Chapter 6

The party was more extravagant than I had assumed it was going to be. Apart from all the rich men and women from the business world, the venue was packed with renowned movie stars, celebrities and models. The men were dressed in tailored suits while the ladies in elegant dresses, looked graceful. It reminded me of Lahaina’s comment on my appearance back at home. It had not bothered me then but, for some reason, it made me nervous now.

We had joined the party only a few minutes ago but Lahaina had already greeted more than a dozen people by now. She seemed to know everyone and had not burdened herself with the task of introducing me to them—not that I minded.

Everyone here seemed to know everyone. The look of pleasant surprise whenever they greet someone new, followed by a bright smile and sickly sweet words was somewhat heartening but it made me wonder how much of it was real. I followed Lahaina, staying a couple of feet behind, as she made her way to Dad, complimenting and embracing people as she went.

Dad, with Juliea standing beside him, was talking to a few men. One of them, I recognized, was his old friend, Max. Watching us come towards them, Juliea turned to give Lahaina a side hug accompanied by a shower of compliments. I was not even spared a look.

"You look lovely, Caro," Max said with a smile and gave me a fatherly hug. I had known Max ever since I was a kid. Before he had moved to Britain, along with his family, shifting his entire business there, he used to visit our home regularly.

"It's good to see you again, Uncle Max," I said.

"James was just telling me about your mother," he said, turning to dad and giving him a sad smile, "I'm so sorry for your loss, Caro. Isabella was a wonderful woman."

My mother? Loss? What?

I looked at dad with confusion and he was nodding his head at Max's words. The melancholic smile on his old, wrinkled face scared me for a moment until his eyes turned to me. The sadness that he had put on a show for his friend was replaced by a threatening glare, daring me to do anything to mess up his lie.

Juliea, who was standing beside him, placed a comforting hand on his arm and sighed. I shook my head in disbelief. It was him who had treated mom so badly all her life and literally thrown her out of his house. And now, after all these years, just to hide his true self, he killed her.

"She indeed was," I smiled at Max. The smile was more sardonic than genuine.

"So, Max," dad said, drawing his attention back to himself, "I hope you'll give a thought to us working together again."

"I'm looking forward to it," Max said and took dad's hand for a shake.

Max said goodbye to all four of us then walked to the other side of the room. Lahaina, who had been looking around the hall subtly till now, dropped the act and turned to dad, "where the hell is he?"

"He better be here, James. You said he would be," Juliea gave dad a hard glance and patted her daughter's arm in reassurance.

"He is. Now, come on," he said, leading the way. Juliea and Lahaina followed whereas I walked ahead of them and next to dad, intending to get answers.

The identity of the 'he' she was searching for, so desperately, was fairly obvious but my mind was still muddled with the topic of the previous conversation. He had just lied about his ex-wife's death to his friend without any remorse.

"Why did you lie to him?" I demanded, trying to match his strides as he made his way towards his prey for the evening.

"Do not think you can talk to me like that here just because there are people around," he warned.

"You told him mom died!" I said, trying my best to keep my anger away from my voice. Asking him questions was already something he despised and I did not want to dig my grave by shouting at him. After all, he had just put his ex-wife in there a few minutes ago.

"Shut the fuck up, Caroline," he stopped in his tracks to look at me, "no one cares about her. Maybe I didn't lie. Maybe she is already dead. Oh, how I hope she is."

I was stunned by his words. It was not just the words but the intensity with which he spoke. He actually wished she was dead. He felt nothing for her. It should not have come as a surprise to me, considering all the years after she was gone and even those when she was here, but it did. She loved him, with all her heart. She had given up everything for him, her career, her life and he felt nothing.

I was about to turn around and leave but he stopped me, "you'll stay here, Caroline."

There was that fire in his eyes and the threat in his tone that forced me to stay with them. I knew I was going to get hell for my behaviour, once we got out of the party. There was nothing I could do to improve the situation but walking away when he told me not to, would make it so much worse.

I followed the three of them to a man who had his back facing us. He was talking to a group of men, who gave him their undivided attention. He had broad shoulders that were covered with, obviously, a very expensive suit. Even from behind, it could be seen that his hair was neatly combed and gelled back.

I had not noticed that Lahaina had come forward to stand next to me. She was staring at him and urged dad to make the introductions.

"Now watch and learn," she whispered to me, "if you ever find a man, it might come in handy."

Dad cleared his throat and shifted nervously in his place. It was the first time I had seen him act this way. "Mr Woodwords."

The man in question turned around at the mention of his name. And what the hell?

Everything, ever since I stepped inside the party, has been going wrong for me. I had started to think it was turning into one of the worst evenings of my life but seeing the man just solidified it for me. It was officially the worst evening of my life.

My eyes were wide open, not in shock, but in horror. My heart was about to jump out of my mouth any moment and drop to the ground. My mind had gone totally blank. I was frozen at my spot and I was pretty sure this was the last evening of my existence.

All day I have been regretting my actions of the previous day, thinking I had humiliated a man for something that was my fault. Oh yes, I still think it was my fault. Also that I had totally humiliated him. But it was not just any man. Given my incredible luck and remarkably fortunate life, it was not just any man. It had to be the great Aaron Woodwords himself. The one man my father and step-sister were after.