Chapter 27- Charity dinner

Charles was stunned, and his jaw dropped automatically. He gawked at the departing figure of Aidan until he went out of his line of sight. He let out a chuckle with disbelief, looking in the direction from where Aidan exited the hall. An hour ago, he was disappointed, thinking that Aidan was not interested in that fashion show. But an hour later, Aidan just agreed to attend the show. Charles couldn’t believe it, but at the same time, he was happy. Now he would have to wait until Friday to know the truth.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed a message, ‘Hello, Miss Barrett. Mr. Thompson is attending the Wilkin’s Creations fashion show on Friday. You can come to the show.’

After typing the message, he sent it to Erica. Then he grabbed the files and walked out of the hall. When he reached his desk, he received her reply, ‘That’s great. I am also participating in that show. See you on Friday, Mr. Shaw.’

Charles couldn’t help but smile to receive her reply. He was more anxious than ever in finding out everything. If Erica was telling the truth, and if he could prove it to Abigail, he would get the opportunity to confess his love for her. So far, he was suppressing his feelings because of her relationship with Aidan. But after proving Aidan’s true nature and his motive behind marrying her, he no longer had to hide his feelings. He wouldn’t have to suffer from heartbreak. He was also confident that he could win her heart with his love and care.

Charles was so delighted that he started planning his life together with Abigail. After that birthday party, his mood was always bitter. But it was the first time in recent days that he was smiling genuinely. The contentment was prominent in his expression. He hoped one day he could marry Abigail. With this thought, he resumed his work. The faint smile was never leaving his face.

At the end of the day, he received a call from Aidan while winding up. He heard Aidan’s cold voice the moment he answered the call, “I can’t go to the charity dinner that I was supposed to attend this evening. Go to that banquet. Take a female acquaintance with you.”

“What?” Charles exclaimed with disbelief and got up from the seat frantically. “Why me? If you are not going to attend, send someone else. I can’t go. I have other things to do.”

He really didn’t like to attend such a banquet, and most importantly, he wanted to go to the hospital as soon as possible. Although Angelina was getting the treatment properly, she was getting weaker and paler. The treatment was painful. He also heard her miserable scream. He wanted to spend more time with her, but he couldn’t manage time because of the workload. If he went to the banquet, it would be late to go to the hospital. So, he tried to avoid it, but Aidan didn’t listen to him at all, “Lara has already arranged suits for you, and you can take her as your acquaintance if you want.”

“Lara, your secretary? Seriously?”

Charles was angry now. The least he wanted to do was to go with that woman. He knew she had a crush on him. Several times she tried to approach him, but he simply avoided her tactfully. If he asked her to be his acquaintance, wouldn’t she think that he was also interested in her?

“Why not?” Aidan’s cold voice snatched him out of his trance. “She is good-looking, smart, and suitable for occasions like this. I took her to various parties. She is good. Go with her.”

“But…”

“It’s an order.”

Aidan interrupted him before Charles could finish speaking. After dropping those three cold words, he hung up the call.

Charles looked at the screen, stunned. This boss was always giving him a tough time. But he could do nothing other than following his order.

Just then, Lara came, wearing a wide grin on her face, holding a black suit in her hand. “Good evening, Charles. I hope Mr. Thompson informed you about the banquet. This is the suit he asked me to arrange for you.” She passed the suit to him with the same smile on her face.

Charles faked a smile and took the suit. “Thanks, Lara.”

He was about to go to change the suit, but he remembered what Aidan suggested to him. He paused and glanced at her. “Uh… Lara, can you be my acquaintance tonight?” He smiled awkwardly.

Lara’s smile broadened even more, and she replied happily, “Yes, yes, of course. Then I will get ready.” As she said, she turned her heels and left in haste.

Charles shook his head in dismay to see her enthusiasm. It was going to be a long night for him. He walked to the changing room despondently.

An hour later, they reached the hotel where the banquet was happening. Many celebrities, businessmen, politicians, and other influential people attended this party.

Lara held his arm while walking inside the hall. She was so excited to be around Charles that she couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear.

Compared to her, Charles was extremely uneasy. His agitation increased even more after noticing her smile. He lowered his head slightly and asked in a low voice, “Don’t you think that you smile too much? Is it necessary?”

Lara’s smile froze in the corner of her lips. But very soon, she resumed it again and looked at him, “Don’t you think smiling is good? It is better than keeping a gloomy face. Let’s go see our business associates.”

Only then did Charles sweep his gaze to the hall and saw many business associates of Thompson and Co. No doubt Lara was professional and good for such parties. They walked further inside the hall and mingled with the guests.

One pair of eyes looked at them coldly. The anger associated with jealousy was evident in that gaze. Abigail never expected to see Charles at this party. She was happy when she saw him coming inside the hall. But her expression froze when her eyes landed on the woman, standing beside him, holding his arms while grinning widely. She wanted to throw the woman away from him. Her grip around the wine glass grew tighter. She saw them chatting and smiling with the guests. His smile elevated her frustration.

She drank the wine at once and had another goblet of wine from the waiter who passed by. She drank that too in one breath.

Robert Mills who was talking to his friends noticed her unusual behavior. He came to her and asked, “Is everything alright, pumpkin? If you don’t feel good, we can go back.”

Abigail was a little tipsy by now, and her face flushed. “Dad, I am fine. Haha… I am enjoying the party.” She smiled and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about me.”

Then she saw a waiter passing by, holding the wine tray. She raised her hand to call him. The waiter came immediately, and she picked up another glass of wine. Just as she was about to take a sip, Robert Mills held her hand to stop her and said, “Don’t drink too much. You are already drunk.”

“Oh… but I like it.” She sulked.

He patted her head and said, “Be good. This is the last drink you are having.” He warned her.

Abigail knew he was a little upset with her. She couldn’t create trouble for him. So she promised, “Okay, this is the last one. Happy?” She smiled.

“Sit quietly in one place. I will be back soon.”

Robert Mills ushered her to another corner of the hall and made her sit on a couch before he turned and went back to his friends.

Abigail’s eyes then shifted to Charles again the moment her father left. He was talking to someone while sipping his wine. Lara was still standing very close to him, smiling coquettishly. Abigail’s blood boiled to see her so close to him. She couldn’t control herself any longer and stood up to go see him, which is when she saw him going out of the hall. She followed him in a hurry. Finally, she reached out to hold his wrist.

Charles stopped on the track and turned to look, only to meet that beautiful pair of blue eyes. He was pleasantly surprised, and his lips hooked up involuntarily.

“Abigail, you are here.”

His eyes scanned her face carefully. She looked upset, or maybe angry. Charles frowned and asked, “Are you still mad at me because I didn’t attend your birthday party?”

“Do you care?” She sneered.

“I…”

“You seem to enjoy the company of that woman.” She didn’t allow him to speak. “Why is she so clingy with you? Do you think that you can do anything as your girlfriend is not around you? Are you trying to cheat on her? Oh, I wish I could send her some photographs of yours with that woman.”

She glared at him contemptuously. But Charles only smiled.

This made her angrier. She asked, “Why are you smiling? Is it funny?”

He shook his head and asked without answering her, “Do you want some fresh air? Come with me.”

He reached out to hold her hand and walked to the elevator, pulling her along with him.

“Let go of me. I don’t want to go with you.”

Although she was struggling to pull her hand back, she was not refuting strongly. Actually, she was dying to spend time with him. However, she couldn’t show her eagerness, could she?

Charles didn’t care about her refusal. He took her to the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor. Only then did she pull back her hand and glared at him. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the terrace.” He smiled at her.

Abigail didn’t say anything after that. Looking at him coldly for a while, she turned her head to look at the screen of the elevator. She was feeling a little dizzy. She would feel good if she got some fresh air, she thought. Finally, the elevator halted at the top floor, and it led them to the open terrace.

The stiff wind hit their faces the moment they came to the terrace. Her hair disheveled immediately, but she didn’t care at all. The wind really freshened her up. She smiled and opened her arms on both sides to welcome the fresh air.

Charles smiled to see her silly girly behavior and asked, “Are you feeling good now?”