Chapter 2
Fox fought back the urge to roll his eyes in irritation as he stepped
off of the stage after taking what seemed like the ten thousandth picture
for The Crane Family Benefit to raise money for the homeless. As if his
family cared about the homeless. Was just another one of Alistair’s shameless
plots put on every year so the family didn’t seem as ruthless and dysfunctional
as the tabloids made them out to be, even though they most likely really
were.
Looking besides him, he watched as his wife also felt the same irritation as his own rising as she looked up at him. “I’m going to go and get a drink.” She informed. “I’ll be back.” She said dismissing herself.
He watched her disappear into the crowd, where she would most likely stay for the rest of the night at the bar, unless they were called back for more pictures, are to put on more of a show. It was not until some one actually tapped his shoulder that he turned around and herd his name being called.
“Fox, where were you?” His sister-in-law Gwen Winthrop asked with a polite smile. “I had been calling your name for like a minute.”
He returned her smile as he leaned down and kissed her cheek sweetly. “Sorry.” He apologized. “Just kind of lost in my own thoughts, and hating the large gala events.” He sighed some as he leaned against the wall. “You enjoying the festivities?” He asked.
She answered with a small shrug as she too used the wall for support. “Well I have to admit I have had better times.” She confessed.
“Yea, like ringing out a wet towel.” Fox said sarcastically. “You know you want to get out of here just as much as I do.”
Gwen couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the edge of her lips. “If not more.” She admitted. “But both Ethan and my mother insisted I be here for image and all. I really just wanted to spend the evening cuddled up with my little boy, and then finish off the night with some Jay Leno and maybe a little Sex in the City.
Fox laughed a little at her idea of a regular night. “I could see that.” He stated. “You all snuggled up on the couch with a bowel of ice cream or cookie dough cheering on Sarah Jessica Parker.”
She rolled her eyes playfully at his teasing comment, as she went on to a change of subject. “Where’s Katherine, I’ve only seen her like once tonight.” She stated.
“The bar.” Fox informed softly. “I think she’s finally weary of all of this bull golly .”
“Aren’t we all.” Gwen stated. She then sighed some and patted his chest. “Well stay bored for the both of us, I’m going to go and get my hubby and mingle.” She said waving goodbye as she went on her way.
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Whitney peeked out from behind the curtain where she was set to perform and she once again felt her nerves begin to rattle. Turning around she faced Theresa, who was wiping little Ethan’s mouth after just feeding him some cake and walked towards her.
“I think I want to cancel.” She spoke up in a jittery voice.
Theresa frowned and she stood and faced her friend. “Oh come on Whit, it can’t be that bad.” She stated.
“But it is Theresa.” She insisted. “I mean, there are so many important people out there, and also people I hoped to never see again and my life, and now I am back here.”
Theresa bit her lip some. “You mean Fox?” She asked, almost knowingly.
Her face dropped automatically as the name was spoken. “Actually he was the furthest thing from my mind.” She replied. “But thanks for bringing that up.” She said turning around and pacing again.
Theresa rolled her eyes as she stepped in front of her. “Okay, two things.” She spoke up. “One. Your making me dizzy, and two, you are kidding no one but yourself.” She stated. “You know that you are nervous about seeing him again.”
Whitney sighed and shook her head. “And your crazy.” She retorted. “Theresa Fox is not on my mind. In fact he’s far from it, and he has been for years. Since the day he walked out on me.”
Theresa sighed heavily once more as she placed her hands on her hips. “Honey he didn’t walk out on you he was forced by his father and Grandfather into marriage.”
Whitney smirked some what bitterly. “Yea, some force.” She stated. “The man couldn’t have loved me too much I mean a year later and he had a son, and he and Katherine have been all over each other tonight.” She then bit her lip, and shook her head. “Which doesn’t bother me because they are married and I have no intention of talking about them or anything else related tonight.”
“Whit….”
“And neither will you.” Whitney cut of Theresa before she could protest.
Rolling her eyes, she shrugged and placed her hands on her hips. “Okay, if that’s what you want.” She stated.
“Yes, that is what I want.” Whitney stated.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed and they heard the D.J. come on over the speaker system. Whitney tensed a little as she felt butterflies in her stomach rise and she looked at her friend. “Oh God that’s my cue.” She stated. “Wish me luck?”
“I don’t need to.” Theresa stated. “Your going to knock them dead.” She was silent for a moment and then smiled. “But just in case, good luck.”
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Fox joined his wife at the bar as she finished off what was her second club soda of the evening. He cleared his throat making his presence to her known. “How you holding up?” He asked.
Katherine offered a minor shrug as she turned away from him after he made himself known. “As well as can be expected.” She stated. A labored sigh fell from her lips. “I just wish this Whitney what’s her name would come out and do her thing so we can go.”
Fox arched an eye brow at her statement as he sat on a stool besides her. “Whitney what’s her name?” He echoed her words. “She’s Whitney Russell Katherine. She’s like this day and ages Whitney Houston.”
Katherine bit her lip some. “Oh, so she’s a drugged up whore?” She asked. She then rolled her eyes some. “Oh, never mind that was her mother Eve Russell, Whitney Houston was just a druggie.”
Fox felt a slight twinge of anger shot through him as he went to comment on his wife’s snide remarks, but then quickly thought better of it, Arguing with her was not going to help repair their marriage, especially about Whitney. If anything, it would make things worse. Especially if she knew the truth.
The lights in the room suddenly dimmed and everyone looked to the stage to see the music producer Chad Harris standing in front of the microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight’s performer really needs no introduction.” He began. “She’s the same young, talented beautiful woman who has been taking the world by storm these past two years with her amazing voice. She’s preformed with Divas like Beyonce’, Whitney Houston, and even the Queen of Soul herself Ms. Aretha Franklin..” He continued. “Everyone please welcome, on of Harmony’s own The Dynamic Ms. Whitney Russell.”
Applause roared around the room as the curtain pulled back, and everyone
witnessed the beautiful Whitney Russell sitting behind a piano as she faced
the others, her fingers rested on the piano for a moment, until she began
to softly began to the tune of a soft medley.
Lay your head on my pillowFox did his best to avert his eyes from Whitney as she sang the words of the song so passionately. He remembered the day he first heard this single on the radio. He was completely over come by the words and the power and the meaning in them. Sometimes he would torture himself at nights wondering if she had actually written the words for him, as he thought of the on evening they spent together and she told him he could trust her and tell her anything, that no one ever had to know except her. Could that be the meaning behind the words she song.
Here you can be yourself
No one has to know what you are feeling
No one but me and you
Whitney could still remember so well the night she wrote this song. It started off as an entry in her diary, the diary she thought she’d never open again because it was so full of entries of how happy she was with Fox, but she found the strength one day to look inside and was almost overcome by the love she once felt for him. That a weak part of her still felt, but she promised herself that no matter how many songs she could use from that diary, she would never hold out false hope for her and Fox. They were finished. She accepted it.
I won't tell your secrets
Your secrets are safe with me
I will keep your secrets
Just ain't goin'
Be as the pages in your diary
I feel such a connection
Even when you far away
Ooh baby if there's anything that you fear
Come forth and call 4894608
And I'll be hereI won't tell your secrets
Your secrets are safe with me
I will keep your secrets
Just ain't goin'
Be as the pages in your diaryAnd only we know what talked about baby
Don't know how you can be driven me so crazy
Baby when you're in town
Why don't you come around
Be the loyalty you need
You can trustI won't tell your secrets
Your secrets are safe with me
I will keep your secrets
just think of me as the pages in your diary.Song: Diary
Artist: Alicia Keys.
Album: Diary Of Alicia Keys.
As the song came to a slow end, the crowd erupted in a momentous
amount of applause as encores were yelled and roses were thrown on the
stage. Whitney fought back a few tears as she stood from the piano and
offered a small bow, and then as her eyes looked into the crowd, they fell
directly on his. His deep brown eyes were looking directly back at her,
like they were penetrating through her soul, however she quickly brought
the stare to an end, by turning away from him and walking to the back of
the stage with a shaky breath.
“Pull it together Whitney.” She instructed herself as she looked down
at her shaky hands. “He’s not yours anymore.” A single tear rolled down
her face despite her will to be strong. “He never was to begin with.”
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