Page 26 of Blinded
“Honey, I love you. I just want the best for you.” Sandra’s shoulders went up to her ears at her mother’s words.
“I know, Mother. I’m still going to Wilma’s.” Sandra’s words sounded terse, but she couldn’t care less. She wouldn’t let her mother’s ‘love’ manipulate her. Love wasn’t an honest expression of emotion to Gisela. It was simply a phrase to get things done her way.
“Although I wouldn’t lower myself to buy second hand clothing, I have to agree that Wilma’s gowns are beautiful.” Gisela sighed. “If you insist. We can pay for the dress, you know?”
“I know, mother.” Sandra didn’t add anything else, hoping the woman would let it rest.
“So, what are you going to do with your hair?”
Sandra looked at the ceiling and suppressed a sigh. This conversation wasn’t over; no doubt her mother would want to talk makeup and shoes next.
Gisela lived for charity functions – it didn’t matter the cause as long as there were important people attending. Sandra scoffed inwardly, even without the celebrities and politicians, her mother loved any event that gave her an excuse to buy a new dress and shoes. Sandra wasn’t the least bit interested in either but focused on the cause instead. She’d finally managed to get out of the events she didn’t believe in. This next formal dinner affair would benefit the Hawkins-Lewis Foundation. The charity was dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented groups in medicine. It provided scholarships for both undergraduate and professional education as well as intern opportunities for promising high school and college students – a worthy cause in Sandra’s opinion and well-deserving of the torture she was enduring now.
GT gazed across the renovated space of the Grand Plaza of Union Station, thinking how much their foundation had grown in just a few years. When his mother had toyed with the idea of doing something in memory of her husband, both he and his sister had jumped right in. The name had been bit of a fight, but when GT had shown her the many Lewis Foundations already in existence, his mother caved and added Hawkins. As in previous years, the gala sold out in record time. All 1200 seats taken within a month, and he wondered if they would have to move the event to The Kansas City Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom soon. They had started at the 300 seat Carriage House Ballroom and just kept getting bigger. This was their first year at Union Station and he hoped they could use it for a couple of years before they moved again. His mother, sister, and he loved the way Union Station looked. Even in the large hall, it was possible to imagine what train travel had been like in its glory days. They didn’t care for the more sterile look of the ballroom, but knew if they continued to grow they would probably end up there eventually.
He grinned as he spotted the six students and their parents a few feet away. The two girls and one boy who were still in high school beamed with pride and happiness, but their parents looked ill at ease in the grandeur of Kansas City’s rich and influential. The two young men and one young woman who would be going to medical school courtesy of the Foundation had come alone. They seemed self-confident and not over-awed by their surroundings. He wanted to talk to them and was on his way when his mother called, “Gregory, please come meet the Duncans.” He turned towards them, half-listening as his mother explained. “Tom Duncan is the Vice President of Trust Administration and Chief Fiduciary Officer at UMB.” GT shook hands with a distinguished-looking gentleman with a round face and some extra pounds around the waist. “He and his wife, Gisela,” his mother gestured to a pretty brunette with familiar features in an expensive-looking midnight blue gown, “have donated the three Keith Kavanaugh paintings for the silent auction this year.”
“You did?” GT focused on the couple. “I’ve bid on Valley in the Mist #2 and Winter Field at Sunset. I love the way he uses texture and different surfaces to create his images. His use of muted colors is very appealing to me. Thank you for your generous contribution.”
The woman giggled and said in a husky tone, “Don’t be silly, anything for our local charity. It’s such a good cause.” Something about the woman’s demeanor and the overly familiar way she had her hand on his arm gave him the chills, but when he discreetly tried to pull away, she clutched him with surprising force. “Have you met our daughter?”
GT had to suppress a groan but forced his attention to the young woman who was hanging back and seemed reluctant to join the conversation. The moment his eyes met hers, he knew why Mrs. Duncan looked familiar – Sandra. How on earth the stiff banker and his society wife could have birthed this delightful creature was beyond him, but he was happy to see her. His cock, which didn’t seem able to behave around her no matter the audience, was even more pleased, and GT was thankful for the cut of his jacket as it concealed his reaction to his jujun'na.
“Good evening, Sandra. I didn’t expect to run into you tonight,” he said in a low voice before answering her mother. “Actually, I know your daughter quite well.” He didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath from Sandra but continued, “She helped me recover from an injury, and we became friends after.” Mrs. Duncan let go of his arm as he moved closer to Sandra. “Please excuse us.” Without a backward glance, he placed his arm around Sandra’s waist and led her away from their families.
“What are you doing?” An attractive flush crept across her cheeks.
“Getting away from your mother.” He swept an appraising look up and down Sandra’s body. Her long magenta gown had a high neck and long sleeves but was sexy nonetheless with shoulder cutouts and sparkling sequins sewn on the fabric. “It’s quite clear where you got your looks, but as for the brain department …” he trailed off. “Probably your dad. Can’t be a slouch and become a VP at the biggest bank in Kansas City.” Sandra hadn’t said a word, but she started to squirm away from him, and he pinned her with a stare. “What made you choose a medical profession?”
Sandra sighed and fidgeted with the small black clutch in her hands. “To be honest, at first it was only to piss off my mother. She was planning something,” she cleared her throat “umm, different for me.” She returned his gaze. “It wasn’t until I started to do my internship that it grabbed me. You know, helping people, improving their lives.”
“You love your job.” GT’s intense gaze never wavered.
“Yes, I guess I do.” The first genuine smile showed on her face.
“I’m so happy to run into you tonight. This Foundation is special to me, as you can imagine, and your parents’ contribution is more than generous.”
“It’s a very worthy cause.” Sandra blinked. “Hold on – Hawkins-Lewis Foundation – you’re Lewis.”
GT chuckled. “My mother started the foundation in memory of my father.”
“I didn’t realize you had a personal interest in the charity.”
“Now you know.”
They stood staring in each other’s eyes for a long time before GT cleared his throat and suggested, “We should probably return to the party. I think I’ve monopolized your time enough for tonight.” Sandra started moving, and he halted her with a hand on her shoulder. “Come home with me after the festivities are over?”
Sandra closed her eyes for a moment before she pulled her shoulders back and inclined her head.
“People are finding their tables. May I escort you?” GT asked and Sandra nodded again. They said an awkwardly formal “goodbye” when they reached Sandra’s parents and didn’t speak for the rest of the evening.
GT caught himself searching her out in the crowd several times during the night. The food was good and the donations were generous, but his mind kept wandering to the brunette and their evening ahead. During the after-dinner table hopping his mother kicked him, discretely. “Gregory, you’re not paying attention. You practically snubbed one of our largest donors. Get your head in the game.”
After his mother’s reminder, GT forced himself to concentrate on his duty and the evening passed without further incident, but with several additional donations. At the end of the night he went home with both Kavanaughs, but his happiness on winning the auction paled in comparison to his feelings about taking Sandra with him, too.
Sandra woke up in GT’s bed and needed a few moments to recall what had happened the previous night. She wasn’t used to waking up in another person’s bedroom and the sensation was like missing a step on the stairs. When she’d returned to her parents, Gisela had been like a shark. Although Sandra kept her answers as noncommittal as possible, her mother smelled blood in the water and wanted meat. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Sandra groaned when she remembered the embarrassing scene where her mother kept insisting on bringing Sandra home, and GT stepped in and announced he would drive her. From the gleam in her mother’s eyes, Gisela was already estimating his net worth and the connections he had. Hell, knowing her mother, Gisela was already planning the wedding.
Should I put some distance between us? Chances are we’ll run into each other again, and I wouldn’t put it past my mother to push us closer together.
