If It's With You

028- Parking lot

Muna

Nicklaus laced his fingers with mine as we left the check-in desk and walked into the crowded venue.

Some were seated, and some were standing in groups, having conversations I knew I wouldn’t be interested in.

While in the car, we had a little conversation about the people that would be here today. And from what he said, the people I was looking at ranged from the firm top clients to some other influential people in the city. Some of them were the firm shareholders and then, his colleagues.

They held one of these events each year to fund legal aid and support access to justice for people who couldn't afford it.

Nicklaus paused in his steps and I mirrored, gazing up at his face. He was dabbed in a three-piece black Armani suit, tailored perfectly for his body.

He was perfect just like always.

My gaze trailed behind his and fell on the five people, standing not very far away from us. They were laughing at whatever conversation they were having. The first couple I recognized was Elizabeth Brown, and her husband David. She looked so gorgeous in her navy blue dress which flowed to the ground. And her husband just like the other men was dabbed in a suit.

I turned to Nicklaus and at the same time, he glanced down at me with a smile tainting the corner of his lips. “Thank you for being here with me,” he lowered and kissed my lips. “You look stunning,” he whispered against my lips for the thousandth time tonight. “That is my father over there,” he said, his gaze falling on the group again. “Let’s go over and say hi.”

We walked through the groups of people, filling the room with chatter and laughter. Nicklaus nodded in the direction of a few young people, who I assumed were his colleagues. We halted between the group, gaining their attention, and Elizabeth was the first person I looked at with a smile on my face. She was standing beside me and next to her was her husband.

“Son, you’re here.” The man who I assumed to be Nicklaus’ father said, with little to no emotion in his eyes. They looked nothing alike.

“Hi, dad.” Nicklaus nodded in his direction. His father was standing next to him and after his father was an older couple, who got his eyes smiling when he looked at them. “Hi, Grandpa,” He said moving towards the old man, who looked just like the older version of him.

“Look at my boy,” He said, giving him a hug, traces of a British accent coating his words.

Nicklaus seemed happy as he went from his grandpa to his grandma who called him “baby,” while hugging him and then, kissing his cheek.

“How are you, Muna?” Elizabeth said to me and I smiled, glancing between her and David.

“Fine, and how are you two?” I asked, feeling a heat-like sensation poking holes in the side of my face. When I glanced at the direction it came, I met Nicklaus’s father staring hard at me.

“We are good, darling.”

Nicklaus broke off his and his grandma’s hug, and when the woman’s eyes fell on me, she said, “Who is the lovely lady with you?”

He placed his hand on my lower back and from the side of my eyes, I saw Elizabeth leaning in and whispering something to her husband while grinning heavily like she won the lottery.

“This is Muna,” Nicklaus said, glancing at me with a smile I would love to see on his face every day. “Muna, these are my grandparents and this is my dad.”

“Nice to meet you Mrs…” I extended my hand to his grandma.

“Oh, call me Linda,” A wide smile sat on her face as she shook hands with me.