âAre you nuts, Tessa?â Richard snapped at her and threw her hand off his body. He glared at Tessa, his happy cheerful face turned ghostly.
âHi dearâ Tessa chimed. She glanced at Richard seductively and wanted to touch him but Richard held her hand firmly and looked around before letting her hand off violently.
âI am not your dear. And what the hell are you doing here?â Richard asked, snorting in disgust. He turned briefly and glanced towards Genesis and saw her staring at him in fury.
Before Tessa could answer Richard turned to glance at Jace âCEO Jace, have me excusedâ He said and walked Tessa out, holding her by her upper arm.
Jace glared at them and looked away. Just then Senator Adrian Delmark and his wife walked over. âItâs my honour to have you here, CEO Jace Hudsonâ he said, stretching his hand for a handshake.
âMy pleasure, Senator Delmark,â Jace Hudson replied, taking his hand. The two men smiled broadly at each other. The younger and the older man seemed to linger in each otherâs hand.
âMy wife, Jane Delmarkâ Adrian Delmark introduced and Jace kissed her chin. âNice meeting you, Jace Hudson,â Jane said, smiling.
âMy pleasure, Mrs Delmarkâ Jace said and added âyou are a very beautiful woman, Maâam, Mo wonder Richard is a cute guyâ Jace complimented.
âThank youâ Jane Delmark appreciated.
Adrian Delmark looked around and said âI thought Richard said you will be coming with his friend Arianna?â He asked.
âWeâre here together. Sheâs a big fan of yours and had been eager to meet youâ Jace declared and looked in the direction where Genesis stood with Arianna.
Arianna was giggling, her head slightly bent, teasing Genesis that sheâs jealous that her boyfriend is going to have a private talk with his ex.
Adrian and Jane Delmark saw the two ladies. They know Genesis already. It only implies that the other woman is Arianna. Theyâve been eager to meet her, especially Jane.
But her physique and figure reminds them of someone they used to know. The couple exchanged glances and said âdonât bother the ladies, weâll just walk up to themâ Adrian suggested.
When Genesis saw Senator Adrian and his wife walking towards them with Jace, she tucked at Arianna to look up. She did and saw Jace and Senator Adrian Delmark.
She smiled. She walked towards them, she and Genesis and met them midway. Adrian felt his heartbeat usually. He usually feels that way when something is about to happen.
Jane suddenly felt her knees wobble. She held Adrian and the latter understood. It took Jane so much effort to walk around without a walker. He held her, by Crossing his hand around her waist romantically.
âMy girlfriend, Arianna Jason,â Jace introduced. He glanced at Arianna and saw the excitement in her eyes. Itâs her desire that comes true.
âNice meeting you Senator and Mrs Adrian Delmarkâ Arianna said. She said, smiling broadly at the couple. Finally sheâs got to meet Richardâs parents. The couple look lovely together.
âMy pleasure,âAdrian Delmark stuttered. He kept his gaze on Arianna. A part of him wouldnât want to look away. Looks like heâs met her before, but canât remember where.
âItâs my pleasure to meet you eventually, Ariannaâ Jane opened her arms for a hug. Arianna kissed the older woman on her chin.
âRichard told us a lot about you and Iâve been eager to meet you,â Jane added. She is happy that Arianna seemed to be fine and happy with Jace Hudson. She became popular after saving his life weeks back.
âThank you maâam. Your son is a perfect friend. I guess itâs because his parents are perfect and good peopleâ Arianna replied.
âYou look familiar. Have we really met?â Adrian Delmark asked, his gaze on Arianna. She looked very familiar to him.
âNone that I remember,â Arianna replied. She glanced at Jane Delmark and her eyes rested on her necklace. Itâs the same with hers.
She overlooked it. This was the first time she saw someone having her kind of necklace. She smiled and raised a toast to the Senator.
âWhat the hell are you doing here?â Richard yelled at her. He dragged Tessa to the extreme end of the garden and yanked her away.
âCareful dear. Youâre going to hurt meâ Tessa declared, robbing the part where Richardâs hand gripped her. She didnât care about his furious stare.
âWhat are you doing here, who invited you here?â Richard yelled. The party was strictly on invitation. Besides his friend, he hadnât really invited any else.
âCommon Richie, I have become a part of this family. Thanks to youâ Tessa replied flippantly.
âI donât want you here. And since you werenât invited, youâre not welcome. So get the fuck outâ Richard ordered. How can she come uninvited? He doesnât want any contest of supremacy between her and Genesis.
âIâm not welcome and yet, the security guards recognised me as your woman and let me in. You canât send me out otherwise I will tell Genesis that I used to be your girlfriendâ Tessa threatened.
âThat wonât be news to her. She already knows that I dated and slept with you. And that I broke up with you when I caught you having sex with my colleague. Do you want me to continue telling you what else she knows?â Richard snorted.
Tessaâs eyes went teary. âI told you I was sorry. I asked you to forgive me. Why canât you just think about the times we hadâ¦â She started sobbing.
âJust leave!â Richard declared and went away, hissing between gritted teeth.
âCongratulations Senator AdrianâJace Hudson declared. The ladies also congratulated him and said they wish him success in his campaign. They told him he would definitely win. He is the ideal candidate for the position.
Senator Adrian was impressed. He thanked them for their best wishes. He smiled as his gaze went to Arianna again. Maybe impulse or curiosity, his eyes rested on her necklace.
âYour necklace is similar to my wifeâs. What a coincidenceâ Senator Adrian Delmark chimed.
Arianna smiled and gently tapped on it. Jane also did the same. She hasnât seen anyone besides her late friend who has that necklace with her.
Adrian bought it for them on their graduation, the same day that Adrian Delmark confessed his love for her before Susan.
Adrian also remembered it. Itâs special to her. She claimed itâs the first present he gave her in love. It is a token of his love for her.
âOh! really?â Arianna said and added âMom gave me and told me to wear it everywhere and anywhereâ she said, glancing at Janeâs. Itâs indeed similar.
âYour mom, who is your Mom?âJane asked, her curiosity taking a hold of her. Does it mean there are other people who owned the same necklace besides Susan and herself?