The annual Charity function hosted by Kevin McGraw last year was approaching and the Thompson's were invited as usual. Eric and Selene wanted Jules there just like she was last year and they didn't waste any time asking her if she would join them and Jules was glad to.
"Have you called her?" Eric asked
"She'll be here honey, Jules wouldn't bail on you." Selene smiled at him as Jules was Eric's plus one for the evening while Ceaser was hers.
They weren't trying to fix things between them. They just wanted to spend the evening with both of them, if things happened, then that would be a bonus.
Jules thanked Charles – Selene's driver – as she stepped out of the car. Jules had wanted to come in her car but Selene had insisted saying she would be going with Eric and Jules could have Charles for the evening. Charles gave her a curt nod and she smiled at him before she walked up the stairs of the building in her A-line ball gown with blue lace bodice, the neck deepening showing a little cleavage, a few patches of the blue lace down the waist against the nude, almost pink skirt and the tiny eye-catching diamond belt. Her hair was styled in a curly up-do with ringlets of curls falling around to frame her face. She paired the look with diamond earrings, simple make-up, red lips and nude heels, not like anyone was going to see that. Cameras flashed everywhere but she ignored them like she had been doing lately and headed straight into the building.
She walked down the vaguely familiar hallway and into the crowded ballroom the last charity function had been held. It seemed to have gotten bigger, both the crowd and the room. She looked around for Selene and Eric and found them where they were seated last time.
Thank God.
She sighed as she walked towards them ignoring the weird look she was getting from strangers. She had had enough of those the past month to last her a lifetime and she was done caring about what they thought of her.
"There she is." Selene said to Eric when she spotted Jules in the crowd making her way towards them.
Jules caught Selene's gaze and her face brightened with a smile as she approached them.
"Oh sweetheart, you look so beautiful." Selene hugged her
"Thank you." Jules hugged her back "And so do you."
"Thank you, sweetheart." Selene said
"I'm afraid no one would be able to keep their eyes off my date for the evening." Eric smiled at Jules "And of course my dearest wife." He kissed Selene's cheek which had gone slightly pink.
Jules smiled at them.
"Well, let's have our seats. It's starting." Eric said as he pulled out a chair for Selene and then one for Jules next to Selene before he took his seat on the other side of Jules keeping her in the middle.
"I hate to keep you both away from each other." Jules said
"It's alright." Selene said
"No, I insist." Jules was adamant "Please." She added when they both didn't budge.
"Alrighty." Eric said as he got up and held his seat for her before taking hers next to Selene who smiled making Jules happy.
"Good evening."
Jules turned along with everyone at their table. Beside their table stood a gorgeous man which almost made Jules sigh at the sight of him.
Oh wow.
His gaze caught hers and he smirked before he turned to look at everyone at the table, his gaze stopping on Eric's.
"Mr. Thompson."
Eric frowned at him.
"You look familiar."
The man smiled at him.
"Gideon." He said "McGuire."
It took Eric a moment before his face lit up.
"You're Drew's son?"
"I am, sir." Gideon said as Eric reached to shake his hand.
"I haven't seen you since you were just a baby." Eric was now hugging him "How are you son?"
"As good as I can be." He said
"Where's your old man?"
"He couldn't make it tonight."
Eric nodded, understanding.
"Well, this is my wife, Selene, not sure you remember her."
"Not so much. Nice to meet you Mrs. Thompson." He shook Selene
"Selene please." She said, "Your dad had said a lot about you."
"I try to make him as happy as I can."
Selene nodded
"Well, he's very proud of you."
"Thank you."
"And this is Jules Jenna my date for the evening." Eric introduced Jules to him "Jules, Gideon McGuire."
Gideon was transfixed by her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Jenna." He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles as they did in medieval times.
Jules was stunned to silence as she just stared at him. Gideon smirked at her.
"May I call you Jules?"
"Of course." She finally found her words.
"Very well." He said moving to the chair next to her "Is this seat taken?"
"Not that I know of." She said and he sat next to her.
Soon, Gideon struck up a conversation with her and she was immersed in it. She found it was so easy to talk to him. He made her smile and laugh with the stories he told and the little comments he made here and there.
That smile faded from her lips when she felt the hair on her nape stand. She felt him before she heard him.
Ceaser's jaw tightened as he approached their table. He had known she was going to be there but he was pissed to find her smiling at whatever the guy beside her was saying. He went behind his mother and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Sorry, I'm late." He apologized. "Hi, dad." He took the seat next to his mother.
"I'm not going to ask where you were." Selene said
"Neither am I." Eric said
Ceaser sighed as he turned his gaze from his dad to Jules who had her gaze fixed on the stage. How is it that she got more and more beautiful every time he saw her?
"You're Ceaser Thompson?" The guy beside her asked him and he turned his gaze to him managing to give him a nod a polite smile. "I'm Gideon McGuire."
Ceaser's brow raised as he looked at his dad who was smirking at him.
Oh, dad.
Eric seemed to be enjoying the situation his son and the McGuire son had stumbled into. It seemed Gideon was interested in Jules which only struck a chord in Ceaser which made Eric happy to see his son going through a hard time.
At least he deserved that much after what he did to them and Jules of course.