BLOODSUCKER

sept

It had taken Maeve exactly 1 hour and 43 minutes to get prepared for the Gala. She began her decent down the stairs in the floor length satin dress. She stopped at the large mirror at the bottom of the staircase. She examined her body in the mirror. Maeve wished he hips were slightly wider and that her bum was a slight bit bigger. She decided to look away as she would just continued picking at her insecurities.

'Mrs Leclerc.' A voice turned her from the mirror, it was Leo, 'Mr Leclerc would like to see you in his study.'

Maeve nodded and picked up her dress that was trailing behind her and head down the hall way. She made it a habit to knock before entering the room.

'You wanted to see me?' Maeve questioned as she peered her head around the corner of the door.

'Come here.' He smiled as he saw Maeve standing at the door with the red dress that took Charles's breathe away. Maeve crept over to his desk like she was instructed to , 'this is for you.'

He opened a small box to reveal a sparkly diamond wedding ring. 'We never exchanged rings at the wedding. If people see you not wearing a ring, they might as questions. There is a very select member of people at this Gala that knows this marriage is fake.' Charles spoke as he placed the ring on her tiny finger. Maeve couldn't help but flinch at the words 'this marriage is fake.' Part of her prayed they could make this work.

'It's beautiful Charles.' Maeve couldn't contain a smile as she looked down at the ring on her finger. 'Thank you.'

'The ring is not as beautiful as you though.' Charles rubbed his hand on the Maeve's back.

'You think I am beautiful?' Maeve questioned as she felt her cheeks flush from the comment.

Charles looked speechless, how could he have been so stupid to say something like that. He couldn't believe he had just let that slip out. 'I think our driver is here.'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Charles's arm had been glued to Maeve's waist all evening and truth be told she didn't mind it at all, his arm was like a safety net. Maeve smiled and tried to understand the conversations her husband was having but it was hard when she had no idea what they were talking about. Maeve didn't understand much about cars, or racing and anything Italian in fact. She stood by his side and smiled. They did a good job at pretending to be a happily married couple.

Maeve excused her self from the conversation and headed over to grab a glass of champagne. She leaned against the bar and examined the variety of people that were at this Gala. Most people looked extremely rich and wealthy, Maeve Larson had no business being at this event.

She tried to imagine her parents being her, you know if they hadn't stolen from the Leclercs in the late 90s. How different would have Maeve's life been if her parents thought rationally about there actions. She imagines her mother would be like Pascale, a strong, business driven woman and her father would be her partner. She could have had a life like Charles, everything she wanted when she wanted, but her parents just thought about them selves, as always.

'You don't seem happy?' A voice appeared next to her, it was no other than Arthur Leclerc.

'You don't know how happy I am to see someone here that I know.' Maeve smiled as Arthur pulled her into a hug. She had been keeping contact with Arthur, he was there for her when she needed someone to talk to.

'I hate these Gala's' Arthur sighed as woman topped up his glass. 'Just business opportunities for Maman.'

'What do you mean?' Maeve asked intrigued

'Everyone here is a potential investor for Leclerc Limited, Maman sends us to these events to see who is ideal and who is not. This is how my parents found yours.' Arthur spoke. Maeve really couldn't understand how her parents would have ended up at an event like this.