Chapter 106. Annual Event /Part 3
Jackson Johnson
I saw Georgina's gaze linger on Lilly, and her father also seemed surprised by what had come out of my mouth.
"Congratulations, Jackson. She’s a beautiful woman," Mr. Vans began to say, then looked at Lilly. "What business is your family in?" I understood what John was doing.
"Why has curiosity struck you, John?" I raised an eyebrow, and he tensed up just like Georgina.
"It's just simple curiosity, relax, Jackson," but he continued to look on with disdain.
"She’s a foreigner and..." Lilly squeezed my arm and smiled.
"I'm English," she said with a big smile on her lips. "My parents are doctors, and my only sister is an architect. Any other questions? Because I can confirm my family tree..." John was taken aback. "If there are no more questions, excuse me." She looked at me. "Shall we go in? I'm thirsty."
"Sure," I kissed her forehead, then turned to the Vans. "Enjoy yourselves. Excuse us..." I then led Lilly into the grand hall, where almost all the company employees were present with their partners, looking relaxed and laughing among themselves. I was about to take Lilly's hand, but she refused, and I looked back at her, a bit confused.
"You’ve arrived!" my mother enthusiastically hugged Lilly.
"Mother..." I used my warning tone, but she ignored it.
"Let me greet my daughter-in-law," she pulled back and looked at Lilly. "Welcome to the family, dear."
"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson."
"No, no, no Mrs. Johnson, call me 'mother-in-law' or you can call me 'Isidora,' whichever you prefer, but no Mrs. Johnson." Lilly smiled excitedly. "So tell me, didn’t you invite your parents?"
"No, they were going to get off work late," she explained to my mother. "But thank you for the invitations."
"You're welcome, you're welcome," my mother looked at me. "Why don't you get her something to drink? I'll take her to the assigned table." I looked at Lilly, and she nodded to assure me not to worry.
"Alright, I'll be right back." I crossed the tables and reached the bar, ordered two glasses of champagne, and waited for them to be handed over, then looked up at the second floor which was like a terrace, where the musicians were playing calm melodies.
"Mr. Johnson," I heard someone call me, I turned and it was Paige.
"Mr. Paige, how are you?"
"Good, good, just arrived. It's my first event at the company. I'm surprised."
"Surprised?"
"Yes, I mean, I’ve never known a businessman like you, owner of a large conglomerate, to throw a party exclusively for all his employees, with food, music..."
"And gifts," I smiled halfway while accepting the glasses of champagne.
"And gifts? Wow, I'm even more surprised."
"Every year we raffle many gifts among the employees and I don’t skimp on it..."
"You're a good man, Mr. Johnson, that’s why everyone speaks well of your company."
"Thank you, I hope you have a good time."
"Sure, enjoy." I then walked away from Paige, controlling myself, as I had been thinking about the friction that had arisen with Lilly lately and was being watched thanks to Richard. I crossed the tables until I reached where she was, with my parents, Jacob, and Leah.
"Good evening," I greeted Leah, who blushed and returned the greeting politely. I saw my brother beside her, captivated by her beauty; it was the first time I’d seen Jacob like that.
"Thank you," said Lilly, accepting the glass of champagne, taking a small sip and smiling in my direction. "It’s delicious."
"It’s the best champagne we have," my father swelled with pride.
"It’s excellent," Lilly took another sip but when she intended to take a third, I stopped her, and she looked at me confused.
"You need to eat first to fully enjoy it."
"Oh, yes." I noticed the look Leah gave my brother and the secret smile they shared.
"Hasn’t anyone told you that staring at someone directly is rude?" Jacob said suddenly, taking me by surprise.
"Oh, sorry, it's just that..."
"That's right," he answered my unspoken question, and I just chuckled.
"Thanks for confirming..." Lilly squeezed my hand discreetly, trying to decipher the wordplay between Jacob and me.
"Do you have your speech ready?" my mother asked me.
"Yes, even though I’m not a fan of speaking in front of such a large audience."
"Oh, Jackson, it’s always the same with you at every event," my mother complained.
"Cheer up..." Jacob said with a teasing smile.
"You’re going to give a speech too." He shook his head, laughing.
"I'm just another employee in your projects, not the owner."
"You're also part of the company, so don’t start," Lilly let out a giggle witnessing the argument.
"You’re going to start the speech, so clear your throat, Jackson." After a rather trivial conversation at the table with everyone, it was time to give the speech I usually gave before starting the event. The flow of my employees arriving had stopped, and my heart always raced when the moment to give a speech approached. I was really nervous. I reached the podium and approached the microphone. The person responsible for making everything possible, along with my mother, waited to the side. She would also announce the dinner, the gifts, and the end of the night.
"You can speak now, Mr. Johnson," I thanked the woman.
"Thank you." My heart beat faster; I really hated being in front of so many people. I remembered the humiliation from years ago and avoided giving speeches, except for this event each year. I kept telling myself I had to learn to overcome it, so I tried. "Good evening, everyone. I am pleased to welcome you once again to the annual Johnson Companies event." Applause and excited cheers echoed in the grand hall. "Another year together, giving thanks to those who continue on this journey with the company, as well as those who left their mark with us to follow another path. I say again: thank you." More applause. "Well," I discreetly took a breath and then released it between my teeth. "You know I don’t give the best speeches at this event, so I just want to say that this is your night. I want you to have fun, enjoy the food, dance, and, above all, enjoy yourselves. At the end of the night, company taxis will be available outside, so if you feel like you’ve had too much to drink, you can take one of these cars and get home safely."
"Thank you, handsome Johnson!" a female voice shouted from the crowd, and everyone burst into laughter.
"Thanks for the 'handsome' part," I replied jokingly. "So have fun." Everyone applauded as I stepped down from the podium. Everyone was standing, and I crossed through the employees who stopped to thank me for the night, their faces full of happiness, which filled me with a warm feeling. I reached the table where everyone was standing, congratulating me, and music started playing in the background. People began to fill the dance floor, and that started to relax me. I approached Lilly, who was smiling, and placed a hand on her waist to pull her to my side.
"So, 'handsome'?" I chuckled, then kissed her forehead when I finished.
"It’s the first time I’ve heard someone call me that." I pulled out a chair for her to sit, but she refused. "No?" She shook her head again, extended a hand, and then I deduced what she wanted: "Dance." My heart started racing again, and she noticed my reaction.
"We can sit and..." I refused. I had to keep learning to be among people, to shake off this anxiety. I took her hand and led her to the dance floor. I noticed my parents' astonishment. I knew it was rare for them to see me do this; one time was on the dance floor at my mother’s birthday. I took a breath and slowly released it. We started dancing, and I noticed Lilly’s gaze.
"You dance very well," she said. I looked around us.
"I try. I’m not a great dancer," I smiled at her.
"Jackson, breathe." Her brown eyes sparkled.
"I am, believe me, I am."
"You’re very tense. Just let yourself go..." and so I did. Slowly, my body relaxed a bit until the piece ended. When we were about to leave the dance floor, Georgina appeared.
"Can I have a dance with your boyfriend?" Georgina asked Lilly, who, for a moment, I thought would say a few things, but she didn't.
"Sure, as long as Jackson wants to." They both looked at me.
"I was thinking of getting a drink."
"Come on, just one dance. I promise to return you in one piece," Georgina insisted. I didn’t want to draw attention with everyone around us.
"Fine," I was going to take Lilly to the table first, but she refused.
"I’ll wait for you there." She smiled and then left, leaving me there with a look that I didn’t want to dance with Georgina. The piece started, and I had no choice but to hold her as little as possible to be able to dance.
"Congratulations on your new relationship," Georgina began.
"Thank you," I simply replied.
"She seems ambitious, which is good."
"Who isn’t ambitious?" I sounded ironic.
"Well, everyone, but some more than others." We kept dancing, but I already wanted to get off the dance floor and go after Lilly.
"That’s true. Lilly is perfect," the words slipped out without a filter. I even felt myself blush hearing them out loud. Out of my head.
"No one is perfect, Jackson."
"She is for me..." our eyes met, "...in her own way."
"But to what extent?" Her question confused me.
"What do you mean, Georgina?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I don’t mean anything. I’m just asking how far we can go for ambition, that’s all." Her words stung somewhere, but I stopped paying attention. I was already irritated by dancing with her. When it ended, I left her at her table, but what I didn’t like was her way of smiling. It was as if she knew something I didn’t...
And that put me on alert.