Chapter 13: Chapter 13

As much as I want to deny it, the shopping was ecstatic and standing in here in front of the mirror, I wanted to burst out of excitement.

"Well?" Gretchen persuades as she stands there, watching me observe myself in the mirror and all the work she did.

The gown was beautiful.

More than beautiful.

It was a tight fit sleeveless cut dress from my chest down to me knees, where the rest of the gown poured out in a beautiful trail behind me. It opened in front just below the knee to show my legs and silver shoes. The green was a beautiful silk and had small laces at the open cleavage where Gretchen had tied it as a bow.

After much argument, she put only eyeliner and mascara on my face with lipstick. Then she had curled the front of my hair and brushed and braided the back, bringing it to rest over my shoulder in front.

"Well?" She asked again, and I turned to her slowly, scared that something would fall out of place.

"It's so perfect I feel like I'm the one that owns the entire event. Thank you sooo much, Gretchen." I squeel and she laughs.

"Perfume." She says and sprays some on me then hands me the long, slim sulk material that came with the dress.

"No. I feel over dressed already." I say, backing up.

"Come on, the outfit isn't complete without it."

"I'm going there to ask questions, remember?"

"Yeah, with one of the major sponsors."

"Gretchen, I've already got a purse, inhaler, recorder and my phone. I could misplace it. " I whine.

"Fine." She says, rolling her eyes when my phone buzzes.

Gretchen rushes to the window.

"Oh. My. God. There is a limo." She says and I rush over to look.

Sure enough, there is a black limo in front and I freeze. I quickly scan the premises but I don't see his normal BMW.

"A limo. He came in a limo." I mutter, not believing it.

"What are you doing here? Go on and get out! He is waiting."

"In a limo!"I exclaim, disbelief clouding my voice.

"Yes!" Gretchen squeals but fear surrounds me.

A limo. The event must be bigger than I thought. I can't get in that thing and go for all this stuff.

What if I embarrass myself and ask the wrong things?

What if I'm not properly dressed?

Ethan's POV

"She's not answering?" Trevor asks from inside the limo where he is seated next to Bianca after I end the third call to April's phone.

"No." I mutter.

Why isn't she picking up?

Was something wrong?

Had she changed her mind?

"I'm going to check on her." I say and head for the dorm. Somehow, I still wasn't used to the stares from different people as I climbed her stairs.

Must be the black suit or the hair.

Dammit, I have been attending this event for the past 4 years and still not used to how much preparation it needs.

I knock on April's door and it swings open. Her roommate is standing there staring at me.

"Oh, thank God you came. She wouldn't leave the room after she saw the limo." She says and moves back to let me in.

I look past her and see where April is sitting on her bed with a blanket wrapped round her, but other than that her hair and make up looks like she was ready to to leave.

"Hey." I say as I go to her and sit beside her.

"What's wrong?"

She looks up at me and I can see fear in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I just...the event...and then...you...and the limo..." She stutters.

The limo? I should have told her about it. It was policy that the company sent one for every special occasion.

"The limo? If you're not comfortable with it I'll get my car...it's just company policy."

She is already shaking her head.

"Not just that. The event and everything. The limo just made me realise how big of an occasion this is. I've never attended it and I'm going there to just ask questions. What if I mess up or ask or answer the wrong thing? Its not like I'm doing anything important--"

"Hey, hey, hey. Dont say that. Yes, it's a big occasion but you don't have to worry about anything. And you are doing something important. Most of these people are going there just to show off their money worth but you are going to discover and make known the assistance for charity. I'd say your work is more important."

Her eyes search mine and I continue,

"Plus you seem to be forgetting I'll be by your side, every step of tonight. Nothing will go wrong. Okay?"

I tuck a stray lock of curled hair back to its position.

She nods and smiles a little.

"Okay." She mutters and we both get up.

"Great. I feel like a sushi in this suit." I say and she laughs then takes off the blanket.

Oh.

My.

God.

FuckShitDammit

I can't help but eye goggle the gown she has on and how it's clinging to every part of her like a second skin until it gets to the knees where it's open in front and flowing behind.

I look back up slowly, forcing my eyes to look away from her full cleavage where small laces are tied to taunt yet maintain a decent look.

The gown was classy and sexy.

"Ethan?"

Her voice penetrates through my thoughts and I look up at her. Her eyes are back to feisty and I bite my lip before a wrong compliment comes out.

"You look..." I trail off and can't help but scan her again, and how beautiful her face is with the little make up she has on.

"Wow." I say and she laughs.

"I look wow? Umm, thanks?"

"Sorry. You look amazing." I say sincerely.

"You look good in a suit." She says as I hold her hand and we leave the room.

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm. Important." She says, eyes glinting and I'm glad she's back to her normal self.

We get to the limo and before I get in, her hand is on my shoulder.

"Wait." She says and I turn to face her.

"Before everything starts, I just want to say thank you so much for this." She says.

Her grattitude feels overwhelming and I nod because I don't trust myself to use my mouth.

"April!" Trevor exclaims with amusement when we get in.

"I was worried I'll have to start throwing stones at your window." He says and she laughs.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, I feel under dressed." Bianca says and they exchange similar compliments while I keep trying to stop myself from kissing her senseless.

The ride there is long Trevor doesn't stop making jokes.

"Do you guys go for this constantly?" She asks.

"Yeah, ever since Ethan and I started working in the company." Trevor blurts and she turns to me.

"You work there...already?" She asks and I curse silently.

"It's a family business, so...the earlier the better." I say and glare at Trevor to stay quiet.

"Oh." Is all she says, then adds,

"Can I ask you some questions after the event?" She says as the limo stops in front of the huge Galleria.

"Yes, but before that, are you ready?" I say and hold her hand. She bites her lip, tempting me but she nods.

We walk in and I remember I completely forgot to tell her about the reporters there. However, she handles it well. Carrying her face high with a smile and her eyes feisty.

April's POV

Reserved seats.

The limo was not so bad, the press I had handled. But here we were seated at reserved seats. The place is crowded with extremely classy people arriving in limousines, beautiful gowns and pin stripped suits.

There is a bottle of champagne on the table we are seated around, where the tag "Griphen & Griphen" is placed high.

I try to ignore how unique Ethan looks with his suit and well trimmed hair.

A man approaches the table and looks an awful lot like Trevor except without the brown eyes. This man's eyes are blue.

"Ethan, Trevor! My boys!" He says just as they both get up and I look at Bianca for help.

She smiles at me through violet eyes and signals me to get up as well. We both get up and I maintain my smile.

"Evening Clyde." Ethan says with a smile.

"Hey, dad." Trevor says as they all shake hands.

"It's good to see you, Ethan. Both of you, apart from work of course." He says with a chuckle and a slight twinkle in his eyes and suddenly he looks at me and I want to cower.

"This is my....friend. April." Ethan says and the man walks over to me from around the table.

"It's so nice to meet you." I say, trying not to evaporate when he suddenly smiles and turns to Ethan, then Trevor.

"He brought a friend." He says with a laugh and turns back to me.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. Why, I haven't seen Ethan with a girl or a 'friend' in ages!" He says with a hearty laugh as he puts the word friend in air quotes and I can see Ethan smile a little.

I stretch out my hand but he moves it aside as he says,

"Nonsense!" Then pulls me into a hug. I could see where Trevor got his humour from. Nervously, I hug him back.

"I hope you have a nice time here." He says once the hug is over.

"Clyde? She also has some questions she wants to ask about the event. She is from the Press and magazine department." Ethan says and I turn to him with a thankful smile.

I had absolutely forgotten about them.

Trevor's dad nods,

"Of course, no problem. After the speeches are delivered I'll answer anything you want." He says just when a woman comes over. She has brown eyes and blonde hair and I already know she is Trevor's mum.

After 5 minutes of introduction, we are all seated and the place is suddenly quiet.

"Here, they give speeches about the event and their sponsoring agents individually. Then they hand awards to the highest sponsor. You might want to keep your recorder on."

Ethan's whisper brushes my skin and I turn to him while he winks at me.

"I've got you." He says and I can't help the heat that creeps up my face as I put my recorder on the table.

Just as he said, each sponsor goes up and gives a speech and how much they are donating. I am amazed at the amounts mentioned.

$2 million.

$5 million.

$10 million.

"To conclude, we'll call our last sponsors and the first to sponsor the CARMA. With the biggest donation of $50 million, we call on the co-owners of the Griphen & Griphen company." The announcer says and I clap as Mr Clyde gets up.

I can't help, looking around for Ethan's dad. I was going to ask but didn't want to probe.

Just as I turn to Ethan to ask, he surprises me by getting up. Then Trevor joins and together, all three of them make their way to the podium.

I turn to Bianca and she nods at me, her black hair bouncing.

"They all work together since it's a family business. From one generation to the other." She says, smiling brightly.

But....

Where is Ethan's dad?

And now that I think of it, none of his parents were here. I take a deep breath and watch as Mr Clyde gives a speech,

"Every moment of this day will always be important to us, ever since it was my brothers dream to assist CARMA. He wanted to reach out to those who had no one and Griphen & Griphen will always try to keep that dream. My son and nephew and I are grateful for the award, and hope we can always be of assistance. Thank you."

I try to maintain my breathing to prevent an attack as I watch them take a picture before coming over.

Oh my.

It can't be.

His dad was dead?

Ethan sits down next to me and I try not to pry as I wait for the announcer to be done.

It was time for the calculations to be made for what they were able to get for assistance.

The owner of CARMA comes over and gives a brief speech of thanks and explains that CARMA is an association to help other charities. It was not a charity on its own but I can barely pay attention.

Ethan looks tense beside me and I can't battle every question at once.

"Are you okay?" I whisper and he gives a stiff nod without looking at me. I realise he looks just the way he did when he had come to my room, begging to sleep next to me.

In pain.

Shutting away every question I wanted to ask, I cautiously put my hand on his fist under the table and his shoulders relax.

Slowly, his fist opens and he holds my hands in his.

I watch as Trevor's dad observes us and for the life of me.... I can't figure out if this act is trouble or not.