Love and ego episode 12

Love and ego episode 12
That Friday evening when he knocked on her door and she yanked it open, he was instantly Bewitched by the sight of her. She looked so beautiful that he wondered why had failed to see her this way for a long time. He was speechless as he could only stare. He let his eyes run down her figure, down to her long smooth legs fitted into her heels.
“You look beautiful.” He finally said as he met her gaze again.
“So you do. Nice tux.” She said.
Restraining himself from telling her that they should forget about the dinner for that night while he seized her in his arms and lead her back into the apartment to devour her, he swallowed past the knot forming in his throat and asked, “Ready?”
She nodded. “Let me fetch my purse.” She quickly walked out of sight and soon reappeared with her purse. She stepped out of the apartment, locked the door and placing a hand on the small of her back, he guided her off.
★
At Mr. Raybon’s house, there were already a lot of people who had arrived on time and earlier than they did. As Rendell guided Claire to the door, Mr. Raybon and his wife Judith were waiting to receive them.
“I almost feared you wouldn’t make it.” Judith beamed as she let Rendell k-ss her cheeks after he shook hands with her husband.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.” Rendell replied with a smile. “Congratulations on your art award.”
“Oh, thank you.” Judith said then shifted her gaze to Claire. “Well, who do we have here? I’ve never seen anyone so lovely!”
Deliberately slipping an arm around Claire’s wa-ist and pulling her closer to himself as he introduced, “Judith, my fiancee, Claire…” Claire instantly shot him a surprised and confused look wondering why he hadn’t settled on the title they are agreed on but he pretended not to notice as he continued, “and Claire, this is Judith, an old friend.”
Judith embraced Claire. “Well, we were highschool buddies. You are welcome. Please come in.” She gestured at the open door and they followed the couple in.
When they entered the crowdy house, they were led through it to the backyard where there were a lot of people around the swimming pool and a man was in charge of the barbecue. “I’m really glad you both came.” Judith said again then said to her husband, “Honey, please fetch them some drinks.”
“Right.” Mr. Raybon nodded and walked away.
Claire glanced around but when her gaze locked with Rufus’ who was standing in the midst of some colleagues with one hand in his pocket and the other hand holding a beer bottle, she felt embarrassed and nervously smiled at him but he didn’t smile back. If anything, his look was hærd and cold and she knew that he must be angry about seeing her in the party with the CEO. Swallowing hærd, she turned away and tried to smile at what Judith was babbling about to both of them.
“There’ll just be a short dance before we have dinner.” Suddenly she signalled with her hand at the DJ, who immediately began to play a classic song then she turned to them and asked, “what are you doing here? You should be dancing.”
“Is that really necessary?” Claire skeptically asked as she saw couple’s beginning to slip to the middle of the yard and began to dance.
“Are you for real?!” Judith exclaimed, “I have been dying to meet Rendell’s girl and I want you guys to have the best of time, now shoo! Off with you too.” She nudged them towards the dance floor.
As Rendell and Claire held each other and began to dance to the music, Claire avoided his gaze and simply focused her attention over his shoulder. As they danced, she could feel his breath on her forehead and their bodies were awfully close while his hand tingled the unclad skin on her back.
“You okay?” He asked, finally breaking the silence.
She simply nodded but didn’t look up.
“You seemed tensed.” He observed. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She answered.
“Is this because of the attraction we are beginning to feel towards each other?” He boldly asked, gazing above her head at other couples.
She pursed her l-ips then murmured. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Do not play dumb. You do know what I’m talking about.”
“And since when do you read minds?”
“I do not but I read body language quite well and I know that you want me as much as I want you.”
She bit her lower lip then said. “This is all infatuation. Believe me, give it time and it will blow over.”
“I believe I’m experienced enough to differentiate pure attraction from infatuation. I know what I feel, Claire.”
She swallowed hærd then slowly lifted her face to stare into his eyes which met hers. “O bet that I only feel this way because I haven’t been with a man for a long time.”
“You are not alone.” He whispered down to her. They stared into each other’s eyes for a while and when his head started descending and his l-ips pulled closer to her, she caught herself and was quick to turn her face away and he stopped half way.
An awkward silence grew between them and just then, they heard Judith give two loud claps then called their attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time.”
Immediately, couple cleared from the dance floor as waiters began to set tables at specific s₱0ts, arranged the chairs, set the plates and curlery then began to occupy the tables with different pans of delicacies and bottles of wine. Each table could contain twelve people and immediately, people began to fill the seats.
Six waiters attended to the tables by dishing out the food and uncorking wines and filling up glass cups. Judith and her husband had Claire and Rendell sit at their own table with a few family members and close friends. As they ate, Judith paid close attention to the couple and struck up a conversation with Claire while her husband engaged in one with Rendell. She asked Claire personal questions about how she had met Rendell and other questions concerning their relationsh¡p.
After half an hour, Claire excused herself to go to the restroom and Judith permitted her to use the one up in their bedroom, claiming that anyone engaged to Rendell was family. Judith and Rendell watched Claire go and after she disappeared into the house, the two locked gazes and Judith said, “You don’t fool me one bit, Rendell.”
Rendell tried to act ignorant. “What are you talking about, Judith.”
“I know that this is all a hoax… When did you become such a phone?”
Rendell smiled. “Damn, means we weren’t that convincing after all.”
“You were quite alright but not with the roleplay of playing a fiance. I saw something else I have not seen for the past three years and that’s love. You love that girl, Rendell, don’t you?”
“Judith, can we not go down that road, please?” He said evasively. “We are just very good friends and I don’t see anything serious amounting out of that.”
“If you let this one pass you by, you are going to end up a sad lonely man filled with regrets.” Judith warned, then leaned forward and added with a smile, “besides, I like her already.”
Unknown to them, Rufus who was seated at a nearby table and had noticed Claire go into the house, pushed his chair back, stood up and disappeared into the house too.
To Be Continued…