“It’s just four hundred of our closest friends.” She told him with a smile.
“But of course!” Chad said dryly. He would do his due diligence and spend one hour at the most and disappear. He was starting to feel claustrophobic already.
“No Blair?” His mother murmured as she looked towards the doorway.
He shook his head. “I am flying solo.”
Melissa opened her mouth to say something when the reporters descended. For the next few minutes they were bombarded with questions and cameras flashing in their faces.
“Chad is it true that you are up for a part in your mother’s next movie?” one of them asked.
“No!”
“We are not here to discuss business gentlemen.” James Gilroy had made his way over and stood to one side of his son, boxing him in. “We are here to celebrate my wife’s birthday and that is what we will do. Hello son.”
“Father,” Chad extended a hand towards him as was the usual greeting and blinked when he was pulled in for a hug.
“We need to present a united front.” James whispered in his ear.
“Always the diplomat!” Chad whispered back with a cynical twist to his lips as he stepped back. “Good to see you Father.”
“We need to talk….”
“We are here to celebrate Mother’s birthday, remember?”
“Yes but….”
“Darling no business!’ Melissa said firmly as she guided her son over to the cocktail table. The room was glittering with dazzling gowns and expensive jewelries and had been decorated with emerald and lime green, her mother’s favorite colors. Waiters wandered around with an endless supply of champagne and an oval table offered every exotic food there was. A bar had been set up at the corner of the vast room and a live band was playing. A few well-known singers were also present, and Chad knew that later on they were going to hop on the improvised dais and pay tribute to the famous actress. “Mingle darling. I have to go and play hostess.”
Chad nodded and took the flute of champagne from the passing waiter. He had not been back to the manor in months, preferring to stay away from the place that haunted him with so many bad memories. He remembered being much younger, maybe nine or ten and sneaking down the spiral staircase to sit and watched the activities after his nanny had put him to bed. He had stayed in the shadows so that he would not be detected and had made his way down without anyone noticing, fascinated by the grown-up party and the mixed of laughter and conversations. He remembered seeing his father break away from the crowd and head towards the passageway and into his office. Chad had followed him quietly, intent on persuading him to let him stay and watch and maybe have a piece of cake. He had been about to knock on the door when he heard sounds of laughter coming from the room. Thinking that his mother was in the room as well, he had pushed it open and stood there rigid with shock at the scene before his eyes. The woman, a starlet he recognized, was slowly taking off her clothes and moving towards his father who was bare from the waist down. He wanted to move but found himself rooted to the floor as he watched the woman climbed over his father and sink down on him. He was there long enough to hear the groans and moans of their illicit lovemaking and had dashed away and back up the stairs. That night had proven to be a revelation to him, and he had never forgotten it.
“Hi.”
He turned at the voice and smiled at the perky brunette in the rose-pink dress.
“Hi.”
“You are Chad Gilroy.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
She laughed with a tinkling sound that lit up her otherwise plain face. “My name is Melanie Franks.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Your father is the producer.”
“One and the same.” She nodded, her light blue eyes twinkling. “And before you ask, you have not seen me in anything.”
“I was not about to.” He told her in amusement. “Let me guess- you are a producer too?”
“God no!” she said feelingly. “I stay away from showbiz as much as I can. Dad had to pay me a hefty sum to accompany him here.”
“I hope it was worth it.”
She eyed him speculatively. “Now it is.” She extended a hand and he shook it. “Nice to meet you Chad.”
“Likewise.” He murmured as he sipped his champagne. “So what field are you into?”
“I am a boring research scientist.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Really? Your dad didn’t manage to persuade you to enter his field?”
“He tried but realized that my heart and talent lies elsewhere and decided to support me.”
“How about you…?”
“I decided that my talents lie elsewhere and took the initiative.”
“I bet that went down well.” She said teasingly.
He laughed. “You can just imagine.”
“I saw you in a couple of movies.”
“I bet you realize the acting was lousy.”
She shook her head. “On the contrary. I think you are very good and I am quite surprised that you did not stick with it.”
“Too much pressure.” He said lightly.
“I can relate.” They both turned their attentions to the dais where James Gilroy had taken the stage and was making a speech.
“My wife is demanding a speech.” He stopped as the crowd laughed. “Melissa Gilroy is the consummate actress with a talent that astounds me even after being married to her and working with her for so many years. She also warned me not to reveal the number of years or there will be hell to pay.” He paused and waited for the laughter to stop. “But seriously darling, you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I accused her just last night of aging down while I age up and she told me to invest in expensive aging creams or get work done.” He lifted his glass. “To you my darling and many more wonderful birthdays to share.”
He was about to move away when he picked up the mic. “Our son is here as well, and I am sure he would like to say something his mother. Come on up Chad.”
“That’s my cue,” Chad said sardonically as he put away the empty glass and made his way through the crowd. “Thanks Father.” He took the microphone. “Mother could you come on up?”
He waited until she made her way gracefully towards him and took the hand he extended for her. “I admire Mother’s acting talent and the waves she has made in the industry. As father said earlier, she insists on growing younger each year. I remember being furious when I was about fourteen or fifteen and my friends would say how hot she was and how she looked more like my sister than my mother.” He smiled at the laughter and turned to the woman next to him. “Happy birthday Mother and I wish you many more.”