They were greeted by the receptionist at the entrance. They were directed to one of the dining tables reserved for the OTUC.
As soon as they entered the hall, Brendon was surrounded by many people, as he received a great deal of attention. Brendon felt her tension as he noticed Lauren's contracted hands on his arm. This was something new for Lauren. It was natural to be nervous. Brendon wondered how Lauren was going to deal with this.
When the person who came right after them got more attention from Brendon, some of the people around them went there, and Lauren felt a little more comfortable. But Lauren tensed even more when the person who came after them spotted Brendon, stepped out of the crowd, and showed interest in Brendon and Lauren.
"Walker!" said the limelight man. He had a face that had long since passed his sixties, but his vigor was quite good. He was taller than Brendon, who was quite tall.
Brendon turned to him and said, "President!" They shook hands cordially, and soon after, OTUC President Johan Monarie turned to Lauren and said, "Mrs. Walker... it was time to finally meet." He kissed Lauren's hand. Lauren kindly greeted and said it was nice to meet him.
Several of the managers who had come earlier also greeted the president and Brendon then moved to the table. When the President seated Lauren next to him with great interest, one of the middle-aged purchasing managers said, "The President's interest in beautiful ladies is as usual..."
The president turned to that manager and said, "I am also interested in handsome people like you. Come, sit beside me." Everyone laughed at this joke. Lauren prayed that the heat on her face wouldn't show.
Even though there was little talk at the beginning of the meal, Lauren listened with great interest when the talks about the newly developed and introduced products at the symposium began in the later stages.
Although the conversations were interrupted by some people who saw the president and greeted him, there was a nice conversation at the table. Three of the directors in OTUC's headquarters and two directors from two additional branches and the spouses of the married were at the table.
Lauren learned in chat that the president had never been married. Of course, the youngest person at the table was Lauren. One of the branch managers was also in his twenties, but that wasn't enough to make Lauren feel like she belonged there.
After dinner, they went to the second hall. Lauren was completely fixated on the president's side as a few people chatted with Brendon as soon as they got to the cocktail lounge with the more upbeat music. Therefore, everyone who greeted and chatted with the president, who was the center of attention, met Lauren as well.
When Lauren saw a man a few meters away, she realized she knew him. Seeing him, the President said, "Professor Dugling! How nice to see you at a gala dinner!" He greeted him.
The professor took the greeting with his expressionless face and, "I would never have come if there hadn't been shrimp for the gala dinner," he replied. Then he turned to Lauren. Lauren greeted him respectfully. She was about to introduce herself when the professor held out his hand and said, "I already know you."
After shaking hands with her teacher, the Professor said, "You're in your second year of Engineering." Then, in a softer tone, he said, "You haven't learned my lesson yet, but the immigrants are immediately obvious. You're pretty popular."
Lauren didn't quite understand what he meant. The President intervened and said, "This old senile man must have followed you because you are so beautiful." This caused a few people around to laugh.
"You'll soon see why she's popular," he replied. This time, too, Lauren didn't understand what he meant. She was embarrassed and didn't know how to react. When the professor saw a shrimp dish on the appetizer table ahead, he asked permission and left.
The President put his hand on his waist and asked, "Do you know what he means?" On the other hand, he was looking at the sharp-tongued teacher who was leaving. "I-I don't know," Lauren replied in a somewhat hesitant voice.
Looking after the professor, Lauren was a little surprised to see the professor making a smug gesture at someone beyond. Her heartbeat quickened when she saw the man and woman he was snooping at. "The Tureng Brothers…" she muttered.
Looking where Lauren was looking, "Yeah, they are. I'm surprised you recognized them at first sight." the president replied. Lauren excitedly turned to the president and said, "Whoever interests in Space Science, heards of them. I read their latest work with great enthusiasm. I'm writing their bio for one of my assignments. Everything about them is amazing."
Chairman asked, "Would you like to meet?" Lauren got even more excited and muttered, "Wouldn't I have gone too far?" In fact, she was asking herself that. The President gave a mischievous smile and extended his arm to Lauren. Lauren gently took the president's arm and began walking toward the twin brothers she admired.
While Brendon was chatting with a few people, he followed Lauren, who did not leave the president's side, out of the corner of his eye. President was one of the people who knew about Lauren's situation.
Knowing that such environments were new to Lauren, Brendon was not surprised that she had taken him under his protection.
"I suppose the president would have adopted her if I hadn't seen her and married her first." he said inside. At that time, when he saw Jason drinking his drink alone on the right, he asked permission from the people around him and went to him.
When Jason saw Brendon coming towards him, he said, "Stay away. I can't imagine the crowd that will follow you when you arrive."
Brendon ignored him and said, "You're late."
Jason took another sip and said, "I wasn't hungry anyway." He was down on something, and Brendon was probably going to chase after him seeing him that way. He could have shared his troubles with Brendon, but now wasn't the time or place.
So, to distract Brendon from him, he turned mischievously to the other side of the hall and said, "Looks like Mrs. Walker has fallen for the most playful man of the party." And Brendon turned that way and said, "It is…"
Lauren was chatting with one of the Tureng Brothers beside the president, smiling. He remembered the articles and pictures hanging on the board above her desk in Michelin's room. "It's a miracle she's not twitching with excitement…" he muttered.
Jason looked up with a surprised expression and, "What twitching?" he said. "I was on that side just now, and when I saw it, I interrupted and said hi, and they've been chatting for about half an hour," he added.
A few people who knew him came and said hello to the two of them and left. The two of them were alone again. After a short silence, Jason sighed, "Oh, I want to marry someone like that too." he said.
"So you want to marry someone many years younger than you and have yourself called a pervert." Brendon replied.
"Is it the right person or the perfect fit…" Jason said, ignoring him. Brendon looked at him as if to ask what's the matter.
Jason said, "It's not about the age gap, man." He took another sip and added, "It would be the same if your wife was your age. Although she is still a university student, she has enough knowledge to not bore two scientists. You may not know because you haven't said two words to your wife, but it's a pretty nice conversation."
Brendon laughed and asked "Are you having afternoon tea with Lauren?" Jason sighed, "When you asked me to help her with a project, I chatted more than you did in the five months you were married." he replied.
After a moment's silence, "Besides, she's so pretty," he said. It didn't continue. Soon, someone who knew Jason greeted him and started chatting, and Brendon turned and watched from the other end of the hall.
He saw the young woman in a light lilac, slightly tight-fitting dress, her hair gathered to her right, smiling and speaking. It was clear that she was talking about a work she admired. Her thin-fingered hands met between her lips. It was a sign of shyness in a conversation, but it was only natural for Lauren to be shy by being there at the time, making her seem quite sympathetic. Her nail polished hands, which were in harmony with her dress, were both cute and attractive.
Brendon took a white wine from the tray of the passing waiter and drank in one gulp. Looking down at Lauren's back cleavage, "I wish I had checked beforehand on the dress she chose." he passed through. It was a pretty appropriate outfit, but the jealous creep in Brendon's brain stirred a lot.
He remembered the time he had gone to pick up Lauren. While waiting for her, he forgot to breathe for a while when the elevator door of the parking garage opened. He had time to pack up by the time she got from the elevator to the car. At first he thought she should wear something like fur, then he remembered that it was summer. He averted his gaze so as not to give the jealous reptile much opportunity.
While speaking with the Tureng Brothers, Lauren met other scientists who occasionally greeted them. They had been talking for over half an hour, and she hoped she didn't bore them because she was so carried away.
She was actually answering the questions asked, but she was still hesitant. After a while, she saw another of her teachers. Her teacher immediately recognized and greeted one of his students who had helped him voluntarily in a study conducted in the previous term.
Laughing, he pointed to a former student at the other end of the hall and said, "I didn't pay attention when I noticed that your last name was changed to Walker. So you married that brat." Raising a glass to him, Brendon stepped out of the crowd and came towards them, greeting the teacher and the other scientists in the conversation. Lauren learned that this teacher was the advisor to Brendon's highly acclaimed thesis.
Before leaving, the professor said of Brendon, "I've always been upset that you didn't stay as an academic. I hope you don't negatively affect your wife in this regard."
Ms. Tureng laughed, "I don't think it should either." she said. After asking permission for an early return home, she turned to Lauren and said, "I hope we meet again and this will be as academics, Mrs. Walker." said. Lauren led them to the door, chatting and thanking them.
When Jason saw Lauren leaving the group, he took her to another group because he wanted to take her away and introduce her to someone. Seeing this, Brendon tried to hide his prominent forehead vein. He was sure Jason was taking Lauren to make Brendon annoyed.
"The professor was right." He was distracted by president's words. "Which professor? About what, chief?" Brendon asked.
"Dugling…he recognized Lauren as soon as he saw her and said she was popular." president replied. Then he threw his arm around Brendon's shoulder and added, "It reminded me of being a student. Her interest in space is not at the lecture level. She will be a really dynamic scientist."
He began to drag Brendon to one side. "I have to meet with a few people, and when a beautiful woman leaves me, I need to take a handsome man with me. You have to fill that gap, Brendy…" he said.
As the night progressed and most of the guests had left, Lauren found Brendon talking to someone on the glass wall of the living room. She slowly went to him. While talking to the person in front of him, Brendon extended his hand towards her. That meant he had seen Lauren coming towards him.
Lauren took the hand and walked over to Brendon. Brendon introduced her to the person he was talking to as procedural. After a few more minutes of talking, the man asked permission and left.
Brendon let go of Lauren's hand and hugged her around her waist. "Are you tired?" he asked. "No," Louren replied. Then, "But I wonder if Michelin is alright," she added.
Brendon said, "She's asleep. I just found time to call Margaret."
Lauren relaxed. Brendon looked at her relieved face for a moment and said, "The president can't leave right now because we're one of the sponsors. If the president can't go, we can't go either."
"Well…" Lauren replied.
A couple leaving the party a few yards away raised their hands to say goodbye to Brendon from afar. Lauren freed herself from Brendon's arm as she thought it might be disrespectful. A few minutes later, when Brendon saw the president heading towards the door, he said, "The president is leaving. Let's go and say goodbye."
Lauren looked in that direction. At that time, the people in the hall were focused on the president.
When Brendon looked around and realized that no one was looking at them, he turned to Lauren and said, "Everyone was asking about the beautiful woman next to the president. They're looking for you now too."
"I wonder if I did something wrong?" Lauren thought. She lowered her head a little.
Brendon said, "Stand up straight."
Lauren looked up at him.
Brendon said, "But you shone with intelligence and dignity, not with diamonds in your ear and neck like an ornament. Well done." and placed one hand gently on Lauren's cheek.
Lauren wasn't expecting this. She stared at Brendon for a moment, her pupils dilated. Her father, who had been fired and couldn't find a job for a while, looked at the badge of honor in front of him, put his hand on Lauren's head and said, "Well done."
It had been years since her father, mother and siblings had died, but her clear recollection of this memory shocked her. Her eyes filled with tears and she had to avert her gaze.
Brendon couldn't understand the emotional reaction, but he didn't want Lauren to cry. However, Lauren recovered quickly and looked up at Brendon and smiled. "Thank you." she said.
To avoid the smile, Brendon looked across the hall and took Lauren's hand and said, "Come on, let's send the president off and go home."
...
Margaret was getting ready for bed when they got home. She wished good night and entered Michelin's room.
Lauren went into the bedroom and left her jewelry on the dressing table. While she was removing her make-up, Brendon entered the room. He took off his jacket and placed it on the pouf. He loosened his tie.
Lauren, who could see her in the mirror, stopped watching because she could be caught if she watched a little longer. She was on her way to the general bathroom to shower when Brendon asked, "Where?"
"To the bathroom…" Lauren replied. Brendon approached her, grabbed her wrist, and said, "There's one here too."
Lauren was a little taken aback. "Where will you get a shower then?" she asked. While leading her to the bathroom, "We'll go in together." he replied.
"I wish I'd taken off my dress," Lauren said. She looked confused and embarrassed as she gently pushed through the bathroom door.
"Oh… that pleasure is mine," Brendon replied. As he closed the door, "I hope your answer to my question 'Are you tired?' at the party has not changed." he added.
After putting on summer pajamas, Lauren went to bed. Brendon lay face down and naked. His face was turned the other way. His arms were under the pillow. Lauren scrutinized Brendon's arms and back, sighing, "He's in great shape despite his desk job," she passed.
Trying not to think any further, she turned around, turned off the lampshade, and went to bed. Brendon squirmed slightly, turning to her and hugging Lauren. When he brought her leg between Lauren's legs, she said, "No way! Again?".
Brendon whispered, "We won't do it if you don't want to." However, his hands were not behaving, as if saying otherwise. Kissing Lauren's neck, "Your hair is not on the way because you've got your hair up." he said.
"Look at the excuse," Lauren smiled. Their lips connected as she turned toward Brendon. During the kiss, one of Brendon's restless hands slipped and grabbed Lauren's hand. Brendon's tongue plunged a little deeper as his hands clasped together. Lauren realized she had never been kissed like this before.
When the kissing paused, Lauren used her last trump card: "It's too late."
"Saturday." Brendon said.
Lauren laughed and said, "You work Saturday, too."
Brendon replied, "No problem for me." and hugged Lauren a little tighter. Lauren felt an even more hardened organ.
"You get up late, Margaret's here," Brendon said and placed another kiss on Lauren's neck.
"That makes me a bad mother," Lauren replied.
"Who said that?" Brendon broke off the kisses. He turned Lauren towards him.
One hand peeled off the straps of the pajamas and the other hand pulled down the pajama shorts. He kissed her once more and said, "You are better and more talented than most mothers for your age." Then he grabbed Lauren's breasts with both hands.
"There is only one thing you haven't done for your child but you can do it to her dad," he said mischievously, without taking his greedy eyes away from them. Then he dipped his face to her breasts.
He played with them for several minutes without interruption. Lauren didn't have the strength to protest. "You will leave a mark," she whispered. It was more like she was moaning and she was trying hard not to make a sound.
"Since no one but me will see it…" Brendon replied without interrupting what he was doing. Then he lifted his head from them and looked at Lauren. Lauren was trying to block her voice with one hand and her eyes were closed with tears.
"Her skin is really more sensitive than other women's," Brendon thought. "Or do you want me to do it on the visible places?" he asked. Lauren's eyelids slowly parted. She looked at Brendon, teary eyes that showed color even in the dark. "You are ruthless," she whispered in a wayward and tearful tone.
Brendon stared at Lauren for a few seconds, gasping. He continued his work with more appetite than where he left off. It wouldn't hurt to be a little late for work in the morning.