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18
Cece
The public likes to think of the Veritas Gala as something as prestigious and beneficial as events like the Met Gala, but it’s not. There’s no money raised to benefit any institutes or causes. There is a silent auction where bids venture into the millions, but the money doesn’t go to anything altruistic. The auctioned-off items are properties and locations for future sites. Everyone gets dressed up to attend the event in their most formal tuxedoes and gowns, and the media pays attention because of the attendees, but this isn’t an event held out of the kindness of celebrities. The gala is a corporate social event where CEOs, studio heads, and the most well-known stars in the celebrity world gather, trying to show how important they are.
Of course, I’m here because my father insisted—as he does every year—I attend and rub elbows with the higher-ups of different companies.
Despite all of my prior indifferences with this thing, it is an immaculate setting. The tuxedoes, though as expensive as they look, are typical with pressed white shirts, black bow ties, and shiny black shoes. The gowns some of the women are wearing are absolutely breathtaking. Long, flowing tails, sparkling with gold crystals or rose glitter, reflecting the spotlights that circle around us.
The main area focused on is an immense ballroom, where a soft melody floats through the air, but no band is present. I think it’s violins, but it’s so low, I can’t tell. They keep the volume down so everyone can talk, no doubt probably trying to get their deals agreed upon. I’m wearing a strapless, fuchsia dress that shimmers in the light. Going down to my calves, it’s not as elegant as some of the other dresses I’ve seen tonight, but still formal enough that I look like I belong in this setting.
After speaking to a board member of Johnson and Lewis about a possible location, I turn around, searching for my father, when I see someone who looks absolutely out of place. Maddox, along with the rest of his band.
Seeing me, he gives me a playful nod and smirk. Derrik and EJ stand next to him, both in proper and formal black and white tuxedoes. His sister stands next to him, in a beautiful, long, silver dress. Compared to them, and everyone else, Maddox is dressed down, though still formal, in a navy blue suit, with a light gray button-down, without a tie.
Walking over to me, he eyes me up and down and smiles in approval.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when he gets close enough.
“Our record label asked us to attend this thing a few weeks back. We said no at first, but Peter said it was a big deal and would make the execs happy to see their biggest act show up to …” A chuckle floats out, and he scans the glowing yellow lights and the hanging chandeliers attached to the pristine room. “Whatever this is.”
“What? You’ve never been to a corporate billionaire party, where they celebrate how rich they are and compare who has the biggest bankrolls? Not to mention, announcing how many more properties they’re forecasted to open in the next sixteen months.”
A line forms over his brow, and he looks around, confused. “Is that what this is? Peter said it’s a gala event.”
“Yeah, pretty much. You just called it by the politically correct term.”
He lifts his shoulders, then puts his hands at my waist. “Huh. Well, at least it has you.”
I lean against him, and as he inches toward my lips, I catch sight of my father standing behind him. His eyes are watching us with a suspicious glare. It’s enough that I pull back from Maddox, earning an eyebrow raise. “Everything okay?”
“Uh … yeah.” I bite my lip. “Sorry, it’s just that my father is behind you, and … he still thinks I’m seeing Winston.”
“Oh, a secret romance. Dating the bad boy, hiding it from your dad. I like the sound of that.”
He laughs, and I lightly slap his chest. “No, that’s not what this is. And who says we’re dating, huh?”
He leans closer, and I stay frozen, staring at his lips. “I do,” he whispers. “Cece, I want to date you. I don’t want to be some secret, and I sure as hell don’t want your dad thinking you’re dating someone else.”
The words are soft but firm at the same time. His request is heartfelt, with no lingering smirk attached. It’s enough that I forget everyone and everything around us. He moves closer, and his lips skim over mine, but we’re broken up by someone coughing behind him.
My eyes widen. “Daddy.”
Maddox smirks, wiggling his eyebrows at me. My jaw locks, and an intense gaze hits him, silently telling him this is no time for any flirty jokes from him.
Taking a step back, he turns to my father. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Mavin.”
I’m taken aback by his sudden shift to professionalism. My father looks at him for a moment like he doesn’t recognize him, which I don’t understand. It wasn’t that long ago that he not only met him at our meeting for the club, but just the other day when he showed up with Winston. Sure, he looks more dressed up than those times, but I’d expect some sort of friendly smile since Maddox is technically an employee of his. Instead, he almost scowls at him.
“Cecelia, have you spoken to Williams and his associates?”
“Yes, Daddy. They’re sending paperwork over next week for the Toronto location.” I motion to Maddox. “You remember Maddox Barkley, right?”
His eyes land on Maddox for another second, then look back to me. “I’m surprised you didn’t invite Winston. Did you two have a good time at dinner the other night?”
“Yeah, I remember you mentioning that,” Maddox speaks up, regaining a playful demeanor, smirking. “How’d that go?”
“Oh, it … it was fine.” Maddox quirks an eyebrow. “Actually …” Glancing at my father, he looks like he knows what I’m about to tell him and is daring me not to. To stay quiet and go along with whatever plan he’s laid out, but I can’t. I know he thinks he’s doing the right thing, and that his heart is in the right place, but I don’t want to lie to him. “Daddy, Maddox and I are going out.”
