Chapter 53 The Gala
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Damian strolled in like he owned the room, it’s not like he couldn’t afford it, Serena thought as she watched Damian walk through the crowd.
Every notable person in attendance stretched their hands to shake him when he passed their tables.
As he got closer to here, Serena began to panic. Was she supposed to hug him? Or kiss him? They were a couple so she had to do something, but they were currently not on talking terms and she didn’t want to be the one to wave the white flag.
She studied his composure closely, he smiled and sniffed his head politely, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eye and he winced every time he stretched out his hand for a handshake.
He must have dislocated his arm in the accident.
When he finally reached Serena’s table, he stretched his hand to her and delicately lifted her to her feet.
When she was fully upstanding he wrapped a hand around her waist and leaned in to kiss her on the mouth.
Cameras flashed from all angles.
After the brief kiss, he pulled her chair back out and led her into it.
A few people clapped and lifted a toast to them.
“Yes, sorry we had to interrupt the speech to announce the arrival of Mr Damian Crowne, CEO of the Crowne empire.”
Damian gave a final wave of acknowledgment before settling into his seat.
“Thanks for coming,” Serena whispered to him.
“Why would I miss it? He asked. “We are husband and wife.”
She smiled tightly.
After a moment Serena cleared her throat, “I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said to him.
“Serena, we don’t need to talk about that.” He sipped some water. “And you were right, I was getting carried away. I’m glad you set me back on track.”
Serena could hear the edge in his voice, so she added.
“Okay. I just want to say that my intention wasn’t to upset you.”
“Serena, it’s fine. And you didn’t upset me, your existence doesn’t mean anything to my feelings. Therefore Serena, ” Damian said coldly “You cannot hurt me, even if you tried.”
Serena stilled in her seat, Damian’s hurtful words passing through her like a bucket of ice-cold water. Now she had two things bothering her, Damian's attitude and that bloody text she just got.
“Can we settle down please.’ Sarah’s voice resounded from the speakers.
“Can we bend our heads as we observe a 3-second moment of silence for my brother Charles Gregory who just unfortunately passed on.”
“Thank you,” Sarah continued.
“Charles’ sudden demise caused a serious stir among the board members, the shareholders, and the family as a whole.” She paused, just long enough for the weight of his absence to settle over them again. “And that is why we as a collective have decided to leave the CEO position vacant for one year.”
A faint shift moved through the room.
“During that time, the potential heirs will work within the company. They will learn the inner workings, how it runs, how decisions are made, what it truly takes to carry this name.” Her expression remained firm. “This is how we’ve chosen to honor our founding father.”
A slight pause.
“We ask for your cooperation and your continued support as we navigate this transition together.”
Everyone clapped.
“Now, to more exciting things.” She gushed into the microphone.
“First, we would like to call on stage the mastermind behind tonight’s fabulous arrangements and theme.” Sarah’s cheeks beam with pride as she says, “Ladies and gentlemen, round of applause for Serena Gregory for her contribution to the planning committee.”
Everybody in the crowd applauded.
Except Clara, she sat at the end of the hall nursing a glass of champagne, and if looks could kill then Serena would be dead.
“And, secondly,” Sarah continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a special surprise for a special someone.” Sarah giggled and quickly walked off the stage to make room.
Serena stared in confusion.
What surprise was Sarah talking about? She hadn’t included any surprise in these arrangements.
She walked to where Sarah was now seated.
“What surprise are you talking about?” She whispered into her ear.
“Oh, it’s Jonathan,”
Sarah began to say but then the lights dimmed, making her pause mid-sentence.
“What’s happened with Jonathan?” Serena whispered back.
But then a single spotlight came on from the stage pointing to the entrance.
People began to murmur in hushed tones.
The music played next.
A live string quartet hidden behind the stage started to perform an instrumental arrangement of Jhene Aiko’s Blue Dream.
Clara's favorite song.
All eyes turn when the spotlight flickers to the entrance.
Jonathan appears at the doorway, stepping into the limelight with a single white rose.
He walks to Clara through the larger crowd.
His steps were not rushed.
When he reaches her, he raises the mic to speak.
“Tonight is about love. And there is no woman more deserving of it than the one who has carried this gala on her shoulders for years.”
He turns to face Clara, his eyes sparkling under the light ray.
The spotlight shifts from them to the empty wall above their heads.
A video recorder clicked in the background. And a montage of Clara and Jonathan’s photos over the years begins to play to the sounds of MARIAH THE SCIENTIST’s Is it a crime?
Serena’s face fell.
Jonathan had beaten her to her own game.
When the montage stops, Jonathan raises the mic again, “Love is not about who arrives first. It’s about who you choose in the end.”
Ouch.
The words hit Serena right in the chest, cutting through like a sharp blade.
Clara beams, tears welling up in her eyes.
A waiter rushed in with a square-shaped velvet box and handed it to Jonathan.
He opened it and brought out an emerald necklace. Deep green and luminous.
Jonathan stepped behind her.
The string quartet softened, the cello holding a low romantic note as he lifted her hair gently from her shoulders.
The emerald rested against her collarbone as ifit had always belonged there. “Something green to match your glorious green eyes,” Jonathan whispered in her ear.
Out loud he said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Clara Gregory. You are the woman I pick in every lifetime.”
Clara spun around with his arms still around her waist.
When she was finally facing him, she tiptoed and planted a deep warm kiss on his lips.
The crowd melted.
Someone wiped a tear.
Another person hooted and another cheered.
Serena, faced Sarah, “How could you approve of him doing something like this, here?”
Sarah sighed, “Serena, you are by far my favorite niece but as CEO I cannot openly show favoritism.”
She waved down a passing waiter. “Get me a tray of crackers please.”
“Yes ma’am,”
Sarah turned back to Serena, “Honey, I can only help you so much. You and Damian need to start being freer with one another.”
She paused, “That’s if you still want to win public affection, because right now, the public is in love with Clara and Jonathan.”
Serena didn’t respond. Instead, her eyes searched for Damian in the crowd, he was already looking at her.
They held each other's gaze, letting their eyes say the things their lips would never dare to utter.
“Jonathan.” Clara shrieked, when they had managed to escape the eager crowd in the hall. Everyone wanted a peek at her necklace.
“I can’t believe you did that.” She screamed in excitement. “Did you see her face?” Clara laughed.
Jonathan chuckled, “She looked like she was going to pass out from embarrassment.”
“She stole my gala from me; she didn’t know you would embarrass her at that same gala.” Clara smiled.
Jonathan grabbed her waist, “I don’t care about all that, baby.” He whispered, “I just love that I was able to make you happy.”
Clara wrapped her hands around him. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Jonathan repeated.
“I’ll be back, I want to show more people my necklace.” Clara laughed, already making her way back to the event hall.
Jonathan remained there, enjoying the silence when someone spoke behind him.
“My daughter seems very happy.”
Jonathan jumped, “Jesus,”
Horace came up beside him and shook his head, “Such a fragile heart.” He said.
“Horace, why are you lurking in the shadows?”
“Was Clara impressed by your gift?”
“Yes, she loved it.” Jonathan replied, “Good thing you hooked me up with your jeweler at the last minute.”
Horace scoffed, walking forward slowly. “Serena wanted to outdo Clara. But instead, she handed us an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”
“I was surprised you cared enough about Clara to go through all this trouble for her,” Jonathan muttered.
Horace didn’t find that funny, he turned to face Jonathan. “I may not like the girl but she’s my flesh and blood. I will not allow anybody to cause her pain.”
Jonathan chuckled, “You mean anyone other than you.”
“Precisely,” Horace said. “Only I can hurt my beloved daughter.”
He let out a short dry laugh, almost under his breath. It wasn’t loud, but it lingered in the quiet night, settling into the air and leaving behind a chill that had nothing to do with the wind.