“We still have an event to attend.” He says regretfully, his eyes on my exposed body.
I have to fight the urge to climb back onto his lap. “Yes, we do,” I try to frown disapprovingly through my haze of pleasure, “and I’m sure you’ve ruined my makeup.
I go to the bathroom to clean up, and then back to the dressing table to smooth my hair and get my make up back in order. David has disappeared into the dressing room to get ready. While he changes, I retrieve my dress and underwear from the bed and put them on. I’m about to zip the dress up when I feel David’s strong hands on my back. He fastens the zip and steps back to look at me.
“You look lovely.” He says.
I can see the admiration in his eyes, and it warms me from inside. He looks magnificent, in a black tux, and a dark grey tie. Even though he has just brought me to an earth-shattering climax, I am overwhelmed by the strong wave of desire that passes through me.
“You look wonderful too.” I murmur, it’s strange how even though we’re married he can make me feel like a fifteen year old in the presence of her first crush.
He smiles at the compliment. “I have something for you,” he tells me, taking my hand and pulling me towards the dressing table. He gestures for me to sit and as I do, I notice a black velvet box on the table. Before I have time to wonder what’s in it, he opens it to reveal a beautiful earring and necklace set.
It looks very familiar. I frown, turning to look at him. “Is this...?”
“Your design?” he interrupts, he is studying my face intently, as if he’s wondering if I’ll like it. “Yes.”
I stare at the sparkling diamond arrangement, mouth open. “But, how did you...?”
I made a copy of one of your sketches and sent it off to a jeweler while we were in Italy.” He says, fastening the necklace around my neck as I watch him in the mirror. It’s more beautiful than I could have imagined it, even while I drew it. I sigh softly. “It’s so beautiful.”
“You’re a rich man’s wife.’ He says without conceit, “It’s normal for you to have beautiful things.”
I would have preferred him to say something more romantic, but I stifle the thought. I don’t want to be ungrateful. I put on the earrings, watching them twinkle in the light. They really are gorgeous.
Steve drives us to the event, characteristically silent as he maneuvers the evening traffic. He drops us off in front of the brilliantly lit entrance of an upscale hotel. There are a few pressmen standing outside and one or two flashbulbs go off. I try not to flinch from the sudden bursts of light as David leads me inside, his hand at my back.
At the door to what looks like a grand ballroom, a smiling blonde woman in a flowing, cream silk gown comes to meet us.
“David,” She smiles in greeting, kissing both his cheeks, I guess her to be anywhere between her forties and sixties. She looks beautiful, with a well-preserved figure and glowing skin. She turns to me. “You must be the beautiful Sophie.” Her eyes sparkle as she looks me over, “I’ve only recently heard about you, you know. David has been keeping you a terrible secret.” She laughs, “Aren’t you a pretty thing though.”
I turn to David, not sure what to say. He looks fa
intly amused by the woman’s chattering. “Sophie sweetheart,” he says with a slight smile, “this exceptionally beautiful lady is the incomparable Peggy Hart.”
Her name registers in my head. Her husband was Simon Hart, a recently deceased software billionaire, she is one of the richest women in the country, and a passionate philanthropist.
“I’m very honored to meet you.” I say sincerely.
She dimples. “Thank you darling.” She says, kissing my cheek. She turns to David and snorts playfully, “I’m not even going to respond to your flattery.”
He laughs as she leads the way into the room, which is filled with men in tuxedos and women in evening dresses. A low hum of conversation fills the room, as well as the sound of glasses clinking, and silvery laughter of the women.
“Your table is over there.” She says to David, pointing him in the right direction.
We’re stopped at least five times before we get to our table. I watch David socialize, feeling the effects of his magnetic personality. He pays attention to people, but always remains somehow aloof. It makes them more eager to get his attention. But it’s not their attention he wants, I decide, he really just prefers to stand alone.
Where does that leave me?
Our table seats about twelve. David pulls out a seat for me and takes the one beside it. I feel everybody’s eyes on me as we take our seats. They must be curious about me, I realize, I wonder what they’re thinking.
The table is almost completely filled, with only two empty seats. We arrived late, so dinner is already being served. As we eat, David converses quietly with the man on his other side, I recognize him as Leon Boise, a website entrepreneur. I’ve seen his picture while reading the news on my tablet.
As I eat, I play a game of adding names to the faces around me. I only recognize a few, politicians, businessmen, internet pioneers. I have to try not to be intimidated by it all.
After dinner, someone goes up to the podium and after a short applause starts to give a speech about the importance of literacy. As I toy with the program on the table in front of me, I see that one of the sponsors is Preston Corp. I was right, I decide, David will never cease to surprise me.
“I’ve never been anywhere like this before,” the man at my other side whispers to me. I look up at him in surprise.