As the evening drew to a close, the event began to wrap up, and the guests started to mingle and socialize. The social justice books, which had been distributed earlier, were now being autographed by the authors and discussed enthusiastically by the guests.
As the guests began to disperse, many of them flocked to take photos with the Thompson family, who were graciously posing for pictures and smiling for the cameras. Some guests were being interviewed by journalists, sharing their thoughts on the event and the launch of the Safe Space app.
Maddie, still basking in the glow of her impromptu speech, was approached by her boss, Rachel, who beamed with pride. "Maddie, you were great! I'm still in shock that you managed to give that speech despite not expecting to be invited to the stage," Rachel exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.
Maddie smiled, her face still flushed from the excitement of the evening. "Thank you, Rachel. I have to admit, I was really nervous at first, but Alex's introduction really helped me to calm down and focus." She chuckled, remembering the butterflies in her stomach as she took the stage.
Sarah, Citylights' Producer who had been standing nearby, snorted in derision. "Anyone could do that, if it weren't for Alex who invited her to the podium, she wouldn't be there." Her tone was laced with a hint of jealousy, and her eyes seemed to bore into Maddie's skin.
Rachel, however, was quick to defend Maddie. She laughed, a throaty sound, and grabbed a glass of champagne from the waiter who was passing by. "Don't be jealous, Sarah. It doesn't suit you," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. She raised her glass in a toast to Maddie, who smiled gratefully at her boss.
As the two women exchanged banter, the atmosphere around them remained lively.
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Brian turned his head, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. He had been shocked to see Maddie on the podium, her presence there unexpected. He hadn't anticipated that she was the co-creator of Alex's project, and the surprise still lingered in his mind.
As he recalled the moment, Brian remembered how Maddie had been completely absorbed in her speech, unaware of his presence in the audience. He was relieved that she hadn't noticed him, partly because he knew she would be surprised to see his wife, Sophia, a member of the Greenwood family.
Brian's thoughts were a mix of curiosity and intrigue. He wondered how Maddie would react when she found out about Sophia's connection to the Greenwood family. For now, he kept his thoughts to himself,
Brian's eyes continued to scan the hall, his gaze sweeping across the room with a mixture of distraction and longing. He was still reeling from the surprise of seeing Maddie on stage, and a pang of sadness lingered within him because she hadn't noticed him in the crowd. The anonymity of the moment felt almost palpable, and Brian couldn't shake off the feeling that he'd wanted to connect with her, if only for a fleeting moment.
Sophia's gentle touch brought him back to reality. She placed her hands on his back, her voice soft and melodious as she said,
"Honey, we'll soon be leaving."
Brian's eyes remained fixed on the crowd, his gaze still searching for Maddie's familiar face amidst the sea of departing guests. "Okay, I'll be at the car," he replied, his voice a little distant, his mind still caught up in thoughts of Maddie.
Sophia's eyebrow arched slightly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She sensed something in Brian's tone, a hint of distraction that wasn't quite typical of him.
"Are you waiting for someone, Brian?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and inquiry.
Brian turned to Sophia, his face smoothing out into a loving smile. He masked his expression, ensuring that his true thoughts remained hidden. "No, let's go," he said, his tone light and casual, though his eyes had lost some of their sparkle. With a gentle nod, he guided Sophia towards the exit, the evening's events lingering in his mind like an unresolved question.
******************************************
Alex had just finished speaking with some of his guests, his voice smooth and charming as he laughed and nodded along with their conversations. As he turned to make his way through the crowd, he found his father standing behind him, a tall and imposing figure with an air of authority.
Alex bowed slightly, his voice low and husky as he greeted his father. "Hello, Father. Hope the event was favorable?." Reginald's expression was unreadable, but his words were laced with a hint of approval. "Well, your 'charity' project proved to be successful. It's good."
Alex gave a casual smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Thank you, Father."
Reginald's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he placed a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Don't forget your duty, Alex. Get married, take your time, but don't make me impatient." The words were laced with a subtle warning, and Alex's smile never wavered as he nodded in response.
As Reginald turned to leave, Alex watched him go, his eyes following his father's retreating figure. That's when he saw Maddie, her eyes meeting his with a spark of recognition. A smile danced in his eyes, and he began to make his way towards her, his long strides eating up the distance between them.
However, his movement was abruptly halted by Selena, who stood in front of him with a shy smile on her face. Alex's demeanor changed in an instant, his expression smoothing out into a polite mask. "Miss Selena," he said, his voice courteous.
Selena's eyes dropped, and she spoke in a soft, barely audible tone.
"Just...Selena. You don't have to be formal. We're getting married after all."
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced up at him, her eyes shy and vulnerable. Alex's jaw clenched briefly as he glanced at Maddie, who was watching him with an unsual expression.
He turned back to Selena, his smile firmly in place, and held out his arm. "Shall we?" he asked, his eyes not reflecting the warmth of his smile. Selena's eyes sparkled slightly as she took his arm, her touch tentative, and together they walked away, leaving Maddie
watching.
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Maddie's Pov
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I watched as Alex and the lady walked away, their departure a stark contrast to the anticipation that had built up inside me. I had thought he was heading in my direction, and I had been expecting him, eager to express my gratitude for allowing the guests to recognize our contributions to the project.
As I stood there, my eyes fixed on Alex, I felt a surge of disappointment wash over me. The beautiful dark-haired lady, had interrupted our potential meeting, claiming his attention and altering his course. I shook off the feeling, telling myself it was silly to feel this way.
With a quiet sigh, I turned to leave, my footsteps carrying me away from the scene. I pushed aside the thought of what could have been, focusing instead on the success of the project and the appreciation I had received from the guests. Still, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Alex had made his way to me as I had expected.