Her Forever

Chapter 4 : A Million Fancy Things

Just what you'd expect from a high class event, the charity auction that Ronda Kristin Walsh had planned was straight out of a movie. Completely picturesque in every corner and fancy from top to bottom. Every guest that came in was left surprised. From the decor, to the live band playing it all seemed like a royal ball. The floors were all white marble with veins in gold, the pillars were the same but with golden streaks on all the edges, the curtains were silk in a beautiful copper colour that complimented the veined marble and the soft jazzy music was being played by the orchestra. There were well placed speakers all over the place such that the music was evenly distributed all over the hall, but no one could really tell where it was coming from. The subtle colours along with the soft glowing lights and a sultry smell in the air sent everyone into a daze.
The new Mrs. Walsh had left no stones unturned in planning this evening. This was a very important night for her. She had to make sure everything was perfect.
The guests started flooding in and every person that stepped through the doors was left in awe. Who would've expected a charity auction to be represented in this manner? Just what you'd expect from the Walsh family. 
While everyone was in awe of the beauty of the event, and how well done it was, there was one person who was simply disenchanted by the event, there was one person who overlooked it all and was sulking.
Soon, the auction was about to commence and it was time for the VIPs and hosts to take over the event, and Quentin still hadn’t found Alicia. 
Quentin was troubled that this event was going to be yet another opportunity for his stepmother to take over as a beneficiary of the Walsh family’s heritage and add to her reputation. He feared people accepting her as much as he feared her taking over.
Quentin pulled out his impeccably crisp navy Armani suit. He had on an ascot tie under a white shirt and oxblood shoes to compliment the look. To finish off his look he put on his favourite rolex.
Quentin was on a balcony trying not to get noticed by the money and marriage hungry vultures who always tried to get their talons into him. 
Taking a deep breath, and giving the place one more look, Quentin concluded that Alicia did, indeed, not attend the event. He was really hoping to impress her with the size of the auction, the grandeur of his family name. 
Why he was trying to impress Alicia with the same things that he didn’t like others approaching him for, things that usually annoyed him about the rest of the world, was beyond him.
He decided to stop waiting for Alicia, because it was already too late. He put on his best act and went down to start playing the host of the event.
When Quentin reached at the bottom of the stairs, he was reminded of exactly why he hated events like these. It felt like he was the thing up for auction, and not the art pieces on the stage. He put on his best act and greeted his business associates and stakeholders present.
Slowly but surely, they all kept blurring into one another. That is, until his eyes landed on Nelson Cowan. He wanted to go shake the man and ask him about Alicia, and why she was not present at the event. Then he realised that his annoyance must have shown on his face because the person who was trying to sell his “new mind blowing discovery”, for which he needed a small loan, was backing away slowly. He excused himself, turned around and left to get himself some much needed bourbon. The evening was already disappointing. And just when he thought things couldn’t get much worse he spotted his Stepmother directing a team of people onto the stage with huge pieces of her art. There were seven well dressed people holding seven paintings. They took the black silk clothes covering the paintings off and all the bidders in the room crowded the near front of the stage. You could already hear the bidders claiming their possessions and ending up in scuffles with each other. And the auctioning hadn’t even started yet. Seeing this the auctioneer sprinted towards the stage with his half filled champagne glass spilling everywhere.
After getting himself an inch of W.L. Weller, he decided it was time to get the auction going. The faster this ended, the better. There was no need to keep anyone waiting anymore. He gave a sign to the auctioneer, who then spoke into the microphone requesting everyone to be seated at their designated seats.
Quentin had personally seen to the seating arrangement. That was one thing he preferred being in control of, so Alicia Marie Cowan was to be seated next to him, instead of Nathaniel Langston whom he already hated. Both her father and Nathaniel were to be seated in seats with blind spots such that they could see neither Alicia nor Quentin. What had to become a convenient setting, became a pain for Quentin . No question, he still disliked the man’s familiarity with Alicia.
Unlike what Quentin thought, Alicia did indeed come to the event. She was just a bit intimidated by the type of crowd that was there. They were all a bit too high class and snobby looking for her to feel comfortable around them.
As it is, she felt uncomfortable being the only 20 year old in her high school. She did not need to feel out of place in her time outside too.
She would have preferred not coming today, but unfortunately her father told her that this was a big event, and her taking part in it was important to him. So she was here to support her father. Well, Support her father was an odd word to use for something like, “Yeah you go in, I’ll find a place to make myself comfortable outside the hall and I will come back in when everyone is supposed to be seated.” It wouldn’t ease her anxiety, but at least she didn’t have to talk to anyone this way.
So she had made herself comfortable in her father’s car when she received his text to come in and be seated. She quickly got out of the car, locked it, double checked the doors and ran inside.
She was correct. This place was just too bougie for her tastes. She would bet that they would serve nothing more than a spoonful of food.
She searched and found her seat to not be next to her father, but with Quentin Walsh.
"This place just keeps freaking me out huh." She thought to herself.
After debating a while whether to go take that seat or go back to the car she convinced herself that everything was going to be fine. If Walsh wanted to come at her for taking care of his dog, he would have done so already.
Taking a few deep breaths, she decided that the only way to not fear Quentin Walsh was to know him better. She decided to talk to him once he took his seat. But the auction started and Quentin was a no show.
This was because, seeing how well the event was going, Quentin remained sitting at the bar and asked the bartender for a refill. What was the point of going to his seat in the middle of the crowded nuisance if there was nothing to make him feel like being there?
He propped his head against his hand and leaned to the side while staring at his phone trying to text any friend about his frustration. He heard the sound of expensive heels approaching him and he knew just who it was. He refused to turn around and engage Ronda, but she swiftly moved towards his side and occupied one of the two seats next to him. Quentin was least interested in what Ronda had to say so he remained in his beat down position but then heard the girl sitting right next to him introduce herself.
“Hello, Mr. Walsh. My name is Bianca Pittsworth, I’m a friend of your mother’s.” said a gorgeous young lady. Quentin looked up and for a few seconds couldn’t stop looking at her because she was indeed a very attractive woman. In his mind he started comparing her to Alicia. And he concluded that Alicia was definitely the prettier one. And absolutely not tainted by Ronda’s knowledge and presence in her life. 
Ronda realised the look of interest in Quentin’s eyes for Bianca, and quickly tried to seal the deal.
“Bianca is the sole heir to the Pittsworth mine-owning family.”
“I will leave the two of you to chat.” Ronda said, giving a bit of alone time to the couple of her making. She trusted Bianca to ensure that Quentin was hooked to her.

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