CHAPTER 90
One Step Forward…
Elena
It's crazy how I can make hard decisions within the snap of a finger or less than a second but when it comes to putting together a look, my brain just goes on holiday.
That explains why I've been standing in front of my mirror for the past twenty minutes, agonizing over a blue gown with gold highlights or a black dress that flowed around my ankles.
For the past few months, Cornell kept to his word and kept trying to warm his way into my good graces.
And I kept to mine by allowing him to do what he wanted. At first, it was uncomfortable and annoying, but over time he wore me down, and I've come to accept that for some reason I can't phantom, Cornell seems to care about me.
Against my better wishes, I've also begun to care for him, which is why I'm doing this ridiculous thing of getting ready so that I can accompany him as his plus one to a business gala.
In a bid to get me to spend more time with him, Cornell suggested that I become his plus one to events and I agreed.
He was quite charming when he wanted to be, especially when he showed up on my doorstep with flowers and gifts that I was unable to refuse.
My eyes strayed to the clock, realizing that I had less than thirty minutes before he showed up so I went with the first dress I liked…
The black dress.
I kept my accessory simple and I was already waiting by the door when the doorbell rang.
As expected, Cornell was waiting on the other end with a wide smile and a fresh bouquet.
"You look stunning," he muttered, coming close to kiss my cheek before handing the bouquet to me. "Shall we?"
I took his hand, and together we got into the car, arriving at the gala a few minutes later.
We had barely shown up for a minute when several guests started to flock around Cornell, asking questions and trying to get to talk to him.
I gently extricated myself, moving over to the bar to grab a drink while I gave him space to work.
Another reason I loved being around him was that Cornell had this aura that seemed to suck away your problems whenever you were around him.
Being with him helped me get over Damian's betrayal despite the fact that I have to see Sophia around some events with her stomach getting bigger as time flies by.
Somehow, despite all this, Cornell would give me the strength that I needed to carry on.
Sometimes, it amazes me that four months have gone by so quickly.
"Here you go, ma'am. The strawberry martini that you asked for…" The kind bartender hands over my drink and I take a sip, allowing the flavor to roll down my tongue.
Leaning against the counter with my drink in my hand, I surveyed the room noticing Cornell engaged in conversation with an older man.
Just then he looked up and smiled at me in such a way that made my stomach flutter, and before I could wink back at him, someone blocked my view.
I raised annoyed eyes up to whoever it was only for my gaze to connect with none other than Victoria.
"Fancy seeing you here." She said with a smile as fake as her lips.
"I would say the same but I'm not really in the mood to lie," I say, returning the same fake smile.
However, hers melted off her face upon hearing my words and she took one step closer, crowding me in my space. "I know you like to think that you're better than everyone but you're not. You're worse, jumping from one man to the other."
I was about to take another sip from my drink but I pulled it away to look at her. "Excuse me?"
She puffed out her chest. "You heard me… one minute you're playing with my brother's heart and then you move from Damien to another man."
I felt so angry and was about to retort when Cornell smoothly cut in, sliding his arm around my waist in a show of possession. "Victoria, please, this is not the time nor the place."
"Bu-but how can you defend her? Do you even-"
"Victoria!" He cuts her off harshly, his tone brooking no disobedience. "If I were you, I would let this go and walk out of here before you see something that you'll regret."
Her eyes bounced between us in that manner that feels like she had more to say but instead, she swallowed them back and angrily walked away.
I felt my shoulders relax when she left, but Cornell wasn't satisfied with that, so he gently steered me out of the hall and back to the car, where he flattened my back against the passenger's door.
"I'm really sorry about that-" he started to apologize but I shook my head.
"Cornell, it's not your fault-"
"No, please hear me out." He tenderly brushes a hand down my cheek. "I brought you here to have fun, not to be spoken so badly to, and for that, I apologize if you feel disrespected in any way."
My heart melted. "Okay, apology accepted."
"Great, since we're still talking…" he sucks in a deep breath. "My Mom wants to organize a little family dinner since it's been a while since we've all come together, and I would love for you to come. That is if you want to, of course…"
I smiled, my heart feeling warm and fuzzy with his request. "It would be my pleasure."