Perfection

Chapter 7

Chapter 6-01

Standing in front of the mirror in his dressing room, Shane sighed knotting his bow tie, the gala night has finally arrived and he wasn’t looking forward to it as always and tonight seemed to be worse because there was another reason, someone he wants to see and also not want to see. Working with her for the past four days wasn’t as easy as he had expected, not when she kept on showing up in different types of black attires which always made her look like a dark angel.

He put on his wristwatch wondering which black designers she would be in tonight, he hoped it won’t be one that would make her irresistible, heaven, he doesn’t want to find her irresistible. Looking at himself one last time in the mirror, he turned and left the room. He picked up his phone and car key along the way and left the living room. He made his way to the elevator, pressed the down floor button and waited, trying to not get himself to be thinking like he had been doing a lot these past days.

When he finally arrived at the hotel for the gala, he sighed, watching all the people going inside and the reporters trying to ask one or two questions, he knew he had to find a way to avoid them, he wouldn’t want them asking personal questions like they did last year and the years before, especially not now that she was in town.

Shane got down from his car, trying to be as invisible as he could but of course, one never escape the paparazzi especially if they were waiting for you. One of them saw him and called out to him and he had no choice but to make his way to the red carpet.

“Mr. Lockwood, how are you feeling with this gala this year? At the unlimited success of the Lockwood Enterprises and Inc?” A redhead asked, trying to get her microphone to his face.

Shane shut his eyes at the blinding camera flashes, “satisfied of course, it’s one of the things that keeps me moving forward.”

“We understand, it must be a satisfying news as a president seeing all the successful things your company acquires in a year,” she smiled then look around him like she was looking for something, “Mr. Lockwood, could it be that yet another year you attended the gala without a plus one? Could the rumors be true? Is there really a first love in your heart that can never be replaced?” When Shane said nothing, she continued, “if so then Mr. Lockwood may really have a different definition of love. Can you share it with us?”

Shane took a moment trying to phrase his answer, does he have a different definition of love? He may have before but now he doesn’t know anymore neither could he tell her that nine years he had waited for a woman and she returned married. Won’t that be a big joke on his side? He let out a deep breath, “I share the same definition as everyone else. Now before you would ask another question, I have a gala to organize,” he started walking off before she could say something else and heaved a sigh of relief when he had finished walking the red carpet but then something else made him turn, or maybe a name called made him turn.

“Mrs. Williams, it is good to finally meet you,” he heard the same reporter say and turned in a flash, just like he had expected, she was dressed in black gown and just when he wanted to enjoy her dressing, he saw a man place his hand on her delicate waist. Anger boiled up in his heart and seeing the way she acts so relaxed like the man does that all the time, he turned and marched into the hotel. His initial thought was to find a gun and kill someone but when he saw a waiter, he decided on a drink.

He grabbed a glass and saw his mother talking to some men and decided to join them, perhaps a little unreasonable chat would make him forget the annoying woman on the red carpet with that i***t she called an escort.

“There he is, the shiny star of the Lockwood,” a man called the others attention towards him.

Shane smiled and shook his hand when he was close enough, “don’t flatter me Mr. Cooper, it was a group effort.”

“A group effort indeed but it was successful because you are the leader. A good leader is the reason of every successful group work and you, is a good leader because you are swelling my account,” Mr. Miller complimented, making the little group laugh.

“It makes me proud every time he turns us toward another road of success,” Margaret complimented, turning to him, she grabbed his forearm in a side hug, “I’m proud of you son.”

“You should be Margaret, if my son is anything like him, I would be very proud,” a man said with a pout.

“What are you saying Simon, Xavier is a bright young man, too intelligent for his age I would say,” Margaret said.

“Indeed but he is nothing like Shane,” Simon Gray answered.

“Oh come on, the young man is trying his best.”

“You are only saying that Margaret because Shane is your son. Let’s trade, you take Xavier and I will take Shane.”

“Ha-ha Simon, very funny but my son is not tradable, he is the apple of his mother’s eye.”

“And he would appreciate it if you would stop speaking of him like he is some fifteen years old boy,” Shane added, making everyone laugh and Margaret slapped his shoulder lightly.

“Foolish boy,” she said, smiling.

“I heard Mrs. Williams is now working with you, she would be introduced tonight won’t she? Because honestly, I can’t pick her out in a crowd,” Simon asked with smiles.

Margaret returned the smile, knowing that he had finally asked the question that was the reason of his attendance to the gala, “oh yes she would be, once she shows up though. Honestly, that lady has a hobby of being late,” she shook her head dramatically.

“Whether she is late or not, it doesn’t matter as long as she shows up. I heard she is a beauty,” Mr. Cooper smiled lustfully and Shane unknowingly tightened his fingers on his wine stem. At the end, he was happy he did, if not, the floor would have been dyed red with someone’s blood.

“I heard she is very young too and very obsessed with the color black and you know what else? Black is Xavier’s favorite color too, they already have something in common,” Simon added with a light laugh.

Shane smiled, “I take it from your comment that you want Xavier to be with her?”

“Of course, the young man is already thirty five and not yet married. I married at twenty six, I just don’t know what is keeping him but now I’m beginning to see it as a blessing.”

“I see, a blessing because now he can be with Mrs. Williams?” Shane asked.

“Of course,” Simon laughed, “I don’t see why not.”

“But Mrs. Williams never said anything about marrying again, besides, she just lost her husband not up to a month ago,” Shane dragged the conversation, not willing to let it drop.

“Ah she will in a few more months, a lady like her can’t stay alone forever. One just needs to be patient and patient is what Xavier has.”

“Oh really, but what if at the end she doesn’t choose him? Course I have the feeling that Xavier is not her type of man.”

“Don’t push it Shane,” Margaret whispered behind him, “don’t let yourself be known.”

“And how can you know that? Could it be you have spent some quality time with her?” Simon raised an eyebrow.

Shane wanted to answer but remembering his mother’s words and also how much hatred he has for the so called Mrs. Williams, he bit his tongue and replied, “of course not but when you see her, you will know what I mean. Mrs. Williams won’t see Xavier as her type.”

“I hear my name being mentioned,” a voice said behind him and he froze, “I hope I am not being arrested.”

Looking at the faces of the men before him, Shane knew that if he doesn’t commit murder tonight then his creator loves him. He heaved a deep sigh and turned to the lady in black who was already beside him, her perfume wafted into his nostrils and he seized breathing, heavens, why does she still smell the same? “Of course not,” he forced himself to say, “I was just telling Mr. Gray here that you won’t find his son as your type of man.”

“Oh really,” Lillian smiled, revealing pearly white teeth, “and may I ask how you come to know of my type of men Mr. Lockwood?”

Shane smiled, “oh I do know, it’s very obvious. You prefer older men to young ones and Xavier is just thirty five, it’s going to take many more years for him to get to sixty or sixty five.”