Allurance

Chapter Seventeen

"Gwendolyn West." Nikki repeated.
I gulped, "What are you talking about?" I said, trying to keep composed.
"Gwen everyone kn-"
"Men get your lovely ladies for this slow dance." The man said over the microphone. A familiar tune came on. (start song now) "Darling?" Tom put his hand on my shoulder. "Would you like to join me for this dance?" He asked and put his hand out.
"Of course." I smiled at Tom and took his hand. I sat my bag and shawl down on my seat and looked at Nikki confused, before I was whisked to the dance floor.
🎵 'but you had such persistence'         Tom took my right hand in his and wrapped his other hand around my waist tightly. We were soon joined by many more couples, we were easily the youngest there.
🎵 'And it was swell'  
"Do you know this song?" Tom asked into my ear as we swayed back and forth.
"Of course. I have a crush on you." I said.
"It's not as good as Frank Sinatra but still." He smiled.
"How I won you, I shall never, never know." I sang into his ear.
"It's not that you're attractive, but oh my heart grew active, when you came into view." He sang back and then looked at me.
"I've got a crush, on you." We sang together and both laughed a bit.
"Tom I actually wanted to say something." I said as we danced in and out the different couples.
"I had something to ask you too. But you go first." He said. I cleared my throat.
"I uh...I love you." I said shyly.
"Really?" Tom asked with a gleam in his eye. I nodded.
"I love you." He said and kissed my deeply.
🎵 'I never had the least notion'
"And I wanted to ask you, if you would officially," He smiled and I giggled.
"Be my girlfriend." He smiled. This was the first time I had ever really seen him look nervous.
"Of course Tom." I smiled and we kissed again. Sparks flew and it felt like the first time all over again.
🎵 'could you coo,'
I rested my head on his shoulder and he kissed my hair. We were still swaying, moving in small steps to the beat of the music. "Everything's fallen into place." He said. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was so content and the feeling of love just made me feel full. So full I had nearly forgotten about Nikki. Key word: nearly.
🎵 'The world,'
He spun me out and my dress flew out, making me look like and actual princess. Tom smiled at my complete joy at having a beautiful dress on, then spun me back in. Our faces landed so close together. Our eyes connected and my hand reached up into his hair and his hands to my hips and we continued dancing, staring into each others eyes while butterflies soared through my stomach.
"I love you so much." He said again. I nodded, feeling tears come to my eyes.
"Me too. Me too." I whispered. The piano stopped playing and an applause broke us from our trance. I quickly wiped away my tears and turned to applaud the band. I grabbed Tom's hand and we started walking back to our table. "I do have a crush on you." He giggled in my ear rather seductively. His hot breath made me tickle and I giggled very girly-ish and crinkled my nose and smiled.
"Thomas!" An older couple came up to us.
"Mr Cunningham, it's wonderful to see you." Tom shook his hand then kissed the woman on the cheek.
"Who's this?" The woman asked, pointing at me.
"This is my girlfriend Gwen." He said with such joy. Oh my god. I'm his girlfriend.
"Hi it's so lovely to meet you." I smiled and shook her hand.
"I'm Iona and this is Charlie." She patted her husband's chest.
"You are definitely the most gorgeous woman in the house tonight, I can tell you that. It's good to have some fresh faces." She complimented me.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"Thomas, I do need to talk...business with you." Charlie said seriously. Tom looked at me. "I'll be at the table." I smiled and we kissed each other's cheeks and went our separate ways. I walked back to the table. Of course Nikki was alone. I sat down.
"Gwen." She looked at me. I turned to her.
"I'm trying to protect you." She said.
"From what?" I asked.
"From this! Trust me, when I fell in love with Dom, I had no idea what this life would be like." She paused.
"Tom...Tom knows." She said. My heart dropped.
"What?" I said. My mouth went dry.
"Everyone knows, Gwen." She nodded. I shook my head.
"Wha...how?" I asked.
"You're more well known than you would have hoped I think." Nikki said.
"Oh...my god." I felt like I was going to throw up.
"So...what? Tom's faked it this whole time?" I asked. She sighed and nodded. That was when I lost it. I pushed the chair back and stood up. The whole room was spinning and the sound of light music and chatter was muffled.
"Gwen," I felt Nikki's hand touching mine. I ripped it away.
"I have to go." I said. I grabbed my bag and walked fastly across the dance floor.
"Hey, Cinderella! Is it nearly midnight?" Some guy laughed at me from the bar. I was going to throw up. I had to get out. I lifted my dress and started running through the halls of this huge ballroom.
"Gwen?" I heard Tom's voice. No. Leave. "Gwen!" He shouted again. I felt a gust of air so I knew I was close to the door. Keep running. Keep running. I finally found the door. The doormen opened it for me quickly and I ran outside. I tried taking deep breaths. In and out. In and out. Nothing was working. The whole thing was a lie! I shouldn't have gotten involved. I opened my bag to get my phone but there was a small recorder inside. I looked at it and pressed the play button.
"But today I had a meeting with a new employee called Guinevere Foster who was supposed to be a server . When I saw her, I realised that this girl was in fact Gwendolyn." It was Tom's voice. I now knew that this was definitely real. I kept listening.
"Why the hell would you do that, Tom? She could tear us apart and put us all in prison!" That was Dom's voice. I sat on the steps of the ballroom, listening intently.
"Because I can control her. I have a plan which I'm 92% sure will work. I will start to treat her as a favourite and give her romantic attention, hopefully she falls for it, drops the story and then once I've had my fun...I'll kill her." Oh...my...god. He was going to KILL ME?!
"Why not just kill her now?" That was Sam's voice.
"Because she's so high profile that the police will definietly find out that we did it. If she found out we killed her fiance in a day, the police will find out in minutes. Plus, whats's wrong with some fun?"
I threw up. He killed Jordan...he killed my fiancé. The tears were now streaming down my face, onto my dress. I stood up and moved away from the vomit. Pacing up and down.
"Okay. So is everyone in?" That was Harrison's voice.
"Let's get this show on the road." Tom said. And the recorder went blank. I was speechless. My dry mouth was gaped open from shock. My face was wet with my tears and my limbs felt weak.
"Gwen..." I heard Tom's voice. I tensed up and slowly turned around. His face was also wet and his eyes were bloodshot. He was standing listening the whole time.
"I can explain." He cried. He began walking closer to me.
"Don't come close. Don't fucking touch me you monster!" I shouted.
"Gwen please! I swear I-" He cried harder and came closer.
"I will fucking kill you!" I shouted, backing up. "Gwen that was before everything! That was before I really knew you!" He said and we both stopped.
"That was before I fell in love with you!" He said.
I froze. "I hate you." I said angrily through gritted teeth.
"No you don't. Gwen no you don't." Tom cried harder.
I nodded, "I HATE YOU!" I shouted louder and my breathing hitched from my crying. "Gwen..." Tom said quietly.
"You are disgusting." I said and smashed the recorder on the marble stairs. I began to walk away when we heard commotion. We both looked at the building confused. Then there were gunshots...and screaming...