Jiraiya

Before The Sickness

 

The hall was gigantic and beautifully decorated; it led to an elegant ballroom just like those in those old 1950’s movies on television. As I walked into the hall, my eyes were greeted by the colorful brightness akin to a New York party; entertaining sophistication, even though we are in France.   Flickering lights from the rears of cameras brightened the hall even more as loud music blasted from invisible speakers intricately placed at different positions in the banquet hall.

Ladies, beautifully dressed in dazzling attire, took their positions in front of the flickering lights of the numerous cameras.  Each photographer worked their devices expertly; changing locations, repositioning their subjects and adjusting the lighting.

My gaze caught Gracen's and I immediately smiled and winked. She was dressed in a flowing sapphire gown cut through in the middle, revealing hot creamy legs. The gown had sparkling diamonds on the breast cuff which accentuated the color of her eyes; she wore matching diamonds earrings and silver high heeled open-toed sandals. Her silky long hair cascaded down her shoulders, giving one the feel that one was beholding a goddess—she was simply breathtaking. I could not help but wonder how gorgeous she must look on the front cover of Glam Magazine.

She returned my smile with excitement in her eyes, as she tried hard to hide her blush and concentrate on the cameras that were non-stop flashing.   Gracen loved the cameras; they had been her companion for a long time.  They had helped her show to the world what lay on her inside, while still giving her the ability to withhold inner secrets.  The flash from the camera had brought out the sparkle in her eyes which the world seemed to like, she loved them so much, but she seemed to love me more.

I stood distinct, for good reason, in the room: my six foot and three inch frame is a sight to behold; with my nicely cut, well-tailored suit, revealing the body of a man who was not afraid to sweat it out in a gym. My hair is the color of brown sugar and my eyes the color of gold when they catch the right light. I caught seductive glances and flirty smiles from the ladies throughout the room.  But I had eyes only for my lady love. I would have fitted nicely into the model-studded crowd if they were male models. I, however, was a perfect match to have Gracen on my arm at such events as these. Appearances were everything for a man in my position.

I wasn't just about my looks; I had been able to carve out a niche for myself in the real estate world while a very young man.  At the age of thirty-four, I was already worth billions. Many think it's chiefly due to my father's influence; my father who had pushed and pulled me on the road to success. I had hated it all while growing up. I wanted to be me, to be able to make my own decisions, but I must say that I am grateful for all that I am and have now.

In minutes, Gracen was standing enveloped in my arms; I embraced her passionately and place a gentle kiss on her red painted lips.

"I wasn't expecting you here," she said with a warm smile, as she freed herself from my grasp.

"I wasn't expecting to be here either," I responded with a smirk and a wink, holding her by the waist as I led her to a vacant space free from the blinding lights of the cameras. "Gosh, these lights! How do you cope with them?" I said as we walked side by side.

"Well, I got used to them over the years, you know,” she replied, her smile as radiant as she looked. I eyed the scenery as we walked, taking it all in.

"How did the photo shoot go?" I asked, having finally spotted a secluded area where we could speak privately.

"Very well as you can see," she quipped with a wide grin on her face. At that instant, she looked very much like a Disney princess.   And I, her Prince Charming, was going to make her my queen.

I gave a quick chuckle scanning her from head to toe, which was Gracen's intent as she elaborately expressed herself. A few steps backwards revealed her beauty to the colorful lights; indeed, she was such a beauty to behold. Her skin glowed from the reflection of the lights, coming from various corners, on her body.

She had the type of figure any woman would envy; standing at a height of five feet and nine inches, with accentuated curves like that of a true goddess. She had skin that glowed like glass dipped in sweet vanilla, she was blessed with the kind of body many ladies would starve to have. With a body like hers, it wasn't surprising Gracen stood out as one of the rising models in America, appearing in every top beauty magazine in the US and beyond.  

"Beautiful dress you have on," I complimented, with a teasing smile.

"I didn’t think you’d notice," she responded mockingly.

"So, what really brings you here to Paris? I must confess; it's quite a surprise. I wasn't expecting that you would show up to one of these affairs, so it has to be business," Gracen replied.

"Well..." I started to speak, drawing an inquisitive and adorable look from Gracen. My God, she was truly beautiful.

She swept her long hair over her shoulder as she peered into my eyes. There is an eagerly inquiring glint in her eyes as I build the suspense in the air.

"Can you talk already?" Gracen asks impatiently, albeit, with a stroke of excitement.

The air around Gracen went still, momentarily, from impatience as she looked intently into my eyes, maintaining her smile.

"I am getting married," I said finally with a straight face.

Another round of stillness ensued around us as neither of us spoke.   I had to summon all I had to hold my laughter in check. The look on Gracen's face was enough to break any man's resolve and make him spill his guts as he apologized profusely to her for being such a comical fool.

The smile on Gracen's face slowly disappeared, leaving a bewildered expression engraved on her features.

"Okay..." She said when she was finally able to speak, trying desperately to maintain her cool. But I could see the confusion reflecting in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Gracen, I have been looking for ways to let you know, I mean to ask you...What I'm trying to say is; will you marry me, Gracen? Will you spend the rest of your life with me?" I asked as I dropped down on one knee in front of her, while the music which had dropped to a soft jazzy tune played in the background.

"Jesus!" She gasped in utter shock.  Her expression again slowly changed from bewilderment to relief to joy as a soft smile spread over her pink face. She let out a flow of air from her mouth.

"I think I'm going to need a drink," she responded as she started to step backwards.

I slowly leapt to my feet and, taking a few steps in her direction, I pulled her back into my arms passionately.

“What do you say? Will you be my wife?”

"Yes, I will! I will marry you, Jiraiya."  She exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

My heart was in an uproar of excitement and, amidst our joyous laughter, my arms found their way around her waist for the second time.

The attention of people in the room began to shift in our direction. I picked her up and swirled her around because she had just made me the happiest man in the world. I set her on her feet and embraced her once more, invoking another round of wild laughter.

"I will!" She exclaimed again.

"Say it! You will do what?"

"I will marry you!"

Excitement filled the hall at once as everyone turned in our direction while bringing their hands together in a round of applause accompanied by congratulatory shouts of joy. The excitement of the night cloaked us in its warmth.

The music became louder: shouts and applause erupted even more as we held on to each other and started to kiss passionately. Champagne flowed freely but I was already drunk on love.

Thoughts breezed through my mind of how it was, just a few years ago, when my path and Gracen's had crossed at the lobby of Oceanview Real Estates and Property Development in downtown Manhattan.

There was something about her that had drawn me to her from the start... her face stuck in my memory. She was just unforgettable. There was something about me too; Gracen had admitted that to me at a later date. My thoughts float back to that time; I had been rushing out to an appointment when I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

"Hello, excuse me. I'm kind of lost here.  Can you please point me in the direction of the Client Relations office?" Gracen asked the first time I met her. She was dressed in a knee-length, red, slinky summer dress that did nothing to hide the beautiful curves of her hips. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, showing the perfect angle of her face and those gorgeous sky-blue eyes.

"I'm guessing you want to check our list of available properties?" I asked immediately, flashed my most charming smile.

"Yes, a friend suggested that I come to the open house over here. Do you work here? Obviously, you do." She added almost immediately with a charming smile, sending me groping for words.

"Yes, yes I do. I am on my way to my office. If you will follow me, I am sure I can hook you up with something good. I am sure you will find the properties exquisite and the prices are competitive in today’s market. You can bet on that," I said politely trying to keep my emotions in check as I led the way.

"Are you in any way the Client Relations officer?" She asked, puzzled by my enthusiasm.

"No, I am not but let's just say I am in a position to help you and I would be willing to show you our nicest properties on the market."

"Well...I hope I find what I'm looking for."

"I hope you do, too" I responded with a warm smile.

"Hey Brenda, could you please bring the client’s file to my office right away?" I instructed my assistant in a professional tone.

After this, it didn't take long for her to figure out I was a top player at Oceanview.

"I thought you were on your way out for lunch, Sir." My assistant replied, puzzled.

"Well, as you can see, I am no longer hungry," I responded with a mocking grin on my face as I strolled towards my office with the beautiful lady in tow.

“Is this your office?” Gracen’s voice held surprise as we got to the transparent glass door. She had noticed the name on the frame and the title just above it as I pushed it open.

“Yes,” I nodded.

"So, you are the CEO?” she asked rhetorically. Her smile had widened as she entered. 

“Yes indeed,” I replied again and took my seat behind the huge oak desk I had imported from Spain. I smiled as I waved her to one of the cushioned leather seats in front of the desk. "You may have a seat, miss...?" I inquired.

"Gracen, Gracen Lafleur," she stated simply.

"I am sorry Miss Gracen, pardon my manners," I said with a warm smile, “I am Jiraiya Sampson.”

Seconds later, Brenda appeared holding a bulky folder in her hands and a sheepish smile.

"Here are the files you asked for Sir." She said, handing it over to me while smiling politely at Gracen. "Will that be all, Sir? I can wait behind just in case you need something..." Her words trailed off when I gave her a look.

"That will be all. Thanks, Brenda." I cut her short, the sheepish smile still registered on her face.

"Sir?" Smiling, she stood perfectly still, pretending that she had not heard me earlier.

"Brenda," I said pointing towards the door.

"Yes Sir, I'm going."

"Now, let’s get down to business,” I said, giving Gracen all my attention.

Gracen remained quiet but graced me with another of her beatific smiles.

"So where do you want to start?" I finally asked after seconds of getting lost in her gaze.

"I would think that's where you come in with your expertise."

"Oh! Yeah… So..." I stammered, trying to get a grip.

"Are you usually this nice to all of your prospective customers? It’s flattering getting help from Mr. CEO himself.” She flashed a flirtatious grin.

I returned her grin with a flirtatious one of my own. I adjusted my seat backwards to observe her with a full-blown grin on my face.

"Well, what can I say, we are Oceanview," I said with arms spread wide in a gesture of self-assurance.

"Yeah right! I presume you also wink at all the clients that walk through Oceanview's doors." she had retorted while trying to hold back a smirk.

"Well, that's different.” I allowed my voice to trail off before continuing. “It's not every day we get a gorgeous client such as you walk into Oceanview," I stated, staring at her expectantly.

"Are you flirting with me Mr. Sampson?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it that way," I replied before handing over the small laptop with pictures of available properties.

The relationship between Gracen and I had been like magic from then on. Soon after that first meeting; I had asked her out on our first date, and then a second, third, etc.  It wasn’t long until we were known as the IT couple.

Each time we spent together was amazing. We had both grown so attached to each other in such a short time, that it was not difficult to believe we might have met before in our previous life and joined together in this one.

Jerked from my thoughts by the chorus of voices offering congratulations, my eyes re-focused on my beautiful fiancée, and the excited voices of the people surrounding us.

I thanked the crowd for the love shown before asking to be excused, politely. I took Gracen’s hand in mine, as we darted quickly out of the room. In one quick turn, she turned back before exiting the hall and waving, in her usual dramatic fashion, to the crowd before stepping out into my waiting arms.

Gracen looked flush from our abrupt departure; she couldn't hide the blush on her face. It was obvious she was totally in love with me and me with her; I had never felt this way before in my entire life.

I had been with many women in the past; from sultry actresses to boring bankers to serious lawyers.  None of them had ever made me feel this way. They had never been more than a fling to be discarded when the next beauty came along. Gracen on the other hand was different; I had known this from the first day I had laid eyes on her. I shook my head with a smile on my face, playing back the last couple of minutes of my proposal.

"Where are you taking me?" Gracen asked as we walked briskly towards the vehicle.

"Sincerely, I have no idea; I just want to get you out of here before I burst with excitement," I responded almost immediately.

The drive from the venue to the surprise rendezvous was pretty fast. I drove enthusiastically and with blistering speed, overtaking every automobile along the way.   I was visibly joyous at the outcome of my proposal and Gracen could tell. She was equally excited; she had fallen in love with me from the very first time our paths crossed, she had confessed.

Soon, we were at a fancy restaurant; the ambience was composed, with a tone of flamboyance.

"Do you like it?" I asked as we stepped in; Gracen holding her flowing dress in her hands.

"Of course, I love it! It's beautiful!" She responded.

The hostess led us to a window table that provided a beautiful view of the city.

“The waiter will be over momentarily,” the hostess said, giving us a menu as she walked away.  Minutes later, the waiter was at our side.   We placed our order after scanning through the menu; the waiter promised to come back with our request as soon as possible.

I stared into Gracen's eyes with a soft smile on my face.

"Oh my God!" She said shyly, burying her face in her hands. 

"Why am I so shy around you all of a sudden?" She asked almost inaudibly.  

"Well, I think it's because you just said ‘yes’ to me." I replied with a wink.

Gracen laughed at the sound of my words, burying her face further down between her palms. 

"You are not helping," she blurted out again somewhat muffled. 

A minute of silence ensued as I took time observing the beauty in front of me.

"What are you doing?" She asked still covering her face.

The smile on my face widened.

"I was thinking," I said, placing my right hand on my chin.

"I was thinking we should go see my parents for a formal introduction; it's what people do, right?” I asked as she looked on with adoration in her eyes.

“I am sure they would be glad to meet you. We have discussed so many times me bringing you home. Especially my mom; she seems to have become fond of you without even meeting you. Well except for the pictures I showed her and the fact that she has bought every magazine you’ve graced.”

Gracen slowly uncovered her face to reveal a wholesome facial blush that had been hiding behind her palms. She didn't have to say a word; her expression already said it all. It was evident she already relished the opportunity to see my parents for the first time. She had also seen a few pictures of them on my tablet, but nothing was better than actually seeing them in person.

"So, I am thinking, we could do that next weekend. Is it a good time for you Gracen?" I inquired to see if the trip would fit in with her schedule.

"No problem, I am good for next weekend," she said reservedly in a soft voice. “So much in a day,” she mused as she slowly flipped her hair. Her skin glowed beneath the dim light that served as the source of light in the small but elegant restaurant.

The waiter returned, carrying one tall bottle of champagne and two wine glasses. He slowly positioned the two glasses in front of us and placed the champagne bottle at the center of the table.

"May I?" The waiter inquired pointing towards the bottle in question.

"Nah! We've got it," I responded politely.

The waiter straightened up immediately from his bent posture and promised to get back with our remaining order in no time as he disappeared once again.

The room was aglow with our delight as we chatted about the night, the weekend plans and our love and the future.