Finally Brenda emerged from the restroom and was looking so beautiful. Even he must admit that they made a delectable couple. And their appearance together arm in arm raised speculations about whether Dave Campbell- The most eligible bachelor finally made his choice.
The party was in full swing, and everyone was enjoying themselves. He made sure he was always within Brenda's reach either with his eyes or with his arm. He was really besotted, no doubt. The only thing stopping him, though he tried to ignore it but, recently admitted to himself that he actually worried about her father. He loved Brenda wanted Brenda almost with the same intensity he hated her father. It was time for Dave s speech. He went up and spoke about how every one of his staff members were to be applauded for their hard work for taking the company to where it is. He made the official announcement about taking over the Lewis oil, and his being officially a gubernatorial election candidate. A feat he wouldn t achieve without his dedicated staff, his aunt and lovely sister. He concluded by appreciating everyone and he specifically appreciated a special someone who made his life more beautiful by just being a part of it, with that he closed his speech and stepped down from the podium.
The applause was deafening, but the question on everyone s lips, including the press. – Who s that special someone that made his life beautiful by being in it?
Brenda watched him making the entire announcement with tenderness and tears in her eyes. Just like Dave although unspoken the feud between him and her Dad worried her just a little. The past weeks were blissful but she also missed her Dad so much. Dave had told her of a surprise and she guessed that was his surprise. She was well surprised especially about him owning the entire Davila Empire but what shocked him was his taking over her father s Oil business, that was about the only thing Desmond Lewis had going for him right now. She has mixed feelings about the whole thing. She was definitely glad for Dave but her father… Brenda saw him coming down from the podium and quickly excused herself to the rest room again. It s like the rest rooms are gradually becoming her solace these days, she thought as she hurried out of the ball room.
She entered one of the toilet stalls and cried. She cried for reasons she couldn t really place her fingers on; but she remembered her Mum, her Dad and finally about Dave. Brenda was glad about his achievements in fact she was proud of him, to her, he s becoming too vindictive and she didn t know what to do about that. She was certain she didn t want to lose him but a whole lot of other things were hanging in balance between them.
***
Dave searched for Brenda with his eyes, even while people were congratulating him here and there. He was busy searching with his eyes, taking handshakes and side hugs of congratulation only halfheartedly. When he was finally able to extricate himself from the guest accosting him, he approached his sister, whom he had seen in the company of Josh.
"Oh Dave you were great up there. And Congratulations dear brother" Ella gave him a hug immediately he got to her.
Congratulations Dave, Josh offered to him as well.
"Thank you guys. But have you seen Brenda anywhere?" he asked impatiently.
"She was right here, I m sure she would be around somewhere"
"Thanks, Josh thank you for coming." He said genuinely before leaving the couple.
He located his Aunty Cecilia who greeted him with a hug of her own. Words were not needed her hug said everything to him. She was observing him from a corner in the room with her own share of watery eyes. She looked towards the ceiling and whispered something about God being good to her for bringing the children- like she always refers to Dave and Ella, in to her life.
Dave excused himself after a while. "Where could she have disappeared to? Has she finally realized that her father meant more to her in spite of all he did to them? He was really growing impatient now.
Cecilia s were not the only eyes following Dave through the room. So when she saw that Dave had gone out of the ball room. She followed after him. Dave moved towards the garden, maybe she went to take fresh air. A crowd-filled-room can sometimes feel oppressive. He had left the stage hoping to talk to her about his true identity. He didn t mean to spring it up on her like that, but he had always wanted to see the expression in her eyes to see how proud she would be of him at the list of his achievements. He's kind of regretting that now. Maybe he should have come upfront about himself from the beginning. He stood amidst the rows of flowers, looking around him.
Dave felt the arms slipped under his arm through, to his chest. She was hugging him from behind. He visibly relaxed; it couldn t be any other person, no other person dared without his permission. "I was looking everywhere for you" although he could not perceive the flora scent he had come to associate with Brenda.
"I didn't remember you inviting me, for this Dave." She slurred to his ears nibbling his lobe from behind.
Dave spurn around. "What are you doing here Rosy, How did you get in here?
"That's quite a greeting Dave for your every time-in –need lover."
He put a distance between them. "That s not what I asked you," He snapped.
"Well, it s been a while and I thought I should come say hello," she said snapping the gum she was chewing so loudly. "What s that saying about mountain going to Mohammed? And as for how I got in? a few of your staff still remembers me as your lady companion. I mean it s not like we have not done it here in one of your fancy rooms before."
"You must be out your mind"
***
Brenda was done crying, she had waited a little for all the puffiness to clear, dabbing at her eyes with a wet napkin. She reapplied her makeup. The last thing she wanted was for Dave to see she was crying. They were both finally in a good place; she didn t want to ruin that for both of them. She would have to find a way to solve her misconceptions and worries. For now she would have to be happy for him. She wanted to go back into the ball room but changed her mind; she wasn t ready to see anyone right now. She opted for the gardens she had always admired. The cool freshness might just refresh her troubled soul too.
Dave aw that force was not working with Rosie. He opted for persuasion. He didn t want Brenda finding her in his company. So maybe he should give her money. Rosie is all about money. That would work for him.
"How about we settle this misunderstanding amicably?"
"Now you are talking, I must say I like the new Dave." she moved closer to him stroked his lips.
Dave stepped back a little from her. He dipped his hand in his suit pocket and brought out a check book. This always works for Rosie. The sight of a check book usually gives her orgasm.
He wrote a mouth watering amount, "I don t want to see you again, he whispered to her."
Rosie snapped the paper from his hand looked at it; this is poor for an aspiring governor. You know I could easily be your first lady, giving that I might be pregnant with your baby. She blew the gum in his face.
***
Brenda stood a small distance away and watched the exchange between Dave and another woman. Although they had the covering of the darkness, safe small illumination from the street lamp a distance a way from them, she knew it was Dave because she could describe every inch of him with her eyes closed. She watched the woman touched his lips and she saw him handing something over to her. Brenda was moving slightly closer to them when she heard that she was carrying Dave s baby. She gasped audibly.
***
Rosie saw her first, so she acted quickly moving in on Dave she gave him a passionate kiss. It was so sudden that Dave was puzzled as to what was going on; he was still reeling from the bombshell she just dropped.
Before he could act, Rosie lifted her lips from his. She patted his lapel, "You have not heard the last of me," she planted a kiss on his cheek and left.
She walked past him towards Brenda. "That s a real specimen of a man; you need to see him in action. She said nodding in Dave s direction. "I know you don t understand what I mean, because you prim and proper Richie-rich don t know how to keep a man like that satisfied" she walked past Brenda with a small laugh.
Dave turned following Rosie s exit wondering- what just happened, and that s when he saw Brenda standing a distance from him. He couldn t see her expression, but by the set of her shoulders it was obvious that she had seen, and probably heard what just transpired between him and Rosie. And Rosie was saying something to her. Dave hurried towards them with long strides but the damage was already done, Rosie was already entering the hotel.