Their Tale

Gala

The car stops at the entrance of the large gala hall as flashes and chaotic chatter fill the outside of the car. Angel sits between us as we take last checks and breaths before we go into the middle of the war zone. His energy is calculated and controlled even in his uneasiness so I take his hand in mine before smiling at Celeste with a nod. Confused he turns to her. Opening her purse, she hands him a hand sized red leather case.

"Evita and I have our necklaces. A symbol of who we are as a submissive and dominant but who we are as people in love with you. They became more than just diamonds and jewellery for me, for us actually. We became yours, through love and position, so we felt it only made sense to gift you the same love."

Taking in her words Angel slowly lifts the lid of the case and takes in a shaky breath when he sees the white and red diamond brooch designed as angel wings. In the centre holding the wings was a line of black diamonds. With shaky hands he takes it out of the case, some seconds later able to take his eyes from the gift to Celeste then to me.

I lift it from his hand and gentle pin it to the chest of his deep grey suit coat. So close to him I feel his hand lift to my cheek, his soft breath coming closer to my lips when he takes me in. The feel of his stubble brushing my skin while my lips and tongue followed his before he lets go. His hand falling to mine he goes on to do the same to Celeste, her moans making me hold his hand harder at the vision of them together.

When he lets go, he is still swimming in the tension that was growing the cars space. With our joined hands on his lap he continues "My undoing and my salvation. I am nothing without you both." Taking a look outside we remember that we are here to face the music. With one last glance I look at Celeste and Angel as the diamond symbols of her necklace, Angels wings and my necklace bring us together.

When we step out of the car and finally make it through multiple camara stops we enter the Nader's 20th gala event. Money, fame and power overflow in the room as politicians, news personnel and stars of all acts fill the room with chatter over wine and champaign. The room felt like a life I knew existed but never thought to much of because this, this was nothing I ever expected to walk into. With Angel in the middle and Celeste by his side we stood proud and knew that we would face the reality of the true influencers of this event.

With each step we take into the room eyes drag along with us, whispers and side eyes bringing more attention to us than the event itself. Still beyond the discomfort and feeling of panic I felt Angel hold me up, not physically but emotionally as we took each step together.

And as the simple though of the devils in Prada the Nader's spot us as chatter and eyes are drawn to the image of us walking through. My olive-green dress lightly trailing behind me I let my trust in my lovers carry me when the reach us. It is clear by the expression of surprise and harboured anger that Mr Nader was not excited to see us. His wife more natural and almost charmed that we walked through.

Quick and on point Samir speaks his true feelings "Angel, what the hell is this?" He seethes through his locked jaw trying not to cause a scene. Amused, Angel never shakes as he keeps his position "This is your son, and the women he loves." A scoff with glance at his wife in hope that she can come to his aid is useless when she stays silent "You will not embarrass us because of some women who pleasure your fantasies."

In quick motion Celeste holds Angels arm that slips from her elbow after Samir's insult. Rage grows a nasty tension between him and us when Angel speaks "You better thank Celeste otherwise I would keep promise to my words the day I knocked you down." That's when he looks down and sees her hand locking in his clinched fist "All this for some girls."

With my tolerance for his words finished I speak up "My name is Evita Alonso sir. The woman who is holding Angel back is Celeste Clarke, do you think you can stop throwing a grown tantrum so that we can have a grown conversation." I take in the offended look in his grown eyes, Mrs Nader seeming strangely amused by my words when Celeste continues "Plus, people are staring to wonder why Angel won't let his fist unlatch. Wouldn't want me to let go and have them find out now would we."

His chest is rapid in breaths when he looks slightly to his side to confirm that we had gained a small audience. With a hushed gesture he has us follow him into a small room at the far end of the event space. Closing the door behind us Samir lets his true scowl grow "Do not ever disrespect me like that." He growls, pointing at Celeste and I.

"Then show us the same respect." Celeste exclaims, a surprised look from Angel at the stance she was taking but I knew where it was coming from. She was being her own dominant "Angel this is ridiculous, you could do so much better." With his anger checked Angel responds to his father's cruel notion of us "There is nothing better than the women beside me. If they leave my side, I leave the Nader name behind. I am here out of a promise to love and protect them, and now it is from you."

In disbelief Samir chuckles looking back at his wife "Marisol, tell him this is ridiculous. What will people think when they see this...relationship?" His emphasis on relationship a clear insult to us three but it was also giving us the understanding that this was about image. I mean they were bringing their dead son back into the light to take over a dynasty that was built by royalty. The entire case brough public attention but here, right now he needed to realize we were not a publicity prop. We were lovers.

Mrs Nader walks from behind her husband, her hand softly finding place on his shoulders while he takes us in. Our stance unshaken "Samir, let them love. Angel is our son, but they are his life and I see it now more than ever. The passion and love that they have for each other, it is why he is here." Angered by his wife's response he turns to us, Angels hands behind our backs "Samir, I will take the position and learn by you, but Evita and Celeste. They will stand beside me for as long as they grant me that blessing. You can't do anything but accept and respect that."

I can tell that Samir is mad but takes a moment to think, eyes closed he calms himself before opening them. Calmer he looks at us once more, something in him changing when he sees that we are here, together and nothing would change that "This is not just a dynasty, it was what I put my prayers into that my son would one day take over. Accept. Letting you go was the most painful thing we ever went through, but you hating what we built for our name, your name..."

Taking Marisol's hand in his he smiles at her the gaze of a long string of memoires "Samir my dear, look at them. You know what they have been through to hold each other in this moment, do not undermine their love." Taking in his wife's generous and heartfelt words he takes one last glance at us, a calmer expression in him so I begin to speak "We are not here to bring shame, chaos or even disfuction. We are just here to love your son while he finds himself just as he done with us, every step of the way."

A tear runs down Mrs Naders cheek, the pain of a mother hearing someone agnowledge that her son, Angel was being loved was more than she could have handled. Celeste takes a careful step in the long silver dress she had on "See we three have fought litereal hell to stand beside each other, we just hope you both don't make us need to continue a fight we will keep winning." Our words clearly take the couple back in thought as they look at each other with understanding of what next steps would happen.

Mr Nader fixes his suit, flustered by emotions he takes one last glance at his wife, the same way Angel looked at us "I am not a man of apologies but right here I apologize for using your acts of bravery in saving my son that night as leverage, but I can't apologize for wanting him to know I never stopped fighting for him back. I just want to know I can give you the world we had to tear you away from."

This was not malicious. Samir and Marisol were just parents who lost their son because their world got dangerous. Now they just want him back, and Angel knew this now more than ever "Samir I am not just a Macias, I am a Nader by blood, but I am also a partner and that will always be. Still, all things aside I will stay in ND inc because beyond the pressures and change in my life I want to learn with you, but I will also stand proud with the women I love." Nodding, I see a wave of pride as the Nader's look at us. Marisol letting her hand go from her husband's shoulder "Celeste and Evita, you are a part of our sons' life, I just hope you can let us be a part of yours."

Looking to my side I lock eyes with Celeste who smiles and nods her head before we face back "It would be a pleasure to do so, and Samir, we accept your apology and hope it comes with respect for us as well." A nervous chuckle leaves the serious man's lungs "Of course. My disrespect was a mistake on my part. Strong women beside a strong man, well that is the definition of the Nader dynasty." The room begins to lighten, the idea of us working and living together in what is a new world for us all. We didn't expect this but we would work through it together. Stepping out of the room I knew that we could do this.