Chapter 2 Entrepreneur Of The Year

"The Entrepreneur of the year award goes to the CEO of Knight Inc., Mr. Luke Knight, for the fifth time in the row!! Give him a big round of applause," The host announced and the auditorium erupted in a huge round of applause.

Sitting in the front row, Luke smiled. He was wearing a dashing three-piece grey suit and Vera was sitting next to him, clapping for his achievement. She pecked him on the cheek and he stood up, walking towards the stage while buttoning up his coat.

The award was presented to him by the organizers and Vera clapped for him excitedly. "Can I have the mic, please?" Luke asked the host, and she gave him the mic. Luke's eyes gazed at the crowd, and settled on his woman while various cameras flashed at him.

"Vera, my wife! Can I say this again, my wife!!" He exclaimed the last two words loudly and his voice echoed in the auditorium, "You have given the meaning to my life, Vera, and I am nothing without you. Okay, I won't say much as I know my wife would end up crying. So summing up in short, this success belongs to you and I am dedicating this award to my wife."

"So, my dear wife, care to join me on the stage, please?" He asked, and the flashes turned to Vera, who wiped her tears from the corner of her eyes and stood up.

The crowd witnessed a graceful woman in a shimmery violet gown, her golden hair was styled in the braided crown, accessorize with flowers and beads to add a boho charm to the look and she elegantly walked up on the stage, and Luke presented the diamond studded gold trophy to her.

The paparazzi showered them with flashes, and the crowd gave them another round of applause.

***

The award ceremony ended on a pleasant note, and now was the time for the party. The gentlemen were congratulating Luke for winning consecutively for the fifth time and praising his hard work for seven years that helped Knight Inc. to reach new heights.

"Congratulation!" a manly voice came from behind and Luke turned to look.

A man in a pure white suit appeared with a glass of wine and Luke smiled at him, "William, so good to see you." They shook hands while Vera briefly smiled, looking at them. "How're you?"

"I am good," William smiled and his eyes shifted to Vera. "How are you, Mrs. Knight?"

"I am fine, thank you," she maintained her enchanting smile.

"Where is Leena?" Luke enquired about William's wife, and Vera raised an eyebrow with an amused face.

"She is in Paris," William replied, and Luke nodded. "And where is Andrea?

"Andrea must here somewhere," William looked around to spot his daughter in the crowd and his eyes halted at one particular woman in a royal blue single strapped gown, and the next moment her emerald eyes darted back at her father. William waved at her and she walked elegantly towards them.

"Here is my gorgeous daughter!" William exclaimed and Luke, Vera turned to find Andrea, and indeed she was an epitome of beauty. An hour-glass figure, emerald green eyes, blemish free glowing skin, long golden hair just like Vera, and a charming smile.

"Hello, Andrea. It's so nice to finally meet you," Luke extended his hand in her direction and she accepted.

"Hello, Uncle Luke," she smiled and shifted her focus to Vera, "Hello, Auntie,"

"Oh, where is Christian?" William suddenly asked. "Andrea really wanted to meet him."

"I don't know. He should be here by now," replied Luke, glancing at his wristwatch.

"He isn't coming," Vera voiced and three pairs of eyes snapped in her direction, and she wasn't sure if she saw hurt in the emerald one.

"What happened?" asked Luke.

"He texted me, he isn't feeling good so can't join us here." Vera replied and Luke nodded, shifting his focus to William and Andrea.

"He is working a lot these days on the upcoming projects of JM Incorporation," Luke said and they nodded in agreement. Luke was about to say something next, but Vera interrupted him.

"Sorry for interrupting, but can we go home now. I am a little worried about Chris." Vera said as she was feeling uneasy after his text and Luke sensed it.

"Yeah! It's getting pretty late as well." He shook hands with William and then with Andrea. "It was a pleasure meeting you, young lady," He smiled and soon they left the venue.

***

Inside the black Lamborghini,

"I am sorry. Luke told me that Christian is going to show up at the party," William apologized to Andrea as they headed towards their manor.

"It's alright, Dad. Maybe it isn't the right time for us to meet." Andrea said but inwardly cursed her luck.

"I still wonder how his eyes never fell on my gorgeous daughter," He said while ruffling her hair and Andrea smiled.

"I was his junior, and his eyes were already set on Diana Roger. If she would've been alive, I am sure Christian would've married her. But unfortunately, she committed suicide." Andrea pursed her lips in a straight line. "And then he was involved with Lia Smith but I don't understand why he married that Indian girl." Andrea gave puzzled look to her father, "What was her name again?"

"Mishka," William said.

"Right!! And where did she disappear suddenly when he got into an accident? How can she be so cruel to leave her husband in such a state?" She wondered.

"Let's not talk about her. She is in the past and let her be there." William said, and Andrea nodded her head.

"When mom is coming back?" She asked.

"When her shopping is done, maybe," He said, and they both chuckled.

***

Inside the Roll Royce,

Vera was removing her diamond earrings when she heard Luke mentioning about Andrea.

"Andrea is gorgeous. Did you like her?" Luke asked and Vera stiffened, as she knew where this conversation would lead to.

"Yeah, she is a nice girl," she replied leisurely and threw her head against the headrest to relax and closed her eyes.

"Don't you think Andrea is just perfect for Chris?" Luke suggested and Vera sighed, completely irked with this particular topic.

"Luke, you know everything then why do you always try to set him. Chris doesn't want to get married." She replied while keeping her eyes closed.

"and Mishka isn't the reason for that," Luke countered. "Vera, we have to take some decisions for him. He can't be like this forever."

"Dad took this big decision for Chris's life, and the outcome is in front of us," Vera stated and Luke rolled his eyes.

"Vera, you are not understanding!" He exclaimed and Vera looked at him.

"Don't repeat what mom did to us and dad did to Chris. He is an adult, let him take major decisions of his life and marriage is one of them." Vera said and their car stopped outside the Knight Mansion and she turned to opened the door.

"Mishka isn't coming back," Luke said, and Vera's hand froze as she looked at him. "Just in case you are waiting for her grand comeback." He continued.

"There was no hope for me to come back either, Luke. But I am here, sitting right next to you, huh?" She said and sighed, tired of explaining her point of view. "I also want Chris to move on in his life, but not before the proper closure of his past relationship. We don't know what exactly transpired between them seven years back and where did she vanish. I don't want his past to suddenly pop up and destroy his present, especially when he has no recollection of past."

"So how long are we going to wait for Mishka?" He questioned.

"Luke, I am not ready for this conversation. I am exhausted and wish to rest." She said, stepping out of the car, walking inside the mansion, and Luke followed her inside.

Luke walked past her, giving her a look while Vera stopped outside Christian's room and slowly opened the door. She smiled, watching him sleeping peacefully and her eyes traveled to the wall-mounted wooden slab where the beautiful wax statue of Ganesha idol was dazzling under the dim light. She stared at it for a few more seconds and slowly closed the door, walking away.

***

Luke was already settled on his side of the bed when Vera entered the room and she briefly looked at him and went to change her clothes. But when she came back, Luke turned off the light and faced the other side, ignoring her. Vera smiled, watching Luke's grumpy attitude, and got under the duvet.

She tried to touch him, but he jerked her hand away, but Vera kept annoying him till he took a deep breath and stopped pushing her hand away. "Honey, listen to me, please." She said politely and when he didn't object, she continued.

"Do you remember? When Chris was born, we promised each other that we'll never force him to do anything. We won't take decisions of his life and we'll never do what mom did to us. We fell in love and that was pure luck, but Christian's case is different, we have witnessed his love for Mishka and if he ever remembered his past, he will never forgive us." Vera said.

"Let's sleep, Vera," Luke said and Vera felt defeated.