Chapter 44

Augustus welcomed them into his office, "I knew you would love her to wear one of the clothes for tonight which was why I tried my best to make sure they were available."
"That s very good of you," Sean replied, leading Athena the couch in the office.
"How nice it is to see you again," Augustus took her hand and kissed her knuckles, "I must have you know that designing these dresses with you in my mind is the best work I have done all my life."
Athena smiled at him, "don t flatter me but thank you."
"It s not a flatter but the honest truth."
Normally, Sean would have smiled at their conversation but seeing the flirt in Augustus eyes and the way Athena was smiling at him, the smile she hasn t given to him since yesterday, he felt the same feeling like the night in the party and was enveloped with the urge of shunning him away and reminding him of his place. But rather than do that, he sat on the couch and tried as much as he could to control himself.
Augustus laughed at what Athena said which he hadn t heard and the laughter irritated him so much he wished he could dip his hand inside his throat and choke him instead. What the hell is wrong with him?
"I will get you the dresses so you can try them on," Augustus said and left the office.
Athena sat down beside Sean and he glanced at her, "you two are pretty close aren t you?" he asked with a forced smile.
Athena glanced at him, "this is the third time I am meeting him, how close can we be other necessary?"
Sean smiled and looked away from her while cursing himself in the process, "I just notice that you talk and laugh a lot."
"He complimented me and I complimented him back, haven t you been listening?"
"Nah, I had my mind somewhere else," he replied.
Athena didn t say anything again and after a while, she said, "I have been thinking," that got her his attention, "I want to call Frank and have that dinner with him. I said I would call him when I am free and I am free these days."
From the moment she said 'Frank , Sean had gone into shock and didn t hear most of the things she said again, "why?" He asked at last.
"No reason, I just want to hear what he has to say."
"You think that s a good idea?"
"Why not? This whole thing was to get us back together after all, so why delay when he already wants that?" She stared at him.
Sean looked away when he couldn t hold her gaze anymore, she was right, hearing Frank out is the only way to know what he wants and if their plan worked, the only problem now is that he didn t like the idea of leaving them alone in a room, no, it s not a room Sean, it s at a table, in a restaurant, his subconscious reminded him and he cursed at the accuracy. Even though he had already figured everything out, he still asked, "are you already thinking of going back to him?"
Athena sighed, "well, it depends on what he wants us to talk about, if he wants us to get back together, I don t see why not, it was the whole plan after all," she shrugged.
Sean closed his eyes, this isn t where he wants to have this discussion and he wondered why she had to choose now to tell him, from her convicting words, he could tell she didn t just make the decision, so when did she and why? Why does she wants to get back with him so quickly, two night ago she had admitted that the thought of kissing him had repelled her, why does she want to go back to him already? He wanted to ask the question but Augustus came in then and he decided to put it pending till when he has her alone again.
After testing on the clothes and deciding to wear the black diamond, Sean had taken her to a makeup studio, it would have been easier if Tobias was around and for some reason, he didn t want to call any of the makeup artist of Brand and just decided to try out someone new, that way he would know if he s going to employ a new makeup artist, he is never tired of meeting new talents.
While the makeup was taking place, he decided to walk around the mall, the black diamond has an open neck and they hadn t come out with any necklace or bag, not even stilettos, he needs to get those for her and also, it would keep him from thinking too much. As he walked through the jewelry store, his mind kept going back at the announcement she made in Augustus office, why does she want to see Frank, why now? Could she have made the decision because of what happened that night? Had turning her away made her cold towards him that she just wants to get away from him?
If that be the reason then he really needs to talk to her and explain his reason to her, would she understand him? He was only trying to protect her, to keep her from regretting anything but from the looks of it, it seems that he did wrong and shouldn t have.
A necklace caught his attention and he cleared his mind to take a look at it, he just needs to get Athena at a corner and talk to her and if making love to her would make her not go back to Frank, he would gladly oblige. He stopped in front of the show-glass that was housing the necklace, a simple but yet beautiful piece. An attendant came to him then, "do you want me to take it out for you, sir?"
"Please do," he replied.
The attendant opened the glass and brought the piece and its earrings, it was a simple beautiful piece that was adorned with tiny diamonds that were glittering like tiny stars, that immediately reminded him of the black diamond and he realized that it goes so well with the gown. With no second thought, he ordered for it with the earrings, along with a clutch and a pair of stilettos.
When he got back to the make up shop, Athena was ready and was dressing in their changing room; he handed the parcel to one of the attendants and asked for it to be delivered to her while he waited for her in the reception area.
It wasn t long, she was done and when she came out, every jaw dropped, including Sean s. Although he had seen her wear the gown in Fashionista and had been swooned then, but it was still a different swooning now. Her hair was up, held by many pins which he doesn t need to see to believe, the necklace adorned her long slender neck and the earrings were a beautiful attention to her ears. The gown was clasping on every curve on her body. It was a short sleeve with a V neck, exposing her fair breastbone. It clasped on her waist and thighs and tailed behind her. Every single part of her was twinkling, from her ears to her neck and the hem of her gown, making her look like the goddess of the night that has the stars bowing to her will.
Sean gulped and walked up to her, "you are beautiful."
"Thank you," she replied, she could see all eyes on her and was a little shy but hearing his words gave her confidence.
They walked out of the shop after settling the bill and people watched them as they walked to their car, "I have every reason to believe that you would steal the show tonight and that my dear, is what I like the most," he winked at her as he opened the door for her. Athena chuckled at that and got in while he got in after her and Smith started the car and drove off.
Getting to the hotel that the auction was taking place, there was a red carpet and many reporters that were trying to catch entertaining news. As Sean and Athena were approaching the hall entrance, people who saw them were short of words and could only make a part for them to walk through.
On the centre of attention was Esperanza in Frank s Red Sea which only the sample has been released and people were wowing at it and beside her was Frank taking all the praise. All it took was one reporter saying, "Is that Sean Brand?" and all attention went from them to the approaching duo. The man in a black tuxedo, looking as handsome as he always does and the lady in a gown, looking like she had cut half of the night sky and wrapped around her body. Everybody was stunned at the perfection they both exhibited, all including Frank and Esperanza.