Thanks for the lovely reviews once again, everyone! Here's chapter six :) The dinner party will go on for another few chapters, so hope you all enjoy it...
Mum finally allowed herself to give Troy her proper hostess smile. It seemed she had accepted my explanation of him. "How lovely! Now then, come and take your coats off and we'll go through to the dining room."
She led us over to the coat rack, and I suddenly became aware that she was signalling to me with her eyes. She does that a lot, my mother. I just wish she'd remember that I will never be able to decipher her silent codes for as long as I live.
I looked away purposely and went to take Troy's coat, so I could hang it up along with my own. Just as he gave it to me, my father went to pat him on the back.
"So, you and my daughter are courting?" he asked, sounding a cross between stern and almost accepting.
I dared not even look at Troy; this was mortifying. Courting? Surely that's something a father says to a young man who wants to go out with his teenage daughter?
Not when said daughter is twenty-nine...and come to think of it, that word isn't even used in this century anymore, anyway.
I could only hold my breath in anticipation of what my poor defenceless date would say in response.
"Yes sir, we are," Troy replied calmly. "I hope I can gain your approval on that?" He actually sounded convincingly hopeful in his plea, and I let out my breath and finished hanging up our coats.
"Well, we shall see," Dad answered, but when I turned to spy the look on his face I could see he was smiling.
Something told me he already valued Troy within the business; so liking him outside of that wasn't going to be too hard.
"Gabi dear, come with me," Mum suddenly announced, taking me by the hand and leading me towards the kitchen.
I shot a look at Troy over my shoulder, and he smiled reassuringly back. He was still chatting to my father, looking perfectly happy.
As we entered the kitchen she led me to a quiet corner. Every other area was taken up by members of the catering team, who were busy preparing our impending dinner.
My parents spare no expense when it comes to entertaining. But I still manage to forget how wealthy the family is, because I choose not to live off of the money.
"Why didn't you feel the need to inform your father and I that you were dating one of his employees?" my mother asked immediately as we came to a standstill.
Because technically I haven't been dating him...and I didn't actually know he worked for Dad until last night...
"I...thought it'd be a nice surprise if I told you tonight!" I explained brightly.
"Even though I'd told you more than once about all the single guests that were going to be here? Really, Gabi, you could have warned me!"
Ah. So she was irritated about her plan being spoilt. I knew it...
"I thought you wanted me to meet a nice young man with a good career?" I replied, changing tact.
"I did!" said Mum impatiently.
"And I have. So does it really matter that I waited a little while to tell you? I wanted to see how things progressed between Troy and I before I got you all excited."
My fingers were crossed as I spoke. I felt a bit awful now that I'd gone into this, even though Troy had entered into the fake boyfriend plan knowingly and willingly.
But even so, it was weird discussing the development of a relationship that didn't even exist. Despite the fact that the date we were on together wasn't part of the lie.
That was the only thing keeping me going as I stood there, waiting for my mother's reaction.
I watched as her face changed to an expression that almost resembled delight – to see that from Mum meant that I was obviously much better at lying than I had suspected.
The problem now was, I was having scary visions of what she would be like in a few months' time. Asking me when a wedding date would be set, and other such questions.
Thankfully at that moment, she simply put on her best smile and ushered me out of the kitchen. "Well," she announced merrily. "Come along, the guests are already in the dining room with your father!"
I followed her obediently, waiting for her to direct me to where I was supposed to sit at the large table in the centre of the room. When she did so, I noticed that I had been placed directly opposite Troy, who was already sitting and chatting to the man on his left.
He caught my eye and smiled warmly at me, and I beamed back. I told myself to take a leaf out of his book and just relax.
Letting out a calming breath, I looked around to see if I knew anybody else at the table. Immediately I spotted Frank, my father's right hand man. He was sitting on the same side as Troy, only a few seats to the right. I gave him a warm smile, which he returned my way before picking up his drink.
Frank is about ten years older than my dad, and has been with the company since it was formed. Basically, he is second in command there, and is the man in charge if ever my father is unwell or away. That in itself is quite rare, because Dad is a self-confessed workaholic; but even so, Frank is still a hugely valued member of the company.
He's also one of the nicest people I've ever met – I'm always happy to see him, and he's been a good friend of the family for as long as he's worked with my dad.
I suddenly became aware that the seats either side of me had now been filled when I heard a woman clear her throat to my left. I turned my head and put on a smile. "Hi there," I began politely.
She smiled back at me, in just as friendly a manner as I had. "Hi! I'm Sophie Morris – I'm one of the wives," she told me, explaining her presence. She then gestured to the empty seat across from her, which was on Troy's right. "My husband just went to get our drinks."
"Oh right," I replied with a nod. "Well, it's good to meet you. I'm Gabi Montez."
Her eyes flashed in recognition as she took in the name I had given. "Ah, so..."
"Yeah. I'm the boss's daughter," I finished with a light chuckle, which she returned right before her attention was caught by someone approaching her.
"Oh there you are darling, come and meet Gabi – Gabi Montez!" Sophie announced merrily. I looked up, ready to greet her husband - another of my dad's employees.
"Hello th..." my voice stopped in it's tracks when I came face to face with Tim, the creep who'd tried to chat me up at work earlier.
I'd never seen the blood drain from anyone's face quite as fast before as it registered with him just who I was.
I decided not to feel daunted. He was the one that should have felt unnerved; and evidently he did.
"Hi there!" I tried again, smiling as brightly as I could.
Tim didn't respond; his face was still frozen on mine.
Sophie noticed his silence, but obviously had no inkling as to what was causing it. "Tim! What is the matter with you?" she asked impatiently.
"Sorry, I...here's your drink, sweetheart," he tactfully handed Sophie her glass. "Hello, lovely to meet you...Gabi."
Yes, isn't it just? Smarmy, slimy, two-faced git...
God, how I wanted to broadcast his little flirtation efforts right then and there. But I'd only just met his wife; only just seen him for a second time. Was it really my place to say anything?
"You, too," I forced myself to utter, then looked away as he went to take his seat next to Troy.
I tried to catch the eye of my date, but he had turned to greet Tim himself.
And that's when I remembered something. That creep had told me, bold as brass, that he ran his own business! Yet here he was, portrayed quite blatantly as a member of my father's company.
So what was the man - a compulsive liar? A fantasist?
I couldn't bring myself to turn my head back in Sophie's direction, and neither did I allow myself to look at vile Tim again. Instead, I looked to my right and began chatting to a man called Stuart, who seemed pleasant enough.
Within the next few minutes our dinner was in front of us, and I was grateful not to have to make more small talk. I was just too distracted by my recent discovery.
The food was delicious, though. I was just digging into it (in my usual sophisticated manner, of course) when I felt a pair of eyes on me. They turned out to belong to Troy, so unfortunately he got to witness exactly what I look like when I'm starving – not attractive, I'm certain.
And yet he was smiling so intently at me that I'm sure I blushed.
It had been an awkward evening so far; yet not unsuccessful, as far as the original plan was concerned.
The thing was, the real date had become far more important to me than the fake boyfriend idea. I just did not want to be at this party, and it wasn't only because of that vile Tim.
I took my eyes away from Troy as I noticed my dad clearing his throat and rising from his seat at the head of the table. Our empty plates had just been taken away only seconds ago.
"Before we carry on, I wanted to say a few words," announced my father as he looked around the room at everyone's expectant faces. Mum sat beside him, and she too was transfixed. I wondered what was so crucial about this speech.
"First of all, thank you all for coming here this evening!" Dad continued pleasantly. "There is in fact a special reason behind this gathering. You all know that our own Frank Carlisle has been with our company since it's formation almost thirty-five years ago."
I glanced over at Frank, who had a reminiscent smile on his face. There was a general mumble of understanding around the table that showed everyone was, of course, aware of this. My father took a breath and continued his speech.
"Frank has asked that I would make an announcement tonight on his behalf – he will be retiring at the end of the year. He has been my vice president as well as a dear friend for just as long, so on a personal note this is a very sad occasion for me."
As soon as Dad had uttered the word 'retirement' in the same sentence as Frank, there had been a collective gasp amongst the guests – Troy and myself included.
I had always seen Frank as somebody who would work until his last day on earth; he seemed to love his job far too much ever to leave it. But I knew he was almost seventy by now. I only hoped there were no health issues behind his decision to take retirement.
While he had paused in order to let the news sink in, it appeared my father still had more to say. "I would now like to make a toast, if you would all raise your glasses?"
We all dutifully raised our drinks in the air.
"To Frank. I'm sure you will all join me in saying that we will miss his presence within the company!"
I heard another man, at the other end of table, shout out, "Hear, hear!" Meanwhile dear old Frank tipped his glass appreciatively in the air before taking a sip out of it. It was his quiet way of thanking the room for it's toast in his honour.
I looked over to meet Troy's eyes to see him looking wistful, and knew immediately that he too thought a lot of Frank. I sent him a small smile, and he matched it briefly before we turned back to look at my dad again. There was yet more to be said.
"I was going to save this next announcement for another occasion, but Frank himself insisted that there was no need to postpone sharing it all with you. A decision has been made as to who will be following in his footsteps as our new vice president."
Literally every person in the room was hanging on my father's every word. I had no idea what the outcome would be. I knew absolutely nothing about his employees, except for the one who would soon be leaving.
And the creepy married man whose unknowing wife was sitting beside me...
"The person succeeding Frank on his retirement will be...Mr Tim Morris," Dad finished with a smile.
My jaw dropped while everyone else clapped to congratulate him – although Troy didn't look particularly enthralled by the latest piece of news either.
It all boiled down to this: my father's new right hand man had already proved himself to be a serial liar – albeit mainly about his personal life, but still.
Something told me there was an ulterior motive somewhere down the line. I mean, he liked to tell strangers he ran his own company! Is that what he thought this promotion was all about – taking over from Dad completely?
I watched Tim's face as he lapped up the attention, standing briefly to say thank you with a big grin on his face. That is, until he spotted me, and a look of mute horror crossed his eyes before he looked away again.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed I had the power to destroy his little moment. But the only way it would be appropriate for me to do that would be if I thought he was a serious risk to my dad's company.
To be quite honest, I didn't have a clue what to do now. So I just let myself drift along on autopilot as we finished the rest of the dinner.
Before I knew it, we were being led into the lounge for coffee, and Troy had come round to my side of the table to walk with me. I was so lost in thought that it surprised me when he took hold of my hand.
Maybe he'd sensed that I needed a boost; or perhaps it was simply because he wanted to do it. Either way, the gesture took away some of my anxiety and replaced it with warmth.
That was what I'd wanted out of the evening...or at least out of our date. I'd wanted to really enjoy myself, because someone really genuine had wanted to take me out.
I suppose it had been a high hope for tonight, of all nights. How could it have been possible to have a good date while at your parents' dinner party and pretending to be in a full-on relationship?
Not to mention absorbing the other discoveries of the evening...
"You alright?" Troy asked softly, still clutching my hand, for which I was grateful as I squeezed it back.
"I think so," I answered, looking at him.
And then I definitely was okay. It was those gorgeous eyes again, easing me back into a world of calmness. At least for the next few minutes, anyway. The night wasn't over yet...
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