Chapter Ten: The Party: Part One
The Club 8:30PM
"Whoa, look at the crowd surrounding the entry! You pull quite the crowd Theodore Grey." Tamera leaned over Ted so she could gaze out of the window of the limo and watched as Teddy's family members walked to red carpet. The camera lights flashed she found the whole scene too glamorous for words. Teddy watched Tamera as she stared at the scene with wide hazel eyes and her mouth partially open. He was more amused with her than the event to come. The limo moved slowly and aligned itself at the start of the carpet, both Ted and Tam heard as the car door opened and the driver exited the limo.
"Ted, I think they are expected you to be alone. Maybe I should wait a moment and let the magazines get there picture." She looked back at Ted who issued her a look that let her know that wasn't about to happen. "Or not," she mumbled.
"Most definitely not," he said without considering what she was saying. "Tam, ditch the jacket will you? The whole point of the dress is to attraction attention … stop covering up."
"But …" she stared to protest and then stopped herself. She said she wouldn't bicker with him, not tonight, but tomorrow there would be no hold barred. The driver opened the door closest to Ted and he slid out. He offered Tamera his hand and after she abandoned her tuxedo jacket she slid out of the limo behind him.
The camera lights were blinding. Ted was used to being photographed, Tamera no so much, she came from quiet money, no lime light, just luxury. Her parents strived hard for that much privacy. Even though her mother had been a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry for the past ten years paparazzi still had to fight to get pictures of her one and only offspring. Apparently tonight was to be there lucky night Tam was out in all of her glory. She smiled for the cameras but she felt very exposed. She found herself clenching Ted's hand for dear life. Ted looked down at their united hands and then back at her stressed out face; he knew she wasn't aware that she was hurting him. He quickly yet discretely unclasped their hands and then wrapped his arms around her waist instead. He led her into the building moving slow enough and stopping occasionally for different photographers. Once inside Tamera took and deep nerve cleansing breath.
"That was freaking terrifying!" Tam placed her hand on her chest and felt the rapid beat of her heart racing.
"I'm about to open the door are you read for more Black?" Ted asked with humor in his voice as he chuckled at his over dramatic little friend. Tam shook her head, she was sure she couldn't go through that again.
"Ted, you may have to do this without me." She tried to take another deep breath, but she just started shaking. She didn't want to ruin this for Teddy but she was having an intense anxiety attack. "Go in without me I'll be there in a minute.
"Tam?" Teddy stood in front of her as she tried to get herself together. She tried to remind herself that nobody was there to see her. This was all about Teddy; she would be safely tucked behind Ted's celebrity. She could get through this.
"Tam, open your eyes." She hadn't even realized she'd closed them. Powder blue eyes invasively stared at her with worry. "We could blow this thing off if you're not up to this. I'm not real concerned about the party to start with." He placed both of his hands on her shoulders and his thumbs moved along her skin.
"But what about your family?" Tam forced herself to say while still attempting to regulate her breathing.
"I could text my mom and explain what's going on." He pulled out his phone and Tamera put her hand over it.
"I can't let you do that Ted, but it's really sweet that you offered." She gave Teddy a little smile and he mirrored her expression, but he was still worried about her. He partly hoped she say yes to blowing this thing off. He much rather just toast his milestone birthday and then go about his business.
"There's not much I wouldn't do for you Black. So you ready to do this thing? Last chance to bail." He offered her his hand, and again she took it.
"And don't squeeze my hand this time. I swear you were out to draw blood." Tam chuckled as Ted opened the doors and they entered the party.
When Ted and Tam entered the room the crowd was surrounding the entry and cheering for him. Ted waved and smiled much like a politician would, Tamera smiled up at him, but she really felt she shouldn't be in the spotlight with him. She debated trying to join the crowd but Teddy was steady rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, he seemed content to have her by his side.
Ana was shocked to see Tamera on her son's arm this way. She knew they were acting chummy at their house, but them walking in together spoke volumes to how connected they were. She also noted the look on poor Tam's face it was the same expression she used to wear when she'd go to events with Christian when they first started dating. She also took in the way her son was holding Tamera's hand. She frowned, Teddy would've told her if he had a girlfriend, she was misreading this, she was sure of it.
The crowd's cheers and chatter died down from a roar to a whisper when Carrick and Grace took the stage. "May I have everyone's attention? Today is a very, very special day in the Grey household and I want to thank everyone for coming out and celebrating it with us. Today is our first grandchild's coming of age birthday party. I promised Ana I wouldn't say anything to embarrass Theodore, so I'll only share one story. I remember one of the first conversations I had with my first and only grandson, he was two and I gave him two scoops of ice cream one scoop of chocolate, the other vanilla, I set up the same bowl for myself. He frowned at his bowl and asked could we trade. I asked him that the bowls were the same. He shook his head to clarify he wanted my vanilla for his chocolate. He said vanilla was just better, and that he likes it with sprinkles. I told him that I told him that I thought chocolate has more flavor and he gave a list of reasons vanilla was better, one being that it tasted good with nanas." Grace chuckled. "Anyway, I'm rambling; I remember that as Teddy's first debate and trade and proof he's a businessman at heart. Now I'm about to share another first with him. Waiters if you please." On cue the serving staff dressed in black and white uniforms served the crowd a round of champagne. When they approached Teddy he two glasses and handed Tam one. She frowned at him. She was not 21 yet and nor should she be drinking, but again she didn't argue she just took the glass.
"To Theodore Raymond Grey, there will be many toasts tonight and I'm glad I got to be the first to celebrate this wonderful, wonderful young man. Cheers!" Everyone toasted and then found their seats. The booths in the lounge had been charted, Tamera knitted her brows, she had told Ana that she didn't think it was a good idea, but she understood the reason for doing it. She didn't want any ruckus caused by people that didn't associate being stuck sitting together. Ana had placed Theodore, Phoebe, and Ava at their booth with Elliot and Kate. Tamera was slated to sit with her father, uncle, and cousin, she had no idea they were all coming. Tamera freed her hand and she could immediately see the upset on Ted's face.
"We should've bailed," murmured as he pouted.
"It's just for the dinner portion Ted, don't pout … this really isn't that serious." He rolled his eyes and walked away from her, like a whiney little boy. Tamera snickered to herself and then happily scooted in with her dad and the rest of her family.
"Hey baby girl!" Isaac hugged his daughter and squeezed her tight.
"Hey daddy, I didn't know Miss Ana had invited you all!" She smiled at her uncle Jeremiah and Gina.
"I guess she figured it would be in good taste since Grey and I are working on a couple of projects together." Isaac shrugged at his daughter. It was then that he noticed the clothing she was wearing or the lack thereof. She would really have been wearing more clothing.
"I bet you're staying after the banquet it's rumored that DJ Cutta is going to be her and I swear I'll die, I'll seriously die if he is! That dress Tammy it's the drama! Like for real all eyes are on you in that dress!"
"Thanks," Tam muttered dryly. "It's one of mom's designs." She shifted as soon as she confessed it and she really wished she hadn't mentioned it at all it kind of just slipped out.
"So she sent you that huh?" Tam's dad looked at her and she knew what he was thinking.
"She was doing a good deed daddy don't be like that." Isaac didn't say anything. He tried really hard not to say anything negative about his wife to his daughter, he felt it bad taste. After all, he was the one that hand done the wrong. He had cheated on his wife, but his actions shouldn't have made Imani move to the other side of the country and completely and totally ignore their daughter. It had been over three years since Tamera had seen or heard from her mother.
After a few awkward moments of silence at the Black table the waiter arrived breaking the tension. Everybody quickly placed their orders; Tam paused at the sight of one of her favorite dishes on the menu. She knew it had to be Teddy's doing.
"I'll have the seafood stir fry please," she said as she rummaged through her purse. All the while grinning to herself, she pulled out her phone to tell Ted thank you.
Tam: Seafood stir fry = Tam's a happy grl ;-)
Ted: U r welcome
Ted: All my faves were on the menu too
Tam: Ur welcome lol :-)
Ted: Come sit with us … with me
Tam: I can't Miss u tho
Ted: Ditto we still should've bailed smdh
Tamera laughed at her still pouty friend and then looked up to find her whole table staring at her. "Funny text," she mumbled because she felt obligated to explain.
"Tammy, will you help me find the restroom in this place before the food comes?" Gina asked and Tam nodded and hopped up and quickly gave her dress another tug in the right direction. He cousin slid out of the booth and her elegant black maxi, Tam wanted to switch dresses with her just because hers looked so much more comfortable, much more her style.
The girls walked past the booth that Teddy and his family was sitting at. Tamera was set to send a small wave in their direction and keep moving but her cousin grabbed her elbow to stop her. Apparently she wanted to be introduced. Tam sighed as she began the formality.
"Hello Greys, Miss Ana everything looks amazing! I just wanted to introduce my one and only annoying cousin Regina Black." Her cousin waved and auctioned as though she was star struck. "And Gina this is Phoebe, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Grey, Ava, Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Grey, and …" As soon as she was about to introduce Teddy, Gina interrupted her.
"Hi Teddy, happy birthday," Gina gushed and Tam rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised that her cousin was acting like this, she was just mad because Teddy would pick at her about this later. Gina was too busy checking Teddy out to worry about the light chuckles coming from the other people at the table. She was debating whether she found him as attractive in person as he was in the photos. He was so much more attractive! So much so she was sure he had some work done, people just don't come out that pretty. Tamera realized her cousin was still starring and was so annoyed and embarrassed by this, she held the bridge of her nose and waited for this to be over.
"Hello Regina, would you ladies like to sit down? Tam?" Teddy smirked he was more than sure that Regina would jump at the chance to sit with him and in the end he would get what he wanted Tam … to sit with him that is. He was right about her cousin she nodded eagerly and went to sit down, but Tamera stopped her.
"Uh, didn't you have to go to the bathroom?" Tamera reminded her cousin.
"Oh … yeah right," Gina finally had enough since to act embarrassed. Tamera shook her head at her cousin's foolishness.
"Will you be stopping back through, we can get your orders placed her instead." Teddy pushed on for the change of seating and Tamera glared at him.
"Teddy, that would be kind of rude, don't you think?" Tamera stood her ground on this, plus she hadn't seen her dad in a while. She'd forgotten how much of a daddy's girl she once was.
"I thought you promised not to argue with me today." Ted stated quietly but it was clear he was annoyed.
"I'm not arguing, I'm disagreeing," she corrected him and she smirked and so did he. "What'd you pick off the menu?" Tamera asked.
"It was hard because someone filled it with all of my favorites." Ted smiled at her. "But I went with the filet mignon, with the garlic butter green bean, and roasted potatoes." Ted said the last part with a French accent and Tam laugh so hard she snorted a little.
"You're breath is going to stink … good thing I don't have to sit by you and smell it!" Tamera teased and Ted stuck his tongue out at her.
"This coming from a twenty-one year old Teddy, tsk, tsk." Tamera noticed that everyone at the table was watching them, but Ted didn't care or notice. "Well the bathroom waits, come on Gina. Enjoy your meals."
Once in the bathroom Gina started her interrogation. "So what's the deal on Teddy?" Gina asked her cousin from while in the can.
"The deal?" Tamera was frowning at herself in the mirror and pushing her little bit of belly fat around while she waited for her cousin to finish up.
"Don't play dumb Tammy, his status … his relationship status," Gina clarified.
"He's single, but that's because he doesn't date." Tam was blunt about it, because for some reason she didn't like Gina asking so many questions about Ted. She didn't know how she would feel about Ted sleeping with Gina. Tam shook the thought from her mind, Gina wasn't his type anyway.
"So, are you two fucking?" Gina asked and then flushed the toilet.
"Gina!" Tamera exclaimed horrified she didn't even give in to the mild visual she received at her cousin's inquiry.
"No, God no. Ted and I are just friends we don't see each other that way." After Tamera answered another stall flushed and opened. Tamera looked as if she'd seen a ghost. Tam glared at the woman who now stood beside her washing her hands and smiling at her as if she'd done no wrong.
"Oh shit!" Gina exclaimed at a whisper.
"Hey baby," her mother cooed and after she dried her hands Imani tried to hug her daughter. Tam allowed this for a moment but then quickly pulled away from her.
"What – why are you here?" Tamera's anger and alarm caused her to yell.
"I'm here to see you, sweetie, I have some things I wanted to discuss."
Author's Note: Here's another chapter I hoped you all enjoyed part one of Teddy's party. It will probably have three parts since it is kind of action and drama packed. I know this chapter was a little more Black than Grey but don't worry there will be plenty more Grey action in the following chapter! Another Black and Grey Exclusive is posted on my website introducing some more new faces. Let me know if you would like to see who I envision as Ava and Phoebe and I submit that information next time. As always read, review, and no flames.
