7. Niece

Valarie's Pov*

I sighted dreadfully the expensive chandelier lights blinding my eyes" I couldn't wait for the award ceremony to end" people kept staring at me as if I had a gigantic sign over my head " I couldn't tell if it was because I was in a wheelchair or the dress my mother had made me wear" it was over the top"

The gown was a deep shade of black made of silk with small diamond glitters that shimmered subtly under the golden lights" hugging my body tightly hinting the delicate high thigh slit on one side of my leg' that revealed my smooth legs and black high heels

My long jet black hair cascaded in soft waves over my shoulders' pinned on one side of my ear with a diamond jewelry clip" that made me look elegant and graceful

We were about to take a seat on a nearby table when a waitress approached us"

Hello Mr Blackrose" Mr Hunt has sent me to invite you and your lovely family to join him at his table he said with a smile

I'll be most glad said my father looking at mom who was more than happy to"

But daddy I protested looking at him" Valarie it would be rude to decline his invitation don't you think he said looking at me

You and mom can go I'll stay here you know I don't like crowds I said stubbornly as I knew they would drag me along with them"

I hated crowds" they made me feel out of place that's because I wasn't a people pleaser" I often spoke my mind which made people feel uncomfortable and intimidated"

Val " Winston is your father's best friend and businesses partner why can't you compromise' just this once said my mother looking at me

Mother.. I groaned dramatically shutting my eyes

I'll take that as a yes she said with a big smile on her face"

Please take us to his table said my father to the waitress"

I cursed under my breath as we approached his table" just as I had expected it was crowded" several wealthy people were already sitting there discussing business, politics, weather etc" Winston was a people person fond of socializing that's why he and my father were best friends they were practically the same" and not to mention his oldest son William was also my best friend but he moved to London seven years ago and we eventually lost contact over the years

Walter my old friend it's been a long time greeted Winston with a smile as he stood up stretching his hand towards my father for a hand shake

I'm glad I could join you old friend said my father shaking his hand"

Oh pardon my rudeness" Mrs Blackrose how have you been he greeted kissing the back of my mother's hand" Winston good to see you too where's Katherine I don't see her around she asked her eyes roaming around the table

She couldn't make it" unfortunately she caught a fever but she'll be well soon" don't worry I'll send her your best wishes he said with a smile as he turned to me

Valarie'  long time not seen" he said bending over kissing my cheek" good to see you too uncle Winston I said with a polite smile

Josh if you would please' he said signaling for his personal assistant to remove the chair opposite the table" my father helped me position my wheelchair to the table as soon as he did

The evening went by slowly" I felt bored, everyone present at the table kept chatting about weather, business and other unteresting stuff ' it made me feel out of place" not because I was the only person who sat here under forthy yrs but because I knew I didn't belong in crowded places like this

Feeling bored I grabbed a cocktail from a waitress passing by and gulped it in one go" I made a funny face as the alcohol burned it away down my throat"

Valarie Blackrose behave yourself this is your fourth drink this evening and the award ceremony hadn't even started do you want to get drunk she scolded in a hush voice" but clearly it wasn't hush enough as Winston heard her

Mrs Blackrose leave her be I'm sure she must be getting bored with our weather talks' I have an idea why don't I call my niece to show her around the place he'll bring her back in time for the award ceremony he said looking at my father

Winston I don't think that will be necessary he said hesitantly"

Oh come on Walter"  Scott is a gentleman he'll take good care of your daughter trust me he's well behaved he said patting the back of his shoulder" I sighted as my father agreed

Uncle Winston" I called about to protest but he brushed me off like I was wind and I knew he had done it on purpose" that's because he was a cunning man" but this was on another level he clearly could see that I didn't want to go with his niece" what if he's a stalker, a creep or something  worse like a serial killer" I don't trust people especially the ones I don't know

Don't worry Violet'  Scott is a gentleman my sister raised him well he said with a smile" Josh please call Scott for me he said sending him away"

I sighted dreadfully" what had I gotten myself into I shouldn't have agreed to come here" it was a mistake and now I was paying the price for it" I wanted to roll my wheelchair and leave but that would be seen as being impolite not that I cared what people think about me but if I left it would also mean getting an earful from my mother later ”

Two minutes later Josh came back with a man behind him" our eyes locked as he stepped aside" I unconsciously stared taking every detail of him" he was tall with blue eyes and messy short blonde hair

Valarie this is Scott Foster' my one and only niece introduced Winston with a smile but I did not hear a word that came out of his mouth as I busy rudely staring

Scott this is Valarie Blackrose she's my friend Walter's daughter he introduced looking at him

We finally meet he said' taking my hand to his lips' and kissing it gently, I felt strange as he did not the good kind of strange

I felt my breath catch for a heartbeat as our eyes locked' mine cold his unyielding as he let go

Have we met before' I managed to ask my voice steady as we maintained a cold stare that caused me to become self-conscious" it would have continued if uncle Winston's voice hadn't interrupted' breaking the tension

Scott I was wondering if you could show Valarie around the hotel we are boring her with our weather talks' he said with a dry chuckle

Uncle Winston that is very kind of you but I don't think that would be necessary" I'm sure he's quite busy I said looking at him coldly as I forced a smile that barely reached my lips" I don't know why but there was something about him that made me not like him, maybe it was my gut feeling telling me he had hidden intentions

I am nothing but free" trust me I'll be more than happy to show her around" he said with a smirk and I could tell he was getting the hint that I didn't want to go with him so why the heck was he being pushy" I glared at him coldly but he did not waiver instead he decided to shock me

Miss Violet shall we he said with a smile looking at my parents and his uncle" I smiled faintly pushing my wheelchair out of the table" he wanted to assist but I coldly pushed passed him