Chapter 35 – The Party

Eric took a deep breath as he stood in front of the bathroom mirror with the black tuxedo on. The past week had gone by in a flash, and the knot in his stomach got worse with every day that passed.

"Ho.... I think I'm going to hurl," Eric swallowed hard and covered his mouth with his hand.

"I know you're nervous, but please, don't hurl," Kal said as he leant against the doorway to Eric's motel bathroom.

"But," he fanned himself with his hand. "I feel sick, and like I'm overheating. Ha..."

"Are you having an anxiety attack?"

"I sure hope not, but I'm probably sweating through my shirt already."

"I've seen you depressed and everything, but I think this is a new one. I've never seen your anxiety get this bad. To be fair, we haven't known each other that long, but I think we've grown quite close."

"Same, but tonight is different. I have no idea what's going to happen."

"Ah, fear of the unknown; a nasty bugger to plague you, isn't it? But shouldn't you be excited to see Charlotte? You haven't changed your mind about her, have you?"

"Of course not, but she's invited me to an event that I'm certain will have cameras... and press... and Dean... He'll try something if he sees me anywhere near that place."

"I don't think she would've invited you if she didn't have a plan for that already. Either that, or she's just given up on hiding it. There's something brave and honest about admitting your mistakes, that makes people forgive things they wouldn't otherwise. I guess it's because we're all human, and we understand that everyone makes mistakes. Facing our mistakes shows some true character."

Eric nodded, and then his brows furrowed. "Wait, what do you know? What do you mean by facing your mistakes? Is she going to tell everyone she hit me with her car and then invited me to live with her? I don't think people will take that so well. They'll see it as her being careless, and hiding things... and she'll lose respect."

"Not if it's done right."

"I guess," Eric sighed.

"You seem to have calmed down a bit. How about we head over?"

"What is this place?" Eric looked at the long red carpet outside a massive hotel, with a large crowd of people taking pictures. "You'd think it was a Hollywood party or something." This is worse than the charity auction...

"I guess it's kinda like that, but for the business world. Well, I do see a few movie stars in there... They might be investors too, though," Kal said as he set the car in park and opened the door for the valet, who was waiting for him. "Thank you."

Eric hopped out and clenched his fists as he looked at the crowd. "There's too many people here," he took a step back, right into Kal.

"No turning back now. You wouldn't want your lady friend being disappointed, would you?" Kal gripped his shoulders. "I'm not letting you run away from this." He pushed Eric forward towards the beginning of the red carpet, one step at a time.

"Okay, okay, I'll go; just stop pushing me."

"Good boy," he patted Eric on the back. Eric kept his head down as they hit the red carpet and cringed anytime lights flashed from the cameras. They really will photograph anyone here... They must think I'm important or something.

They made it into the venue area, and it left him even more stunned. It was filled to the brim with people in luxurious clothing, most with glasses of white wine in their hands, and a massive stage up at the front, the red curtains drawn. A mixture of seats and tables were set up, along with rows for an audience.

"What's she planning?" Eric asked as he looked around. He figured Charlotte would be in the back, so he shouldn't look for her, but he was worried he'd run into Dean.

The red curtains pulled back, so people sat down to wait for her announcement to start, but no one was on stage. Instead, a large TV spanning the stage turned on.

"I knew you'd come around eventually," Dean walked up to Charlotte in her room behind the stage, holding up the invitation from her. His eyes trailed down her, taking in her gorgeous red evening dress.

"Your family invests in my company; of course, I'd invite you. Don't think it's anything more than that. I have no interest in you. I'm in love with someone else."

Dean's face dropped as he closed in on her. "Eric? He's not good enough for you."

"That's for me to decide, not you."

"Tch, you're mine, Charlotte; you know you are," he grabbed her wrist, and she shuddered. "Now, let go of that worthless man on your mind, and come back to me, where you belong."

"Worthless? Are you sure you're not talking about yourself? He's kind and considerate, and he forgives people. You know nothing about him. You don't understand how valuable he is to me. You don't understand how much his support is really worth."

"Look, I know you miss your little pet, but he can't help you further your career like I can. If anything, he'll bring you down," he tugged her closer, staring into her eyes.

"I still can't believe you'd try to get back together with me after what you did."

"What I did? That was nothing; otherwise, I would've gotten into real trouble, right?" Dean laughed.

"Nothing? You hit me."

"It was an accident. You're fine now, right? Stop living in the past."

"An accident? It was more than once. You need to learn to control that anger of yours," she wrenched her wrist out of his grasp. "And I'll say it again, since you seem hard of hearing: I'm not yours. Stay away from me."

"Ha... You know, I didn't want to use this, but I have evidence of you hitting Eric with your car. I'm guessing you wouldn't want others to know how your precious relationship started."

"True, it started with an accident, but at least mine was accidental. I didn't hurt him on purpose, and he understands that."

"Are you sure he wasn't just hoping to tie you down, and relish in his new life of luxury?"

"Of course not; he's not like you. I was the one who invited him into my home; he didn't blackmail me, unlike a certain other man."

"You might want to stop glorifying him in front of me," Dean gritted his teeth.

"Or else what? You'll hit me again?"

"Tch, I wouldn't have hit you if you didn't back talk so much, but it seems like you never learned your lesson." Dean raised his fist.

Charlotte took a step back. "I'm already going to sue you for your past deeds; you might not want to add to the charges."

"What are you talking about? There's no proof of the past anymore, so you'd just fail."

"You've already admitted to it on camera to a live audience," Charlotte pointed at the camera hidden in between clothes hanging on a rack.

"What?! No, no, no... You can't do this to me. Do you know what my father will do if I make another scandal? He'll cut me off. And if you air this, don't think you'll keep the Belloffs as investors in your company. Considering we hold the biggest share, you don't want to mess with us."

"Did you not hear me? It's out to a live audience. They know everything now."

"How... How could you do that? You're ruining yourself too!" Dean growled and swung his hand. It collided with a vase on the desk and went flying. The vase hit the wall and shattered into tiny pieces.

Charlotte cringed, holding her arms up to block her face in case any of the shards went to hit her.

"I won't let you get away with this!"