The Grand Mistress

That night, the VIP concert of Lucilla Dimitri was flocked by guests, most of them from prominent families in the city. 

As it was a social event, every woman present wore long gowns while the men went on with their suits and tuxedos. Along the great hallway, many lingered as they waited for the theater to open. Of course the waiting time became an opportunity for businessmen to talk about certain ventures while the socialites gathered to talk about industry gossip. It was a vibrant evening and it became more interesting when big personalities started appearing, one of which was the well beloved couple, Hawk Monsanto and ballerina, Feather Han.

They threaded the hall together, Feather's arms wrapped around Hawk's arms and they glided in with such aura that everyone could not help but turn their head to acknowledge it. Hawk of course was accustomed to this kind of attention so he swept past the crowd nonchalantly. However Feather wasn't, as although she was a ballerina, not everyone in the upper class gave her high respect especially that Han's Scintillait became a joke ever since Mauro Han took over and so she was specifically thrilled. She went on smiling with everyone, flushing on all of them her innocent pretty face like she was a one humble lady.

"Feather Han is so lucky, I'm so jealous about how she was doted on by the M Conglomerate president," One of the socialites in the sidelines commented with her circle. They were all eyeing the couple with much jealousy and envy.

"Considering that Han's Scintillait wasn't going well and President Hawk would surely get nothing significant with it, she was indeed lucky to be noticed by him," Another expressed, "They said they were lovers since they were children and got reunited only a few months ago. Aye fate, indeed the ballerina was so lucky,"

"Was she the reason why President Hawk had been so phlegmatic about women?" Interjected by another socialite. "Many coveted the title madam of the Monsantos but no one was able to get a hold of it. President Hawk must have been so attached to that childhood love, what a devotion!"

"Hahahaha," Someone in their circle laughed at all the ladies' conclusions. "What devotion are we talking about? Have you not heard? President Hawk was rumoured to have a mistress,"

"Seriously? That surely cannot be true," One tried to refuse such a claim. Feather and Hawk had been nothing but a good perfect couple in everyone's eyes that it was hard to believe something bad was brewing in the midst of them.

"You sure knew nothing," The one who sponsored the gossip went on. "They said during a night out, Hawk paid twenty million for a girl and that he brought the mariposa verde for that woman, not Feather,"

"The mariposa verde? Wasn't it the jewelry everyone was talking about several months ago? They said Verde Jewelries Incorporated had been in deep mess when they attempted not to sell Hawk the piece," Of them recalled as the talks continued on under their breaths, very careful for the newcomers not to hear.

"Everyone thought he brought it for Feather Han, but he gave it to his mistress,"

Their conversation immediately halted when Feather and Hawk went past them. Since Feather was all smiling and gave them a slight nod, they all gave her some fake pleasantries in return. They waited till the couple disappeared to continue with their gossip but the theater suddenly opened signifying the start of the concert and so as the crowd went, they all followed.

Soon, everyone settled in the semi-lighted theater room. There were seats lined up below the sophisticatedly built stage and everyone went on the seats they were assigned into. Hawk and Feather surprisingly sat almost at the back far end of the stage and this made some brows raised. Why was President Hawk sitting at the back? Could he not afford the front rows? Feather herself felt a bit dejected as she became conscious with everyone's stares knowing they were mocking them for not being able to secure some seats in the front. What was Hawk doing?

"President, would it not be good for us to sit in the front rows?" Feather sweetly told him, hoping he could make something about everyone's mockery. 

"I want to sit here, sometimes it's good to be at the back," Hawk answered nonchalantly. He wasn't even aware of everyone's stares and if he does, he doesn't give much a damn. All he wanted right then was a little sleep which he very much looked forward to. This was the main reason why he took a seat at the back rows as he didn't want to be seen by the singer herself, sleeping at her concert. God knows how hot tempered and proud Lucilla Dimitri was and although she was nothing compared to him, still he acknowledged her great talents and didn't want to make her feel disrespected.

Feather wanted to sweet talk him further but the concert had already started. Singer Lucilla appeared on the stage with a bright orange glittering dress and started singing a beautiful melancholy song that cascaded in Hawk's ears like a thread of snowflakes. It gave him some wintery vibe whose coldness draws him to sleep. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling and for the first time in so many days he felt calm.

Feather who saw Hawk felt upset that his fiancee refused to give her the best seat in the concert, he was also sleeping on her like being with her was a boring thing. This wasn't the first time though as throughout the wedding preparations, Hawk had been consistently cold and silent. Gone was the time when he made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world and what's left was a big wall  in between. A wall that she did not notice before and just one day stood, separating their previous one heart into two. She didn't know what happened, as far as she was concerned, she had been good with him and she gave him her heart as soon as he demanded it without hesitation only to be left in the cold and dark after just a few months. Where was the devotion and love he had promised her before? 

Sighing, Feather just laid back at her seat and listened to singer Lucilla's tale of sad love.  The hymn she sang then perfectly fit the roars of her heart. She was broken,frustrated, angered and only if she had the guts, would she let all her tantrums let loose in front of Hawk mercilessly. However, such tantrums were her deepest secrets and she'll allow it to win over her, she'll surely lose all the things that Hawk promised her and one of it was to become the madam of the Monsanto's.

Hawk was able to peacefully snooze off for a few good minutes until something lured him back to open his eyes. There was something in the crowd that made his body twisted and his instinct drove him to turn his head toward the door, where newcomers silently entered, very careful not to disturb all the guests that had already been there enjoying Lucilla's Dimitri's nightingale-like voice.

They were two youngbloods, a woman and a man, more like a couple who entered the room with sweet gestures. Their smiles at each other were quite alluring but calculative, as if they were all very careful towards their treatment with each other. The man was surely handsome and although he didn't know him, he surely came from a family of great wealth reputation, his actions proved him so. The girl on the other hand immediately sponsored a dim expression in his face. Not only that, it made his veins rushing in and out, ready to burst any time.

It was Cat, wearing a bit of a modest gown as her copper hair was let loose and she damned looked pretty young and innocent at that. Although she looked very far from the seductive Cat who always comes to haunt him, he immediately recognized her, especially that her copper dyed hair was very hard to forget and so were her eyes. Hawk immediately straightened his back and his eyes, fixed at the two, following their every move as they walked past them and settled just two rows away. The place was dimly lit so Cat surely had not noticed him. Besides, she sure was very well enjoying the man at her company that it would be impossible for her to notice him, already glaring daggers at them. Good thing Feather's attention was already with Lucilla Dimitri and so she did not notice the tension that suddenly poured down on her fiancee. 

Cat who was oblivious to Hawk's presence was looking at the man with great fascination. Soon, in the dark, her companion whispered something to him and in just a minute she giggled and had her mouth covered by her hand so as not to disturb all the other  guests. She sure was enjoying the evening, but Hawk wasn't and hell he cared but he sure was ready to ruin that sweet romantic date of hers.