Dareen

22# Hello

Song: Hello- Lionel Richie.
Elliot
"Elliot, come on, everyone's waiting downstairs." Sir Adam said quickly.
"I'm ready." I smiled standing up.
"Let me see." He murmured fixing my tie. "Perfect."
"Thank you." I chuckled as we walked towards the elevators.
All I can think about at this moment is Dareen. Will she come?
I doubt it.
"Here," Sir Adam motioned for me to step out before him, and I did.
"Where's miss Gabrielle?" I asked him. Gabrielle is his wife.
"I sent someone to pick her up."
Looking at the main entrance, my eyes captured Dareen's eyes.
"Beautiful." The words fell from my mouth without even knowing it.
Breaking the eye contact, she turned her attention to that prick- Ansel.
Not taking my eyes off of them, I watched as he made her smile, blush then- he took her hand spinning her around making her giggle.
How could she let him do that?
"Shh-" Uncle held my arm stopping me from approaching them. "let it go."
Seconds later, she turned around, and they both started walking towards us.
"Hello, sir." She smiled shaking Uncle Adam's hand.
"I'm glad to see that you joined us. You look wonderful as always." He complimented.
"Hey Elliot." Ansel smirked.
"Hi." I nodded turning my attention to her.
"Hey, sir." She extended her arm for me to shake her hand.
Gritting my teeth, I eyed her hand for a moment before shaking it.
"Hi, ma'am." I nodded not able to hide my glare.
"Sir Adam, Miss Gabrielle is here." Patricia informed.
"Okay, just a second." He nodded at us before walking towards the main entrance to greet his wife.
"I see that you're making us miss you." I turned to Dareen.
"I doubt that." She smiled making me raise a brow.
"No no, we really miss your young soul in the company." Ansel jumped into the conversation.
"Elliot," A voice called from behind me. Turning around, I saw Sandra.
"I didn't know that you'd be here today." I grinned pulling her into a tight hug.
"I miss you, too." She teased pulling away as I saw Sir Adam and Aunt Gabrielle approaching us.
"Dareen, how are you?" She asked pulling her into a hug.
"Hello, miss Gabrielle." I smiled shaking her hand.
"Hey, son. I'm happy to see you." She smiled patting my back.
"Dareen, this is Gabrielle, my wife." Sit Adam pointed at her proudly. "And, this is Dareen." He introduced her.
"She's a fine lady just like you said." They shook hands.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"I love your dress. What do you think, Elliot?" Sandra winked at me making me want to kill her.
"It fits her." I commented shortly.
"Will you please join me in this dance?" Ansel turned to Dareen. Looking at me for a second to see my reaction, she nodded at him. "Sure."
"Excuse us." He smiled at us pulling her away.
"I think it'd be a good idea if both of you joined the dance floor. You know the trick." Sir Adam suggested.
"Will you?" I asked Sandra who agreed almost instantly.
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Dareen
Taking steps with the music, I watched Elliot out of the corner of my eyes enjoying every moment of him looking at me with regret.
This is the first lesson for you in case you're in a relationship: Don't push your girl too much because after she sustains too much, she'll turn your life living hell and make you regret every moment that passed while you're doing something that may hurt her.
Don't you ever test our ability to take revenge.
Holding Ansel's hand and placing my free one over his arm, we started moving freely round the dance floor. Letting me go, I started spinning around to fall in the first arms that are open for me just like it is supposed to be.
Holding me close, he whispered in my ear, "I got you."
Openning my eyes, I glared at him. It wasn't supposed to be him!
"Let me go." I said through my teeth.
"You don't want to make a scene, do you?" He raised a brow, and before I could reply, he spinned me around before making the telenmark move.
I have no choice but to do this.
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Elliot
I held her close to me and tried to enjoy every moment of this dance because I knew that after it ends, I wouldn't be able to hold her anymore. And the music ended.
Holding her face in my hand, I let our foreheads touch, but before my lips can touch mine, she pulled away.
"Don't dream of it." She shook her head.
"Let's talk, please." I begged.
"Tsk- we have nothing to talk about... sir." Giving me an intense glare, she turned around walking away from me.
"That was intense. Too bad, you didn't get to kiss her." Ansel commented from behind me.
"Too bad, you'll never even try it." I snapped.
"Who knows, man." He shrugged making my blood boil.
"Elliot, don't forget where we are." Sandra stepped in front of me. "Come with me."
"Listen, today is a big day. You don't want to ruin it for yourself. If there's a problem, you can just sort it out with her later." She warned.
"We broke up, Sandra." I closed my eyes taking a deep breath.
"Totally?" She gasped as I nodded.
"But I won't let that son of a bitch touch her. No one will have her except me."
"You sound possessive and obssessive. This won't solve anything." She shook her head.
"What will? I'm doing my best, but she's not even giving me a chance!" I yelled.
"Lower your voice. There are paps outside." She glared at me. "Wash your face, and come. We will talk about that later." She sighed as I nodded.
"Don't do anything stupid!" She warned one last time before stepping out of her office leaving me to sit alone for moments before walking to the bathroom to freshen up a bit.
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"I think we all feel like here is our second home, and I think of all of you as my kids whom I learn from them as much as I teach them." Uncle Adam paused looking at the audience who were clapping in awe. Smiling softly, he put on his glasses to read the speech written.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he started, "Today, we're celebrating the fortieth anniversary of this company.
Exactly forty years ago, on a stormy January morning, I signed the papers that made it official: I had founded a company. A company that, in many ways, was just an extension of my childhood passion for furniture designing. Many people predicted I would not last a year in this world, that I was too idealistic to cope with everyday business life, and that I would get things in a "virtual" mess in no time.

Fortunately, these people were wrong. But it was not me who proved them wrong; not me alone, anyway. Almost everyone standing in front of me today - without exceptions - came to work with this company at some point over the last forty years, and has stayed faithfully by my side ever since. Together, we have made Salient Company for Furniture a success. Together, we have made sure that we can gather here today and celebrate our nearly fourth milestone anniversary.

Forty years is both a long time and a very short time. Compared to a giant such as Salient, our company is still adolescent. On the other hand, forty years in a sector that is constantly and rapidly advancing is an achievement we can be proud of. It means we have managed to establish ourselves in this sector. We've claimed our rightful place here.

Forty years ago, I was a young man with only a dream that was simple enough: I wanted to show the people a new world in the field of furniture designs. I wasn't sure if it would work out, but I guess it did. Do you agree?" He smiled as they all cheered for him.
"Today, as you all know, I have an announcement." He continued, "Years are passing, and I'm not that young man anymore. As a young adult, I was able to move this company forward because I had the energy to do that, but now, I can't anymore." He sighed making me frown.
What does that mean?
Everyone started to look around asking the same question.
"I decided to give someone here, in this ballroom, my place. This person will be the manager of Salient Company for Furniture, but I'll always be here for you." He smiled as his eyes watered.
"This person is my nephew and my son, Elliot Evans." Everyone looked at me, and I stood there in shock.
He must be joking.
"Elliot, will you please join me?" He asked, and I stood there for a few moments trying to process what he just said.
"Elliot, go." Sandra giggled giving me a light tug.
Walking slowly, I stood by his side as he held my hand in his.
"Elliot has been working here since he was a kid, and I believe he made a change. I trust him, and I know that he won't stop there. I took a lot from your time, and I'm sorry. I just want to say, I will always love you, my second family." He ended his speech with a bow of his head as everyone clapped their hands with tears in their eyes.
Turning around, he pulled me in a fatherly hug. "Make me proud." He whispered.
"I will never let you down. Thank you." I smiled faintly before pulling away.
"The stage is yours." He smiled walking away to take his place between his wife and daughter.
Standing behind the microphone, I closed my eyes for a few moments before openning them again.
"I don't know what to say- okay, let's stop being dramatic for a second?" I chuckled making them laugh lightly.
"I promise to make you proud, sir." I repeated in front of everyone making him smile. "I am here because of you, guys. Just like uncle said, this is my second family, and you changed me for the better." At this, my eyes landed on Dareen who was looking at me silently.
"Well, I wasn't ready, so- I have nothing else to say, but to thank everyone who stood by my side especially Sir Adam who gave me my lifetime chance. Thank you." I quickly ended my speech as I saw her push her way through the crowd.
No. She's not leaving me again.
People thronged around me to congratulate me for my new position which made it impossible for me to reach her.
"Thank you, guys. Excuse me." I smiled politely pushing my way past them to the main entrance where she was running down the stairs.
"Dareen," I held her arm turning her around to face me.
"Congratulations, sir. I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
"Let me drive you home, please." I begged.
"I have my car. Thank you." Bowing slightly, she slipped from my arms just like sand.
"Elliot, let it go for now. We don't want anyone to suspect a single thing." Uncle Adam sighed as I nodded walking back in with him by my side.
It looks like I don't have any other choice but to... .
Yes, that's it.
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**If you want to see how Elliot and Dareen danced together, search for the tango dance scene from Step up movie video over Youtube. There are a lot of videos picturing the same scene. You can watch any of them. That's exactly how I imagined their dance. It'll bring the characters to life, but it is an option for sure.
Thank you :)
Nada xx