A LIFETIME TOGETHER

She gasped when he grabbed her waist from behind, and then started to relax when she caught his familar scent.

"I thought you were tied up with work and couldn't make it for my ballet," Shirley said, turning from the window to face him. Her lips was curved to form a pout. A cute pout.

Charles smiled lightly, and then reached out to touch Shirley's face. His fingertips carassed her cheek and she heaved in a deep breath as her chocolate brown eyes stared into his hazel ones.

"I was only pulling your legs babe. There is just no way I would miss your ballet," he said and leaned his face forward, capturing her lips in a light kiss.

"Well, I am so happy, you are here," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. He smiled and rubbed his forehead against hers.

"I have something for you by the way," Charles said and pulled away from her. He walked towards the door of the VIP suite and opened the door. He bent down slightly to pick something from the floor, only taking a step outside, and then he stepped into the room again carrying a wrapped package and a bouquet of flowers.

A smile lit up Shirley's face as he approached with the bouquet of flowers and wrapped package in his hands.

"These are for you my love," he said, giving her both the bouquet of flowers and the wrapped package.

"You spoil me too much," she said accepting it. She sniffed the flowers, and then placed it on her bed. Next she started to unwrap the wrapped package. She gasped after unwrapping it, and then rushed to embrace him.

"You got me a box of my favorite chocolate!" she said in a voice that shook slightly. Charles knew that she was already emotional.

"Come on, don't ruin your make up by going all emotional on me. It is just chocolate," he said, reaching out to touch her face again.

She shook her head at him. "It is not just chocolate. I am pretty sure that it is already all sold out, which means you went all the way to their headquarters in the country across to get them to make it for me. No one has ever made such an effort to get me something... but you did..." her voice trailed off as the tears finally poured down her eyes.

He sighed softly and reached out to wipe the tears off her face with his palm.

"I would do anything for you love, you know that," he said as his hand trailed downwards to her lower lip to brush it lightly.

"I do now," she said and kissed him.

A sudden knock on the door made the passionate couple pull apart from each other.

Emily, Shirley's assistant, stepped in, in the next second.

 "They want you to come downstairs now. The opening act just went to the stage. You are next," Emily said and Shirley gave her a light nod.

"I will be umm, right outside," Emily said and made her way outside. Shirley returned her gaze to the smiling Charles.

"You will do great. You are the nation's fairy after all," he said and she smiled.

"Come on, let's go," he said, offering her his hand. She took it and they started to make their way out of the suite.

As soon as they stepped out of the suite and started to make their way down the spacious passageway leading to the elevator, Emily trailed behind them, followed by three of Shirley's bodyguards.

Backstage, Shirley turned to Emily. "My father..." she didn't complete her statement. She didn't have to.

Emily shook her head in negation and Shirley drew a sharp breath.

"We are ready for you now," one of the organizers of the show said, approaching Shirley.

"Okay," Shirley said and followed her.

*****

Maxwell had just stepped into his private villa. After a long day, he was damn exhausted. Heaving his body onto the sofa, he reached for the remote control of his television and switched it on.

The performance of the one and only Nation's Fairy, Shirley Blakes, greeted his eyes.

Dressed in a classical ballet costume, which consisted of a pink and gold wide ribbon, trim pink tutu skirt made of several layers of tulle and net on heelless slippers tied up with ribbons, Shirley moved with so much grace. Swirling and twisting easily. Max just couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

Her chocolate brown hair was held up in a messy bun. She was wearing a peach lipstick, which for some reason made Maxwell salivate.

She gave a bow after ending her performance, flashing that enchanting smile of hers. Maxwell heaved in a deep breath and just then, his phone rang in his trousers pocket.

****

"Shirley Blakes, your father was not here today, how do you feel about that?"

"Shirley Blakes, can you say something about your relationship with your boyfriend Charles Conat?"

"Shirley Blakes, you seem to have lost weight, are you going through anything? Depression maybe?" 

Shirley, led by Charles, her bodyguards and Emily, made her way into the SUV parked right outside the elaborate building she had just performed at.

"Damn these paparazzi and their stupid endless questions!" she muttered under her breath as she let her head rest on the headrest of her chair.

Charles, who was sitting beside her, reached out to take her hand, and then he pulled her to rest her head on his chest.

"You have umm an email from JK Cosmetics. They need to know when you would be available for the photoshoot," Emily, who was sitting right behind Shirley said as she went through a laptop on her lap.

"Just schedule it for next weekend... I have nothing planned tomorrow, right?" Shirley ended with a question.

"Umm actually not really, but the company's function is tomorrow, remember?" Emily said. 

"That's right, I almost forgot. You picked up the dress?" Shirley asked.

"Yes Shirley... Everything is ready," Emily replied.

"Okay, that's great," Shirley said as her hands flew to massage her temples but Charles beat her to it.

"Thanks," she said, looking up at him.

"Just rest your eyes for a while. I will wake you up once we arrive," he said and she nodded, shutting her eyes.