A soft chime rang from the center of the hall, followed by the smooth voice of a butler. "Esteemed guests, dinner will now be served. Kindly take your seats."
The long table glittered with gold-rimmed plates and tall crystal goblets. A series of chairs had been arranged which meant everyone here mattered.
Calvin led me to the front of the table, pulling out a chair for me like the perfect gentleman, and then sat beside me.
"Thanks my love," I murmured and sat as I smoothed my dress and settled in, I felt it.
Then I noticed eyes on me, I looked across the table and there Axel sat, stiff-backed and silent, with Theresa clutching his arm like a drowning woman.
Of all the places to sit he had to be directly opposite me. Our eyes met again and his jaw tightened.
"So… Good day everyone," Mr Carter, who was sitting at the edge of the table, greeted everyone and smiled.
"Thanks so much for honoring my visit, well… I am pretty sure you all don't know the reason for me hosting the private family dinner and having some important people attend also." Everyone got silent waiting for him to proceed:
"Well, I did it for my second son Calvin, who just got married to his wife." Everyone glanced over to us and then they cheered.
"You all know how much I value the importance of respect when it comes to my family, and wouldn't want any form of embarrassment in the future so I thought this would be the best way to introduce my little daughter-in-law to you and also for us to come together." Everyone glanced at me and I just smiled back at them even though it was a forced one.
Calvin smiled and raised his cup. "Cheers to everyone and thanks for honoring this invitation." We all cheered and then I placed the cup on my lips, my gaze met with that of Axel, and I swear I was so satisfied seeing how uncomfortable he looked.
His gaze still hadn't left that of mine, just then we heard a voice… "I didn't come late did I?" We turned to the voice to see a young-looking guy who must be the same age range as me or maybe Calvin.
"Of course, you are early.." Mrs. Calvin accused him, making people wonder who he was.
He dashed forward to Mr. Carter smiling, "I am sorry Dad… Calvin told me late." I stared at Calvin hoping he would explain to me who he was but Calvin didn't notice and just glanced his way.
I rolled my eyes and was about to poke into my food when I noticed it was seafood. It has already been served so I just decided to take wine instead.
"Oh hey… Calvin… Finally, I can see your wife." I glanced at the newcomer and there he stood.
"Hey… Wifey this is my best friend Damien.."Calvin introduced and I let out a smile and he stretched his hands to shake me. I received it but noticed there was a weird way he stared at me.
"It's nice to meet you, Damien," I stated, and his grip around my palm tightened.
"You must be special, it isn't easy getting him." I nodded my head, also… "Well… it's more like the other way round". I teased and the whole table chuckled.
Damien finally let go of my palm and decided to sit beside me. I picked up the cup again, about to take a sip, when Calvin stopped me. He leaned closer and said,
"You haven't eaten anything tangible, so stop drinking on an empty stomach." I glanced at him, wondering how he had noticed.
Well, I had just ordered pizza since I couldn't cook and he got an emergency meeting that made him busy till evening.
"I don't eat seafood." My voice came out lower than intended, but it reached him.
Calvin's brow arched slightly. "Then you should've said so."
Before I could respond, he reached across the table, sliding the plate away from me with ease and placing it aside.
The subtle clatter of cutlery echoed softly, a sound far too loud in a room full of curious silence.
"What would you like instead?" he asked, his voice casual but laced with command.
I caught the shift in attention as several guests glanced our way. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Beneath the table, I tried to nudge his leg to get him to stop, but he didn't care.
He just looked at me waiting.
"I… something small," I whispered, eyes darting from him to the others.
He turned to the hovering waiter behind him. "Replace this with something simple. A fresh garden salad, maybe roasted vegetables. And add the parmesan risotto."
"Right away, sir." The waiter bowed slightly and vanished.
"Wow… son," Mrs. Carter chuckled softly from across the table, lifting her glass. "It's so rare to see you care this much."
Calvin offered a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, then returned to his wine. The rest of the table gradually resumed their conversations, though I could still feel a few lingering gazes.
We finished the rest of the dinner in silence or rather, in a carefully constructed peace. Forks clinked softly, glasses chimed, and the air smelled of aged wine and power.
Later, a soft instrumental tune floated into the air violins weaving through the room.
The dinner had shifted into dancing, couples gliding onto the marble floor under a warm golden light.
Calvin excused himself, seizing the moment to speak with a group of men I recognized from earlier introductory business allies.
I stood by the edge of the crowd, swirling the last drops of red wine in my glass, letting the music fill the silence around me.
The satin of my dress brushed lightly against my legs as I shifted my weight, blending into the shadows… until a waiter appeared beside me.
"Miss," he said, smiling politely, "a special cocktail, compliments of the gentleman across the room."
I blinked, staring down at the ruby-colored drink he presented.
Across the room, Axel stood by the bar. His gaze met mine… steady. I was about to collect it when his mistakes slipped and then poured the contents on me.
"Oh my… I am so sorry I didn't.." before it would cause a scene I brushed it out, "Just take me to the bathroom, I would clean it up there."
"Alright, ma'am." I glanced over where Calvin stood and noticed he was so into the discussion with those people, and it must be a serious conversation so not to disturb him I walked off.
This is the room ma'am." I smiled and nodded before he then left.
After what seemed like hours, I finally got the stain out. When I was done, I stared at myself in the mirror, applying some lipstick and touching my face.
"Summer." I said into the little earbud, "Yes boss… search up on Damien, he looks a little weird."
"On it ma'am."
That was when the door opened, still staring at the mirror, I watched him walk after locking the door.
Yeah, I knew my dress wasn't splashed by mistake, but I want to see how this ends. I applied my lipstick like I had no care in the world until he came so close to me.
"You are the one… right?" I paused and turned to him, "What are you talking about?"
He grabbed my wrist so hard and before I could jerk away, Axel yanked me toward him, his fingers brushing aside my hair, baring the left side of my neck with a slow touch.
"The mark is still there," he muttered, his voice low with disbelief. "Which means I am not mistaken."
I scoffed and shoved him back roughly, one hand snapping up to shield my neck. It's like a birthmark and only those who know so much about me see it.
"Jerk!" I thought.
"So? I never said I wasn't the one… Why are you the one working up?"
"You made me look like a damn fool in front of my fiancée. In front of my grandmother." His jaw clenched. "What the hell are you even doing married to my uncle?"
I smiled coolly, sliding my lipstick back into my purse with a soft click. "To become your aunt. Isn't that just… poetic?"
If looks could kill, I would be buried six feet under that cold marble floor.
He gritted his teeth and grabbed my wrist again, harder this time. "You still can't get over me, can you? I told you to leave my life the hell alone. But instead… Do you marry him? Why are you so obsessed with getting under my skin?"
I laughed so loud and sharp, the kind of laugh that made him flinch like I had slapped him already.
"Oh, Axel," I said between giggles, "how did I ever miss how stupid you are?" This made his smirk falter.
I leaned in, meeting his scow. "Let me guess now you want to run to Calvin and spill everything? Tell him I am your ex?" I cocked a brow, watching his face twist with intent.
"Well, I need to save him after all," he replied, and then I slapped him.
The sound cracked through the bathroom like a gunshot. He stumbled back, stunned, a hand flying to his cheek.
"Tell him," I said, voice low, "that I was once naïve enough to date you when I didn't know what a real man looked like."
This made his eyes darkened.
I stepped closer, close enough for him to feel the warning in my breath. "You want to play this game? Let me remind you of something. Calvin hates liars. But more than that… he's obsessed with me."
I smiled, slowly "You open that pretty little mouth of yours, and your precious startup business which you only have because of me will burn to ash by morning. You know how fast Calvin can ruin things when he wants to. And trust me, sweetheart…" I ran a finger down his trembling hand, "I will be standing beside him when he does it."
The flare in his eyes betrayed him fear, regret, and rage all tangled into one miserable expression.
I turned on my heel and walked toward the bathroom door, heels clicking like a countdown. But the moment I opened it, I froze.
Theresa stood right there. Her arms outstretched to open the door, her mouth parted in quiet shock. Her eyes bounced from me to Axel behind, and back to me again.
Well, things just got interesting.