What Dreams Are Made Of – Episode 17

Episode_17

Chrissy was growing more and more concerned about the party invitation she had accepted. She knew she shouldn’t go but she couldn’t come up with any logical excuse. Henry continued to try meet her every few days at her shop. He wanted to take her out but when she refused, he accepted meeting at the shop. Chrissy didn’t want to entertain him, to give him any false hope but he didn’t speak about the proposal again. She didn’t know how to stop him when he didn’t ask for any special attention from her.

He would not disturb her if she said she was busy, didn’t even call her continuously but usually drop in around evening when she was about to call the day off. Knowing that she can’t excuse citing work always she met him. He was exited that she was coming to the party. Though she wanted to ask him who else would be attending, but she didn’t want to give him the impression that she was interested in the party.

Also she didn’t want him to confirm her fears that Nikloi would be there as well. She knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid him at the party and her being there would confirm his worst opinions about herself, but maybe she didn’t want to face it before it actually happened.

On the day of the party, the feeling of uneasiness continued. She was getting a feeling that something bad was about to happen. She had almost decided not to go for the party and give it a skip when she got a call from Mrs. Clark asking her by what time she would be reaching. When she tried to excuse saying she was not feeling too well, Mrs Clark was willing to cancel the whole party saying she would post-pone it to another date. Chrissy had to convince her not to change the party and that she would be definitely be there.

In the evening she got dressed in the new gown and minimal make-up. Even though Alice told her she was looking amazing in the new gown but Chrissy was conscious of her bare shoulders and the contours of her body. She took a cab and reached the hotel. Party was at Regency Palace though this time she didn’t have her friend Linda at the party. At the entrance of the banquet hall, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and stepped inside the main door.

The moment she entered, all eyes turned to her. The first thing she realized was that there were too many people around. She had not expected such a big gathering. Next she noticed that all the ladies were loaded in expensive clothing and jewellery. And the men were in cocktail suits. Sweat had already started breaking off her forehead wondering what the hell she was doing amidst such people. She had a deep urge to turn around and run out of the doors she had just entered but a strong sense of will power kept her going deeper and deeper in that crowd.

She didn’t know, at that moment she looked like an ethereal beauty on the floor but could see open appreciation in the eyes of the men and some women but mostly women were regarding her like they would do to another competitor on the game field. Just when she thought she probably has come to the wrong hall and would never find anyone known, she saw Mrs. Clark moving quickly across the hall towards her. Chrissy gave her a warm smile and Mrs. Clark took her hands in her hand.

“I am glad you came, darling. And I must say you are looking marvellous in the dress” said Mrs. Clark with a wide smile. She was dressed in a dark blue gown looking quite well herself. She took her to her friends and one by one started introducing Chrissy to all of them. They were businessmen, industrialist, media house people, important bureaucrats, etc accompanied by their wives, girlfriends and very quickly Chrissy lost their names. Some of the ladies were championing their own professions as well but difficult to make out the difference based on similar appearances.

Before soon Chrissy had grown tired of meeting them having nothing much common to talk about.

Just then she saw Henry coming towards the group of people she was standing with. She was glad t

o see him and as if sensing her discomfort, he immediately took her away from the group. Moving to a side table, he told her close to her ear, “You are looking like a fairy queen who has come to bless my world”.

She knew she shouldn’t be standing with him separated from the rest of the party, yet she was grateful to him for rescuing her. His sudden compliment embarrassed her but she became even more grateful. She stuttered, “Th.. Thank.. yy you..”

“I was so tense you might not turn up at all but I am so happy you came, I am practically over the moon”, Henry expressed his excitement. Chrissy said, “Mrs Clark has been very sweet to me. I couldn’t say no to her”.

“Yes, that’s why I love my Mom”, he said proudly and Chrissy couldn’t help but smile at his boy-like declaration of love for his mother. In those moments with him, she realized she really liked Henry and enjoyed his company too but what she felt for him was genuine friendship.

She wanted them to continue to be friends but she had to tell him that there was no future for them together. And she had to tell him quickly but not right now in the party.

Realizing she had been standing with him, away from others for some time, she thought she should move back to some group without making Henry feel that she was avoiding him. She looked up to find Mrs. Clark but her eyes collided directly with the tall, brooding man who was looking at them from across the hall. Even at this distance, she could feel the heat radiating from his body warming up her each and every pore on her exposed skin.

He was looking stunningly handsome, as usual but the expression on his face was almost deadly. She wanted to look away but was bound in a spell. It was as if his eyes were commanding her to look at him. She didn’t know when or how the distance between them was covered but he was now standing right in front of her and she still didn’t have the power to look away.

It was only when she heard a voice saying, “And who is this that we have at Aunt Martha’s party?”, did she turn to look at the woman next to Nikloi Swaroski. She had her arm intertwined with Nikloi’s arm and was clinging to his body. Looking at her face, Chrissy was jolted out of her day dreaming. She was looking at Susan Malkovich’s face.

Dressed in a wine red gown which showcased her figure far more than that what Chrissy would call decent, she was looking extremely striking. Her plunging neckline exposed her well-shaped curves and the whole dress seem to be hanging together by a delicate golden brooch in the middle of her breasts. Chrissy saw she had absolutely no problem flaunting her body like that.

“Do you know her, darling? She was asking Nikloi who was still holding her hands.

“Hi Susan, Hello Bro”, Henry wished both of them charmingly and then introduced Chrissy to Susan.

“Susan, meet my friend, Christina Smith. She has her antiques shop and is working with Mom on her antiques collection. Chrissy, meet Susan Malkovich. Susan is a business partner with Swaroski Hotels. Both our families have been working together since long”

Chrissy saw Susan look at her from top to bottom but didn’t release her arm from Nikloi’s hold to shake hands with her.

“Have we met before? It appears we have, may be in Swaroski House?”, she said, smiling sweetly, as if trying to remember when but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Chrissy knew she had recognized her again and was hinting about that kiss in the conference room. She was the woman Nikloi was trying to avoid and because of whom he had kissed Chrissy. The memory triggered a series of emotions and in spite of herself, Chrissy’s face coloured. But the man standing in front of her didn’t show even a flicker of an emotion. He had not even spoken a single word to her.

Chrissy forced herself to look at Susan and said squarely, “No, I don’t think we have met, Ms. Malkovich.”

“May be”, Susan tossed her hand behind and moved away dragging Nikloi with her who didn’t even bother to look at Chrissy before going away.

“What was that?” Henry wondered aloud after Susan and Nikloi moved away

. Then dismissing Susan, he looked at Chrissy asking if she would like to have a drink. Chrissy was too shocked to see Susan after so many days and that too with Nikloi. She somehow felt humiliated by the way he had ignored her completely. She wanted to be away from all of them and excused herself to go to the restroom.

Alone by herself, she couldn’t stop tears slipping from her eye lashes. She was hurt by his behaviour and but more importantly by seeing Susan with Nikloi. Hadn’t she been terribly upset after seeing Nikloi kiss me , she thought. And Nikloi had kissed her because he wanted Susan away, so why was he now holding her hands as if she was too precious for him.

He had stolen her life’s first kiss ever for such charade? Was it a lover’s tiff she had been caught up in between? Did he love Susan? There were too many questions in her mind. She didn’t have their answers but one thing was clear, she meant nothing to Nikloi Swaroski.

Whatever she had felt or experienced for him were her naïve heart’s imaginations.

Story_Continues