Chapter 92
In a spacious, elegantly decorated private dining room, I recognized several familiar faces. After all, I had seen them on TV on numerous occasions.
My mind went blank again, but I remembered Tristan’s instructions. With a nervous smile, 1 chung tightly to his arm.
Everyone in the room turned to us. Their faces lit up with warm, welcoming smiles.
“Oh, this is the first time I’ve seen Tris bring a date,” someone teased. “Tris, come over here, let me take a good look at her.”
The man who spoke wore a handmade, well–tailored suit.
Tristan led me over and said respectfully, “Hello, Mr. Bloom. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Wynonna.”
“Wait, what? His girlfriend?” I thought, stunned.
The dining room fell silent. Even the server paused, turning to look at Tristan in surprise.
I felt stiff and awkward, unsure of what to do with myself. Was this meant to be the announcement? Did something go wrong?
I must be dreaming. I must have misheard him. My neck stiffened as I slowly turned to look up at Tristan. He was so tall that all I could see was his chiseled, calm profile.
Mr. Bloom was the first to break the silence, his hearty laughter filling the room. “Well, well! What a surprise, Tris. After all these years of telling you to start dating, you finally have.”
Suddenly, my sluggish brain sparked to life. I took Mr. Bloom’s hand, doing my best to imitate Tristan’s even tone. “Hello, Mr. Bloom. I’m Wynonna, Wynonna Lambert, but please call me Wynnie.”
Mr. Bloom sized me up and nodded approvingly. “Great poise and very beautiful. You and Tris make a perfect match.”
I smiled shyly in response. Mr. Bloom’s teasing broke the ice and brought everyone back into their lively conversations.
Tristan introduced me to each person. They were all older and called him ‘Tris‘ affectionately. Their eyes were kind and warm as they looked at me.
Amongst the many new faces, I recognized Mr. Quigley, the president of the Chamber of Commerce. I had met him before. He wasn’t surprised to see us together and kept saying he couldn’t wait to attend our wedding.
Tristan handled the situation tactfully. The atmosphere in the dining room was harmonious, and I felt relaxed.
Chapter 92
2/2
I wasn’t particularly intimidated by these social events because my father often brought me to similar dinner parties when I was very young.
After overcoming the initial awkwardness, I began to feel more comfortable.
Before dinner, I had already mingled with several prominent guests in attendance.
When Mr. Bloom learned that I studied piano since childhood, he eagerly arranged to have one brought in.
I played an impromptu piece. After a moment of stunned silence, the room burst into fervent applause.
Mr. Bloom was especially thrilled. “No wonder Tris fell for you. Mastering the piano takes real dedication, and your talent shows years of practice.”
I smiled modestly. “Mr. Bloom, you’re too kind. I haven’t played in a while, so I’m a little rusty.
Mr. Bloom chuckled, giving me a knowing look. “I’m an old family friend of the Zook family. I know what Tris‘ dad values. Keep practicing. I assure you it’ll pay off.”
Then, he turned to chat with Tristan.
I sat on the piano bench, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. It felt like I had earned his approval, but I still felt a bit out of place.
Just as the dinner was about to begin, the door to the dining room swung open. I glanced over and froze in place.
Jameson stood in the doorway.
I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe what I was seeing.
As he walked in confidently with Xandra on his arm, he glanced at me. Then, he quickly turned away.
I was certain he saw me. Did he just ignore me?
