Fighting!

The drive to the venue where the party would be taking place was silent. Eric was in deep thought about what he'd be like when he becomes a CEO. He was filled with angst, anxiety settling in his belly as the car drove close to the venue, he then turned his gaze to the gorgeous woman sitting next to him in his car.

She wasn't concerned about what was going on with him and was enjoying her own existence, she kept taking pictures of herself and somehow her sweet smiley face erased his anxiety for a while. He found himself lost in her beauty until she turned her gaze and smiled.

"I look too gorgeous right?" She asked with that look of confidence.

Eric threw her a smile and demonstrate with his fingers. "You look pretty tonight, just like how my girlfriend would look" he replied. Still nervous and worried, but Lucy was here.

The makeup on her face enhanced her beauty, the short dress she wore appraised her appearance. She looked so much like his girlfriend, she suits him.

"You know, I still wonder why you don't have a girlfriend" she blurted out staring at her elegant self in the small mirror she had with her.

Eric shrugged. "I've not seen the one"

She glanced at him. "You would find the one if you don't test on them" Lucy spoke like an expert.

Eric offered a smile that said she doesn't understand. Afterward, silence evolved the car.

"Lucy" he called her attention with his shaky voice rubbing his hands against each other anxiously, breaking the not-so-awkward silence.

She turned to him not smiling but looking like she was. "Yes" her tiny voice replied.

He sighed letting down his shoulders. He looked out the window. They were almost there, he panicked again. "I'm so nervous. I-I cannot do it" he covered his face with his hands after speaking.

The car was now parked in front of the venue at last. He wished he could reverse the car back but he couldn't. He had to face reality now and be a man like his father always told him.

As expected Lucy didn't offer any words of encouragement. She tapped his shoulder. "Let's go," she said when the was door opened by a man in a Black suit. Eric blew out a sigh, took a deep breath, and climbed out.

The moment they both went out of the car, they were welcomed by flashes of light from different cameras and also a red carpet. Wow! Too much for retirement. Lucy thought, she never thought a red carpet would be involved. His driver drove away to give the next car approaching a chance to park. Lucy waited for his signal to leave the spot they'd been standing on for some seconds now but she received no signal.

Lucy took his hand and forcefully moved him away from that spot. Eric glanced at her to see how confident she looked. She was here. He told himself.

Soon, they entered the event to behold a magnificent view of the not-so-crowded hall. She saw the glamorous chandeliers hanging up on the roof bringing glorious brightness to the dim room. The tables were perfectly organized and categorized. The women present were dressed gracefully while the men appraised it all. They looked so elegant in their suits with each in different colors. Then, she turned to Eric to notice he was in a gray suit matching flawlessly with his eyes. The cloth looked like it was tailored just for him. She then lifted her gaze to meet his calm, nervous mesmerizing gray gaze. His face didn't explain anything about him at all. He looked so mature and sexy, he looked like a naughty man but inside him was different. What an attractive man.

Lucy tilted her head as a sign of progress, just then they heard voices calling out his name. She turned in that direction.

"Who are those?" She asked slowly pulling her gaze from them to him.

"My family, my Dad and my sister" he introduced before they came standing before the both of them.

"Son" his father tapped his shoulder with his hand while the other was holding his glass of wine.

"Dad" Eric responded. His hand still with Lucy. "Sis" he greeted his sister too. Maverick and Stella averted their gaze from Eric to Lucy. She wasn't nervous or shaky, she could see how nice they were through their eyes, Lucy didn't know it was because of her smiley face she earned welcoming looks from his family. Wow, she wasn't his girlfriend yet and will never be but was already getting introduced to his family. Lucy loved where this was going to

"Your girlfriend?" Stella asked not moving her gaze from his fake girlfriend.

"Yes, sis. I'm his girlfriend" Lucy replied for Eric because she knew he wouldn't talk. He had said earlier that he was nervous and she was going to be paid for what she was doing anyway, she should do her best.

Maverick signaled to them he'd be leaving the conversation and left.

"I must say, sister. You are so beautiful just like your brother, I really admire both of your gray eyes" she complimented both of them.

Eric was surprised, he didn't know words so sweet like that could come out of her mouth. Was it because of the money? He stared at her surprised as she continued to talk about things with his sister.

"I can see you like my brother so much," Stella said, a tall beautiful woman with gray eyes just like her brother's and her short sparkling Amber hair, dressed in a long white gown sleeveless and thigh slit a little. Now Lucy knew where Eric got his choice of things from.

Lucy used her trick again smiling when she was not, as a response to his sister's assumptions. If only she knew they were a fake couple.

Well, she didn't care. She was going to get her money after her service.

"Hmm, little brother I can see the look on your face" she teased him and he turned his gaze from Lucy. Eric had been staring at her having different thoughts. Maverick came back. This man was getting old, Lucy could see how his temples wrinkled whenever he smiles. His eyes weren't gray like his children's. He had obsidian eyes. Did they inherit it from their Mom? Now she wondered, where was their Mom?

"Dad, see how your son behaves in front of a woman," she told him and he smirked.

"I guess she's the one causing it" he pointed to Lucy and she flashed a fake smile. "Son, I'm happy you finally brought a woman. You've made me proud," he said, making Eric more scared and anxious, he felt bad for deceiving his family. He offered a forced smile. "Well done son" he tapped his shoulder again.

"Enjoy the party dearly," he told Lucy and she nodded.

"Sure" she smiled at him.

Eventually, the two went to sit and they didn't talk much. What do you expect? They're fake.

"Enjoying the party?" Eric asked with his gaze far from her.

"Hmn. I've not seen your Mom" she requested for a reason. Why was she asking anyway? She wasn't his real girlfriend and it wasn't her business

Eric was quiet and didn't reply. She found it rude. Just as he was about to answer her. He heard his Dad's voice.

Oh no! It's time he gave his speech. He became nervous again. He turned to look around to see everyone applauding his Dad. He stood on the stage with a large television as the background the name of the company displayed on it.

"Good evening everyone!" Maverick greeted with the use of the microphone. "I'm glad you all made it to my retirement party and I show a great appreciation for accepting my invitation" the old man started.

Within fifteen minutes he said his speech and earned a round of applause from everyone. Now he called his son up to the stage. It was time for his speech. What if he says it wrong? But his Dad said it right and nothing seems wrong with it, that's because his dad was already an expert in all this so he couldn't say it wrong.

Lucy stared at him as he took too long to get on the stage.

"You can do it, Eric. Go for it" she encouraged him with a big smile on her face. She tilted her head for him to go. She clenched her fists and then lifted her hand. "Fighting," she told him.

Eric returned the smile and adjusted his gray suit jacket and then glanced at Lucy again receiving an encouraging look.

Everyone applauded him as he walked up to the stage with pride. Most ladies got lost in his elegance.

They applauded him again after he finished his speech and the party went on. Ecstasy filled his heart and he smiled at himself. Yes! he did it! Eric looked around searching for his fake girlfriend.

When he found her, he left the stage. Eric never knew someone like Lucy could actually say those words to him and made him feel like he could do it and here, he finally and definitely did.

"Thank you Lucy" he thanked her as he got to stand next to her.

"It's nothing," she said, having a drink. She was about to take another but...

"No that's alcoholic" he stopped her from taking it. He got another for her. She didn't show appreciation.

Eric talked to so many guests which he thought was going to be overwhelming but it was just like talking to normal people. He didn't have to be nervous earlier. He thought.

Again the four were together, watching everyone.

Maverick gaze landed on Lucy. "Son, I never knew you were courting a lady" he raised a question, not sounding like a question but he wanted his son to tell him everything.

"Dad, you ask me to find a wife. Why wouldn't I court someone? I have to, to find the right one" he stated.

'here he goes again with the right one' Maverick said inwardly.

Stella stood up when she spotted her friend. "Be back" she informed.

Talking about wife made Lucy happy and also felt bad because they were deceiving his father.

"Oh, here comes Mrs. Harrison," Maverick said as he peered behind Eric. They all stood up turning about to see who Mrs. Harrison was.