Past meets present: The encounter

6

In front of a mirror I stood. It's silvery surface casting a firm reflection of my image and indeed I couldn't help but admire my looks in the mirror.

When I had ordered Miranda to get a dress I didn't expect it would look this divine.

It accentuated with the jewelry piece placed on my neck.

With my gaze still on my reflection, a gasp could be heard behind me making me turn.

"Oh my word! Mummy you look amazing" squealed Sophie, her eyes popping out of her sockets on staring at me.

"Ma'am your sched..." Miranda who had just entered into the room stood looking dumbfounded. The words she had wanted to utter seemed to be stuck in her throat.

"Ma'am, you look breathtaking" complimented Miranda.

The make-up artist by the side couldn't help but feel herself with all the compliments directed at me.

"Thank you" I said slowly getting off the stool.

For tonight's event, I was dressed in a sapphire material with a beautifully done embroidery at the edges.

"I'm sure that once you step in, no one would dare to take their eyes off you.

You're gonna be a hot cake at the event"

Said Miranda for a burst of laughter to fill the place but the only person that didn't take the joke well was my little girl Sophie.

Infuriated by Miranda's words, she stomped her feet on the ground, her mouth pouted and her fingers clenched.

"I'll pluck their eyes out if they stare too much.

No one has the right to look at my Mumm in admiration but me.

Only me!" She said angrily.

A sigh left my lips on hearing Sophie's words.

A hint of confusion rose up to Miranda's face.

"You got me wrong dear. It's a good thing" Miranda tried to explain but her words were blocked out by Sophie's.

"I don't want to hear it. My mummy belongs only to me.

Pluck their eyes out if they stare at you"

Miranda might be confused about Sophie's sudden change in attitude but for me, it was quite understandable.

It was Sophie's obsessive side showcasing itself once again.

The need to have me all to herself.

Most times when I felt that one day she would need a father to be in her life like any other children should have, she always seemed to dispel that thought away from my mind.

She would throw tantrums and give glaring looks at any who seemed to want to get close to me.

But as creepy as that was, it amused me.

I really didn't mind because I wasn't willing to be shared either.

My love was for her, and her alone.

"I'll pluck their eyes out if they stare too much" 

A wink from me accompanied with my words made Sophie grumpy look to be casted away in an instant.

"Can't I come with you mummy?" She asked, her looks pleading.

"I wish you could but you'll have to stay here with aunt Miranda.

I promise,once my business over there is over, I'll return and tomorrow, we'll go check out the new apartment for us" I said making a smile to brush her lips.

With her face lightning up like a candle, I once more took her into my arms before Bruno walked in.

"Ma'am, it's time we leave " he said for me to nod.

Straightening myself, I bid them goodbye before I walked out the door with Bruno.

Waving a goodbye, the engines of the car came alive before it zoomed off leaving trails of it's tyre marks.

In about An hour, we reached the venue for the event.

I haven't even stepped out of the car but the lights to the entire place was blinding.

The decorations hung loosely around were magnificent, enough to catch the attention of everyone.

The people were dressed in exquisite as wears. Men and women alike.

Of course, everyone wanted to make an impression.

I had just stepped out, walking inside only for my eyes to be entertained with the internal grand decor.

With my legs marching forward to the play of the soft music, a call of my name was heard and turning, j found Mrs Laura slightly waving her half filled glass of urban wine.

"I see you came" a smile tugged lightly on her lips as she offered me a glass of wine.

"I couldn't miss it for the world" 

"Miss Irene, I must say you look absolutely stunning" Mr Rogers said walking towards us.

His eyes lustfully stared at my body.

"Thank you"

"And that remarkable jewelry around your neck.

Is that one of your pieces?" Asked Mrs Laura who admired the jewelry.

"Yes" I answered.

"Impressive. Now that you're here, I wish you luck in getting your deal signed.

But before that, may I show you around?" He asked politely giving me no option to refuse. 

With him taking his hand in mine, we walked away from Mrs Laura heading further inside.

Mr Roger wasted no time in trying to steal Clarissa's attention by listing out his numerously achievements and our far he had come.

The event was now in full swing about half an hour later.

They were just at the balcony when the sound of the microphone was heard from the inside.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please gather round" said the host.

"Today we are gathered here to celebrate a very big achievement. We are gathered here to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the C& D's empire" to this, the applaud coming from the guests present resonated through out the room.

"We would like to show our appreciation to everyone that made it today but who better than me could do that...."

The hosts continued.

"I think they're about to start" said Mr Rogers and indeed they were.

The people around left their spots heading inside upon hearing the hosts speech.

MEANWHILE

With the party already up about half an hour ago, a black Mercedes Benz pulled in.

With the door opened, Damon and Lucian stepped out heading into the venue hall.

"Right this way sir" said the gentleman leading them in.

Damon's eyes lit up the moment he was out of the car, a smile tugging at his lips.

He hadn't forgotten what he had. Set out to do.

"Mr Lucian, it's so nice to have you here" said Mr Davis with a smile to his lips.

From where they stood, the sound of the host speech was heard.

"I see you brought your son" he said darting his eyes over to Damon who wasn't in the list concerned about their conversation.

Instead, Damon's mind was on how to escape from his father's side but just when he was wracking his brain about that, he saw to women close by staring at him in an awkward manner.

"Isn't that Lucian's son? The one said to be crazy?" Said the first.

"Oh my... Yes it's him. What's he doing here?" Said the second.

"Poor boy, at his age his already having mental issues"

The words of the ladies although they tried to whisper to themselves caught Damon's ears.

His eyes were red with anger and his mental resolve seemed to have cracked.

Stepping forward, he yelled out loud.

"I'm not crazy!

I'm not crazy!" He shouted even going as far as pushing one of the ladies to the ground.

This scene caused a huge gasps to leave their lips and for Lucian's attention to be pulled to them.

He had been busy talking to Mr Davis when he saw his son acting out. 

"Damon!" He yelled, eyes glaring daggers at his son.

"I'm not crazy!" Damon shouted before running out of there.

Lucian had intended to follow when suddenly Mr Davis voice sounded.

"You are about to be announced in" he said.

Averting his gaze to Garry, he ordered.

"Deal with him" these words he uttered before stepping in and almost immediately, squeals of excitement were heard along with a loud applaud.

Damon ran away with tears rolling down his little cheeks. The words of those women hitting him hard. 

He wasn't looking at where he was going to when he suddenly bumped into a figure.

His sobs coming out louder than before as he fell to the ground.

Now not only did his heart hurt but his head was hurt too.

Standing, he ran going to hide himself in an excluded area, crying himself to stupor when suddenly he heard...

"Hey, did you hurt yourself?" A sweet voice sounded in his eyes but he couldn't help the continuous chants that left his lips.

"I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy" tears spilled patting the floor on which he sat.

"Of course not. You aren't crazy.

How can a sweet boy like yourself be called crazy" she said. Her angelic voice pulled him to raise his head but the moment he stared at her, they was a hint of shock in her eyes but it quickly got dispelled.

His fingers went to dig themselves into his palm as he reclined away from her.

"Don't be scared. I won't bite you. Can you tell me why you are crying?" She asked him taking him back to the memories again.

Tears stung even more in his eyes, his sobs now louder than ever and his fingers that clawed itself into his skin caused the sight of blood to be seen.

The woman seeing this grew worried and said.

"You're hurting yourself.

Hey now, let's try counting to ten. That always helped me whenever I was stressed" she said with a smile as she knelt before him.

Not before long,  the count down began.

"One...

Two...

Three..." She said and not before long, Damon joined her in reciting the digit.

Close to the end, Damon felt at ease. His fingers released his skin and the tears he spilled suddenly stopped.

"Ten" they finished. 

It worked?!

A surprised look casted it's way to Damon's face as he watched the woman before him.

The only person that was able to ever keep him calm was his daddy but here this strange woman was able to compel him to stay calm.

Her smile was bright and sweet making him want to smile in turn.

And there he had it.

His mission returned and he found just the perfect person, HER!

***

Seeing the little boy smile, I was relieved.

But when he had earlier turned his face to me, I was struck dumb for a moment because the boy in front of me, as little as he was, he bore a resemble to Lucian.

His crystal blue eyes which had unshed tears in them reminded me of him.

Quickly, I shook my head dispelling the thoughts away.

I shouldn't be thinking of him now.

Picking up the boy, I dusted his clothes and cleaned his wound.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Damon" he replied wiping his tear streaked cheeks.

"That's a nice name" I said to see his lips widen into a smile.

He was cute and adorable in his black suite.

"Where's your parents?" I asked when suddenly, sounds of footsteps resonated from behind me.

"Stay away from my child" a bold deep voice sounded from behind me startling me up.

The child before me also seemed terrified as he clung on to me like his life depended on it.

That voice seemed all to familiar to me and on turning to it's source, I found.... 

"LUCIAN"

My breath caught in my throat, eyes going wide in shock and instinctively, my legs stepped back.

How?

It couldn't be.

"Clarissa?" There was a hint of shock in his voice too as just like me I hadn't expected to see him.

Lucian was dressed in a sharp black suite.

After all this years, he didn't seem to change much.

His nonchalant attitude persevered yet his powerful presence permeated the entire place, creating a suffocating tension.

I stared at him stunned at the face that had hunted me all this years.

His features were a lot Sharper than I remembered 

"You found him" Mr Davis voice boomed from behind him as a was relieved to see Damon.

His eyes darted towards me and his smile broadened. 

"Oh my Miss Irene, you're here.

Mr Lucian let me introduce you to Miss Irene, the face behind AW enterprises" he said.

"Irene..." Said Lucian letting the name slip from his lips.

His gaze that was filled with shock quickly washed away and when I stared at him all I could see was a red sign.

Danger.

I need to run.

Quickly, without wasting time I muttered before leaving.

"I need to use the restroom" 

I said walking out in a storm. I felt my heart slamming into my chest and my body fidgeting tremendously.

I was going to the restroom.

I was heading for the exit.

Footsteps were heard behind me and looking back I saw some men to be following me as they shouted.

"Get her"

My steps increased. I ran bolting out of the door and towards the exits.

As though my legs had a mind of their own, it ran going into the streets.

My hands went out stopping a cab and getting into it, I ordered the driver to drive.

Igniting it's engine, it zoomed off immediately.

A sigh of relief Washing over me as I had lost them.

The drive back home wasn't long probably because I was lost in my own thoughts the whole time.

When we finally arrived, I payed the driver off as I retreated into the hotel room that had been booked for us.

From the door that was slightly left ajar, I could see the illuminating light from the light bulb.

Furrowing my brows, I walked in and behold, I was shocked.

Because in front of me, was Lucian.

Her eyes met his dark and predatory gaze.

"What... What are you doing here?" 

I stammered.

Fear gripped me.

He wasn't supposed to be here. 

How did he find me?

"Seriously? Five years away from me and all you ask is what am I doing here?" He asked, a chuckle leaving his lips.

My legs stepped back.

One step

Two step

But he always closed them till my back hit the wall and his grip came around my arms like a viper.

"Ah!"

The pressure was excruciating threatening to break her bones.

"Please..." 

"Clarissa" he sounded, his lips brushed against my ear and his eyes filled with a possessive delight.

"Do you think you can run away from me forever? And more so with my child?" He asked with a blazing anger in his eyes.

One that terrified me to the bones.

"Where is my child?" He asked making tears to fill my eyes.

If he was asking, it meant he hasn't seen Sophie yet.

I had to get him out of here.

I couldn't let him take Sophie from me.

I couldn't let him see her.

But just as I thought of this, coming from the room was a sweet voice that filled the air.

"Mummy?"