Paparazzi

The blinding camera flashes, the stream of endless questions, the snide looks thrown your way, it never gets old.

'I did not miss this', she thought bitterly.

"Remember to s.ile brightly and suck it all up" was Seb's last words to her before they both walked out to the red carpet.

"Mrs. Cross, over here please…

"Mr. Cross, a pose, please…

Shouts of their names were echoed as they walked gracefully with the well practiced smile plastered on their faces. Just as they were almost at the end of the carpet and were about walking into the hall, a reporter asked the dreaded question she thought they had successfully avoided by being all smiley.

"Mr. Cross, who was the lady? Mrs. Cross, are you in an open relationship? The same reporter thre another question at them.

"That was a partner of mine, and my wife here knew about the meeting", wad Seb's response to him.

'No, I was not', she wanted to scream out loud but sucked it up.

Not more was said as the bodyguards ushered them into the hall, the smile on their faces now turning bitter by the second.

Once they were in the hall, Seb left her side to go greet some of his associates and left her all alone, standing in the middle of the hall.

In her quest to locate their table, a woman cleared her throat behind her, causing her to turn around to her.

DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS. Damn, the lady was fine. She smelled like heaven too, and wore the smile beautifully. Even Valeria had to give it to her, she was pretty.

"The Lady Cross, aren't you? Hi, I am Julliette Rain, an associate of your husband".

Val did not miss the mischievous glint that crossed her eyes when she said 'husband' rather mockingly. The name sounded vaguely familiar, and while she tried to remember where she knew her from, she accepted her outstretched hand in a firm grip also plastering a smile back to her face.

"Yes, I am. A lovely evening, isn't it? She retorted.

"A lovely evening, indeed. I am so sorry for whatever troubled I might have caused you, it definitely was not my intention", again, her eyes glinted in mischief.

Valeris was confused as to what trouble she was talking about until she realized. The lady in the pictures last night! Her face, though she tried to hide it, scrunched up in confusion. And, the woman standing in her front, must have notices too.

"Oh, it just dropped, yeah? I had a hard time understanding some parts of the contract your husband proposed, so I had him come in to explain. I hope that was not an issue? We were on our way out when the paparazzi ambushed us. Again, I am so sorry".

Late at night? Dead late at night? In an hotel? It couldn't wait till the next day?. Val thought bitterly in her head.

"Yeah, it could not wait till the next day as I travelled immediately and only just came back some hours ago for the party I was hosting. Whoops, I spilled my secret", she added while laughing amusingly at her.

Valeria was speechless and flushed, for one, she thought she was in her head and had not realised her thoughts were spoken out loud and she also did not know the host of the party was the one speaking to her.

"Excuse my words, I didn't mot mean it like that. Oh, here comes Seb. Hey, baby". She smiled sickeningly sweet his way, and locked her arms around him as he came around to stand beside her.

Even though he was the last person she wanted to see, she thanked the heavens for making him walk their way as the discussion had turned awkward.

Seb had gone visibly tensed at the contact and inconspicuously removed her hands that wrapped around his body.

"Hello, Ms. Rain, thank you for extending an invitation to your party to us". Seb greeted the woman and they both shook smiled at each other, their hands lingering until she slightly cleared her throat.

Just then, she remembered where she knew the lady in question, "Oh, she is the lady you went to Paris on a business trip with?

Immediately, the air around them thickened with tension, and Julliette excused herself claiming her attention was needed. When she had left, Seb turned to her and scoffed, "how did you know about that? Have you been putting trails on me?

"Seb, please. Let's not do this in public. The act must continue unless you want people see you as the gaslighting motherfucker you are", she pretended to adjust his bow while tensely smiling up at him, the entire time till she finished talking.

The scowl on his face deepened, and he led them to their table, whispering angrily under his breath.

The sound of a spoon clinking a champagne cup diverted their attention to the stage where Julliette stood ready to give a speech.

"Well, well, well. Good evening, dear partners turned friends. As we all know, this is a gathering to celebrate a lifetime of partnership and also initiate new partners amongst us. So, eat, drink, dance, connect and have a lovely evening. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen", with a bow she climbed of the stage, loud applause of the guests serving as an escort.

Once the claps dies down, Val walked around searching for Lila. She had texted her that she was here and to escape Seb, she decided to go look for her.

"Where did you say you were again? She dropped a text to her.

"Behind you, Val", she heard her name across the hall. She looked up to see Lila waving earnestly and scurried off towards her.

"You could have just replied my texts, rather you chose to scream my name across hall. Never change, Lils. Never change", she added, being sarcastic.

"You know me, girl, I will never change. You look beautiful, babes. Damn, I wish I was not straight", she whistled loudly causing the people around them to chuckle.

"Ha, I try. You clean up nice as well", she shrugged her arms while laughing.

"Really? That's all you could come up with? Tch!" Her friend pouted.

They both knew she was pulling their legs and after some seconds, they bursted out laughing.

And for some minutes, Val forgot all about her encounter with the host and enjoyed herself with her friend.