Page 8 of Xavier

"Firstly, I'd like to thank you again, all of you, for joining us and showing your support for us tonight. This cause is so close to our hearts, and you have shown tonight that it's close to yours as well," Jade says, her hand on her chest as the applause rises and falls. "Well, it's come to that time of the night. The announcement of the winners of tonight’s amazing silent auction prizes. I’d like to acknowledge the sponsors who donated such generous gifts and their valuable time to help up reach our goal for tonight.”

Jade’s assistant comes onto the stage and hands her an envelope.

“The first prize we’d like to announce, is the services of Isabella Fountaine. One of Manhattan’s up and coming new interior designers. She has just been named as one of Architectural Digest’s “designers to watch” and has been so generous as to donate her services to design an entire home for our winner. But even more generously, she will also be donating her time to the design of our brand new youth centers. Isabella, would you like to join me on stage, please? While I make the announcement?”

A spotlight shines into the crowd. Like everyone else, I turn towards it, trying to make out the figure being singled out, and walking to the stage.

Through the bobbing heads, I can just make out a lock of blonde hair.

Something inside me stirs.

No.

The light continues to move but I can’t get a clear view.

“Come on,” I whisper, willing her to move faster. Once she gets to the steps up to the stage I’ll be able to see-

Fuck.

No.

Fuck!

Yes.

It’s her.

I watch as she lifts the skirt of her dress and takes the four steps onto the raised stage and floats across it until she reaches Jade.

I’m winded. I haven’t moved, but the air is knocked out of my lungs.

It really is her.

“Isabella… thank you against so much,” I can just make out Jade saying. Wait. What? She called her Isabella. That’s not… that’s not her name.

Maybe it isn’t her? No, it is. It definitely it.

I watch as she leans towards the microphone and I hold my breath.

“I’d like to thank the ASH Foundation for all the good work you do,” she says, and now there’s no doubt.

Everything’s suddenly a blur as I watch Jade tear open an envelope, smiling and opening her mouth to speak.

“Wait!”

I find myself on my feet.

There’s confusion on the stage, and then I feel the heat of the spotlight on me.

“Xavier?” I see Jade mouth.

“I… I’ll double it. The bid.” I hear myself saying.

“Um, I’m sorry, Xavier, bidding time is over.”

“Then triple it. I don’t care. Whatever it is.” There’s a murmuring from the crowd.

“I – uh, well, this is unprecedented. I’m…” Jade says, flustered.

The woman shields her eyes as she looks out into the sea of tables, looking for me. The second our eyes lock, I know. Whatever she calls herself now. I still know. It’s her.

“I don’t care how much it costs.” The crowd is restless, trying to figure out what’s going on.

They’re not the only ones.

So, I make it clear.

“I want her. She’s mine.”