How lucky she was to have him. And how she loved him. How he loved her. What more could she ask for.
"You could always sell him your shares in the business," Ashley suggested without really thinking what she was saying.
"It's true he wants them. In fact, they're the only thing I own that he's ever coveted."
"But you won't sell them."
"No, I won't. Because it's a constant way of irritating him."
And also because it was the thing that bound him to this brother he wished he had in his life but wouldn't let him.
Rick had lost his mother when he was only five, his father remarried less than a year later, and had Shawn. Sheila wasn't a fairy-tale stepmother, but she simply cared only about her own son, and to please her, her husband did the same, totally neglecting his eldest son. This obviously destroyed ties, irreparably.
Their parents were now trying to rebuild those lost ties, but Rick wanted nothing more to do with them. What remained were these actions and this annual party.
Shawn should have stopped being invited a long time ago, except that the big man's current mistress happened to be Ashley's best friend, so there was no way he could pass over the young couple. Or so he made it seem. Ashley had the feeling he didn't care after all, or was amused to see his brother trying to forge ties that would never exist.
Anyway, so they made their way to the grandiose penthouse Rick had given Emma, and the latter greeted them with a luminous smile almost as bright as her gold lamé jumpsuit and diamonds and her fiery hair, which she had let float freely down her back in an unruly curl, while her friend and guest wore a blue dress with a silver floral pattern that enhanced her almost moon-like blondness.
She had pulled her hair up into a sophisticated chignon at the crown of her head.
The two friends hugged tightly before the latter complimented her on her outfit and led her to her lover and protector, who was chatting with a woman, a judge, while discreetly sipping a glass of champagne.
He kissed Ashley's hand and shook hands with his half-brother, all with a rather polite and distant smile.
"I'm glad you're here tonight."
"Really." couldn't help but pick up Shawn with an ironic smile.
"Of course you are. Why shouldn't I be?" replied his brother, impassively.
"Why indeed, since this is the only time you deign to accept my...presence."
"You're telling me. Enjoy yourselves."
"You know Father's still waiting for you to visit him."
"I will when he's dead. Tell him," he ordered.
"You just tell him yourself!"
"No."
"You really don't have time to visit him at all.
"I have time," he corrected, "but I don't feel like it. Anyway, leave me now. I'd like to continue talking alone with my friend here."
And he pointed to the judge.
"I'll see you later, Emma," he said, but this time more tenderly, bending down to kiss his mistress's cheek.
The latter nodded and walked away with her two guests.
"Help yourselves, the buffet is well stocked.
"I'm sure it is."
There were fewer guests than they'd expected. And among them she found Ted, the owner of a posh club and also a mutual friend with someone she'd written out of her life and hadn't heard from in years. Ted was her mother's Latin type, and always wonderfully dressed like Shawn. He was accompanied by a man as blond as Ashley.
"Ah, I knew I'd see you here, beautiful," Ted said as he joined them and kissed Ashley's cheek, then gave Shawn's hand a friendly squeeze.
"I'm the mistress of the house's closest friend so..." she quipped, returning his kiss.
"Well, introductions since I can already see your eyes shining brightly. James darling, this is Ashley and Shawn, two of my closest friends, Ashley, Shawn, this is James, my man."
"Wonderful."
"Nice to meet you." the half-brother grinned openly.
"Oh, if I wasn't so in love with my Ted, I'd have gladly taken a chance on you."
"The opposite would have vexed me." replied Shawn with a most charming laugh that made James's eyes sparkle.
"Take it easy," said his fiancé, taking him by the arm, "you're already committed and strongly committed, so forget everything but me."
"I'll do my best."
"And you, too, darling," Ashley did the same. "You're straight, but you never know."
"But I have no fears about Rick," the beautiful redheaded stewardess grinned confidently.
"Tell me about it." replied her friend with an affectionate grimace.
"After you know what, he's too washed up to have the strength to look anywhere else again."
They all burst out laughing.
"And so," Ted continued, grabbing a glass from the tray of a passing waiter, "how's it going with the big boss, still on the fence?"
"Alas, nothing new. My father despairs that he'll ever forgive him, or at least pay him a visit."
"Sad indeed. But let's face it, he reaps what he sows."
"I know." quipped Shawn irritably, "but he's old. And he's trying to make amends. Rick can try a little harder."
"Everyone does what they want," Ted concluded, shrugging and draining his glass. "But I have to admit," he added all the same, that for the past few years, "your long-stuck, all-powerful brother seems to be living his life well. I don't know how to put it any better."
"It's all thanks to me," his mistress finally interjected with a happy, triumphant smile.
"That must be it," admitted Ted, but with an air of disbelief. "Anyway, we're here together and might as well celebrate."
The champagne flowed, the buffet was constantly replenished and the music was varied.
Everything was in place for a great evening.
Shawn and Ashley slow-danced as if they were alone in the world.
But at some point, even this couple, so in love and oblivious to each other, noticed their hostess's expression. She looked frustrated, angry and unhappy all at once.
"What's the matter, darling?" inquired Ashley, approaching her and taking her in his arms.
Emma shook her head, but her friend insisted.
"Emma, please! Don't be stubborn and tell me."
"Do you remember what the five of us were just talking about. That for the past few years, Rick seemed to like living."
"Yes. And that it was thanks to..."
"Not me, no." the mistress refuted, sniffing slightly, "I lied, it's not thanks to me. And even I'm not stupid enough to believe it. And worse, I know exactly who is the origin."
"Who?" inquired Shawn, looking at her sympathetically.
"The person he's expecting tonight."
They turned together to the king of the evening and indeed noted that he was staring ostentatiously at the door as well as at his gold watch.
He clearly seemed to be waiting for someone.
And that long-awaited someone didn't come until long after the candles on the enormous cake had been cheered and blown out, and almost all the guests had left.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
