Chapter Twenty-one

Vanessa

The floor seemed to tilt as Richard's grip tightened on my arm, yanking me away from Liam and the curious stares of the crowd. He shoved me into a deserted corner, his face contorted with a rage that sent chills down my spine. I was certain if we weren't in a public gathering, he would have hit me.

"What the hell was that, Vanessa?" he spat, releasing my arm with a force that sent a stinging pain shooting up my limb.

Tears pricked my eyes as I inspected my arm, now marred by a red, angry welt. Hurt, both physical and emotional, choked my voice. "You hurt me, Richard," I hissed, cradling my arm.

Ignoring my complaint, his voice boomed, "Answer the question! Why were you dancing with Liam like that?"

His outburst felt suffocating. Taking a deep breath, I tried to reason with him. "We were just dancing, Richard. There's nothing more to it."

He scoffed, eyes blazing. "It looked like a hell of a lot more than that, and frankly, it made me look like a fool."

Before I could protest, a familiar voice cut through the tension. Liam stood there, a cool demeanor masking the embers of earlier desire.

"Easy there, Richard," he drawled. "No need to get your knickers in a twist. We were just dancing, that's all."

Richard glared at him, his jealousy simmering like a volcano on the verge of eruption. "Dancing? You call that… that performance dancing?"

Liam's gaze flickered between us, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "Yes," he confirmed, his voice steady. "That's exactly what it was. I am a married man, Richard, there's no way I was doing whatever you thought I was doing."

Richard seemed to deflate slightly, his anger replaced by a weary acceptance. He reached out and hesitantly brushed his thumb over the mark on my arm.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice thick with regret. "I overreacted. I saw… something I didn't want to see, and I let my insecurities get the better of me. Can you forgive me?"

The apology hung in the air, laced with a vulnerability I had only seen during our last break-up. Liam, with a final, almost pitying glance in my direction, melted back into the crowd, leaving Richard and the weight of his actions behind.

"Let's just… get back to the gala," I finally croaked, the night's joy replaced by a dull ache.

"Let's just get back to the gala," I murmured, my voice devoid of enthusiasm. Richard nodded, his hand hovering awkwardly before hesitantly reaching for mine. I allowed it to rest limply in his grasp, I took it, unsure if it was for support, or because I simply couldn't face him otherwise.

**********

Rejoining the gala felt like wading back into a lukewarm bath after a refreshing dip in a cool spring. The music had resumed, but the carefree rhythm no longer resonated with me. Richard's apology hung heavy in the air, a flimsy bandage on a festering wound.

The music later stopped, replaced by the clinking of glasses and the murmur of departing guests.

Diane, radiant in her emerald gown, took the stage, a wide smile gracing her lips. "Before we head off to our various corners of the world," she announced, her voice echoing through the hall, "I just wanted to express my deepest gratitude to every single one of you for being here tonight."

There was a smattering of applause, followed by a wave of warm murmurs.

"Thanks to Paloma, who I just met tonight, my daughter Anna, and the orchestra," Diane continued, her voice gaining warmth, "you guys have made this the most lively and memorable gala I've ever hosted or attended. My late husband and I began this event to help the children of South Sudan, and despite the grief I carry, I knew I had to carry on and make him proud."

A hush fell over the room as Diane's eyes momentarily misted over. A shared wave of sympathy rippled through the crowd. Then, with a determined lift of her chin, she continued.

"On a brighter note," Diane announced, a triumphant smile lighting up her face, "my accountant just informed me that we raised a staggering fifteen million dollars! That's double what we managed last year. You all have truly outdone yourselves tonight. Now, I can truly call you all… friends."

Thunderous applause erupted, filling the room with a celebratory energy I couldn't quite muster. Richard, ever the social butterfly, clapped enthusiastically along.

As the night wound down, we approached Diane to say our goodbyes. Her gaze flickered between Richard and me, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Did you two manage to work things out?" she inquired gently.

Before I could stammer a reply, Richard stepped in, a touch too quickly. "It was just a misunderstanding, Diane. All sorted out now," he assured her, casting me a pointed look that demanded my confirmation.

I gritted my teeth. For the sake of appearances, I mumbled a half-hearted "Yes, everything's fine," I confirmed, the lie a bitter pill on my tongue.

Diane nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Well, I look forward to seeing you both again soon, especially you, Vanessa," she said. "And Vanessa, thank you for bringing Paloma. Her presence really livened things up. I wouldn't be surprised if she's the reason we surpassed our goal tonight."

Feeling a blush creep up my neck, I excused myself to find Paloma. She was still basking in the adulation of Anna and the orchestra, her smile dazzling.

"Paloma," I interjected, "are you coming with us? Richard can drop you off at our apartment."

She paused, her smile turning mischievous. "Don't worry about me, darling. Anna's chauffeur will take me home." Her eyes flickered to Richard. "You can go and sort this mess."

Richard, used to Paloma's bluntness, merely chuckled. "See you tomorrow, then," I offered, a hollow feeling settling in my chest.

With a final goodbye to Paloma, I joined Richard as we exited the opulent mansion. Across the hallway, under the bright glow of chandeliers, I spotted Liam, his gaze met mine. There was a yearning in his eyes that mirrored a feeling I desperately tried to suppress. A part of me wished it was him taking me home, a part of me yearned for the electrifying joy we'd shared on the dance floor.

But the weight of Richard's hand on mine felt like a heavy anchor, dragging me back to a reality I wasn't sure I wanted anymore.

******************

Liam

The last strains of the gala music faded as I strolled into my bedroom and slipped out of my suit jacket, the lingering scent of champagne clinging to the fabric. Tossing it onto the chair, I unbuttoned my dress shirt, the formality of the evening suddenly suffocating. My mind, however, was far from unwinding. It was replaying the scene on the dance floor, the heat of Vanessa's body pressed against mine, the unspoken desire simmering between us.

Just the thought of her sent a jolt through me. Her laughter, the way she moved – it was all etched into my memory. Frustration gnawed at me. The dance, electrifying as it was, had been a frustrating tease. A stolen glance here, a fleeting touch there – nowhere near enough.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, the image of Vanessa's face flashing before my eyes. Wishing she was here, wishing we could…

The door creaked open, shattering the image and yanking me back to reality. Karen stood in the doorway, her face a mask of fury. Even in the dim light, I could see the storm brewing in her eyes.

"Have you fucked her?" she spat, the words laced with venom.