Chapter 2 : At the Rich Met Gala

They all lined up in uniform as Mr. Mandragon stood ahead of them in a white fashionable suit. In his hands, he held a bouquet of red roses. The door swung open, revealing Mrs. Thersa as she walked out. She was adorned in a silver gown that shimmered..

As she walked down the stairs her gown shimmered around her which complemented her slender figure...Her hair was sleekly styled with a few stray strands softly framing her exhausted face.....Though she walked with grace there was a faint tremble in her steps....Her hands clutched the fabric of her gown briefly before she steadied herself....she forced a small smile as she moved forward.…

"My Shalya…" Mr. Mandragon said and looked back with pride before stepping forward to take his wife’s hands.

The maids and guards all lowered their heads in unison.

"I married you for one reason… one reason, Thersa," he said, pulling her into a heated hug. His arms wrapped around her with force, yet there was a strange passion in his touch. "You're pretty, Thersa… so pretty," he whispered

He pulled away with a smile and took the bouquet he had given to one of the maids earlier, his eyes lingering on the beauty of his wife.

"Here… my queen, red roses for you," he said as he extended the bouquet toward her with admiration.

He gestured shakily in the air. "What are we waiting for? Let’s go and bless the event," he said and took her hand beside him.

She swallowed hard and followed him wih a careful steps her heart pounding in her chest.

The guards moved in perfect sync, following closely as they made their way to the car.

Mr. Mandragon guided Thersa with a firm yet gentle grip, his other hand resting on the small of her back.

As they reached the already packed sleek black limousine, Mr. Mandragon opened the door and assisted Theresa inside. His hand lingered on hers for a moment as he studied her pale face. Without a word, he joined her, settling in beside her as the driver shut the door.

The guards took their positions in the escort vehicles, and with a smooth, steady motion, the limousine pulled away..

…..

In side the Rich Met Gala event

The grand hall buzzed with excitement as guests arrived in elegant attire, their laughter and chatter filled the air. Bright camera lights captured every moment as photographers scrambled to get the best shots of high-profile attendees.

Men in tailored suits and women draped in dazzling gowns exchanged pleasantries, sipping on fine champagne as waiters moved through the crowd with silver trays.

The media stood at the entrance as they tried to capture the arrival.

The red carpet stretched across the entrance, lined with reporters holding microphones as they waited impatiently to get a word from the elite figures walking in.

The security stood tall, ensuring everything remained in order, while a soft melody from a live orchestra played in the background.

"Mr. Mandragon and Mrs. Mandragon!" the announcer's voice echoed from the main entrance.

The moment his name was called, reporters sprang into action, rushing to position themselves near the spot where his car would stop. They gripped their microphones tightly, their eyes sparkled with excitemnt, ready to capture the first words and images of the powerful couple.

Security moved swiftly as they ensured the crowd didn’t get too close while guiding the journalists to their designated areas.  

A flurry of lights continued as photographers adjusted their lenses eager to snap the perfect shot...

Their limousine came to a smooth stop at the red carpet, the soft hum of the engine faded into the excited murmurs of the awaiting crowd.

 Camera's flickered like stars in the night as reporters pressed forward ready to capture their grand arrival

Inside the car, Mr. Mondragon leaned back against the leather seat, exhaling slowly as if all the urgency from before had suddenly melted away as his sharp eyes studied the scene through the tinted window...

Outside, his guards swiftly stepped out from the escort vehicle. Two of them immediately advanced toward the limousine...They stood ready, waiting for him to make the first move.

Mr. Mondragon placed his hand on his wife’s lap and leaned in close....his breath warm against her face.

“Don’t be stupid this evening, and remember....we aren’t pregnant,” he murmured as his lips curled into a smirk.

His hand moved to her belly, his fingers grazing it gently. “My baby,” he said…gazing at her while her eyes welled up on the verge of tears.

“Ready, my love?” he asked.

Mrs. Mondragon shook her head rapidly with her hands clenching in her lap.

He exhaled slowly as he closed his eyes briefly before pulling away. Then, with a sharp knock on the roof, both doors swung open at once.

The reporters murmured among themselves, each trying to get their questions heard over the noise.

"Mr. Mondragon, is it true your company is closing a billion-dollar deal?" one asked as he shoved his mic forward.

"Mrs. Mondragon, you look stunning tonight! Any plans to step into the fashion industry?" another chimed in.

"Rumors say there's tension in your marriage. Care to comment?" a bold voice called out.....earning sharp glances from the security team.

Mr. Mondragon halted for a brief second then smirked. "Tension, you say?" He chuckled before adjusting his cufflinks. "The only tension in my marriage is deciding which gift to spoil my wife next….

The crownds erupted in a laughter, and before the reporters could press further, his guards stepped in to ensure no one else got too close....

"Sir, any truth to the whispers about a major acquisition?"

Other questions where thrown his way but he ignored them as he led his wife forward ignoring the choas around them....

The grand doors opened and Mr. and Mrs. Mondragon stepped inside.

 Conversations in the hall quieted for a moment as eyes turned to them.

Mr. Mondragon placed a hand on his wife’s back....guiding her forward...

Their guards followed closely behind. A waiter approached with a tray of champagne, but he ignored it.

"Mr. Mondragon, welcome," the host greeted with a slight bow.

He gave a nod and walked ahead, leading his wife toward the VIP section.…

As they reached their designated table, a welldressed businessman raised his glass. "Ah, Mr. Mondragon! Always a pleasure to see a man of power and success."

Mr. Mondragon smirked and nodded in acknowledgment. "The pleasure is mine." He placed a hand on Thersa’s back. "And of course, my lovely wife."

"Oh...how can i forget the cherry on the cake"..the man added with a laugh...

The men tunred their gaze to her offering her a polite smiles and nods and she forced a smile as she felt a bit out of place….

The men clinked their glasses together as their conversation shifted smoothly from pleasantries to power moves.

“I closed that deal last week...triple the projected profit,” one of the men boasted as he swirled his wine. “Turns out, having the right connections makes all the difference.”

Another chuckled. “Connections? Try control. Influence is everything.” His gaze flicked toward Mr. Mondragon. “You, of all people, know that, don’t you?”

Mr. Mondragon leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Control isn’t given. It’s taken. And once you have it, you don’t let go.”

A round of nods and knowing glances followed. The conversation continued, each man trying to outdo the other with tales of wealth, strategy, and power plays.

Thersa sat still, hands neatly folded on her lap. She listened and did not judged.. 

Mr. Mondragon enjoying the attention as he leaned forward with a smirk. “Speaking of power… You all know, a man isn’t truly successful unless he has everything under his control...including his home.”

Some of the men chuckled knowingly, raising their glasses.

One of them nodded. “A wise man once said, ‘A woman must know her place for a man to thrive.’”

Mr. Mondragon took a sip of his drink before placing the glass down. “Exactly. And I made sure mine does.” He turned slightly, placing a firm hand on Thersa’s back. “Isn’t that right, my love?”

"Right"...Theresa said as she felt the weight of their eyes on her..

Just as Thersa steadied her eomtions...a soft yet sharp voice cut through the air....

"Oh...Mr Mondragon...you always know how to keep things in order''

Thersa turned her head slightly as he eyes landed on a woman elegantly dressed in a deep red gown...The woman's lips corved into a knowing smile as she tiwrled the stem of her wine glass betwwen fer fingers...

“It’s refreshing to see a wife who knows when to be silent,” the woman continued, her gaze flickering toward Thersa. “Some of us could learn a thing or two.”

“Tell me, Mrs. Mondragon,” she continued “Do you ever get tired of just being an accessory? Or is that part of the charm?”

A few of the men chuckled, while others sipped their drinks, waiting for the reaction.

Thersa clenched her fists beneath the table, her nails digging into her palm.

Before she could respond, Mr. Mondragon leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “Careful, darling,” he said lazily, glancing at the woman in red. “An accessory she may be, but even the most delicate ornaments have sharp edges.”

The woman’s smile faltered for just a moment before she let out a low laugh. “Oh? I do hope so. After all, fragile things tend to break easily in this world.”

Thersa inhaled shrply as her jaw tightened...

The waitress passed by their table, balancing a tray of elegant crystal glasses filled with red wine. 

“I haven’t seen you drinking, Mrs. Mondragon,” the lady said as her voice dripped with false sweetness.

Thersa offered a tight smile. “Oh, I’m okay.”

The woman’s smirk widened. “Are you trying to tell us something?”

Before Thersa could respond, a sharp clap echoed through the air.

“Waiter,” Mr. Mondragon called and The waitress turned back immediately and stepped forward tp them. Without hesitation, he plucked a glass from the tray and placed it in front of Thersa.

“Here,” he said, his eyes locked on hers.

Thersa hesitated. A tremor ran through her fingers as she stared at the glass, her lips slightly parted. Her husband’s gaze remained firm for a fleeting moment as her eyes pleaded with him....but he ignored it.

 she lifted the glass with both hands, tilting it back in one swift motion. The bitter liquid burned down her throat, and she turned her head slightly to the side....

The woman reached for another glass, her manicured fingers curling around the glass..

With a slow, deliberate motion, she placed it in front of Thersa.

“You’re thirsty,” she said with a knowing smile.

Thersa’s fingers twitched on her lap, but she said nothing.

The conversation around them carried on, the men engrossed in their talks of power, wealth, and business conquests. 

Thersa exhaled quietly and pushed back her chair. “Excuse me,” she said with a smooth but hollow voice.

No one said a word and she walked out from there...

Thersa rushed out her vision blurred by the tears that streamed down her face.  Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she hurried toward the washroom, but in her haste, she collided hard into someone…

A strong hands caught her shoulders holding her before she stumbles..

 The scent of expensive cologne dnaced in the air...

The man standing before her was tall..he was dressed in a seek black suit that that seemed tailored to perfection.. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he hadn't bothered too much with perfection.. A smooth smile played on his lips, but it was his eyes that truly held her attention...

Thersa’s breath hitched as she met his gaze, her face still damp with tears. His hand held hers a moment longer before she finally pulled away.

“I... I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely holding together.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and rushed away, her heart pounding.

The man's gaze followed Theresa as she walked away, his eyebrows knitting together in a thoughtful expression. A low, amused chuckle escaped his lips, and he whispered, "Interesting........ And just like that, he strode forward, following after her.