Two days later…
Shonee’s POV
The night Vincent and I had been dreading had finally arrived.
The night of the Beckham Incorporated and the Payne Travel and Tours Merge party.
A week after this, the wedding would take place.
During recent talk show interviews, Avril and her dad had dubbed it the event of the century. They wanted everyone who was anyone to look forward to it.
But for me, just thinking about the wedding made my skin crawl mostly because of our failed attempts at finding out who Avril’s lover was. Vincent’s men had been tailing her every move for the past two days now and nothing substantial had come up. No clues, no suspicious activity, nothing! It was as if she had wiped away every notable trace of her affair and the whole ordeal made me uneasy because I knew Avril was still in that relationship. She’d just done a superb job keeping everything under wraps.
Tonight was our last night to find something, if not, Vincent might as well kiss his company goodbye.
Graciously, I stepped out of the sleek black limousine with Mirasol and Gerta, onto the red carpet that led to the entrance of a grand ballroom.
As per the usual traditions of such high-class events, the air was alive with excitement, and the sound of chatter and laughter filled the night. The ballroom itself was a sight to behold, with sparkling chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the room. Tables adorned with exquisite floral arrangements lined the perimeter, while a stage at the far end was set up for live music and speeches.
Once again, the Paynes didn’t hesitate to go all out.
“You guys, find our table. I’m going to find Jordin and James,” I said to Gerta before weaving past guests. Earlier in the week, I’d managed to sneak their names onto the guest list. If we were going to find proof of Avril’s affair, we would need all the help we could get. I know Vincent said that he didn’t want me involved in the search, but he didn’t say anything about my friends helping out.
“Shonee?”
I whirled around to find Jordin and James approaching.
“Oh my God, look at you,” Jordin pushed her glasses up and grabbed my arm to initiate a twirl. “You look amazing.”
“I don’t think amazing is good enough to cut,” James chimed in. “You look like a fucking princess.”  
“Thanks.” I shrugged, running my hands over the stunning midnight blue gown that hugged my curves in all the right places. The bodice was adorned with intricate beading that shimmered in the soft light, and the skirt flowed gracefully to the floor, trailing behind me.
The others didn’t know it, but this dress was actually a gift from Vincent. He’d left it on my bed yesterday with a little romantic note about how he immediately thought of me, the moment he saw this dress on the mannequin. So, I decided to put it on for him tonight. 
“You guys look great too,” I said, complimenting Jordin’s silver off-shoulder gown and James’s snakeskin suit. “I’m glad blending in hasn’t been a problem.”
“Surprisingly,” Jordin commented. “James has been chugging down bubbly after bubbly since we got here. It’s a miracle that we haven’t been outcasted amongst these elites.”
Just as she said it, James snatched another champagne flute from a passing waiter’s tray. “What? It’s the good stuff.” He smiled, bringing the glass to his lips. “Lemme enjoy it while it lasts.”
Jordin and I rolled our eyes.
“Anyway,” I steered the conversation over to our main agenda. “You guys have been here for a while now. Notice anything suspicious on the Avril front?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Jordin sighed. “All she’s done is mingle and chat with the other guests. I mean look at her.” She pointed across the room, where Avril stood, animatedly engaging with a group of people. "Playing the perfect hostess, as always.”
Jordin wasn’t wrong. Avril was a vision in a flawless ensemble—a sleek, form-fitting gown in shimmering silver, accentuating her slender figure. Her hair was styled in elegant waves cascading down her shoulders, and her makeup was impeccable, with smoky eyes and a nude lip. She exuded confidence and grace, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone around her.
A few paces behind her were Vincent, Michael and Avril’s father, Richard, all roped up in a conversation with some other business moguls. Although, Vincent looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here. He took a sip of his champagne to quell his evident exasperation.
“You know what’s more interesting?” James chimed in, looking slightly surprised. "Damien is here with Cheyanne."
My eyebrows flew up. “Really where?”
He jabbed a finger towards the entrance where Cheyanne stood, feigning interest in whatever Damien and his colleagues were blabbering about. She had linked one arm with his, keeping him secured at her side.
“Wow,” I mumbled. “I guess this is their way of admitting to the general public that they’re actually together.”
“Yeah.” Jordin nodded in agreement. “Which is surprising and at the same time strange because, on that faithful day at the hotel, we saw all four of them enter the suite together. The only person who left was Michael.”
James shrugged. "Maybe they were all involved in some kind of arrangement. You know, like a threesome or something."
 
The wheels in my head began to turn. “Yeah…you might be on to something, James. I mean, why else would they all enter the room together?”
“I dunno, guys.” Jordin’s eyebrows were all scrunched up in thoughtfulness. “That idea seems a bit far-fetched to me. It would imply that Cheyanne and Avril have been sharing a man and I don’t think Cheyanne would tolerate something like that. Look at how she’s being possessive of Damien.”
We watched her rudely interrupt a conversation Damien was having with Hayley, Avril’s second bridesmaid.
"Hmm, at this point, who knows? Anything's possible." I crossed my arms.
It felt as if we were desperately grasping at straws all in the name of understanding something that might not even be true. But a part of me remained enthusiastic about finding out who Avril’s lover was. We couldn't afford to give up just yet. With Vincent's company and our relationship hanging in the balance, we needed to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.
As the night wore on, I mingled with the other guests, exchanging pleasantries and making small talk. But my mind was elsewhere, constantly searching for any sign of Avril's secret lover. I kept a close eye on her, watching her every move for any hint of suspicious behaviour.
I ran into Vincent’s parents a few minutes ago and though the old couple were delighted to see me, Gerta and their granddaughter again; I could tell from my interactions with them that they wished they were here under better circumstances. Since they were the original owners of Beckham Incorporated, I’m sure they were well aware of what this party was and what it entailed. I personally don’t think they want their business to merge with Payne’s Travel and Tours, but since they had retired and relinquished ownership of the company to Vincent, they no longer had a say in its future.
I took a sip of my champagne, relishing the bubbles it left on my tongue until I felt a strong urge to pee. No surprise, since it was my fourth glass. I should have gone easy on the drinks.
Excusing myself from my party, I made a beeline for the nearest corridor, hoping to find a bathroom. A sense of relief washed over me when my eyes landed on the familiar stick figures that symbolize male and female. The arrow to the female branched off to the left and I quickly hurried over to the small hallway, pushing the door open.
Then I immediately froze on the spot, all the colour draining from my face at the scene before me.
Avril sat on the sink counter, gown bunched up at her waist as Michael stood in between her legs, shirt open and fingers deep inside Avril’s panties. They were so busy, sticking their tongues into each other’s throats that they didn’t notice me until Avril’s eyes widened and she shrieked, “Shonee!”