AUTHORS POV
” Hello, Mrs. Reed, this is Archer, Mr. Reed’s P. A.,” Archer said over a phone call with Sydney. ” Mr. Reed is busy in a meeting now; he instructed me to let you know that the annual Gala d’ flare takes place tonight. The color code is red with a touch of gold. Dresses would be sent to you, choose any you’d prefer. Your hair should be left down and you should be ready by six.”
” All right, Archer. Anything else?”
” Mr. Reed would be there in a limo ten minutes earlier… and Mrs. Reed.” He lingered for a while and continued. ” Please don’t get on his nerves.”
***
Sydney stared at herself in the mirror, a faint smile across her face. Her fingers grazed her semi-flat stomach. The red chiffon dress with a slit by the side reaching mid-thigh hugged her curvy frame. She felt like a kid again. Except, now, she was hollow and messed up inside.
She remembered prom night. She remembered how much she and Gavin had been in love. That night, he had told her he loved her for the first time. She stifled a chuckle when she recalled how they skipped prom.
Gavin was so angry that night because he had found out her father abused her. When the silence was too unbearable for him, he skidded the car to a stop in a lone area.
” You didn’t trust me enough to let me know, did you?” Gavin growled at his petite girlfriend.
Sydney looked at him, tears obscuring her vision. She didn’t mean for him to find out that way. ” I’m sorry Gavin, I trust you. I was just-” Her voice hitched, and she sobbed.
He cursed under her breath and took her hand, drawing her to his lap. ” Shu… It’s fine. Calm down and talk to me.” He trailed his slender fingers in her hair.
She buried her face in his neck and cried. Her makeup stained his neck. His blood boiled, remembering how Caleb had beaten up his wife because she allowed Sydney to go on a date with him. When Sydney jumped in her mother’s defense, Caleb sent a hard slap across her face, making Gavin lose his mind.
Gavin patted her back. His voice became more soothing, ” How long has he been abusing you and your mother?”
Sydney sniffed and drew back. ” For as long as I know him.”
” And you couldn’t say anything or report to the cops. Is that why Ashley wears heavy makeup every goddamn day?”
Sydney nodded feebly. ” She begged me not to tell anyone. I know how evil my father can be, even if he gets arrested, he’ll still torture her.”
Gavin leaned into the chair and released a frustrated breath. He looked at her cheek; it had already begun to bruise. ” You can’t just let him get away with this.”
Sydney placed her hand on his chest and cajoled, ” Can we forget about that, please, Gavin?” Her fingers played with the button on his
He sighed and nodded. He’d left his college duties and driven to Arizona to give her the best prom of her life, but Caleb had to ruin it.
They stared at each other. Silence. The look in her eyes told Gavin she wanted him the same way he’d. Normally, she wouldn’t hesitate before she ground him. He understood she was still scared about what had happened.
She said in a trembling voice, ” I want you, Gavin.” She opened the first button. And the second. The third. The fourth. Her hand brushed his chest and he grabbed her hand immediately. She looked at him with pleading eyes, “Let me finish, please.”
He grabbed her waist and swiftly switched their position. ” You’ve been in control for too long. It’s my turn.”
She opened her mouth to oppose, but he sent his tongue inside her mouth, silencing her. A smirk appeared on his face when she gasped in pleasure. She wrapped her hand around his neck drawing him impossibly close to her.
She held his belt and began to undo it but he grabbed her hand strongly. ” We have a prom to attend in Sydney.” He moaned on her lips.
She frowned and tried to disengage her hand from his grip but it was futile. ” I don’t care again, Gavin; I want you, please.” She begged.
He groaned when she bit his lips. He used a hand to lower the seat and then pinned her hand above her head. His eyes darkened when he saw the look on her face. ” I love you Sydney.” He said seductively.
Her eyes widened, she wanted to speak, but he didn’t give her a chance to. ” Don’t touch, just watch. And feel.” He instructed.
A smile broke on her lips and she nodded. He tore off her dress impatiently, and they took off his clothes too. He reached to take out protection from his pocket but stopped.
” Forget that. We’ll try something different. Something better.”
And that something different had ruined her life. Sydney held back tears recalling that night. If things had turned out differently, would he have even wanted to marry her? Would Ethan be alive?
She was too lost in thought to realize Gavin had called her over six times. She didn’t realize he was back home until the room door opened.
Gavin stilled for a while, the scowl on his face vanishing when he saw Sydney in the dress. She knew he was thinking about prom night too.
He cleared his throat and looked at her in the eyes. He grimaced slightly and said, ” Be down in a minute. You had already wasted enough time.”
Terry, Gavin’s new driver, stopped the limo in front of a grand hall. Other guests, dressed in formal red attire, arrived with their partners and entered the party.
Sydney wanted to ask Gavin why he didn’t take his concubine instead but she didn’t want to get on his nerves like Archer instructed her to.
Gavin held her waist as they walked to the checkpoint. He wore the most convincing smile he could pull up.
” All clear. Welcome Mr. Reed,” The female security officer didn’t bother hiding her excitement when she saw Gavin’s handsome face. Her tone dripped with disdain when she said, ” And you too… Mrs. Reed.”
Sydney sent her a wry smile before entering the hall. The place was filled with sophisticated men and women, talking with wine glasses between their fingers. Round tables occupied the sides of the room. Sydney rubbed her elbows when people glanced at her and Gavin. She used to be so confident during parties like these, what changed?
Gavin noticed her taut and whispered. “Relax your shoulders Sydney, don’t let people see how tense you are. ”
Dawson County, in a dark red tux with his dark hair in a buzz cut, saw Gavin and walked to him. They shook hands and talked about a new project he was coming up with. He told Gavin he wanted him to be part of it. While they talked, Eleanor, his wife, stared at Sydney with malicious eyes. She had been in the same high school with her and Gavin. They never really cliqued. Most especially because she had a crush on Gavin.
Pulling on a mocking smile, she stretched out her hand. ” You must remember me, Eleanor James, now Mrs. County.”
Sydney accepted her gesture. ” Of course, we went to the same high school. You were the quiet girl with the perfect grades.”
Eleanor laughed, ” And you were the sophomore dating the twelfth-grade bad boy.” She said with contempt laced in her tone.
Dawson and Eleanor went to welcome another couple. Sydney felt sick in her stomach walking around and talking with people who had no regard for her. A year ago, they were so kind and interested in her, now they were cold to her because of the scandal.
” Gavin, I’m exhausted, I need to sit.” Her heels were starting to bruise
” Stop whining and exercise some freaking patience would you?” He said with a fake grin.
They eventually got to sit after an hour of greetings. They sat in the number one seat of executives. Sydney’s heart skipped a beat when Alfred took the stage. For a second she had thought he was Gabriel. She had grown attached to Alfred over the years, he was a prim yet understanding man. He treated her like a daughter. But, she understood to all businessmen, work came first. That’s why she bore no grudges against him when he benched her.
Alfred discussed business matters while the waiters served a meal of grilled filet mignon, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and broccoli.
Sydney felt like a bundle of nerves as people stared at her. As she raised her wine glass, someone bumped her chair, sending the wine glass to the floor and interrupting Alfred’s speech.
“Oh, darling. Forgive me, I’m so sorry.” Elizabeth Freeman apologized with a wicked smile on her lips.
She looked at Alfred, who had fallen silent like everyone else in the hall. ” Continue Alfred. Just a little mistake.”
People mumbled to each other, making it clear to Sydney they were saying something about her. Sydney looked at Gavin and figured he was regretting bringing her with him.
She got to her feet, blushing with embarrassment, ” I’m sorry but I have to use the restroom.” She excused herself before Gavin could object.
People gasped at her audacity. No one dared walk out when someone was taking a speech. Well, isn’t Mrs. Reed a great woman? How fortunate of Gavin to have her as a wife!
” Sometimes I wonder how you endure that woman,” Elizabeth said to Gavin who looked frustrated.
Gavin forced a smile. ” Pleasure seeing you again Miss Freeman.”
She stole Sydney’s seat, ” Likewise.”
Elizabeth beamed with pride talking with Gavin. Some minutes later, Alfred declared the party open, and the DJ started playing a waltz. Couples flooded the dance floor, dancing together.
Gavin cursed silently when Sydney still hadn’t returned. Elizabeth noticed his distress and offered, ” I danced like a dream during my college days. Do you mind me filling in for Mrs. Reed?”
Gavin looked at the door and back a her. He smiled wryly. ” Not at all.”
When Sydney returned, she saw everyone on the floor, dancing slowly to the music. Her heart constricted when she saw Gavin dancing with Elizabeth, their bodies swaying slowly to the music. Elizabeth’s face was nestled in Gavin’s neck, and Sydney’s mind raced with suspicion. Was Elizabeth the one Gavin was having an affair with? Sydney’s heart raced with anxiety and hurt.
She nearly jumped when a voice came from behind her, ” Do you mind taking this dance with me?” Alfred asked.
Sydney glanced at him and sighed. She thought it was amusing how he looked so much like Gabriel, except he had blue eyes and was blonde. ” What about Charlotte?”
Charlotte was Alfred’s girlfriend. All Sydney knew about his romantic life was that he once had a wife and children. No one had a clue what happened to them. It was surreal considering the fact Alfred was a popular man who had tonnes of paparazzi, yet his personal life was sequestered.
” She met her ex. I saw the look in her eyes. I had to let her dance with him.” Alfred’s lips were in a straight line.
” All right, lead the way.”
Alfred led Sydney to the dance floor. Although he was in his early sixties, he looked outstandingly handsome. Sydney wrapped her arm around his neck while he held her waist and they danced.
” You have a good eye, I must commend,” Alfred said.
” A good eye for what?”
” Sofia Woods is an efficient worker, she works like a seasoned pro. However, she’s quite timid and doesn’t realize her potential.” Alfred whirled Sydney.
” I agree with that. With time she’d build up confidence-” She wrapped her hand around his neck again. ” And thank you for accepting my request.”
Alfred nodded briskly. ” The pleasure is mine.” He stared at her for a while and said. ” I’d wish my son met you first. You seem like a woman who would set his senses right.”
She smiled. ” What’s he like? I’ve heard he exists and is blessed with good looks but I’ve never actually seen him.”
Alfred’s dismissive smile hinted that he wouldn’t discuss his son further. Sydney was curious and wondered why he was being secretive.
” Just know that he can’t take his eyes off a woman with red hair,” Alfred said enigmatically.
Alfred and Sydney danced in silence, but when the music changed, they switched partners. However, no one wanted to dance with Sydney, leaving her standing alone and searching for Gavin.
When she finally spotted him, he was walking towards the exit, engrossed in a phone call. She followed him into the silence outside.
He looked tensed while talking over the phone. He ran a hand stressfully through his hair. When Sydney wanted to reach after him, she froze when he said, ” She doesn’t have to know about it, Avery; tonight, I’ll tell my kids about the divorce.”