Honeymoon confessions

ch. 5

The couple walked into the hall. It was already 9:00 in the evening so the extra lights shimmered. They were on the third floor of the ship, attending a charity program. People sat around tables, drinking and chatting away, waiting for the program to begin. They walked to their assigned table which had six others, including Christian, Michelle and Nora and her husband, Ronan. Justin avoid eye contact with his ex-lover who kept looking at him as he pushed out a seat for his wife and settled on her left side. "Nice meeting you again, Shandell." Ronan said once they were settled. Shandell returned the smile. "You too." She said and acknowledged Nora. Justin exchanged pleasantries with Ronan and his wife as well.

"Justin." Cristian greeted with some cockiness. Justin cleared his throat before responding. "Cristian." He still avoided Michelle's gaze. "Happy you could make it." The sound of Cristian's voice caused her to suck in breath. She looked from her husband to him. Ignoring him would be a rude thing to do. "Yeah. You're looking good. You and your wife." She said nervously.

Michelle offered a forced smile at the woman. She couldn't stand the sight of Shandell, especially with Justin. He was hers. Only hers but no one could know that. "Thank you." The conversations amongst the five of them continued from there with Justin occasionally throwing in an opinion to what Ronan and Nora said. Well they all did except Shandell. She didn't speak eloquence, riches and glory. She spoke ordinary. She just sipped on her cocktail and listened to their conversation. Upon hearing someone clear their throat, she looked up. "So Shandell, you're an event planner." It wasn't a question. Michelle was stating it. Shandell smiled. "Yes. Yes, I am." Finally, a conversation came her way.

"Where?" Michelle pushed. "Austin's Home of Elegance." Shandell replied. The later offered a half smile. She already knew where she worked. All she wanted was for everyone to see she didn't belong there, with Justin. "That's not a quite established company. Do the pay well?" she asked. "Ninety dollars I'm sure." She added in mockery. Although, no one else got the joke. Not even her husband.

Shandell's smile turned upside down. That girl just crossed the line. She knew her job didn't bring in millions a year but ninety dollars? Really? "Well not exactly. The pay is good but since you so desperately want to know....."

"That won't be necessary." Justin cut her off. Speaking to Michelle for the first time that evening. The gaze he gave her shot daggers. He wasn't going to allow anyone make his wife feel any less than she was. "That shouldn't concern you." He added.

The brunette shrugged. "I just..."

"What about you? How do you help?" He asked knowing very well her father's law firm was handed over to her brother and she left with only the Rivers name.

"She doesn't need to help out in anyway. I earn far more than enough." Cristian spoke this time. Justin shook his head. This was part of the reason he adored his wife. She was the perfect example of a strong black woman. Even though he had all the money in the world, she still wanted to earn her own. Fortunately, before things could get out of hand the event started. Various took the stage and gave, as Shandell liked to put it, political speeches.

Soon enough it was time to socialize. Shandell and Justin got a lot of congratulations for their marriage as he introduced her to his associates once again. Later, Ronan called him over to a table where some other men, including Cristian, gathered. Nora led Shandell and Michelle to a corner. She spoke up first. "How is your honeymoon going so far?" The question was obviously directed at Shandell. She smiled. "It's perfect." It was true. Apart from the argument they had earlier everything was peachy.

"There's nothing like the perfect honeymoon. Trust me." Nora pointed out as Michelle nodded in agreement. Shandell looked upon the two women. "Trust me. Mine might just set the record." She boasted.