Chapter 12
My eyes drifted up and down Jiselle and I shook my head at how good she looked as she grabbed my arm and let me help her out of the car. I handed my keys to the valet and raked my eyes over her again before we actually headed inside.
I owed Stone. He deserved whatever he wanted if he helped Jiselle pick this dress out. It was beautiful and she looked gorgeous. I led her inside and squared my shoulders the second we made it to the check-in table.
My parents were big on philanthropy, and one of the causes near and dear to their heart was for victims of abuse.
At this fundraising gala every year, we ate, played bingo, bid on auctioned items, and got an underwhelming dinner for thousands of dollars.
It was for a good cause so I gritted my teeth and endured it every year, but personally I was fine with just cutting them a check or two every year and going on with life.
My parents liked to be seen though. It was apparently good for business.
I collected the card that told us what table we’d be seated at, paid five dollars for the paddle I’d need to bid, and carefully led Jiselle to the large ballroom where twenty tables were set.
“Why is your company having a gala?” she asked quietly.
“We aren’t, technically. We donate a million dollars a year to battered women. It keeps the lights on at the shelter and we get a free table at their fundraiser.”
“A free table after a million dollar donation?” she repeated.
I shrugged. “People get the tables for about two grand a pop, so it’s considered a courtesy that we don’t pay anything.”
“Right.” She looked around the room and I gestured toward our table.
“Table five is us. Where do you want to sit?”
“Here is fine.” She grabbed the first chair she saw and I nodded once before pulling it out for her.
I sat after she was seated.
There were already bingo cards in front of each of our chairs and Jiselle immediately picked hers up, inspected it, then swapped it with the one next to hers. I watched her examine that one as well before nodding, obviously happy.
I offered her my auction paddle.
“What’s that for?”
“If you decide you want something,” I said simply.
She lifted an eyebrow. “Getting me gifts already?”
“It’s actually a little late, don’t you think?” I looked at one of the women walking toward us and gave her a small smile as she leaned forward between us, showing a little tray of diamond earrings in different sizes.
Jiselle’s eyebrows knitted as she looked from the tray to me.
“Uhm…”
“Do you want anything?” I asked.
“No. Thank you.”
The woman smiled, nodded, and stood to walk to the next table.
“The people in the white and black uniforms will be giving us food. The people in navy and white will be showing donated jewelry also available for purchase.”
“So they just walk around with trays of diamonds?”
“Not all of them. Some of them are carrying gold, silver, or other stones if diamonds aren’t your thing.”
Jiselle whistled and shook her head before grabbing her glass of water and taking a slow sip.
“What do they usually auction?”
“Art, jewelry, shit like that.”
“And you guys do this every year?”
“At least.”
She nodded and looked at the other six seats at our table.
“Do you know who else is going to be sitting with us?”
“My parents for sure and I don’t know who they split the table with. I didn’t ask. It may be investors and their spouses though.”
“You don’t think it’s a little early for me to be meeting the parents?” Jiselle smirked as she leaned into me and set her hand on my leg.
“Nah. I already know you’re going to be my wife, so it’s better to have you meeting your in-laws now rather than later.”
“I need you and Stone to realize I can only marry one man. Even if I were to keep you both, legally I can’t be a wife to both of you.”
“Marriage used to be spiritual, sweetheart. I’m sure we can figure something out.” I cleared my throat, pushed my chair back, and climbed to my feet as my parents made it to the table.
Jiselle looked from them to me then stood as well.
“You brought a date!” my mother said excitedly.
“I did.” I put a hand at the small of Jiselle’s back. “This is Jiselle. Jiselle, these are my parents, Ronald and Mika.”
“Nice to meet you.” She shook each of their hands and we took our seats.
The lights flickered briefly and we were immediately addressed.
“Hey, y’all. We would love it if everyone got their last minute pictures and drinks and be seated so we can get things started.”
“Did you need a drink or anything?” I asked.
“Nope. I’m okay.”
“Okay.”
“So, Jiselle, what do you do?” my mother asked casually.
“I work at a bar,” she said with a smile.
I grinned like an idiot beside her. I liked how she wasn’t intimidated or ashamed of what she did or who she was.
“Is that where you met Kiano?”
“Oh, no. We actually went to school together.”
“She’s Rene’s sister,” I offered.
Business owners or not, my parents had been very invested in my childhood and wellbeing. I was almost positive they could name each of my teachers by first and last name going back to Pre-K if I asked. I’d been on a team with Rene for three years. They knew who he was.
“Oh! And how is your brother?” my father asked.
“He’s good. We talk all the time.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.”
My father stood when the other four people seated at our table walked over. I stood with him. My mother reached over and set a hand on Jiselle’s to signify she didn’t need to follow our lead.
We did quick greetings and introductions then sat down. The lights in the room were slightly dimmed and waiters walked around, distributing bread and salad to each table.
The hostess stood on the stage and gave her spiel, telling us how our generous contributions allowed women to leave bad situations and how our money had allowed them to buy an old apartment building that they planned to turn into transitional housing for the women after helping them find jobs.
My mother was writing in her checkbook before the speech even finished.
From there, they gave us a minute to socialize and Jiselle had the couple seated beside her giggling in no time.
“She seems nice,” my father whispered.
I grinned. “She’s a little rough around the edges, but she’s good people.”
“She’s pretty,” my mom added.
“Beautiful,” I corrected.
My parents smiled as they looked from me to each other and back. I laughed and waved them off.
“Get out of my face with that shit please.”
“We didn’t say anything,” my father said.
“Yet.”
“Yet,” he agreed.
The next section was testimonials and several women and their children stood on stage and told us how the money donated helped them get on their feet by providing shelter, furniture, clothes, food, and money for necessities.
Once that finished, the lights rose and the dinner was walked around with a chicken or fish option.
The second Jiselle and I tried our meals, we looked at each other.
She put her head down to giggle and I coughed to hide my own laugh.
We were both thinking the same thing. The food was as bland as it looked.
“I think I’m going to get that drink now,” Jiselle said.
“I can get it,” I offered.
“So can I.” She blinked at me.
“Then I guess we’re going together.”
“Okay.” She waited for me to stand then held her hand out for me to help her up.
She kept my hand in hers as she led us through the crowd and I couldn’t help my eyes drifting down her body. Her dress hugged her curves just right. She was the most gorgeous woman in any room she walked in regularly, but damn, seeing her in formalwear was a different experience.
“Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?” I asked.
Jiselle looked back at me and smiled.
“I can always accept more compliments.”
“Well, you look absolutely beautiful tonight, Jiselle.”
“Thank you. I clean up well, right?”
“You always look good.”
“Of course you’re going to say that. You are my future husband after all.”
My eyebrows lifted at that statement.
“Oh yeah?”
“Just trying it on for size.” She winked at me and we joined the line for the bar.
“How do you like it?”
“It’s not bad.”
“Good.”
“Hypothetically, if we were to be together, would you expect me to be a trophy wife and do… this?” She gestured around.
“Elaborate.” My eyebrows fiddled together and I set my hands on her waist.
“Would you want me to attend galas and fundraisers and represent your company?”
“I’d want you to do whatever you want to do.
Jiselle, I know who you are and I’m not going to try to change you.
If you want to still do content with my wedding ring on your finger, so what?
If you want to quit and just swipe my card all day, every day, that’s fine too.
I’ll make it work and I mean that shit. If I have to downsize or open up to another investor or sell stock, it is what the fuck it is. ”
“I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”
“And that’s why I’d be willing to do it.” I stuck a hand into my pocket. “I’m not going to introduce you to a lifestyle I can’t keep up.”
“Okay.” She moved from in front of me to beside me and gripped my hand in both of hers.
She laid her head on my shoulder and I turned to kiss her forehead.
She grinned at me and we both blinked in shock when a flash went off and caught us off guard.
I partially expected Jiselle to slip away but she didn’t.
She smiled instead and I mirrored the reaction for us to get another picture taken.
“Thanks, man.” The photographer dapped me and moved to the next person in line.
We got our drinks and were just getting seated again when they lined up different items for auction.
I leaned into Jiselle.
“You see anything you like?”
“I’m not sure just yet.”
“Don’t feel pressured to buy things just because you want to support the foundation. I’ll cut them a check at the end of the night regardless.”
“Okay.”