Loathe at First Sight

Chapter 13 ~ Shallow People, Deep Pockets

So after a lot of late nights, days chained to my computer and sore fingers from so much typing (true story) here is the much awaited Charity Banquet chapter. I’m actually so relieved to have my vision of everything written down finally and I hope with everything in me that you guys like everything I thought up. Without wasting anymore of your time…

ENJOY!

p.s totally unedited because I can’t find it in me right now but feel free to point out mistakes :) <3

I never quite understood why the press gathered around like hungry carrion birds to social events let alone charity banquets but they did despite the crowd of other reporters they had to push through simply to call out a question that either went unheard or unanswered. My mother slipped out of the car dragging my poor father behind her a beaming smile ready for the crowd that went crazy for her.

I counted to five and then nudged Charlie out the door. “Be a gentleman, it’ll make our relationship more believable.” I ordered. He got out grumbling about already being a gentleman as he turned his back on the now frantic crowd and offered me his hand. I let him pull me out and the crowd went into a frenzy like a swarm of sharks smelling blood. They could practically smell that I was tomorrow’s headline. It was a creepy sixth sense to them

I let Charlie guide me toward the door but pulled him to a halt in front of the flashing lights and chaotic screams for our attention. I took a deep breath trying hard to keep my smile from turning into a grimace.

“Miss Marelli” One reporter up front screeched. I turned to him purely because he had addressed me in something that resembled politeness and the high pitch of his voice had truly shocked me and now I had to fight from laughing. Taking my broadened smile as an invitation he started his question and the crowd quietened to hear the imposing dialogue, hoping to hear something they could use.

“Which charity are you planning on supporting tonight?” the crowd groaned in annoyance and those beside this unfortunate reporter shoved him back scornfully. It was a lucky break for these reporters to have me posing for pictures and answering questions and the fool had wasted a valuable chance for all of them.

I smiled brighter at his rookie mistake and answered anyway. “We’re planning on donating to all of them if we can help it” I replied serenely like there constant shouting wasn’t giving me a headache. To hurry this along I wrapped arm around Charlie who though shocked played his part by putting his arm around my shoulder.

The volume kicked up several notches and I nodded at a reporter who was dressed in a suit and held a mic to his mouth. I recognised him from some credible TV station and hoped he would ask the million dollar question so we could go inside and be done with this.

“Eden looking good tonight in what I’ve been informed is an Alex Perry” he paused for my confirmation trying to give the illusion that we were friends to what I assume would be his many avid viewers. So I beamed and nodded my head. “Actually the two of you look great and I’m loving the matching ensemble” his bright teeth were almost as blinding as the flashing cameras as he continued his subtle line of questioning.

I turned to Charlie pulling slightly away to get a better view of our outfits and realised that my mother had planned everything down to a tee. Charlie and I both wore light blue, beige and black tonight which completed both of our colouring. But it went beyond that. Angie had me looking like a soft and naturally beautiful doll whilst Charlie’s outfit inspired a relaxed version of a 60’s gangster. He was the powerful business man to my trophy wife tonight apparently. I would’ve been insulted by the image the world now had of our relationship if I didn’t see the logic in it. To compensate for his lack of status and money my mother had dressed him to seem powerful and mysterious so that the press would eat him up.