"So let's rehearse again" she turned towards him.
Before he could protest,she spoke
"Ava,your sister, 20 years old,blond,pretty blue eyes.
Rue,your older brother,30 years old..."
She said more to herself than to the grinning man beside her.
He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.
"Its okay if you don't remember everything. What matters is that you're there with me."
He squeezed her hand in reassurance.
Her smile was wary but she nodded
"Thank you".
Then she fidgeted and moved away again,worry lines deep on her forehead.
He felt a twinge of guilt.
Guilt that he was dragging her into this for his company and his own's gain.
"But what if they don't like me or ...they realize that this a façade." She had her hands almost to her face before she remembered she had makeup on.
She didn't want 'smudged makeup' to be added to the list of things they would fault her for.
Blake laughed clutching his belly as he laughed so hard.
He calmed down then smiled up at her
"Well,if that happens,then I'll just pull you away from the party and save you."
He grinned widely.
She relaxed and smiled at his joke.
"Thank you".
She held his hand in gratitude.
"You have nothing to be worried about ,okay?"
She nodded.Then sighed as she relaxed into the comfy seat.
🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸
A few minutes later...
"Are you ready?"
He asked her just as Roberto was rounding the car to open his door.
She smiled and said
"As ready as I'll ever be"
He smiled up at her and got out of the limo.
She took a few steadying breaths as he rounded to open her own door.
Extending his hand ,she took it and got out of the car.She took a few shuddering breaths as the lights and cameras flashed.
Swarms of paparazzi crowded the entrance,behind the crowbar used to demarcate them and keep them from going too close.
Blake wrapped an arm round her waist and led her inside,smiling at the cameras that flashed.
He looked so in his element that she couldn't help but feel pride as they both entered the room. Smiling up at the man that had her in his arms reassuringly.
The first thing she observed as they got into the room was all eyes were on them.
She held on tighter to Blake's arm.He urged her to keep walking and they did, she tried to ignore all the killer looks and envy stares she was getting from all the single and married ladies around the room.
She glanced around the room trying to place the faces of the people in the room.She recognized some faces from the research she had done but the others were a mystery to her.
Coming toward them was someone who had a striking resemblance to Blake but he seemed older and more rugged but still had his handsome looks,she recognized him instantly.
He must be Blake's brother,Rue.
"My man,its good to see you".
They exchanged handshakes and a hug and Rue gave him a pat on the back.
Breaking apart,his gaze fell on Lizzy.
She gave him a polite smile and extended her hand for a handshake.
" Am Elizabeth Elliot,but you can call me Lizzy."she explained as he took her handshake.
Gesturing towards Blake,
"I'm his girlfriend." She said.
There were more stares from all over the room.
Rue grinned widely,He said
"I know"
he whispered to Blake
"She's perfect for you"
Lizzy blushed.
He gestured towards the crowd
"Come on,mum's waiting for you".
They followed him.
He led them to where a group of women adorned in lots of expensive jewelries and glittering dresses were all seated.
One woman stood out from the rest of the women.
She had on a long green flowy gown and possibly diamond studied teardrop earrings.
Her makeup was minimal as opposed to the other women seated there. She had a champagne flute in her freshly manicured hand and rings adorned them topped with a golden coloured liquid.
As soon as she sighted them,she rose and encompassed Blake in a tight hug,pulling him away from Lizzy in the process,she didn't mind.
" My baby,I've missed you.You're never home these days".
She said touching his cheeks and pulling on them slightly and she gasped.
"My goodness,you've grown lean. Aren't you eating well?"
Blake chuckled and broke away from his mother's cuddling.He pulled Lizzy to his side smiling,
"Mum,meet Lizzy,my girlfriend" he smiled proudly.His mother seemed unfazed.She frowned instead.
"Lizzy?" She spoke with disdain.
"What kind of name is that?"
"Its short for Elizabeth ma'am" Jabbing Blake gently on his side which earned a chuckle from him.
His mother wasn't pleased,she could see it.She straightened and waited for his mother to say something.
But she was cut off by one of the ladies sitting on the couch who had stood up.
"Hello.Am Meredith Stone,Rue's wife" she stretched out her hand for a handshake which she gratefully took.
His mother scoffed and ignored her,turning her attention to Blake now.
"Son,why wasn't I aware of this..." She sneered
"...development sooner" Lizzy felt sick.
"Mum,I wanted it to be a surprise." He said pulling Lizzy closer in his arms.His mother said nothing .Then she looked at
Rue.
"Why isn't Ava here yet?"
"Mum,she's going to be here soon.Don't worry" Then he whispered to Blake.
"And she's bringing her boyfriend" Blake tightened his grip on her waist which hurt but she understood.
Blake turned towards Rue and they both shared looks that weren't secret to Lizzy,they both didn't like him.
Then Landon appeared out of nowhere with his pregnant wife.
He gave Lizzy a big smile when he saw her and she returned the smile.
All this while,Blake's mother was glaring holes into her head.
"Excuse me, Ladies" he said giving his wife a peck on the cheek before leaving.
"I'll be back" Blake whispered and kissed her cheek.
And the boys were gone.
She was left standing with Blake's mother,who was looking at her now with contempt .
"Nunca funcionara" she gave Lizzy an icy glare.
Meredith replied "mama,Ella puede escucharle"
Sending an apologetic smile to Lizzy.
"No ves que es una prostituta port el dinero de mi hijo".
She pointed to Lizzy,giving her an accusing glare.
Lizzy was lost.She didn't know what was being said about her but she knew that it wasn't praises they were showering either"
"Mama',Ella es a novia de Blake" Meredith reasoned.
"Nunca puedo acceptarla". Blake's mum glared at Meredith and then with a dismissing glance at Lizzy she stormed off .
Meredith gave Lizzy an apologetic look and followed her mother-in-law.
" Don't worry,she'll warm up to you eventually" she jerked.
She'd forgotten Landon's wife was there.
She nodded but she couldn't help but ask,
"Is everyone here,Spanish?"
The answer was automatic
"Most of them are,the rest just studied the language" She smiled at own joke.
Lizzy relaxed and smiled gratefully at her.
"Thank you" she said wary.
"No problem. Am Grace by the way" she pulled her hand out for a handshake and Lizzy took it gratefully.
She had a chance to look at her closely and she observed the woman had an exotic beauty to her and she was extremely slender.Lizzy was taken aback when she saw her bump. She was heavily pregnant although it was well hidden by the full black dress that was meant to conceal it up coupled with the fact that she hadn't put on any pregnancy weight.
"Congratulations by the way"
Her expression turned to that of shock but she relaxed and smiled .
"Thank you" she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I didn't think anyone would notice" she explained.
"I understand" Lizzy reassured her and the two ladies smiled.
After some minutes,The boys joined them and went to stand beside their respective partners.
"Where's my mum?" Blake asked after giving Lizzy a peck on her cheek.
"She went outside to get some fresh air" Meredith reappeared.Rue pecked her.
With exchanging glances,Meredith accompanied her husband and they left,Grace and Landon too.
"The event is starting" he informed her.He led her forward into the crowd to their designated seats in the front row.
"So what's the event for?" She asked as he set out her chair for her.After she took her sit,he took his.
"Its a charity gala in form of an Auction event"
."I've only heard of these kinds of things in Romance novels."she sounded amazed.
He chuckled.
"Well you get to experience it firsthand" he told her.
The curtains were drawn and there was complete silence all around the hall.
He admired the awed woman beside him and smiled,before turning back to the stage as the light on the stage came on.
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Translations
"Nunca funcionara"-
"It will never work"
2."mama,Ella puede escucharte"-
"Mama,she can hear you"
3."No ves que es una prostituta por el dinero de mi hijo?"-
"Can't you see she's a prostitute after my son's money?"
4."mama,Ella es la novia de Blake"-
"Mama,she's Blake's girlfriend".
5." Nunca puedo acceptarla"-
"I can never accept it".
Next one coming up!
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