“Knox is quite interesting” Grayson commented as Rachel joined us.
“That’s an understatement,” I said with amusement “Rachel you look gorgeous” I added as Timothy shook my hand and Grayson’s.
“So do you” she gushed. “Did I just see Knox and Ian walking away?”
“Trust me, you didn’t miss much,” I said with a grin “he’s just as obnoxious as ever.”
She laughed “he wouldn’t be if women would stop throwing themselves at him.”
“You said it, not me,” I said as Grayson listened to us both amused.
“I see a client of mine,” Grayson said and was about to walk over there, holding my hand when a rather old man started walking towards us instead.
Grayson groaned. “Timothy best you take Rachel towards the refreshments or towards the stage” he advised “No doubt Charlotte has something to do with that as well” he added under his breath.
Timothy looked slightly confused but nodded, pulling a reluctant Rachel alongside him. I waved at her, just as the old man stopped in front of us, a crooked grin on his face.
As far as old men went, this one looked almost youthful. He had a full head of glorious white hair, and a friendly smile on his face and although he held a cane in one hand, he didn’t appear to need it for mobility. He wore an expensive suit and Rolex and his eyes twinkled as he looked between Grayson and me.
“Grayson,” he said extending his hand “Back at the family home at last” he murmured.
Grayson scowled “Not for good just for the party Grandfather” he countered back rudely.
I tried not to gasp. So this was the infamous Grandfather. The old man studied Grayson for a moment and then extended his hand to me. “Welcome,” he said, taking my hand and pressing it to his lips “It is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman. Grayson wasn’t lying when he spoke about how pretty you were.”
Grayson had told him about me? I looked at my husband whose eyes had narrowed. He was observing the old man silently. I coughed. “It’s nice to meet you,” I told him as he dropped my hand, trying to remember my manners “I’ve heard so much about you.”
He smirked “Is that so Mrs Oakes? Well all of it is true, including the bad parts,” he said with a chuckle.
“Grandfather” Grayson spoke, his voice dripping with warning.
His grandfather frowned at him. “There’s no need to take that tone with me young man. I’m merely here to welcome your new wife Flair, to the family.”
Grayson was not convinced, I could see the suspicion in his eyes and on his face.
“Truly,” the grandfather said, holding his hand up in surrender “Really Grayson, must you be so suspicious?” he sighed.
“Mr Deluca,” I said, hastily, fingering the ring that was on my finger and admiring it “I must thank you for the beautiful ring that you allowed Grayson to give me. I understand that it’s a family heirloom and I want to assure you that I will take good care of it. I know how valuable it must be to you and the rest of the family” I finished.
There was an indecipherable look on the old man’s face. He glanced at Grayson. “It’s precisely because I know that you will take care of it, that it was gifted to Grayson to give to you,” he said cryptically “and as for valuable, I think you underestimate your own value.”
I smiled. The old man patted Grayson on the shoulder. “Tonight should prove interesting” he commented, “I can see Charlotte coming down the stairs. I believe she has a speech prepared for everybody” his smile dipped slightly at that “before she begins to mingle with everybody. Please do stay for as long as you can” he aimed this at me “events like these are only bearable when there are interesting people to talk to” he muttered, before turning around and beginning to slowly head off.
“I like him,” I told Grayson nonchalantly “he’s very interesting.”
“Humph” he snorted “that’s one way to put it. Busybody, interfering, Manipulative, sly, all other ways to word it.”
I giggled and handed my empty glass to a nearby waiter. As far as parties went this was mild and I wondered if the grandfather had anything to do with that. Soft music began to play and then, I saw Charlotte Deluca step out on the stage, wearing the blue dress she had dared to take off me in the store. It suited her, I thought studying her, but the makeup she wore with it made her look slightly pale and washed out. It was petty of me, but it filled me with a certain degree of satisfaction.
Everybody’s eyes turned to the front of the stage. I surmised she probably had a band to play music afterward. Charlotte held a microphone in her hand. There was no sign of Johnathon anywhere. Grayson wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Now comes the long dreary speech that thanks everybody for coming etc etc” he muttered under his breath “Johnathon’s probably out the back drinking if he’s smart” he scowled “It’s too late to get out of the crowd now” he sighed.
I swatted at him playfully. The music stopped and Charlotte cleared her throat loudly. Silence. “Welcome everybody to the engagement party of Johnathon Rourke and Charlotte Deluca” she announced proudly “I want to thank everybody here for taking time out of their busy lives for coming and being here with us today. I know how hard it is to take time out of your busy schedules. I cannot even begin to express just how grateful I am to have all my friends and family around me to celebrate this auspicious occasion with me and my fiancee today.”
“Where is your fiancee” yelled a voice from the crowd.
Grayson’s lip twitched. Charlotte frowned at the direction the voice had come from. “He’s ah, he’s just running a little late,” she said and then breathed a sigh of relief as Johnathon came walking up beside her, looking slightly harried “You see” she said triumphantly.
“Late to your own party Johnathon”roared someone else and the crowd burst into laughter.
Charlotte’s face was turning red. I fought to keep a straight face. “Anyway,” Charlotte said loudly, bringing the focus back to her “I believe that Johnathon has something he would like to say.”
She roughly shoved the microphone at Johnathon who took it with one hand, his head turning to look at her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.