Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
JULIETTE
S pending the day walking through lower Manhattan was great. I had a little trouble finding the hotel on my return, but I asked around and found someone nice enough to lead me back to it. I got into my room at 6 pm, and by 7 pm, I was ready for the party, dressed up, dolled up, and perfect. I was barely able to take my eyes off my reflection in the mirror. When Hudson shows up at my door to inform me that it’s time to leave, I get the reaction I want from him.
“You look amazing,” he compliments me, stealing looks at me as he walks me into the elevator and heads to the waiting car.
“You look good too,” I tell him, and he really does look good. For the night, he wore a charcoal-toned tuxedo and a brown bow tie. His shapely upper body frame provided a perfect carriage for the suit, and he walks with such regale that I feel great to be by his side.
The drive to the venue takes about thirty minutes, but it goes so fast because of the comfort the limousine provides, and Hudson seems to be in a chatty mood.
“You did your makeup yourself?” he asks me, still unable to take his eyes off me.
“Of course,” I say. “It’s all part of my superhuman skills.”
“It’s very good.”
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“You’ll meet my mom today,” he tells me.
“Wow, I don’t think I’m ready for that,” I complain.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell her not to stress you so much. She’ll know it’s all a lie and will play along.”
“Do you think that’s wise. Won’t she look at me like I’m some gold digger, just here for her son’s money.”
“Every girl I bring home, who she didn’t suggest to me, is a gold digger.”
“In this case, I am actually one,” I point out.
“Well, while that is true, you are gold-digging but I approve. Don’t you worry about my mother. She’ll comport herself well.”
“Alright. How did your day go?” I ask him.
He looks hesitant to answer the question but then shrugs. “Good, I guess. I was in a couple of meetings the whole day.”
I see his eyes twitch as he says that. I have a friend who, whenever they tell a lie they’re not so confident telling, has such twitches.
“Your eyes twitch when you lie, right?” I ask him.
“What?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Why did he lie to me about being in meetings? Was he somewhere he didn’t want me to know he was? Why should he care what I think about where he was or how his day went? I don’t have the time to contemplate on this as the limousine pulls to a stop, and we get out. Immediately, we’re welcomed by flashes of cameras and surrounded by what looks like a hundred paparazzi.
“Oh my god,” I panic and want to turn around and head back into the limousine, but it’s gone.
“What is it?” Hudson asks me as he holds my hand, and we walk on the red carpet.
“You didn’t tell me there would be a red carpet, and you didn’t tell me it would be something serious.”
“Don’t worry, You’re doing great.”
Doing great? I feel like I’m a step away from tripping and falling. I’m not scared of crowds, and I barely panic, but throughout the day, I imagine the dinner party to be small. A little gathering of, say, about twenty to fifty people. I didn’t know it was such a big deal. This seems like too much of a big deal to me. A couple of people wave at Hudson, and some come over to say hi to him. Most look concerned as they hug him, asking him questions of the same variety.
“How’s it going? Are you hanging in? You’ve got this. The villain can’t back you in the corner”
They all encourage him about his legal battles against Frank Dubois. They all seem concerned for him and hold a prejudice against Frank. Still, I wonder, why are they all here? Why support a man they so much despise? Hudson answers as though he read my mind.
“They all don’t want to be me. They hope cowering to him will give them at least a chance.”
I understand that, but it still looks foolish.
“What if everyone comes together and fights against him? He definitely can’t win against everyone.”
“Fighting against him is like fighting against your money. He owns most of the banks these people do business with. They don’t want to be in his bad books. Where will they get the loans and financing they need to run their businesses?”
“Control the money, control the business.”
“Pretty much,” Hudson says. “Everyone’s wondering who you are. You’re practically unknown.” He has a smile on his face, feeling proud.
I look around to see them all watching him, asking questions.
Poor Ma, I think. Good thing she doesn’t read the papers or watch the news. Hudson hurries up, and we are out of the public eye soon enough. We follow a hallway that is lined with people meeting and greeting. I want to be out of here and into the hall as soon as possible. But that isn’t possible as more people gather around to show Hudson their support. This is the only place they can do that, while Frank Dubois can’t see them. I remain by his side, knowing he needs me to do nothing but be beautiful. Be beautiful then, I will be.
“Juliette?” a voice says behind me. For a moment, I think they’re referring to me, but then I think I can’t be the only Juliette here. Hudson himself turns around to see who here recognizes me.
“Juliette,” the voice comes again, and this time, I’m sure they are calling me. “Juliette Nightingale.”
Yup, that’s me. I turn around to see who it is. It’s a familiar face that I struggle to piece together for a while, but then it comes to me. Radder Bentley.
“I thought that was you I saw on the red carpet with…. Mr. Hudson.”
“Hi, Bent,” I say, looking at the woman I hadn’t seen since she was a teenager. What are you doing here?”
“I’m one of the journalists covering the events,” she offers. “What are you doing here?”
“I… huh,” I struggle with an answer.
“She’s with me,” Hudson says, saving me the trouble of having to find an answer.
“Oh,” Bent says, clearly in disbelief. She looks from me to Hudson, and unfortunately, her eyes pick up the ring on my finger. “Oh my god!” she gasps and points at it. “Can I see it?”
“We’re in a hurry,” Hudson says, wrapping his hand around my waist and pulling me away from Bent.
We are a couple of feet away from Bent before I finally can speak.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Hudson.
“You’re welcome. You looked like you needed rescuing,” he says. “I take it you don’t like her?”
“Oh, Bent? No, she’s just… God, she terrifies me. I had no idea I was still so terrified of her. The last time I saw her was in high school. She was a cheerleader, one of those types who has the whole school worshipping them, and for some reason, she just seemed to hate me.”
“I know her mother. They’re the same thing.”
“Thank you for rescuing me.”
“Come on, I’m only just repaying the favor. You’ll be doing a lot of rescuing for me later today,” Hudson says as he pushes open the door. We are welcomed by soft music and lights. The hall is half full. Hudson immediately leads me down the hall, searching for his designated seat. He finds it in a corner, just beside a table that reads Dubois. It’ll be a fun night, I conclude. The two tables are still empty for now. He pulls out one of the chairs for me.
“Gentlemanly, huh?” I ask.
A server brings us both glasses of champagne. I take mine, knowing I’ll have to be careful about drinking. I don’t want to drink so much that I spill what I shouldn’t.
“I’ll be back, I’m just going to say hi to a couple of people and be right back,” he tells and to my surprise leans over and kisses me on the forehead. I watch him, feeling like a balloon floating.
It’s all just part of the game I tell myself as I relax and sip my champagne. I watch people filling up the hall. There is an older couple on the dance floor, which is empty, just swaying to the music and all these people in their regalia and exuberance of wealth. I know now why he was so particular about getting a new gown. Just any kind of dress wouldn’t have cut it here. I’m so engrossed by the caliber of people walking into the hall, a couple of them I recognize as celebrities, that I do not see the lady walking towards me until she coughs and draws my attention to her.
She’s tall and moves with the grace and elegance of a god. She looks earthy in her green dress, dark skin, and perfect smile. Phillipa? I thought for a while and wondered if Hudson was dropped on his head as a child. This woman is the dream of every man. She looks exotic.
“You’re Juliette, aren’t you?” she asks, pronouncing my name correctly. Her voice sounds like the soft chitter of a bird.
“Yes, I am,” I say, wondering if I’m in trouble.
“Can I sit?” she asks.
“Of course,” I say, wondering why she’d ask for my permission to sit if her table is right beside ours. She doesn’t sit at the Dubois’s table. She joins me at mine, still smiling.
“I’m Jasmine,” she says. “I know Hudson.”
“Oh,” I start. “You’re not Phillipa?”
She chuckles. “No, I am not.”
Then why does she look at me like that? With such wonder and satisfaction.
“Forgive me if I’m staring,” she says.
“I think I’m staring also,” I tell her.
We both laugh, and that eases the tension.
“It’s just that I understand it,” she says. I see why he’s in a bind. You look like an angel.”
“Who?” I ask, confused and barely able to feel good about the compliment.
“Hudson. He told me about you. He failed to mention that you’re engaged, though,” she points at the ring. “It’s beautiful.”
She knows about me? How’s that possible? Well, the only way that is possible is if Hudson met her today. What does this gorgeous lady know? Everything? It doesn’t seem like it. Is she the one Hudson was with that caused him to lie to me?
Well, he must have been having a good time during those meetings.
“I’m sorry if I don’t know what to say,” I tell her. “I don’t know many of Hudson’s friends.”
“That’s no fault of yours. Hudson, he’s a hermit. It’s a wonder how he rose in this world that tends to punish those who don’t socialize.”
“I think he socializes well enough. Just not with the intention to make friends.”
“You’re right about that,” she tells me. “You see through his soul, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“The whole facade, the tough guy play. He really is just a big puppy, if you will. All you need to know is how to handle him.”
And I’m sure you’re quite adept at that, right?
Why do I feel jealous suddenly? I shouldn’t care what Hudson does in his free time or that he fucks this woman who looks like a goddess, but yet, I do. I care, and that irks me. Where the hell is he, anyway? I wonder.
“Well, I know he’s a soft man,” I say, not quite sure I believe that. I’ve seen evidence of it, like how he jumped in to help me out with Bent a couple of minutes ago. But then, I haven’t known him long enough to know all about him. But this woman does.
“Yeah, that he is. Anyway, I don’t want to bore you with my presence. I have others to say hi to,” she says, reaching over, kissing me on the cheeks, and walking away.
Is she mocking me? If she fucks Hudson and thinks I’m engaged to him, why is she so chirpy and happy about it. Why was she so free to talk to me? Is this all a game? If so, what game is she playing? It seems all quite confusing. I turn around to watch her and see her meet Hudson on the way. I watch them talking. Hudson looks suddenly tense and looks my way just after Jasmine looks at me, so I can tell they are talking about me. I hear her chuckle a little and then go her way. Hudson heads over.
“Who’s she?” I ask.
“No one you should worry about,” he says dismissively, looking to move past the discussion. She’s not no one, that is for sure. But maybe he’s right. I’m not to worry about her unless, of course, I am jealous that he’s fucking her.
“You were with her today, weren’t you?” I ask him. “She says she knows me, knows my name.”
Hudson suddenly looks angry, and good sense tells me to abandon the conversation, but I don’t see how I can.
“Yes, I was with her, and so what?” he whispers harshly to me. “I’ve told you, I have arrangements here in Manhattan for some needs. Or do you want to include that in your contract so I pay you more!”
“You want to talk to me like that!” I strike back at him. “And you’ll apologize.”
“For?”
“I’m going to leave,” I tell him. “I was just asking you some questions, looking to find out who knows about our ruse. You won’t be rude to me. We discussed that already.”
“No one knows about our ruse. No one. And, we’ll keep it that way,” he says, and I eye him with dissatisfaction. The discussion isn’t over. “I am sorry,” he succumbs finally. “She got me angry, is all.”
“Why?” I ask, relaxing.
“I don’t want to talk about that. The Dubois will be here soon,” he says. “Are you ready?”
“I think so,” I say and breathe out. The Dubois—two Dubois in particular — are the reasons this relationship between us exists.
“Don’t worry. It’ll all be over pretty soon. Frank and I will excuse ourselves to go talk. You just need to survive—one hour or two with the others.”
“They’ll grill me to death.”
“Phillipa will give you the glare of death,” he tells me. But you don’t have to worry; she won’t attack you. She isn’t that kind of girl. And also, my mother won’t be here.”
“Oh, why?”
“She couldn’t make it,” he says, but I can tell there is more to it.
“You told her to stay away, didn’t you?”
“It’s too much stress for her. Besides, she and her friends are now on their way for some night shopping. She hates most of the people here anyway, and I fear she’ll say something to piss Frank off so badly he’ll throw us out. It’s a win-win.”
It does feel like a win to me. I’m partially relieved because I was worried about what seeing his mother and keeping up the ruse would entail.
“They’re here,” he says, nodding his head at the door. I turn around to watch them walk over. Immediately, I know who Frank is. He’s dressed simply in a white linen shirt and black pants, but there is such an aura around him, so palpable and maybe evil. Yes, it looks evil because people look up at him with envy, love, worship, and hate all mixed together. This is what power feels like. He walks like he isn’t aware of the effect he has on them. Maybe he is aware, but he is so soaked in it all and has resigned these people to the back of his mind, so they look like ants to him. People that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. He and his family join us.
I don’t know what to do. Sit or stand. It makes no difference. This man isn’t royalty, so I remain seated. Hudson stands, though, to shake his hand. He does the introduction, but not before Frank interrupts.
“Where’s your mother?” he asks.
“She couldn’t make it; the flu got her.”
“Oh, that’s too bad, I wanted her to meet Phillipa,” he says, and I look at the lady he points at.
She’s a damsel, young like me, looks a little na?ve but is beautiful. She looks like a well-treasured jewel. There is a delicateness about her, which must be what Hudson doesn’t like about her. I’ll also describe myself as delicate, but I have rough edges that make me a more interesting thing to handle. But with Phillipa, her delicateness makes her all-rounded. Like an egg that should be kept safe in a treasure chest.
“Who’s your guest then?” Frank asks.
He likes control. He wants to be in charge of even something as little as a conversation.
“She’s Juliette,” Hudson says, and finally, I stand up and have to shake everyone’s hand. They all eye my engagement ring, and their eyes say all that needs to be said. Phillipa, in particular, is shocked, and for a moment, I think she wouldn’t shake my hand, but after a tiny nudge from her father, she reaches out rather shyly with her hand. I shake it, feeling sorry for her, but Hudson is right. It is better this way. The girl should be heartbroken now and heal quickly to forge ahead with her life. Now, her rough edges will start to form.
The elephant in the room is unspoken as Hudson introduces me to the family.
There’s Frank Dubois, who I know a lot about already. Annie Dubois, Frank’s wife. Whose troubled eyes trouble me. James Dubois, the first son, who, evidently, Frank doesn’t think is capable of becoming his heir and who isn’t interested because he has a fashion school to tend to. There’s Elizabeth Dubois, cold eyes, calculative, and most likely to be a problem. Elizabeth’s husband, Brendan. And then, the baby of the house, Phillipa, sticks close to her father and sits beside him.
Frank insists that Hudson and I join them at the table, but he doesn’t stay around and pulls Hudson away immediately, no doubt to discuss business, leaving me with the people here. Just as I suspected, Elizabeth is the first to question me. She eyes the ring with jealousy. Her eyes have such fire in them, while those of Phillipa are sad.
“That’s a beautiful engagement ring,” she says. “Very expensive. How long has Hudson known you?”
Her actual question is: Why would Hudson give a woman he barely knows such an expensive ring?
I raise it and roll it around my finger, looking at it with joy. “I know, right? I told him it was too much, but he really wanted to splurge.”
I don’t answer her question. I turn to Phillipa and smile at her, but she looks away. I feel a responsibility to talk to her, to ease her of the pain she’s going through now.