Chapter 12

Christopher POV

This stupid tie will not cooperate with me as I get ready for the Anniversary Party for Anderson Records. This is one of those times that I wish Natalia was still here. She always helped me with my ties and made it look effortless. Trying to try one more time, I throw my hands up in frustration. George walks into the room just as I am about to throw it across the room.

"What did that poor tie do to you now?" He asks he takes it from my hands. He does some movements with his hands before holding the tie up. The center is left big enough to put my head through and then all I have to do is tighten it.

"How did you do that so fast?" I ask as I put the tie on. "I can never get the damn thing on."

"Magic, my friend. I will teach you the trick later after we go to the event of the year," George replies with a wave of his fingers.

"Well I think I will just have you get all my ties done like you did just now so that I don't have to worry about it," I tell him as I put my jacket on.

"Pay me and I will," George states as he rubs his fingers together in my face. I slap his hand way before he continues. "The car is here. We need to get there before everything gets into full swing."

"Okay," I reply before heading out of the door. When I reach the stairs, that night that flashes in my head. From the look of relief on her face at me being home to the hurt then anger. I wish I never got Chelsea to pretend to be my mistress. The woman has took that as that she has a shot with me. That will never happen since I plan on winning the love of my life back. A few months after Natalia left, I caught her wearing Natalia's ring on her finger. Not long after that, I heard that she was telling people we were engaged. Chelsea will never take Natalia's place or even be her. I wish that she wasn't going tonight but the invitation stated that assistants needed to be in attendance for a big announcement tonight. Why? I'm not sure.

As I get to the bottom of the stairs, Chelsea appears out of the downstairs bathroom wearing a very revealing yellow dress. The dress barely reaches her knees while the top is probably a few sizes to small. The shoes she has on put a stripper to shame.

"You do know this is a black tie event, right?" I ask her as she makes her way to us.

"Yes I do. This is my dress that I picked out special," she says as she spins around.

"Do you even know what black tie means?" George asks as he looks at her in disbelief.

"Yes, I know what it means. It means that all the men wear black ties to the event. Duh," she states as if it was the obvious answer. George and I look at each other before we laugh at the same time. Is this woman for real? "Why are you both laughing?"

"She is dumber than I thought," Lora, George's wife, says as she walks in. She is wearing a floor length gowns that is black and silver. Chelsea is looking at her like she is competition for her but in fact, Lora would win what ever it was hands down.

"Who are you?" Chelsea asks defensively. I forgot that she has never met Lora.

"Someone who can make you disappear, darlin'." Lora states this with a tone that was anything but friendly.

"Just because you are sleeping with Christopher doesn't mean you are untouchable. Just ask Natalia," Chelsea says to Lora. Wait a minute. What did she mean by that?

"Christopher, the next time she talks to my wife like that, she will be blackballed in this city and all connecting one's that I'm associated with. Would you like to remind her that she is the assistant," George says as he turns to me. I know he isn't threatening me because we did this a lot in college. Chelsea looks like she wants to hide after the information that Lora is George's wife.

"She already knows this. She has been reminded of that on a few occasions and is on her last chance. We don't need the embarrassment tonight," I tell him with a smirk. Chelsea looks like she wants to say something but thinks better of it. "You need to change into something different or you're not going."

"This is all I have with me, Christ... boss. I promise I will behave tonight. Please let me go," she almost begs.

George and Lora give me a nod to let me know their input. "Fine but one mess up and you are leaving. Got it?" I ask her as she looks excited.

"Yes, sir. I promise I won't embarrass you or anything," she says and heads towards the door.

"No wonder you asked me to find you a new assistant," Lora said when Chelsea was out of ear shot.

"She is delusional. She thinks that we are an item when I would rather chew off my leg. That's also why I asked for a male assistant instead of female because of this," I tell her. After the incident at Bucks during the meeting with Frank Anderson, I have had Lora interviewing some candidates to replace Chelsea as my assistant. When one is found, I am going to send Chelsea packing her desk up.

We all walk out and get into the limo to head to the event. Along the way, my phone buzzes, alerting me that I got a e-mail. I pull out my phone to see that it's the private investigator. After Chelsea's little show at Bucks, I hired a PI to look into her past. This must be his findings but it will have to wait until later tonight or in the morning.

The limo pulls into the parking lot of the building the event is being held as I put my phone back in my pocket. After waiting in line, our car pulls up for us to get out. Chelsea gets out first before moving to the side. George and Lora get out next with me following. Chelsea tries to take my arm but I shake her off.

Reporters shout questions as cameras flash in our direction as we make our way inside. The venue is already full with guests as waiters walk around with champagne. Grabbing one off the passing waiters tray, I go to find Frank Anderson to inform him of the progress of the deal. I go to pass a group of women that are chatting about the décor when I get stopped by a hand on my arm. The hand belongs to Edward Umber, the owner of Umber Industries.

"I was hoping to see you here tonight, Christopher," Edward says as he shakes my hand.

"I can say the same, Edward. This is the event of the year and there is also the fact that Darius Anderson hasn't really been seen in public for a few years," I say as I shake his hand back.

Edward looks behind me then back at me with amusement. "What in the world is your assistant wearing?"

I briefly close my eyes and pray that this is the only time I get asked this tonight. "She showed up like that. I told her that it wasn't dress code. Can you believe she thought that black tie was only for men to wear black ties?" We both share a laugh at Chelsea's ignorance. "I didn't want to bring her tonight but the Invite requested that we bring our assistants for an announcement."

Edward looks at me funny. "Mine said no such thing. Maybe it was select few." He looks around and spots some other businessmen and pulls my arm with him. "Let's ask Jeffery and them. Hey Gentlemen, I have a question to ask you? Did your invitations request for you to have your assistants in attendance tonight?"

Everyone shakes their head as they take sips of their drinks. Jeffery Tredder steps over to us as he grabs another glass from a passing waiters tray.

"Everyone's invitations state a plus one but no specific assistant request. Did one of you have it on yours?" Jeffery asks.

"I did. I'm not sure why it's just me so far with that type invitation," I tell him as I take a sip of my champagne.

Jeffery looks at Edward for a brief second but I don't miss it. They must know something they aren't telling me.

Just as I am about to ask, a gentleman on stage grabs a microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, please help me in welcoming the couple of the night. Darius Anderson and his wife Isabella Anderson!"

Everyone turns around to watch the hosts enter and I almost had to do a double take. At first glance, I thought that the woman was Natalia. Looking closer, I see that they share some similar features but that's about it. They walk in and start to mingle with guests as everyone goes back to what they were doing.

After a while, Darius Anderson and his wife make their way to the stage that is at the far side of the room. Darius steps up and turns to hold his hand out to help Isabella up the steps. He then walks to center stage where a podium stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to this wonderful occasion. Tonight we are celebrating family and also the 35th anniversary of Anderson Records and Company. Speaking of family, my wife and I would like to formally introduce you all to our beautiful family," Darius says before music begins to play and gasps are heard. No one has really ever seen any of the Anderson siblings for as long as I can remember. "Please join me in welcoming our youngest child, Jaxon Anderson, and his beautiful wife, Megan Anderson."

The doors in the back open up and the man from the photos as well as Bucks walks in with the woman who was with him that night beside him. This confirms what Emily Anderson stated, even though I didn't doubt her words.

As Jaxon and Megan make it to the stage, Darius speaks again. "Next we have our next child, Grayson Anderson."

The doors opens again to let another man in that is similar to Jaxon but his features are slightly different. He walks to the stage but I swear he glances at me when he passes me. A hand touching my arm makes me look to my left only to see Chelsea there with a smile. Shaking her hand off, I take a step away from her.

"Next we have our second oldest child, Huxley Anderson." Darius' voice carries throughout the room as the doors open yet again. He stated that this is his second oldest child which means the oldest that is the successor of Darius Anderson is to be announced next.

A man that looks really familiar walks in and makes his way to the stage. Racking my brain, I finally remember where I have seen him. He is the person who sang karaoke with Natalia the other night. How does Natalia know the Anderson siblings?

Darius calls everyone's attention again as Huxley steps up on stage. "Ladies and Gentlemen, next is our oldest child and the my heir to the company. Help me welcome my daughter, Natalia Anderson," he states louder than he spoke before. Wait a minute. Did he just say Natalia?

The doors in the back open and my world stops as I see Natalia walking into the room. It is like my world comes crashing down along with my chances of possibly ever being with her again. I hear a almost inaudible gasp then a scoff from my left. I can't even tear my eyes away from the woman I love to even reprimand Chelsea for her disrespect. Natalia's eyes lock with mine for a second before she looks back towards the stage.

Darius helps Natalia up the steps and leads her over to center stage where the podium stands. "I am sure that you all are shocked at this news tonight. Natalia wanted to make sure she was ready to take over before we made a formal announcement. Now I will hand the microphone over to her to say a few words," Darius says before stepping away for Natalia to step forward. When she begins to speak, my heart skips a beat at the sound of her beautiful voice.

"Hello everyone and good evening. Tonight is a special night for two reasons. Tonight is the celebration of 35 wonderful years of business for Anderson Records and Company. It is also the night that I formally announce that I am now the new CEO and owner of the company. I look forward to working with you all and I am excited to see what the future brings. Tonight I make a promise to all employees and partners of our record label. That promise is that I will strive for not only successful leadership but also a great, fun, and safe work environment. Thank you all for attending tonight and also enjoy the rest of your night." Her speech is straight to the point and now I realize why she was so good at helping me with my company. She must have a lot of degrees in that field to prepare her for taking over the family business.

Natalia steps away from the podium as music starts to play again. My mind is going through everything that has been said these past five years. That night jumps to the front of my thoughts and I feel like a complete jerk. She was trying to tell me that there was nothing happening in the pictures. She might have even told me who she really was that night if I had given her a chance to explain. If Jaxon is her brother, then who is he with in that picture in the club?

Darius is leading Natalia around the room, meeting business partners and company bigwigs. As I am watching her go around the room, I didn't notice Frank Anderson walk up to where I was standing.

"Now does it make since why I acted like I did at our meeting?" he asks. I nod my head as I do everything I had to tear my eyes away from the goddess on the other side of the room. Frank is looking at me with an emotionless face. Emily, his daughter, is standing beside him with a gentleman that resembles her so much they could almost be twins. A woman is standing on his other side with her arm laced through his and I know that she is most likely his wife.

"Who is this, darling?" The lady on Franks arm asks.

"This is Christopher Lane, my dear. The one we have heard so much about," Frank says to her. Immediately, her smile drops as she sends me a death glare.

"So this is the one who broke her heart," she says as she takes me in. "Son, I think you already know this, but you threw away the best thing that has ever happened to you."

I nod my head at her because she is right. "I know ma'am. I have been trying to figure out how to win her back but I don't think she will give me that chance now."

Franks wife narrows her eyes at me as she basically stares into my soul. "You shouldn't have jumped to conclusions before getting the facts straight. She has been through a lot the past five years. If there is even the slightest chance of you getting her back, you will have to fight for your life."

Just as I'm about to reply to her, Darius and Natalia are heading towards us. Five other people are to which is her mother, brothers, and sister-in-law. Oh boy, this will be fun.