Shonee's POV
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for honoring our invitations and making it to the biggest and baddest engagement party of the year! My name is Julius Payne, and I'll be your host tonight..."
"Julius Payne?" I sent a questioning glance Michael's way and he nodded.
"Yeah." He set his wine glass down. "That's Avril's half-brother."
A bout of surprise hit me in the face. "Really? I didn't know Avril had a brother. How come she's never mentioned him?"
Michael smirked. "Probably because he's slept with about 60% of the models she's ever worked with." A soft chuckle accompanied his response.
I stared at him incredulously. "Please tell me you're joking."
"I wish I was." His laughter persisted as he gestured toward the stage.
As Avril prepared to make her grand entrance, everyone held their breath, waiting for Julius to introduce his sister. "Wonderful guests, please put your hands together for our bride-to-be, Ms. Avril Richel Payne."
Flumes of mist gracefully wafted out of fog machines on either side of the stage as the transparent backdrop illuminated, revealing the silhouette of a figure on the other side. With the mist dissipating and the backdrop parting, the spotlight centered on Avril, showcasing her in a breathtaking white gown that seemed to shimmer with every step.
The crowd erupted into applause, and even from a distance, Avril's joy was palpable from all the attention. Photographers scrambled to capture the moment from every angle, and Avril, radiant and ethereal, glided across the stage with a smile that was as beautiful as it was infectious.
After her reveal, she moved to the left, where Vincent stood to help her get to their seat at the high table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you're all having a fantastic time tonight!" Julius continued. "Now that we've basked in the glow of Avril's radiance, the brilliance doesn't stop there. It's my absolute pleasure to introduce a man who needs no introduction in the tourism business world, the rock behind our stunning bride-to-be. Please give it up for our one and only father, Mr. Richard Payne!"
As the crowd issued a round of applause, a distinguished man took the stage, exuding confidence and charm. His salt-and-pepper hair and tailored suit spoke volumes about his status and presence in the industry. Richard Payne, a man of few words but immense influence, smiled warmly at the gathering.
"Thank you, Julius, for that gracious introduction, and thank you all for being here to celebrate this joyous occasion. Tonight is not just about the union of Avril and Vincent; it's a celebration of love, family, and the bonds that tie us all together..."
"Like the tight leash he's got Vincent on," Michael mumbled as he took another sip of his wine.
"Funny should mention that because..." I tapped my chin in thought. "This is my first-time seeing Avril's dad and I don't know...he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who'd take advantage of someone else's misfortune to expand his business."
"Umm, hello," Michael cut in. "Ever heard of the expression 'don't judge a book by its cover?' He may not look like that kind of person, but trust me, Richard Payne is one ruthless businessman. He'll stop at nothing to protect his name and company. Why do you think he had Julius shipped out of New York when his sexcapades were getting out of hand?"
"Wait, what?" I abruptly turned in my seat, and Michael chuckled.
"You don't know anything about this family, do you?"
"Yeah," I responded. "That's why I'm sitting next to you. Tell me."
"Well, let's just say the Payne family has its fair share of scandals. Julius was quite the playboy back in the day, making headlines for his escapades with models and celebrities. Unfortunately, things got out of hand when he winded up with a pregnancy he didn't want to take responsibility for. It was becoming bad for business, and you know how image-conscious these high-profile families are. So, Richard Payne, being the shrewd businessman that he is, sent Julius packing to manage some distant branch of their business to keep him out of the public eye. Then he paid off the pregnant girl, and no one heard from her again."
"Wow." My mouth dropped in pure astonishment. "Interesting family dynamics."
"I know, right."
As Richard Payne continued his speech, I couldn't shake off the surprise that Avril had a half-brother, especially one with such a notorious reputation. Plus, Michael's revelation about Richard's involvement in the whole pregnancy case added another layer of intrigue to the tale. It made me wonder what other stories the Payne family kept hidden in their closet.
Despite my inquisitive thoughts, the celebrations continued. Dinner was served buffet-style with a variety of drinks and beverages. I decided to keep a level head by avoiding alcohol since I had to keep an eye on Mirasol, who, by the way, seemed to be having a great time. The evening's list of events progressed steadily, with Julius leading the way. Soon, it was time for the couple to hit the dance floor.
I watched Vincent glide across the tiled floor with a glowing Avril in his arms.
"Hmm." I took a sip of my sparkling champagne.
It was very obvious that Vincent would pay huge bucks to be anywhere but here, and I was pretty sure Avril could sense his reluctance. However, she didn't seem to care. She didn't seem to care that the man she was engaged to wasn't fully committed to their relationship. Seriously, the more I thought about the details of their union, the more it became evident that these two were heading towards nothing but disaster. There was no love, no affection, nothing that could hold their relationship in the future—well, except for business, that is.
A few more couples joined them on the dance floor, and I was just about to pour myself a refill of champagne when a hand suddenly latched onto my forearm.
Michael leaned closer, and I could practically smell the tequila on his breath. "I need a dance partner."
"Wait? What?" Denying me the chance to come up with a coherent answer, Michael dragged me onto the dance floor and pulled me into a lively two-step. His movements were surprisingly coordinated, considering the amount of alcohol he had consumed.
"Michael, I didn't sign up for this," I protested, attempting to yank myself out of his hold.
"Relax, Shonee. It's a celebration, and celebrations involve dancing." He suddenly twirled me around, and I couldn't help but shriek at the unexpected turn of events. It took a while, but after a few minutes, I matched his steps and fell into the rhythm of the music.
"You're a surprisingly good dancer," I remarked, trying to keep up with his unpredictable steps.
He chuckled. "Years of practice. You know, living on the edge and all that jazz."
"Oh, I can definitely picture you doing that." I couldn't help but laugh as we entered another twirl. But as it came to an end, Michael unexpectedly pulled me close to his chest and then lovingly caressed my cheek.
I immediately took a step back. "Whoa, what was that for?"
"Trying to see if I can turn our boss fifty shades of red." A teasing smirk touched his lips as he turned me around to find Vincent's stern gaze on us. I quickly shifted my focus.
"He's been watching us since we stepped on the dance floor."
"Oh?" I tried to keep my mind on the dance steps and not on the fact that Vincent was behaving like a jealous boyfriend again.
"Yeah, what's going on between you two?" Michael quizzed with worry etched on his forehead. "First, he got all possessive with you the other day at Avril's office, and now he's glaring at me like he wants to bite my head off for dancing with you. It's almost as if you're his woman or something."
"What?" Heart jumping, I stepped away from Michael, accidentally bumping into a nearby couple.
I quickly apologized and tried backing away from Michael, but he wouldn't leave me alone.
"Shonee, wait!" His hand landed on my shoulder, and I immediately shrugged it off.
"Don't touch me!" I whirled at him, feeling my heart race in my chest. Michael couldn't find out about us. He just couldn't. And to ensure that he didn't, I had to reinforce my act.
"What's wrong?" He frowned.
"You!" I snapped. "And the fact that you think something is going on between me and Vincent! Why would you even think that? Let alone at his engagement party?"
"Sorry," Michael hurriedly apologized.
"No, you're not. You're prying into things that are none of your business." I shot him a glare, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Vincent and I have a professional relationship, and that's it. I suggest you focus on your own life and stay out of mine."
Michael looked taken aback, his expression shifting from concern to surprise. "Whoa Shonee, I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought—"
"Well, don't think. It's not your strong suit," I interrupted, my tone sharp. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need some fresh air."
I turned away from Michael, leaving him on the dance floor with a bewildered look on his face. I pushed through the crowd, making my way toward the exit. The night had taken an unexpected turn, and I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.