CHAPTER 43- THE LENSHAW FAMILY REUNION

"I heard she survived." Lisa said.

"Unfortunately..." Davian answered.

"So what now? We just let her live? Or are your men just incompetent?"

"Calm down Lisa." Davian chuckled. "You seem worked up over all this."

"Well I am. Time's ticking. I didn't help you escape that hell hole for nothing. The longer she spends in with him, the closer I fear they'll become."

"I see."

"Although I have no personal issues with Allison Hamilton, the fact that she's with my Man makes me want to claw her eyes out!" Lisa fumed.

"Seems something went wrong at some point?" He asked, staring curiously at her.

"Yes. I and Hades were supposed to get married but then he got married to her."

"Why?"

"A marriage of convenience. Some kind of contract. He didn't let me in on the details."

"Hmmm. That explains it."

"We have to act fast Davian. I'm sure he already knows you're out of there. Now act fast and get the job done before he gets his hands on you for the second time." Lisa got up and picked up her bag. "And we very well know he will and this time, he might not let you live."

"That son of a devil!"  He muttered, upset.

"Atleast have your revenge before you die or this would have all been for nothing."

"Bitch!" He frowned.

"Call me names but we all know it's the truth. I'll be expecting to hear good news. She said before exiting the building.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Archie!"

Allison called out that afternoon but her little pup was nowhere in sight. Where could he have gone? She thought as she walked down the stairs only to find both Archie and Hades in the living room and what were they doing? Playing fetch. The tension between the her and Hades and died down a little ever since the night in the guest room.

Now, she understood him even if it was easier hating him but she couldn't turn blind eye even if she wanted to. Nowadays, she saw him like a normal person. She even felt sorry for him at times knowing that behind all his firm rigidity was a broken young man from years ago but she knew that she wasn't his. His heart belonged to someone else, a dead woman. Not to mention their marriage was a fake affair and would end in a few months.

That kiss was exactly what he said it was-

"Mutual Consolation" and odd enough, she didn't regret her actions that night. He needed comforting and that seemed to help. Above all, no one could replace the place of Venice in his heart and she didn't even want to be the one but they could be friends for the time being. Who could have thought?

"What are you doing?" She asked, walking down the stairs. "Stealing Archie from me, I see."

"I would never."

The dog on seeing Allison, ran up to her and she gladly lifted him up from the floor into her arms.

"Aren't we supposed to be shopping for the Christmas Eve Party?"

The Lenshaw Family Reunion was

held every five years on Christmas Eve. Hades had told her about the event a few days ago and they were supposed to have their outfits ready by today's afternoon.

"I was waiting for you to wake up." He said.

"Well I'm up now, aren't I?"

"Yes, let's go."

"Mr and Mrs Lenshaw, you're both highly welcomed. We've been expecting you."

The manager of  Lalita Collections walked up to them as soon as they got into the confines of the clothing boutique.

"Please let me know what the event is."

"A party. More like a formal occasion but not necessarily." Hades said.

"Then I have just the thing for the bath of you."

"And we would like to match please." Hades briefly said.

"Ofcourse, please feel free to browse through our magazine and see if anything tickles your fancy." The lady handed them some sort of clothing menu. Tuxedos and dresses.

"Do you like this one?" He asked Allison. She shook her head.

"Yellow is such an awful colour." She said.

Hades kept flipping through, she was the one that had to make up her mind on which to choose given the men wears were all tuxedos with only the material of the tie matching the lady's dress. Then he heard her gasp softly at a dress on the paper. It was a dazzling long straight  silver dress with a slit at the end.

"What? You like it?"

"It's lovely."

"Can we have this please?" Hades showed the dress to the manager and in a giffy, a live sample was brought in front of them. The dress looked more wonderful in reality.

"Would you like to try it on ma'am?" One of the sales representatives asked Allison.

"Yes please." She said and the woman lee her to the dressing and they were out after a few minutes with Allison holding the dress in her hands.

"Did it fit?" Hades asked.

She nodded. "Perfectly, yes."

"Then we'll take it." He said to the manager.

"But...." Allison hesitated.

"What is it? Don't you like it anymore?"

"Yes I love it."

"Good and so do I. We're taking it."

"But just look at the price, it's outrageous!"

"A lady doesn't check the price."Hades smiled.

Oh...The line was...cheek flushing and stomach tingling. Allison concealed the smile that was threatening to spread.

Night fell and it was already time. Hades was already outside leaning against his car, constantly checking his watch impatiently as he waited for her to come out of the house. What the hell is she still doing? A few minutes later, She emerged from the door, walking down the front steps like something out of a dream with her long hair in curls as she dripped expensively in her silver dress and complimenting silver heels.

"Your eyes.." He noticed they were a different color from blue. They were a blend between brown and gold.

"Yes, I changed my lenses for the occasion." She said.

"And why do you suddenly have siren eyes? Your eyes are naturally doe."

"Well it's the effect of the lenses I'm wearing on. They sort of feel heavy so I'm left with no option but to hang my eyelids a little lower than usual. That's what's responsible for my siren eyes."

"Interesting."

"I didn't take forever did I?"

Hades smiled as he took her hands. "Sort of but it was totally worth the wait."

"Are you complimenting me?"

"Do I have permission to compliment?"

"Just this once."

"I'll compliment you whenever you look good and that's all the time."

"Will this event have....media coverage." Allison asked as the car was in motion. They were both seated at the back seat with the driver at the front.

"Mhmm."

"Urgh!"

"I'm sorry but I have no control over that. I'll cover your eyes if it gets too bright. Will that be alright?"

"Yes, thank you. Any heads up?"

"About?"

"I'm meeting your family for the first time. What should I expect?"

Hades smiled, reading her thoughts. Why was she being modest? She might as well go straight to the point and ask if they were a bunch wackos like him.

"They're nice." He simply said. Still it made her feel he was telling half the truth.

"Are they?"

"There's nothing to worry about, they'll love you, I'm sure."

Camera flashed, fans cheered, cars fleeted in their numbers as they walked arm in arm through the red carpet. The hall was like nothing she'd ever seen. It was grand and spacious with statues of angels and lions. The walls and floors were adorned with gold and silver and as they walked down the red carpet that adorned stairs down to the hall, heads turned. Several people gasped in awe as Allison's dress came to view. It was indeed splendid not to mention the aura with which she carried herself.

"Why are they staring?" Allison whispered to Hades by her side.

"They think we're the perfect pair."

"Too bad for them."

"Oh?"

"Yes."

Once seated, a lady had approached them and it her aura was one to be reckoned with not to mention her perfect figure that made Allison uncomfortable.

"So nice to see you here Hades."

"I could say the same Freda."

"Your wife."

"Yes, Allison please meet Freda. A bosom friend."

Bosom indeed. She thought but outwardly she only smiled and shook hands with her.

The ceremony had officially begun with the oldest man in the room giving an opening speech and most of the things she kept hearing were about business and money.

"Do you Lenshaws do nothing but work?" Allison asked.

"How do you think we have so much wealth? Some freaking magic wand?"

A bunch of activities took place and soon after Allison was getting bored. She sat by herself cross-legged and her arms equally crossed as she watched the rest of the guests dance arm in arm. It was the time for the ballroom dance.

Perfect couple? She thought. She and Hades were far from that. A frown lit up her face as her old self was slow creeping back in.

He killed your father remember? Allison stiffened at the voice in her head.

Miss Doreen would you let me speak? We had no idea how it was done or how they were able to get past the security cameras.

Wh..what are you saying? Who?

Sad to say, Edward Doreen was found dead this morning.

What?!

His life support had been disconnected by some unknown person.

H...how WAS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!!

That awful memory....she thought.

"Is something bothering you darling?"

Speak of the devil. Allison thought, wearily. She paid him no attention.

"Don't call me that."

"Will 'baby' be more appropriate?"

She looked at him, stunned.

"That's not a no." Hades got on his feet, bowing slightly and offering her one hand with the other behind him, ceremoniously.

"Care to dance."

"No!"

"Fun fact, this will actually be my first couple dance at a reunion."

"So?"

"So stop being so mean and indulge a pathetic Man."

Allison smiled, faintly. Pathetic indeed.She took his hand and he led her to the dance floor and they joined the others. It was a long moment of waist holding, a few twirling and whispering in each other's ears.

"Are your heels hurting sweetheart? You seem to be slow."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. When will all this end?"

"Not sure, there's still the general dinner."

"General dinner?"

"One where we all gather to eat together. That's the main reunion itself."

"I see..."

General dinner was no joke! Allison thought as she beheld the long dining table that seemed to stretch on for miles and not to mention the dishes on them. Hades had spent most of the time introducing her to everyone.

The fact that she was the most recent daughter-in-law in the family, made a blush creep up her cheeks every now and then and it took effort to remind herself that this was an arranged deal.

By the time they were all sitted for dinner, she was already chatting heartily with a few women by her side and opposite her. However, she couldn't help but take notice about the over familiarity with Freda and Hades. Doesn't she care that he was married? Midway through the dinner, a lady came out on stage and started giving some sort of speech for the married ones.

"In a world where divorce runs rampant, what then can we do to ensure a long lasting union?" She started.

"What's her name?" Allison asked Hades seated by her side.

"Doris .O. Lenshaw."

"Isn't she supposed to have her husband's last name?"

"That's the .O. It stands for Oriole."

"But her husband's name is suppressed."

"Apparently his name holds lesser fame. Still bearing the Lenshaw name is an increase to her status."

"That's disgusting." Allison said but Hades only chuckled and then she focused her attention back to Doris on stage.

".....and most importantly we have the subject of intimacy." She went on. "Which is the greatest tool to bonding with your significant other. With the women and men of this age being more work oriented than ever having time to build on their relationships, intimacy is therefore neglected and pushed aside. This can lead to a slowly fading union. Intimacy connects you to your partner in the most unexpected ways. It makes you see them in a different light, it gives you some sort of predictive sense around them and you become increasingly sensitive around them. All in all, it just makes you fall more and more in love with your partner."

Predictive sense? Increased sensitivity?

Allison thought.

Hadn't this been some of the changes she noticed since that first kiss in the guest-room? She shook off the memory as she stole a look at Hades but thankfully he wasn't staring back at her. A loud applause was heard and the woman stepped down from the stage.

Another man immediately climbed up and announced the presence of a pianist. Allison noticed Hades immediately tense up beside her. His jaw was constantly clenching and unclenched and she could see He was anything but enthusiastic about the next performance.

Everyone returned to the rest of their meal when the door suddenly went open and a tall, elegant and well endowed lady in a red dress walked into the scene. Her heels clearly and loudly affirming her presence. Two men in tuxedos welcomed her at the entrance before leading the lady to the piano fixed on the stage for everyone's pleasure that evening and that was when Allison finally understood why Hades had reacted that way earlier.

Lisa Valentino

First that Freda of a woman and now her? Could this night get any worse?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's an honor to grace this occasion once again after so many years. I only hope I'm able to grace not just your ears with my tunes but your hearts and to my childhood friend, this one is specially dedicated to you, my darling Hades."

Allison felt her throat tighten up. My darling Hades? What nonsense? She thought. Wasn't she supposed to be his ex? Allison looked up at Hades but he wasn't staring at her, his attention was focused on the sexy siren behind the piano. Oh no.

Calling out to him with those lovely melodies she kept playing, like a sailor lost at sea. Allison pursed her lips tightly, letting this new odd feeling wash over her and what was this feeling? Jealousy. It couldn't be but still, why was he staring at Lisa so intensely? This wasn't supposed to hurt but it was. She never thought she'd wish He looked at her like that instead.

Stupid bastard!