Alicia's eyes scanned the crowd looking for her mother, when she couldn't find her, she let out a frustrated growl and plopped down on an empty table. The crowd applauded again and she rolled her eyes taking a glass of red wine, drinking a generous mouthful to settle her rattling nerves.
∞ ∞ ∞
Next one hour passed in a blur and the auction was going on. Several guests continued to place their bid. Axel sipped the orange juice without paying any attention to the crowd. He was sitting at a table for ten along with Eric, Antonio, Sebastián, and Keith. The women excused themselves after half an hour into the party and haven’t returned.
"What's taking so long?" Antonio growled in displeasure.
"I wish I knew," Eric said, taking a sip from his flute of champagne.
"I'm bored to death," Keith announced.
"Me too," Sebastián mumbled.
"How long this will take?" Axel asked.
Eric looked back at the stage. "A few more things left to be auctioned. Then you know the usual thank you notes. I bet the after party will be fun."
"It better be," Keith grunted.
"Antonio, come on chill, buddy. You look constipated," Eric joked only to increase Antonio's scowl.
"At least Amelia remembers that she is pregnant and listens to you. With Gracie, I have to remind her every time that she has to be careful," Antonio complained.
"You think Amelia listens to me. You're greatly mistaken. She is a devil in disguise," Eric replied.
"Oh, I went from sweetheart to devil now?"
The men whipped around to see Amelia standing there with a hand on her hip as her feet tapped the floor impatiently.
"Oh, no, no. I didn't mean that way, Ami. You are my devil. It's an endearment, really." Eric looked at the guys for help, who in turn just shrugged and continued to sip their drinks.
"Where's Samantha?" Axel asked impatiently.
"Here," Samantha chimed coming to stand behind him and for the second time that night he forgot to breathe.
The pale orange mermaid style gown was strapless and hugged her curves like a second skin. The gold sequins embellished in the upper half of the dress glittered under the dim light and she’d left her open just the way he liked.
"How many surprises do you have in store?" Axel asked as he pulled her towards him.
"That's all for tonight," Samantha chirped.
The girls occupied the seat next to their partners and Gabriela, who had no date sat next to Keith. Sasha, Silvia, and Marina were at another table with Ryan and Julius.
"It's boring and I'm hungry," Gracie declared after a few minutes.
"I'm hungry too," Amelia piped in.
"Just a few more minutes and then we can move out for dinner," Eric stated calmly.
"Did you just ask me to wait for a few more minutes?" Amelia scowled as Eric's eyes widened like saucers. "I'm pregnant and hungry. You! You ask me to wait for my food."
"Oh, no..." Samantha perked up beside Axel. "Ami... I think we should just head out and start with it," Samantha offered and Eric sighed in relief.
"We can do that?" Gracie asked and Samantha almost laughed.
"Of course. It's our party and we can do whatever we want," Samantha chuckled.
"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go," Axle agreed. Eric looked back and forth between the stage and Amelia.
"We can go, I guess," Eric replied and that was enough for the others to leave the table. Samantha quickly signaled Ryan and the others to follow and now, here they are, outside the mansion and in the garden area where the dinner was arranged.
"This all smell so delicious," Amelia stated as she picked up a plate for herself and Gracie.
The others nodded in agreement as they picked a plate for themselves. Axel admired the garden area, which was fully transformed with lights and small white tables littered the lawn. There was a huge wooden platform surrounded with music systems and disco lights, and if that was not enough they also had a bar set up on the other side, if they wished to get a drink.
Eric and Antonio pulled four square tables closer, so everyone can sit together. They just finished setting it up when the others returned with the food.
"I love the arrangements," Axel stated as he pulled the chair for Samantha to sit.
"The Sinclair charity ball is usually boring. They normally hold an auction and then it ends with a few drinks and dinner while people talked business. This time dad went overboard with the arrangements," Eric replied.
"Dad also didn't want anyone to christen our home. So, he moved the party outside and even have enough security members to escort the members out of the party if they got carried away," Ryan added.
Axel chuckled with a small nod. The day was better than he thought. He looked at Samantha and thanked his lucky stars. He had lived so long without friends and it was refreshing to talk to the guys for once.
The guys joked as the women giggled. Axel enjoyed every moment of this day. They spoke like they've known each other for years. Sebastián who always shied away from social gatherings was also enjoying the company of new friends.
The girls were discussing various locations for their honeymoon when the other guests started arriving at the garden area.
Narmadha looked at her kids with a knowing grin as she greeted the guests and showed them to the buffet. Her eyes also didn't miss the one woman, who had her eyes on her daughter with an angry scowl.
She better be ready for what was coming her way, she smirked.
∞ ∞ ∞
Samantha noticed Alicia not too far, glaring daggers at her. She smirked as she ran her hand on Axel’s chest and watched in satisfaction as the other woman downed her glass of whiskey.
They were chatting and Samantha was looking for a good opportunity to speak to Alicia when Silvia came running towards her with a serious look. She whispered something in Samantha’s ear, making her gasp with a hand over her chest. Samantha was definitely not expecting this.
“Girls!” Samantha motioned and Axel along with the men watched in confusion as they whispered furiously as if discussing a game plan.
“What’s happening?” Keith mused.
“I wish I knew,” Axel frowned.
After a small talk, the girls moved like their asses were on fire. Samantha went to Narmadha while Gabriela went in search of Mrs. Norman. The men just shrugged, looking at each other.
“Probably they are planning a prank,” Ryan commented with a knowing grin.
Narmadha’s blood boiled with a new fury that coursed through her veins. That wretched woman, she cursed internally as she walked off to have a few words with Mrs. Norman.
“Gabriela, I will take it from here,” Narmadha said in a stern voice dismissing the young woman. “Lillian, I know you are furious. Raegan is innocent.”
“I know, Narmadha. I am going to kill that woman,” Lillian hissed.
“I have a better idea than that,” Narmadha smirked and Lillian perked up with a knowing smirk. They were close friends for years and she was very well aware of what Narmadha did to the woman who intervened with her married life.
Chapter – 35
“Hello boys,” Andrea chimed gaining the attention of the few reporters who were talking among themselves as they went through the photos they have taken for the day.
“Hello ma’am,” one of them grinned politely.
“How is your evening?” Andrea asked with a casual smile.
“Oh, it's wonderful ma’am,” the same reporter answered.
“I know a way to make it more wonderful,” she stated as the reported shifted uncomfortably in his feet. “Oh, no. Not the way you think,” she chuckled. “A little birdie told me that something is going to happen in this party.”
“How big is it?” Another reported perked up.
“Big enough to grace your headlines for days,” Andrea smirked.
“Where?” The third reporter asked as he adjusted his camera.
“Hmm… Just cameras are no
t enough. We need video coverage too,” Andrea stated.
“I’ve got it covered ma’am,” the fourth reporter stepped forward.
“Good. Then, you may head to the eastern side of the mansion. You’ll see it for yourself,” she informed with a mischievous grin. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go!” She said when they stood there for a moment.
The reporters scrambled away, heading towards the direction she pointed and she raised her hand, giving a thumbs-up gesture at Samantha.
“What’s going on?” Axel asked when Samantha came back to stand with him.
“You’ll see in less than –“
She was cut off by the commotion that could be heard from the eastern side of the side. Samantha grinned as Lillian Norman made her way to the area and more shouts followed.
“Alana McKenna thought it was a good idea to try and seduce Uncle Norman,” Samantha informed with a wicked smile.
“Oh, no. She didn’t,” Antonio deadpanned.
“She just did,” Andrea piped in as she joined the group with a huge grin.
They all watched as the camera flashes went off like fireworks. Lillian dragged the semi-naked Alana into the garden area as she spat at her. The guests gasped when the ruthless Raegan Norman stepped into the threshold with a face filled with hatred.
“What did you think when you decided to seduce my husband, you whore?” Lillian's voice boomed across the garden.
“I – I didn’t. He asked me –“
Slap.
The sound of the slap resonated through the area and Alana clutched her cheek with an unbelievable expression.
“I know very well about women like you, Alana McKenna. You should’ve known whom to pick up when you decided to get your thirty-sixth boyfriend,” Lillian spat venomously. “Your husband seems is in jail and you are here, seeking out other men. What kind of woman you are?”
Alana’s face turned red with embarrassment as she collected herself. The cameras were recording the incident and Samantha was sure it will air sooner than they expected. Samantha turned to look at Alicia, who had a horrified expression on her face.
It was going better than her original plan, Samantha smirked. “I’ll be back now,” she whispered to Axel as she slowly but surely made her way to Alicia.
“Like mother, like daughter.”
Alicia whipped around to see the Sinclair heiress approaching her with a grin. She took a step back when she met her eyes. A look of pure disgust and hatred danced in Samantha’s eyes.
“Your mother should’ve known when to keep her legs closed, don’t you think,” Samantha chirped in a casual tone. “Raegan Norman, really? He is bad news.”
“What do you want?” Alicia hissed.
“Just to meet you and see for myself what kind of person you really are,” Samantha answered.
“And?”
Samantha stepped closer. “I was seeing you one last time to remember how you were before I destroy everything you ever had,” she emphasized the last few words.
“You bitch –“
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Samantha clucked her tongue cutting her off. “You’re in no position to talk to me, Alicia. Future mother in law of your fake fiancée, the Hollywood heartthrob Alexander McGregor caught cheating in Sinclair’s annual ball. Mmm… the news just gives me goosebumps…”
“Shut up –“
“I said no talking, Alicia!” Samantha hissed. “You will only listen from now. You listen and listen carefully. I am going to destroy you, Alicia.”
Alicia clenched her jaw and balled her fists as she looked at the girl standing before her. How the hell did she know that her engagement with Alexander wasn’t real?
“You messed with what’s mine. If that was not enough, you had the audacity to come to my party and walk around in that skimpy outfit.”
“I –“
“I said no talking! I agree that you are a seductress, but no more. When I am done with you, you will feel disgusted with your own self. Count your days, Alicia. Maybe put your brain to some good use while I am at it.” Samantha concluded with a wicked smile. “Oh, and do me a favor. Get out of my home before I have the security escort you outside.”
Alicia fumed when Samantha turned and walked away.
That bitch.
She looked at the woman she called her mother being dragged away by the uniformed guards. She couldn’t risk the media snapping her photos at this situation. She’ll have to get out of this wretched place and feign innocence if the media was to approach her for a statement.
“Boys, I think you’re missing someone important,” Gabriela chirped and the reporters threw her puzzled look. Gabriela pointed at Alicia who was silently walking out of the party and the reporters gave her a knowing grin before stalking the popular fiancée of Alexander McGregor.
The boring Sinclair annual charity ball had become a sensation just with once incident and they couldn’t contain the excitement that bubbled within. The girls along with Samantha burst out laughing when they saw Alicia hiding her face as she power walked towards the exit.
“Remind me never to get to the bad side of these women,” Sebastián whispered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“We all have to keep that in mind,” Axel stated and took a sip of his drink. He was definitely not expecting this tonight and he didn’t know how he felt about the entire ordeal. It sure was ugly and he wouldn’t have planned something like this.
“How did you know that she will be there?” Axel asked once Samantha came back to him.
“I didn’t. I just planned to have a small talk with your ex-bitch. But, her mother was just a bonus,” she informed. “Silvia saw Alana following Uncle Norman in spite of him swatting her advances. She followed them and sure enough, Alana was trying to seduce him and they were having a heated argument.”
“So, you just guided Mrs. Norman and the media hawks to the scene,” Axel concluded.
Samantha shrugged. “It made the work with Seemus easier, didn’t it?”
“It did,” he agreed.
As if on cue, the speakers blared with loud music which had their feet tap the floor. “We should dance,” Amelia announced and started dragging Eric towards the dance floor while he groaned mumbling that she was pregnant. Gracie was already following them with a grumbling, Antonio.
“May I have our first dance, my beautiful fiancée,” Axel offered his hand to Samantha, which she took gladly with a huge grin.
Soon, they were all on the dance floor, shaking their bodies to the rhythm. Axel spun her around the dance floor as the song changed to a slow one. It has been years since he danced and he was enjoying it. Samantha’s shy smile and happy giggles made his day.
When the song changed to a fast beat, the siblings cheered as they grouped together to dance. The others joined mimicking their funny movements as their laughter filled the dance floor.
∞ ∞ ∞
A few hours later…
“I’m tired,” Samantha whined as Axel led her into the mansion.
“Same here, I need some fresh air and some lone time with you,” Axel stated.
“Okay. Let me change first. Do you mind?” She asked.
“No. Wear something comfortable. I’ll borrow something from Eric. It’s two a.m. and I don’t think, my parents will be up for traveling now.”
“Okay. Meet me here in a few minutes,” Samantha said tiredly as she climbed the stairs to her room and Axel went to find Eric, who was trying to drag a hyper Amelia to their bedroom. He chuckled internally as he noticed Antonio having the same trouble with Gracie. The others were still on the dance floor.
“Here,” Eric thrust a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt at Axel. “God save me. I don’t know how she is still up. She should be out like a light now,” he whispered with a serious look.
“Eric! I’m horny!” Amelia called.
Eric’s eyes widened as his cheeks heated up. Axel chuckled under his breath as he bid good night and left Eric with Amelia.
>
Samantha was waiting for him by the stairs when Axel came out. She was wearing cotton shorts and a loose T-shirt. One thing Axel always adored about her was her simplicity. A few minutes ago, she looked like a Goddess from heaven, and now, she looked so simple yet beautiful, her face and body, bare of any makeup.
“We can go to the roof. It’ll be peaceful there,” she said, rubbing her temples.
“Sure.”
They proceeded towards the stairs and Axel smiled to himself when her fluffy flip-flops squeaked with each step she took. Their rooftop took his breath away. A huge swimming pool lit with lights sat along with a canopy and comfortable cushion sofa, which was covered with white curtains. Black Balencia Chaise lounge with white cushions lined up at the side of the pool.
“This place is beautiful,” Axel said in admiration.
“Yes, it is. Amelia designed it,” she stated in a proud tone. “Before, it used to be just the pool. She did most of our interiors.”
“She’s really talented.”
“That she is. Eric let her do all the office, buildings and home interiors. Let’s sit there,” Samantha pointed the comfortable cushion sofa.
“Here, let me do it,” Axel volunteered when he saw her rubbing her feet.
“Thank you,” she beamed with gratitude as he positioned her legs on his lap as she lay down, stretching her sore muscles. “Axel, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you feel like everything is happening so fast?”
“Yes, I do,” he answered honestly.
“A few months back you were snapping at me at every instant you got. Now, we are engaged and you are rubbing my feet,” she stated. “When did you start seeing me differently?"”
Axel was silent for a few moments. “I don’t know,” he smiled. “At first, I didn’t feel anything. After the first few months, I kind of got used to you being my secretary. You took my cruel retort with a nod and always finished the work. I think your work and activities spoke a lot, than your words.”
Samantha smiled, remembering those days. He was always serious and had a short temper. He snapped most of the times instead of replying to the simple questions.
Perfect Revenge (Revenge Series Book 1) Page 24
