Another social gathering in his environment, with its protocols and forms. Another exhibition of his non-membership in that ostentatious circle. Her confidence wavered under the pressure to look good, because that was what Daniel's reputation was built on. And Deanna had to meet the requirements so as not to damage it.
"It's like playing a character, think you're in a play" She told herself to convince herself, in the end she would get used to this environment. If only she didn't have to go through everyone's critical eye. Just a while ago that didn't matter to her, because it was all supposed to be over. He had mentioned it to her at the beginning: being married to Daniel Crusher implied much more. But now that things had taken an unexpected turn, those implications weighed on her.
And then the argument with Harry remarking on everything she didn't fit in with her brother. Since when had she been so hesitant to make a good impression? Since she realized that being by his side meant more than just loving him. A certain behavior, a certain appearance, a certain degree of etiquette was expected of her; because all of that had an impact on her husband's image. His social image.
-It's no different than my mother's birthday and we did it right. I don't care what anyone says, I'm proud of my wife," he had told her when Deanna asked him about it.
She didn't want to make him look bad in front of his colleagues. His words gave her some encouragement, but she still felt she had to " fulfill". Life was changing for the wannabe Prima Donna.
Choosing a suitable outfit was another headache, she asked Laura and then Susan. Both gave her the same advice: to choose something sober and classic and to stop fretting so much about it. Deanna was being won over by insecurity and she didn't know why.
"That's because you love him too much and you're torturing yourself to make him proud. But, my dear, Daniel is already lost for you, nothing anyone else says is going to change that." And Susan was telling the truth.
It was the second time she went to the company, the first time she came in wearing old skirt and a baggy blouse; but this time she was in a superb midnight blue dress that highlighted her hair and the color of her eyes. Daniel in his classic three-piece suit carrying her on his arm and with a smile on his face! His usual parsimonious expression was gone, he who used to rant about these kinds of events because they bored him now entered as if with a totally different air.
Charles and Camilla arrived a while earlier, along with several board members. Seeing her father-in-law's good-natured face and even her mother-in-law's displeased face gave Deanna some peace of mind.
- Deanna, you look beautiful! - Charles told her as soon as they approached.
How he did it was a mystery, but he had the ability to sense when to come to her rescue or exclaim just enough to quell any comment from Camilla. But what calmed her the most and made her feel back to herself was spotting the children with Susan, all three smiling at her and the little one waving effusively with both hands.
Jonathan ran through the crowd to catch up with her, he stood looking at her with wide, open eyes, amazed and totally dazzled. To him she was like a princess from some fairy tale. He had a little red bow around his neck and Deanna died of love at the sight of it.
-You look very pretty, Deanna," Naomi told her.
-You too..." She replied with an approving face and the girl smiled even more.
- It's true, you look great -
- Thank you, Ethan. You look very elegant - A compliment that changed his expression with a hint of satisfaction.
The guests began to arrive and the movement became more fluid. Soon she found herself alone with the children observing, some people approached to greet them; those who had already seen her at Camila's birthday. But this was much bigger and more intimidating.
- Do me a favor... Don't go too far away from me... - She asked the kids.
- Don't worry, Deanna, I'll stay with you all night - She smiled tenderly.
- No doubt you are a knight in shining armor... Thank you... -
Jonathan would not be left behind and squeezed her fingers tightly showing her that he would rescue her too.
Harry remained in a corner. He had seen them enter, greet, move about and now she was alone with the kids. He felt the urge in the tips of his toes to get up and go find her, but he didn't know what he would say to her if he did. Since that argument they never spoke once, much less saw each other again. Deanna was still stung by his words and he was haunted by guilt.
The other pair of eyes she had on her that night were Beverly's. The brand new member of the company had only one thing on her mind for that night: to find out if what she thought was true. If Deanna turned out to be Harry's unrequited love she was sure she could figure it out, she just needed to be on her toes and so she wouldn't take her eyes off either of them.
Daniel was finally free of some guests and approached her.
- Are you having a good time? I'm sorry I have to leave you alone -
- I feel everyone staring at me -
- Of course they do, you look beautiful - He told her getting close to her ear, like a secret and she smiled sideways.
Complicity was what they shared, freedom, trust. The image that the five of them together gave back was that of a family; she flanked by the two little men and Naomi holding her father's hand, they seemed to have been together forever. The only thing that gave away the opposite was her youth. A youth that continued to surprise those who knew him or had felt the weight of his temperament. That wasn't Daniel Crusher over there, the CEO always bound by rules and regulations, with no expression on his face, who used words like darts.
Imperceptibly the comments about the couple were scattered with care and mockery. It didn't matter if he smiled or if she looked elegant; they were still the target of gossip. No one believed that this marriage was normal, there was no love but convenience on both sides. For Deanna it was money and comfort and for Daniel it was carnal satisfaction and a swollen ego. Why else would they be together?
Harry was being carried away by the devil. Not only had his mother lectured him on morals and good marital coexistence, but his father had something to say as well. He didn't even dare to reproach Laura because he knew she was right to complain. And to add to his misery Deanna was so charming; charming and smiling to his brother. But he had to disguise how he felt, he was straining for his own wife as his mother told him.
-I'll take the children, but if you get away from her I'll kill you," Susan told him, pointing a finger at him.
-I won't.
- Good, because she's been nervous all day worrying about not letting you down.
- I noticed it too, don't worry, I'll try to keep her company all night long -
Susan, besides Charles, were the only ones Daniel didn't dare to argue with. His sister was a pillar for him and he respected her opinions and her commands without hesitation. She was always there for him no matter what and now she was there for Deanna as well. She sensed from the first moment that there was something between them, before they themselves.
But Daniel wasn't going to be able to keep his word completely, he was the face of the company and had to lend himself to those who required it. And Deanna would not be lonely with all those eyes on her, scrutinizing her as if she were a museum piece. Unfortunately, she caught the eye of one pair in particular, black ones, who were watching her in awe.