Chapter 18: The Stage

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“You had such hatred for me even right from the start,” Luna said to Justin.

They were still facing each other, the table between them.

“All you heard was my name,” she continued, “and your voice changed. Did you think I didn’t hear the change in your voice the moment you heard my name, Justin?”

Even now, the memory hurt, Luna realized. Justin had the decency to look chagrined this time.

“You don’t know why my voice changed that night,” he said, glancing away from Luna.

“No, I don’t,” Luna agreed. “But what I do know is that night was not an exception, like you think it was. Sure, we were starting to vibe before I mentioned my name, but that was a brief moment. It could have been an exception, you made it not so. You, Justin, not me.”

“And I said I had my reasons,” Justin said.

Luna opened her mouth to reply to him, but stopped when the music pulsing through the speakers was interrupted by someone on stage.

“I would like to call on Miss Luna Jones, CEO of Green-ish Foods, a healthy food company, and the supplier of the catering for the gala. Please join me in welcoming Miss Jones.”

Soft applause rang out through the hall, following the MC’s introduction. Luna looked around briefly before turning back to Justin.

“I don’t want to know your reasons,” Luna said to him, looking him dead in the eyes. “They don’t matter anymore.”

She turned and walked towards the stage. She straightened her shoulders as people parted the way for her to walk to the stage, and when she got to the stage, the MC took her hand to gently guide her up the short stairs. She gave him a small smile and muttered ‘Thank you’ to him before turning to stand in front of the microphone stand.

Her gaze swept through the hall, she saw Justin, Logan, and Jake amongst the sea of unfamiliar faces. Her eyes stopped on Moira.

Even with the distance between them, Luna could tell she was simmering with anger. She didn’t like the fact that Luna was up on stage, giving a speech at her company’s party, and giving the speech because she was entitled to it.

Luna’s lips curved slyly.

“Good evening, everyone,” she finally spoke. She smiled. “It is a lovely evening, is it not?”

There were murmurs of agreement in the crowd, Luna smiled ever wider.

“The Lakes sure do know how to throw a party, don’t they?” she asked the crowd again.

Again, murmurs of agreement echoed through the crowd, some of them chuckled. Luna made her face squeeze into that of concern.

“I hope that server is okay though,” she said, looking round the hall. “There was a little tussle, there,” she pointed at the corner where Justin’s brother and the waiter had had their little exchange, “I think it involved a waiter and a guest or something.”

The crowd all turned their attention in the direction Luna was pointing at. When nobody said anything, Luna persisted.

“I swear there was a little altercation going on there just moments ago,” she pointed there again. “I looked away for a second, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the altercation had dispersed.”

Luna’s eyes met Justin’s, his narrowed slightly.

“It wasn’t an altercation,” a voice said from the far end of the hall.

Luna looked away from Justin and toward the source of the voice. Her pulse leaped in victory as she saw Moira. Moira’s eyes narrowed, much like her son’s. as she locked gazes with Luna.

“It felt like one though,” Luna insisted, but kept her face blank and innocent.

“It wasn’t,” Moira said again.

Her words had a little snap to them. Moira herself realized it, she glanced around her and quickly gave a small smile.

“It wasn’t an altercation,” she said again, but this time without the snap. “It was a mild disagreement between a staff, a server, like you saw,” she nodded at Luna, “and mother staff. Not a guest. And it’s all been taken care of.”

You are a master in the game, Moira, Luna thought to herself as they both stared at each other for a few silent seconds. And then she smiled.

“Well, that’s good then,” Luna said into the microphone.

Her eyes remained locked on Moira, but she addressed the entire audience.

“We wouldn’t want any disagreement between the staff now, would we? They’re the backbone of any event, if you ask me. Their tireless service and efficient work make events go smoother, don’t you think, Moira?”

Luna could almost hear Moira’s teeth clench together now.

“Yes, you’re right,” she forcefully said.

“Thankfully, you’re a master at averting crisis, Moira,” she continued, smiling. She finally looked away from her. “Everyone who knows our dear Moira here knows that.”

A little murmur of chuckles rang out through the crowd again, Luna smiled.

“I believe in Lake Entertainment and they have my full backing for the gala, in terms of catering. My company is going to be the main supplier of everything on the menu for the event and I couldn’t be more glad to partner with Justin Lake for this exciting event of his.” She picked up the champagne flute that was on the stand beside her mic and raised it up. “To Lake Entertainment.”