I shrugged. "I could see them once or twice a year, I guess... Dana I'd want to see often, though. She's the only reason I'd ever attend a family function. In fact, that's the only reason why I agreed to go tonight. Dana will be there. She's so busy with the baby and house, I haven't had a chance to see her much since we got back."
"I love Dana," Alexa said with a smile. "She's just the sweetest person."
"See? It won't be so bad," I said and kissed her.
"I guess..."
We got ready for the event, both of us showering and getting dressed together after a quickie that left us both breathless, but it served to lessen both our stress levels.
Besides, I would feel smug attending the event knowing I'd just fucked my beautiful fiancée and there was nothing my mother could do about it. She'd have to accept it eventually, although I knew she would never really feel that Alexa was 'one of us' as she often put it -- the old rich.
I considered myself new rich, as in I'd just made my first billion dollars through the sweat of my own brow, rather than having it given to me the way they all did.
Regardless, my new life was with Alexa and was going to soon be almost completely separate from the Marshalls and their fortune. That would make me very happy. While I appreciated them for taking Dana and me in after our parents were killed in the accident, they made as much money off the deal as we did, since the bulk of my real mother's fortune went to the corporation. As my father's business partner, my adoptive father benefitted from the assets, not Dana and me. I could never understand why my father left so many of the shares in his partner’s hands in case he or my mother both died. It was done for business purposes, and I was sure they never imagined that both would die, leaving us kids orphans, but they did.
Now that I had my own fortune, I could ignore the one I was set to inherit from the Marshalls after they passed.
"Do I pass muster?" I asked Alexa as we went to the door of the hotel room, stopping in front of the mirror to check myself out. I adjusted my bow tie and checked out my hair, which was significantly longer than when I left port eight months earlier.
"You look mahvellous dahling," Alexa said with a fake accent. "Simply mahvellous."
We kissed, both of us grinning like idiots.
"I need a sense of humor to face tonight," I said.
"Just laugh them all off," Alexa replied, brushing hair off my forehead. "We don't need them and their gossip and manipulation. I'm only going to see Dana and to hold your hand."
"Me, too," I said. "Although I will be giving out the awards as the current CEO of the foundation. That has to change. I don't want to be held down by the responsibilities. Maybe Eric can take over. He likes doing things like that."
"Maybe," Alexa said. "Let's go and face the music."
So, we did.
Cipriani's was the same as it had been almost a year earlier when I met Alexa and my life changed course -- for the better. We had one of the smaller rooms reserved, which was currently lit up with candles on the twenty or so round tables all set with flowers and silverware, crystal glasses and name tags of all the attendees. It was impressive, but all I could think of was how my family would respond when I announced Alexa's and my engagement. I knew that the staff and some of my family -- Dana primarily -- would be happy, but my mother and father would probably be upset.
To hell with them. If they couldn't see that Alexa was perfect for me, it was their loss, not mine.
Alexa had a firm grip on my hand as we walked to the head table where my family sat, and I knew she was nervous. I bent down and kissed her, conscious that all eyes would be on me, but I didn't care. In fact, I wanted to rub it in their faces -- all those who didn't accept Alexa. Primarily, my parents and their closest and most prejudiced friends. Once upon a ti
me, each one of the old rich had ancestors who were poor, so their judgement of Alexa was hollow.
I led Alexa to our seats at the head table, stopping to kiss Dana on the cheek.
"Hey, little sister," I said and smiled at Eric. "Eric."
"I'm so glad the two of you are finally here," Dana said, squeezing Alexa's hand after Alexa bent down to kiss her as well. "I'm bored to tears with all the old farts and their money talk."
"Sorry we're late," I said. "We got waylaid because the traffic was terrible."
"Yeah, riiiight," Dana said with a laugh. "Like I believe that's the reason you two lovebirds are late."
Dana winked at me, and I had to laugh. She had a very dirty mind and didn't shy from saying what she thought.
Beside her Eric gave me as fake a smile as anyone ever did.
"Good to see you, brother-in-law," he said, leaning back. "Alexandria."
Beside me, Alexa smiled warmly. "Good to see you, Eric."