Chapter Twenty-Two
The night of the charity is all glitz and glam. Though, on this particular night Matt didn't care if people drown themselves with diamonds or makeup that mismatched their face, it was for a good cause and no way was she going to complain and point out anyone's flaws. She watched as her parents' greeted the guests warmly and set their differences aside. It brought back memories of those earlier days where things seemed normal again. She stood watching her parents for ever how long until she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Daydreaming?"
Matt turned to see Cade looking handsome with a big smile. "Don't you look expensive tonight?" She touched his suit and ran her fingers down his sleeve.
"Impressive isn't it? There are too many girls to not look my best."
Matt smiled and lowered her head. "Cheer up, tonight will turn out better than you expect. I see someone I need to say hi to, talk to you later." He squeezed her hand and left her standing there wondering how good a night it will be?
In the back of her mind one person's face kept on flashing and she can't get rid of him. She wanted Andrew here tonight of all nights and when people asked her where he is, faking a smile and pretending everything is fine is harder than she thought. She looked down and her wedding ring shined brightly. Why does she want something so badly knowing she can't have?
She turned her head to the right side and spotted Mac and Lana. She smiled at the friendship she had developed with him. When her eyes met Lana there was an acknowledgement but it went no further. Her face reminded Matt of those days when Andrew was gone spending time with her. She searched Lana's eyes and Matt couldn't offer her any other way of greetings.
Mac walked over with Lana closing by, he extended a small hug, Matt returned it with a tighter one. "Glad you came. I really appreciate it."
"I am happy to be here." His eyes roamed around.
Matt caught it and smiled knowing who it was he's looking for. "Zuri is somewhere chatting up a storm with someone. When it comes to this kind of stuff you will never find her in one place."
"Really, for someone so small you would think she'll be in one place so people can easily find her." He smiled to himself.
Lana saw the look on Mac's face and had to turn away. She scanned the room fighting the sadness. The look was exactly the same way Mac used to have when he fell in love with her. Why for the life of her could she not return his love? She looked at his eyes that knew too much, his heart that is too big and a love that is never lacking. So why did she shut him out? Lana didn't have time to ponder long, when the music starts to play her heart answered the question for her. The person stood next to the door was the reason why Mac never had a chance.
Matt felt her heart beat loud and fast. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was that just entered the room. She breathed in and out, trying to catch herself but it was no use. She bit her lower lip, closing her eyes she dared not to open them, afraid it was just her imagination playing a mean trick on her. She slowly turned, everything around her dimmed out but the one man that can change her life with one sweet or mean gesture. Andrew stood perfectly still, like a dream while her heart running around all over the place inside of her.
He gave her a small smile that made him the sexiest man to her, the black suit with the green tie that coincidently matched her dress. And the way he looked at her, really looked at her as if she is the only person in the room. God, she doesn't want to shed a tear in front of these people but if they knew Andrew and her situation they would understand, this moment speaks more than anything he could've said to her.
Would it be a scene if she runs into his arms? She took a step forward and so did he. That made her smiled bigger and her eyes became glossy. She took another step and he followed her movement. Matt's face lit up like a star on the darkest night. A small smile graced Andrew's lips and he paused when they met halfway.
"You came." Her voice lowly came out, if not shaky,
"So, I did."
"For me?" She asked with hope twinkling in her eyes.
"For you." He replied shortly.
She could barely see him, her eyes were clouded by the tears, he has no idea what it meant to her by him showing up. "Thank you." She mouthed the word.
He smiled and came close to her, reaching out Andrew smooth one side of her cheek. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, you look beautiful."
She laughed, smiled and laughed again. "You don't look so bad yourself."
"Well, I wouldn't want my wife to outdo me now would I?"
This time the tears she held tightly escaped, but happy tears are always welcomed. Andrew touched her head and pulled Matt in for a hug. She could feel people's eyes on them but this is her moment with her husband whom would not have made a believer out of her that he had any of this in him, she smiled and closed her eyes.
Lana swayed and found Mac's arm while Mac kept his eyes on the pair without as much as a blink. Lana quietly let her tears rolled down her face. Andrew with Matt in his arms is so oblivious to the world around him, so lost in the embrace she felt her heart aching and longing for what he's able to give Matt. She gulped for air, turned around and ran for the nearest exit. Mac turned but made no effort following after Lana.
Matt couldn't help it. "Your tie match my dress."
"Green is a lively color."
"It's not an act is it?"
He questioned her with his eyes.
"I mean you being here. It's not just for show is it?"
"Come, stop over analyzing things and make it up in your head as you go. And to answer your question, I am not here just for show. I am here to support my wife."
"And who says you don't have a heart."
"You did."
***
As the evening progressed, Gem got up on stage and made an announcement. Everyone quietly listened, they knew there was going to be a surprise and wondered if this is it. First she called the names of all the ladies she wanted on stage. One by one they walked up with uncertainty. When it was Matt's turn she gave Andrew a confusing look. He gave her a reassuring smile and knew right then and there he was going to spend a whole lot of cash on her.
"Gentlemen, remember this is for a good cause. There are no limits to what you can spend just make sure you spend a lot."
A few chuckles came about. "These ladies will be auction off to the highest bidder." With that bit of information the ladies all made a sound at the same time.
"Mom..." Matt said too loudly. Everyone laughed and her mom continued on. "For the highest bidder, you get to have dinner with the lady. Now guys make sure you take her somewhere nice. No fast food."
"Dinner, that's all?" One man shouted.
"Dinner, that's all." The men sound disappointed but Gem carried on as if she didn't hear a thing. "Now we will begin with the our first girl."
One by one the girls walked off stage, Matt and Zuri were the last two. Zuri was the least hopeful. As she looked around one pudgy old man stood giving her a look that made her shivered. Then she saw Mac, standing tall, too proud of a man. He didn't offer her one single smile not that she was looking for one. His eyes never left hers but it also didn't give her any encouragement. As they stood looking at each other it would have made things easier if she had been nice to him in the past. She hoped that he could look past that minor detail and bid for her. As soon as the thought left her head Mac turned away and she realized her hoped just died.
Andrew took his spot next to Mac. He kept his eyes straight at Matt and did nothing more to acknowledge him.
"Did you see Lana?"
"I wasn't looking for her."
"She still love you."
"Doesn't matter."
"You are not making it easier for her by spending time with her."
"What I do is entirely my business."
Mac laughed bitterly. "That's right, you never truly love her in the first place."
"You know this because..."
"I know because I have loved Lana. I would have done just about anything she asked of me."
"Believe what you want. At the end no amount of love from me would have change a thing. Between you and her love for her ex-husband, mine wouldn't be miss."
They both feel silent and looked at Matt the same time. "I don't care much about you spending time with my wife."
"Make sure Matt is taken care of then the past shouldn't play itself out again."
Andrew turned to Mac. They both stared at each other for a stretch of time. "What good does it make if you can't have her heart?" Mac asked in the same tone Andrew once used on him regarding Lana.
Andrew looked straight at Matt, the question struck him. The way she stood there smiling. whispering to Zuri as they both laughed. At that moment his heart was telling him a secret he hasn't been listening to.
"I like her." Mac said but added the word friend silently. Let Andrew thinks what he wants with that statement. Maybe he'll learn to value Matt more.
Andrew almost rolled his neck to relax his muscle. But doing so meant his temper is finding its way to him, which he can't allow it tonight. "You'll never make it through me to get to her."
Their conversation stopped when Gem announced it was Matt's turn. Cade not realizing the tension between them grabbed Andrew's shoulder. "Man I was worried when you were late. Look, your wife is waiting for you to do your magic. It'll be a shame if another man outbid you."
Andrew didn't bother to respond. No way did he cancel an important meeting and potentially losing millions of dollars to have a miserable night. Matt will go home with him even if he have to walk out of here broke.
"And what will be the starting amount for my lovely daughter? Andrew I am looking at you." Gem loudly spoke into the microphone and everyone smiled.
Before Andrew had a chance to name his price Mac yelled out first. "One hundred thousand!"
Wow, Andrew heard the word echoed around him. Mac raised his head slightly challenging Andrew to outbid him and he expect no less.
"Can I join the fun?" Cade input his comment only to get a glare from Andrew.
Without taking his eyes off of Mac, Andrew came back with two hundred thousand.
Mac let out a secret smile. The more he bid the more Andrew would double the amount. It is after all for something good, so the game shall go on.
"Three hundred thousand."
"Five hundred thousand."
The crowd started cheering, Matt on the other hand felt her cheek burning up. "You will not win." Andrew said it just enough for Mac's ears alone.
Mac stared straight and then winked at Matt. "I know, six hundred."
"Seven hundred." Andrew shouted quickly.
And the crowd waited silently. Everyone turned to Mac. He carefully looked at Matt for a brief second then turned to Zuri. Mac heard...going once...going twice...gone. He turned to Andrew. "Congratulation, I don't think I even have a chance."
Matt didn't wait she jumped off the stage and right into Andrew's arms. "Thank you. Was I worth that much?" She asked playfully, looking at Mac she winked.
Andrew didn't answer, instead he sighed. Matt just laughed it off grabbing his arm she pulled him back to their table.
Now it was Zuri's turn and Mac had not move from his spot. "Now for the last lady she is..."
An older man with slightly bald head, round in the middle and tan looking skin yelled out. "Five thousand."
Zuri couldn't help but rolled her eyes. "For a good cause Zuri, for a good cause." She kept telling herself that to make it all better but once she stared at the old man...it didn't even.
Mac grew silent all the while Zuri was sweating bullets. He didn't bother to conceal the annoyance that she was up there. And then he did something she was praying he wouldn't. He turned around and about to walk away. Zuri bent down and was about to take her shoe off and throw it right at his back when suddenly he turned back to her. She gave him an innocent smile and pretended to scratch her leg. She was desperate she'll do anything for him to bid for her rather than the old man. Putting her hands together in a prayer like fashion, she mouthed the word please and blinked her eyes rapidly.
Mac almost laugh, she looked so childlike, helpless in her misery. Her hair puffed out even with the restrain of a bun. Her dress, in a bright purple willed his eyes to her body and stayed there. There's nothing more attractive than a pretty girl that has no idea she's pretty.
"One hundred thousand."
The old man knew he had lost, giving Mac a dirty look he walked off. Zuri didn't breathe until the word gone came out. She rushed her breaths and danced around until two strong hands grabbed her waist and pulled her off stage.
"Why don't we begin our dinner here tonight, look there's plenty of food." Zuri pointed out to the food all around her.
Mac shook his head. "Not so fast. I save your behind the least you could do is reward me." He reached and pulled out a card. "Call me later and I'll give you the direction to my place." He turned and walked away only to come back to her. "Oh, by the way, there's not a chance in hell I would let the old man win. You're mine from the beginning." He touched her head pulling a few strands of hair he tucked them behind her ear.
Before Zuri could even bring her lips together he was gone.