FEW MINUTES LATER.
“We’ll start off with a glass of champagne each,” Director Lance said handing the menu to a standing man in tight waiter uniform.
I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting opposite him, about to start drinking. I have never been an alcohol person or one who believes alcohol makes things better but lord knows I need a glass or two today.
The event we initially came all the way to Mayfair for would have started, but guess what? He had figured it out beforehand. He called a day worker who ‘owed him a favor’, according to him to assist Chris in covering the event.
More shocking truth: He didn’t come out here because of any ‘dumb award ceremony’ but to cheer me up because I looked like I needed comfort. Also, he had pulled it off this way because he knows I’ll never agree to go out on a date with him even if he asked naturally.
Director Lance had no idea what my issues were exactly, but he was able to give the right diagnosis. I’ll give him that. Besides, he wouldn’t know but he was helping me think less about Connor in his own way.
As we waited for our drinks, he asked me to please be comfortable and I don’t have to tell him what was going on with me, but he would be all ears whenever I was ready.
Awww, I almost fell for that, Lol.
The first glass arrived and even before the waiter could leave, I gulped everything down in one go.
“You know what?” Lance said to the slightly startled waiter, “Just bring the whole bottle.” And the waiter nodded and left while he pushed his own filled glass to me, “You’ll get drunk easily if you take it that fast, Grace. Take it slowly.”
“That’s what I want, Director,” I answered soberly, already feeling a bit lose tongued.
“It’s Lance, for you, Grace.” he rested his hands on the table and stared at me intently. “Seriously, I’m beginning to get curious though, you were never like this, Grace. What happened, really?”
I ignored his question and gulped the whole drink in his glass, feeling my body sway and my head swoon as the alcohol took stronger hold of my senses.
“Grace…” he probed, looking really worried now, and then to my utter embarrassment, I burst into a loud mournful wail.
I want to stop but I couldn’t, and Director Lance looked like he would rather be anywhere but here as his face contorted into shock, then horror. He kept turning around, apologizing to other people in the bar on my behalf.
I could see their judgmental eyes glaring at me, but they have no idea how heavy my heart was, how much I’ve had to endure in silence, how tiring my life was, how much life expected so much when I did nothing wrong to it!
I can’t even control my thoughts now, urgh, what the hell is in that drink?
“Grace, please stop,” he begged, visibly traumatized by my weird behavior. “I’m sorry I asked, seriously you don’t have to tell me about it, honestly, let’s just drink quietly and leave, please, Grace.”
I scowled at him and impulsively brought out my phone from my purse and started dialing Connor’s number. If NK and Grace were here, they would have surely stopped me, but they weren’t and Director Lance was clueless, owing to the way he sat there watching me like a horror movie on repeat.
The phone rang twice and someone answered, “Grace?” came the deep sensuous masculine voice.
“Yup that’s me!” I yelled into the phone, causing Lance to shift uncomfortably on his seat like it was on fire. “You have any idea what you have put me through? Huh? Huh? Answer me!”
“Hello? Grace are you… drunk?” the voice sounded lighter from perplexity. “Where are you right now Grace, tell me, I’ll come right there! Hello?”
“Fuck you, Mr. Chardonnay! Guess what? I’m drinking wine like you!” I laughed out loud and hard like a lunatic and ended the call by hitting the red part of my screen repeatedly.
“Keep it down, Grace!” Director Lance whispered through clenched teeth. But somehow, he got it now, the understanding and sad look in his eyes told me so.
Thankfully, few minutes after the call, the waiter arrived with the whole bottle of champagne. Yay! I made to grab the bottle but a hand, no, two hands grabbed me, obviously trying to stop me from taking my drink.
I wriggle free and the bottle almost dropped but was saved by someone standing close to me. I raised my head up to see Connor glaring down at me in his thick brown wet hair and moist lips. I remember so vividly how kissing that lips felt…
“Grace!” he almost yelled, “What in the world are you doing here?” he asked, dropping the bottle on the table and grabbing my arm.
“Look who we have here,” I giggled clapping my hands like they have no bones, “Connor Shelby!”
“Woo, Woo,” Director Lance got up and grabbed Connor’s arm, “Where’d you come from… Connor Shelby?” his eyes almost fell off their sockets, “Who’s she to you?
“She called me here,” Connor said icily, his hand still firmly wrapped around my arms, “Why would you let her drink so much anyway, and who are you to her?”
“I asked you first but if you must know, I’m her director and potential boyfriend, so who are you to her, Connor Shelby?”
“I’m the father of her child.” Connor said angrily and everywhere suddenly went silent.
Oh no, this would not end well, I thought before everywhere went dark.