31. THE DINNER.

The melodious chords of the violin sang sweetly through her ears as the door fell apart. Olivia held only an edge of her flowing gown as her lips parted by default—this was unlike anything she’d seen before. She’d read about a thousand galas, including the MET but this, this was the closest she’d ever been to one.

The scent was of wealth, and power. The obnoxious, ancient wealth. She brought herself forward, gently lifting her glassed shoe above the hinges. Her gaze went up the stairs, and past the million butlers that stood by. There were ushers as well, matching in plaid black suits like the guests—including the one next to Liv.

Damien pushed a lump down his throat, holding Liv’s arms in a gentleman lock. She took in bristle breathes as well and he parted his lips to speak words that were hesitant to fall out. His tie matched the bow buried in her hair and there was a shock where their skins brushed against each other.

“You ready to do this.” The banner fell from above and immediately she could hear the million camera clicks, flashing into her eyes as they stepped into the ballroom. The mural floors grazed beneath her Dior pumps and it was almost as if she took a 360 beneath the crystal chandeliers. A firm grasp around his hands was enough reply but she whispered. “Yes, yes i am” Those being the only words they’d said to each other ever since.

“Everything comes down to t—“

“Where’s Raznak?” She interrupted him, before looking into his eyes. They were close enough for the paparazzis, but far enough that neither felt that shock anymore. And she was reluctant, looking away from his eyes. “I’m going to need to put on the performance of your life. We’re so close” He gritted through his teeth. “We’re so close to sealing this, and then all of this ends” He pushed a sour lump down his throat as if he wanted to.

“All of this ends” She echoed and he nodded, while turning back to the cameras. And slowly, they made their way down the red carpets and to the seats that were reserved for them at the very front row—on which Amanda and Luke were already sat on. Their hands immediately fell apart, untangling from each other the moment they left the entrance and Liv found her seat, in between the Archer brothers.

“What is he doing here?” He asked in a hoarse tone and Amanda’s frail hands found the lapel of her son’s jacket. “This isn’t the right time” She managed to maintain a forced smile as Damien turned to Luke. “You haven’t answered my question.” He added and his mother let go. “Damien i invited him, now you can choose to let whatever anger you’re hoarding up for your blood ruin your chances with Raznak today or you can for once, behave like an adult when it comes to your family” Amanda said lowly and Olivia muffled a chuckle—she was the only one that could put that Damien in his place. Perhaps the only woman he respected.

“Don’t speak to me that way” He muttered, hiding his eyes behind a new pair of dark glasses. He hated the press, so much that when he was by himself or doing some random shopping, he’d prefer to be unrecognizable.

And these pair of shades gave him that—it also shielded his eyes from the gaze that Liv and Luke shared right next to him. Their hands met beneath the table where he gave her a light squeeze. He was the only reason she was sure that tonight won’t suck, the only person that had convinced her to show up. And right now, the only Archer she could tolerate. She looked to him and he gave her a firm nod. “You ready?” He leaned into her, although facing a much different direction and Olivia pursed her lips. “As long as you’re here, always” They’d bonded over their mutual distaste for the one person they had in common which was Damien.

And also, their love for pineapple pizza—even when the world seemed to be against how such a combo slapped. She let go of his hands once the music stopped and the low chatters as well. And then suddenly the lights shot off, igniting just one that shone from the north of the hall. And the giant doors fell wide open to welcome a plump man with a banner across his shoulders.

He was in a beige suit, and wasn’t even up to five eleven. With a sheepish imprinted smile, he stiffly waved to the cameras that captured him. The man drew all the attention in the hall, including Liv who had turned around. And once she realized he was headed towards that table, she turned back to Damien.

“Is that Raznak?” She pronounced his name with an accent and Damien stood, holding his lapel with one hand while stretching out the other. The whole room arose for this man that seemed to hold so much power and the light trailed his every step. “It’s Mr Soviet to you” Amanda stood from behind as well and he didn’t halt till he got to the table. “Nice to see you again, Mr Archer. I could swear it was ages since our last meeting” They shared a forced laugh and a raunchy handshake, whereby he kissed Amanda on her cheeks and then the back of her hands. He turned around to Luke, with hone he exchanged a sketchy greeting before finally his gaze fell on the infamous Olivia Sanders.

He grasped her hands and her lashes fluttered slyly. Raznak was a very loud man and you could hear the echoes of his voice from a distance away. Olivia shriveled at his callus touch while gently pulling away. “It’s an honor to finally meet the diamond” He said and her cheeks turned a bright pink. “I would say the same, sir” She replied, just as everyone did but he was quick to retract his eyes, piercing deep with his almond eyes.

“Well i’m no diamond” He clutched his chest and Liv nervously put her hands away, allowing an awkward silence between them. And then he burst out into a sudden laughter, dashing Damien a punch in his shoulders. “Your wife, she’s short of a humor” He walked to his seat, finally taking it and the music resumed. And so did the low chatterings. “Not yet” Damien cleared his throat as Liv threw her head over her shoulders.

“What do you mean? She’s already your wife” He had a thick accent, one between Russian and German. And Luke choked on his saliva, receiving only a stern gaze from his mother. “Well we’re still in the early stages of engagement. I mean—“ Damien stuttered. “Anything can happen.” Raznak’s ears fumed at that sentence and he looked away from his phone. “Nothing” He said in a raucous tone. “Nothing can happen, and nothing will” He continued, only fortunate that he met Luke’s eyes.

“This is my other son” Amanda cleared her throat, an attempt to break the tense atmosphere that had suddenly clouded the table and Raznak looked back and forth. “Good d—“ “I mean you do have a plan” He only halfly ignored her as Luke tied his tongue.

“What do you mean?” Damien threw a question back at him. “The final ceremony. The grand wedding, you have a plan right?” He was unsure of a response to give him that he froze. “It’s a work in progress” Olivia was obliged to cut in, rather than just sit there, mute and pretty. Her hands found the edge of a table, from a angle where Raznak could get a glimpse of the ring. “Once we seal this deal, i’m afraid that is when we can move to personal matters” Damien replied him and he knocked the table.

“Nonsense”

“You should’ve learned from his father never to put business over family” Raznak added. “They say he’s his carbon copy, Raznak” Amanda replied as they looked to each other for more than a second. “It is more than just business, Mr Soviet. It is my father’s legacy. His work, it is my father and what i have left of him” The whole table was silenced as even Luke turned to his brother.

Raznak cleared his throat.

“If that be kiss, i guess i’ll lend a hand” He deviated, breaking the silence as he turned to Liv. She halted, with a glass of champagne in her hands. And he could tell the surprise in her expression. “Except you have a problem with it?” He continued.

“Not at all” Amanda chipped in.

“But we didn’t ask. It’s a plan, it’s not just a priority is what i mean to say” He said and Raznak chuckled lightly. “You didn’t have to, Damien. We’re family” He turned back to Amanda, raising a finger. “Does he not know we’re family?” He teased.

“Oops” Luke whispered, leaning a few inches closer to Liv’s ears and she nervously gripped the table covers. “Besides, i’ll be looking for a reason to have you both back in Vienna for the holidays. What do you say about keeping your old man some company?” He cheered, downing a whole glass of Merlot and Damien cringed at that name he’d said.

“You are not my old man” He thought, but those words never passed his tongue. “Vienna?” Olivia echoed and he turned to her. “Yes, dear the wedding will be here, a few days before christmas. It would be the perfect ceremony, the loudest and most extravagant all of Vienna have seen. The talk of the town, hosted by your very own. The perfect way to end the year” He gestured unknown things in the air with his hands.

And Liv pounced forward, realizing how much this could change the plan and keep her engaged to Damien for much longer—God forbids she eventually marries him. “That’s in less than a month” She exclaimed and Raznak’s eyes narrowed at her.

“Is that a problem?” He asked by default and she cleared her throat. Damien was mute and he only just stared at his mother this entire time. And it was left to Olivia to fathom a reply. An arc invaded Raznak’s brows as he looked to the both of them.

“It’s no problem” Damien finally said. “It would be an honor to have you throw this ceremony” He pushed a hard lump down his throat, obvious to anyone that he wasn’t thrilled. And Liv had her lips fall wide open, disbelief in her eyes. “Oh Damien” He called his name like a German while he adjusted in his chairs.

“Your wife is already the diamond. We’ll show her to the world” Her heart sank, Olivia but in a good way. She looked to her left and her eyes were instantly met by Luke’s. He was expressionless through those glassy eyes and Liv could feel her palms quiver in her thighs. “You caught a good one Damien. Just like your father—“ Raznak looked to Amanda, whose hands fastened her jaw and he stood from his seats. “Excuse me, i got to speech to present” He was ready to slide his chair back in before he halted.

“Oh” He exclaimed.

“I’d have the signed documents back to you during the week” Damien looked to him, wide-eyed and Raznak nodded. “We’ve decided to go along with your prepositions but along with some conditions, some conditions that will be made clear over time” He said lowly and Amanda sat forward. “We’re glad, Damien”

“We’ll be making an initial investment, worth a billion dollars into the Archer Corporation where i would now act as a co-ceo and key shareholder” He said so leniently and Damien sniffled. “But that’s only if you’re still interested. If you’re willing to share, you want to be saved—“ His frail hands met the table.

“But at what cost?”

“I’d think about it” Damien matched his narrow eyes, placing his hands opposite his. “You’re the future of this company, i trust you’d make the right decision, Damien Archer” He pulled away and there was a look between Amanda and him, that when he walked towards the stage, taking the mic in his hands—Damien stormed out, his blood-red pocket square falling to the ground.

A hand stretched out to it, while a pair of eyes trailed him till he walked through the door—her eyes. It was until she felt bristle something against her legs and she looked down at him— Luke.

“Wanna ditch this?”

“Wanna get out of here?” Her eyes immediately went across to Amanda who had zoned away. “Come on” His robot voice pierced through her ears again. “You know this sucks” He added and as much as she didn’t want to smile in that moment, she did. But in a chuckle of relief sense— “Where would we even go to?” He sat up, locking eyes with her amber ones.

“Wherever.”

“Wherever the winds takes us.” Mischief glinted in his eyes as she looked into his open palms, deciding on whether or not to take it. And whatever decision she was to make that night, was going to change everything. That much, she knew.

To be continued…