Chapter 15
Angel
“. . . f
or Fashion Influencer of the Year goes to . . . Miss Angel Snow!” the emcee announced.
Cheers and claps went up all around the room.
My jaw dropped in astonishment. I had been nominated for Best Homemaker in the Lifestyle and Travel category, and I had expected that.
But I didn’t win, and I was only the runner-up.
However, I hadn’t been notified that I would be nominated for an award in fashion and beauty as well.
“Baby, that’s you,” Christian whispered.
“Girl, get up there and get your award,” Sawyer hissed.
I jumped up from my chair and headed up to the stage. I hugged the co-hosts, accepted the award, and turned for pictures. “This is a Christina Dorché original,” I announced as the cameras flashed. Everyone clapped as Christina stood in the audience and took a bow.
“I am humbly honored to be standing before you tonight. There are so many influencers deserving of this award, and I’m honestly surprised to have not only been nominated but to have won this award.
Many of you know that I have taken a step back over the last couple of years as I have focused on myself and my growing family.
“Through the years, I have been blessed with being able to showcase the designs of many up-and-coming designers as well as many celebrity designers. I have played an integral part in seeing the dreams of others come true in this industry, and it’s not something that I take for granted.
I carefully consider the designers who approach me, what their platform looks like, and their impact not only on this industry and community, but on the world at large.
“I want my followers to know what I stand for and that what I stand for goes beyond what I put on my body. I want my sponsors’ missions to align with my life’s vision and mission, and for my life’s work to be impactful in positive ways that leave a lasting legacy.
“However, beauty goes far beyond the clothes that we dress in, the makeup we wear, and the shoes that we wear. It’s amazing to be able to be here, to dress up, and be glamorous.
But the most important thing to remember is the beauty within our hearts and our souls.
True beauty is reflected from inside and displays itself not only in our attire and makeup but in how we treat others.
“I thank you for awarding me with this amazing award, but I dedicate it to the many people who make a true, beautiful impact on this world, like our first responders, hospital personnel, social workers, educators, and all the others who go unrecognized. So tonight, this award is for you and especially for you, Christian Holly, because you see the real beauty in me.” I blew a kiss to him in the audience.
I held the award up and received a standing ovation.
I bowed, hugged and air kissed the presenters, and gracefully walked back to my seat with my head held high despite the nerves that were a tangled web within me.
I knew that everyone would catch what I said about Christian, and the internet would go haywire.
But I didn’t care. People were still standing when I returned, and everyone at my table gave me hugs and air kisses.
When I reached Christian, I was shocked to see tears in his eyes, and he pulled me close.
“I love you, girl, and I’m so damn proud of you. I’ve always seen you, Angel,” he whispered.
I held onto him and felt amazing until I opened my eyes and locked eyes with Jeremiah, who sat a few tables away. My body tensed, and Christian immediately noticed. He released me, looked around, and then squeezed my hand as we sat down.
“I love you,” I declared, staring into his eyes with a smile.
“I love you more.”
I worried that might be true. I didn’t want to do anything to hurt Christian.
And it wasn’t that I had intentions of hurting him, but I knew, despite the fact that I was in love with him, I was also guarded.
There was a part of me that hadn’t let go of the resentment that I had against Jeremiah and how he treated me.
I worried that I would lash out against Christian because of it someday.
We finished eating and danced.
“I told you that you would be the most beautiful girl here tonight.”
I giggled as we danced around the floor. “You’re just saying that.”
“Did you see how many men kept staring at you tonight?”
“They’re horny, and they were staring at all the women.”
“Nah, baby. Think I’m gonna have a hard time letting you out of my sight. I’ll never be that man who tells you what you can and can’t wear, but just know that I’ll be right there with you.”
“Oh my goodness, you’re horrible, Chris.” I giggled as he danced me around the floor.
“You make me this way, girl. You drive me crazy with how I feel about you.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Don’t make a nigga have to prove his love up in here tonight.”
“Please don’t.” I giggled.
We danced to a few more songs before I excused myself to go to the bathroom.
I recalled Sawyer’s reminder about her accompanying me everywhere so that I didn’t run into Jeremiah alone, but she was slow dancing with Sampson.
They looked to be deep into their dance and sharing an intimate moment.
I didn’t want to interrupt them, so I left.
When I returned, they were still deep in their dancing, but Christian was nowhere to be found.
I went off in search of him. Just when I was ready to give up and return to the ballroom, I thought I heard his voice. I rounded the corner to hear both him and Jeremiah talking.
“. . . believe that shit when I saw it, man. What the hell were you thinking getting with her? Already broke her in. You’re better than that.”
“Chill, Jay. You tripping, homie.”
“Am I though?”
“Yeah. We’re boys, but don’t make me check the fuck out of you tonight.”
“Oh, it’s like that now?”
“Yeah. It is.”
“You didn’t even have the decency to tell me. We’re supposed to be boys. You could’ve given me a heads-up. You know how I found out?”
“How?”
“One guess.”
“Erica?”
“Hell yeah. She was too happy to tell me about it.”
I heard Christian sigh loudly. “She dropped by not too long ago. We argued. She wanted me to admit that I was using Angel to make her jealous.”
“Did you?”
A loud applause sounded from the ballroom behind me, drowning out their voices. When it died down, I heard Christian speaking again.
“. . . wanted her to think that I was settling down, figuring that shit might hurt her ass. Angel’s the perfect person to make a nigga look settled.”
My heart stopped, and my soul ached. Before I could confront him or turn and leave, a woman approached them from behind me.
“There you are, Mih. I was looking all over for you.”
I still hadn’t moved, even as she walked past me and went to Jeremiah. Both Christian and he turned toward the woman and spotted me at the same time. There was no way that I could fight the tears off.
“Angel!”
I ran, but it was only so fast that I could move before Christian caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.
“What did you hear?”
“Enough.” I seethed and jerked away.
“Please let me explain.”
“You made yourself clear.”
“Baby, please,” he begged, following me.
I snatched away from him and glared at him. “Leave me alone, please!”
“Angel, baby, come on. You’re tripping.” Christian called after me as I rushed into a private bathroom and locked the door.
He remained out there banging on the door, but I refused to go out. I sent a text to Sawyer, asking her to get rid of him, and eventually, she did. I left the ball in an Uber.