host moved quickly on to the winner’s name. “Please let’s make welcome our most generous guest this evening, Samuel Voltaggio.” The room’s clapping was the loudest it had been and there were more cheers than for any of the previous victors. I scanned the crowd and from a corner, I saw Samuel emerge onto the side of the stage, coming up and walking up behind me, his arm going around my waist, pulling me closely next to his body. He stopped, so he was positioned between me and the host.
The host, who was delighted by his generosity, shook Samuel’s hand and then said, “Thank you Mr. Voltaggio for your donation this evening. It means a lot to the Errol Environmental Society. Would you like to say a few words?” Samuel’s smoldering eyes glanced over to me and my dress and then he took the microphone. How was it possible to feel so angry and so turned on at once? Samuel had just walked back into my life again, giving me that same burning look and natural confidence I always found so appealing. Once I got over the initial shock of seeing him, I realized that he had just put himself in the worst possible danger with both my Dad and Clint. I was not permitted to see Samuel and if word got back to my Dad about this evening, then this could really be it for him. I didn’t know what to do. I could feel the hate of Clint’s gaze on us as Samuel inched closer to me on the stage. Should I stay or should I run off? What should I do? But I didn’t have time to think. Samuel was already holding the microphone before I could make a decision about the best course of action.
“Thanks for such kind applause, but there really isn’t any monetary amount high enough for this young girl. Isn’t she the most beautiful girl in the room?” Samuel turned and looked into my eyes, hitting me in the heart with his memory, making me feel instantly soft in the way I returned the look. Samuel’s arm on my waist only pulled me tighter, and then I felt the pinch of knowing Clint was watching us, remembering where my heart really was. As I tried to pull away from Samuel, the room then started chanting, “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!”
I looked at Samuel and shook my head, but he only grinned at me. He lifted the microphone again to his mouth. “There is one more thing I would like to say first,” he turned and winked at me and then looked out into the crowd, his head looking directly at Clint. “All’s fair in love and war.” Samuel then dropped the microphone and spun and dipped me with aplomb, planting his lips on mine in front of the whole room. Everyone clapped and roared as he kept his lips lingering on mine for what seemed an obscene amount of time. I was so shocked by both his presence and his kiss, I barely moved. I couldn’t speak or react. His kiss was hard, but still tender. It felt like a message from him, that he still felt exactly the same for me, like no time had passed, and that this kiss was a declaration of battle that Samuel intended to win.
When he finally lifted me up so I was standing straight, I let my eyes search the room for Clint. He was still standing next to Josh in the crowd, with an unreadable facial expression. The fact that I did not know that expression made me feel scared. Josh’s mouth was hung open in what must have been shock. After the crowd stopped clapping, Samuel took my hand and led me down the stairs.
“But..my…Dad?” I stuttered, my head spinning out about all the possible dangers Samuel would now be faced with.
“Not a problem,” he stated calmly, like it didn’t matter. Like his life was not about to be taken away. How can he be so relaxed right now?
“What?” I said, very confused as we reached the bottom of the stage. I quickly removed my hand from his grip. He laughed and snorted, which infuriated me. He had no right to do this, especially to Clint. Samuel tried to put his hands on my waist again and his mouth on mine, but I turned away from him, my knee then going for his groin. He anticipated my move and turned his waist before I could