’s just beside Marcus, wearing her fitted V-neck gown.
I sighed in relief when the woman—Julianna, perhaps—averted her attention towards Marcus. I was utterly grateful to Marcus for saving me, he glanced at me again before nodding.
I swallowed forcefully before turning my back on them. I was really getting conscious at the way people stared at me. I walked mindlessly, not knowing where direction I should go to find Gabriel.