~Chapter 24~
As I stood in front of my mirror, I couldn't stop staring at my astoundingly beautiful reflection. No, I wasn't being conceited or anything but my reflection wasn't looking like me either.
I might be going on a mission to catch the mastermind behind our - Skye's and mine - case but it didn't restrain me from dressing up like a queen.
The exquisite dress was gifted to me by my dad on my 21st birthday and surprisingly, it still fit. I could tell that it's expensive but I never tried to know its actual price because it never mattered to me anyway. I remember falling in love with it instantly and couldn't stop myself from wearing it that day. However it was sad how I never got the occasion to wear it again until now.
I would love to give all the credits to Chelsea and Emika because they helped me a lot with my makeover.
I'd called them both earlier about helping me up with the dress up and they were eager but - yup, there's a catch line - but only if I told them how I got the invite. They were beyond persistent and I had to tell them everything. Even the part wherein I'd be Syke's date tonight. Let's just say, my house literally shook with Chelsea's squeals and I was certain this news would reach the guys' ears as well.
We went full out to not look like me but someone else to conceal myself from the media. If they'd get the whiff of me going out with Skye, it would spark another set of those measly rumors. Besides, it was a masquerade party, after all.
No one can tell who I am. I smirked internally.
"I hope you do know that you've been staring at yourself for the past whatever minutes. But I can tell that it's been too long," Chelsea said in a half teasing and half chastising tone. I looked at her through the mirror to see her clicking some close up pictures of my dress but I didn't question her about it.
I laughed at her expression. "It's not everyday that I get to dress up like this." I gesticulated with my hands from top to bottom.
I was wearing a navy blue, sparkly ball gown. The strapless, sweetheart neckline somehow gave me the much needed confidence and I loved it. It flared from the waist down, hiding even my silver, six inches heels.
My makeup was dark and my lips were coated in red lipstick. Emika worked a lot on my eye makeup, giving it a smokey edge while Chelsea did my hair. She made them go from curls to beach waves and tied it up in a simple chignon with a few loose tendrils framing my face.
"One look and I can bet my whole life that Syke's gonna swoon like a melted better," she remarked, winking.
I glared at her but deep down I knew that I couldn't wait to see him. I wondered what he would look like in a tuxedo. Then another thought struck me that he didn't even know the color of my dress. I wanted to panic but I was slightly enjoying it. It was as if this dress and makeover gave me a whole new personality.
Emika signed 'nice' with the way her index finger and thumb touched and her three fingers pointed upwards. She was grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you, guys," I murmured honestly with a shy smile. I walked toward them and pulled them both in a tight embrace.
Patting my back, we broke the hug. "Give us all the deets, got it?" Chelsea told me sternly and I nodded my head. "Good. We'll leave you to it then. I hope you have a great night." She giggled.
I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes at her. After exchanging a few casual words and laughs, they both left me in my apartment, alone with my giddy thoughts.
As I was about to go sit down on my bed to gather my thoughts, my doorbell rang, making me all jumpy. I was glad that I didn't have to walk down the stairs as it was a one floor apartment.
Taking my clutch that was stacked with all the necessities, including my cell phone, I walked down the hallway and took a deep breath in. I even clenched my fists tightly as if preparing myself. God, why do I have to be so nervous all of a sudden? I groaned softly.
Once in front of the main door, I opened it slowly and peeked my head around to confirm that it was Skye and not someone unearthly.
My heart started beating at a fast pace when my eyes locked with his ethereal gray ones.
He was about to say something but stopped short as he stared at my face with a weird expression. His eyes were widened while his jaw was hanging low as if in disbelief. Lowering his gaze, he lingered it all over my body and seemed to be even more shocked.
I wasn't disappointed to see him donning a black tuxedo either that fit his lean body perfectly. His hair was gelled back to perfection and his gorgeous face was clean shaven. I had to push back the yearning to kiss him. Although I was gobsmacked to see him wearing a navy blue bowtie.
"Wow," Skye finally breathed as his eyes roved over my face. "You look… stunning," he said and I could feel my face burning hot.
"Thanks…" I looked down, avoiding eye contact with him. In all honesty, I was feeling shy in front of him. I don't know but one look from him and all my non-existent diffidence rose above like a torpedo. "You're looking really good too." The worst lie ever. He looked beyond breathtaking and gorgeous.
He chuckled softly and extended his arm with a single red rose in his hand. Raising a brow, I looked at him to see him scratching his cheek awkwardly.
I bit my lip to not smile like an idiot and accepted it. "Thank you," I said again.
He held out his hand again, this time giving me an intricately designed navy blue mask. "I am just so glad to see your face without a mask on."
As soon as he said that, I quickly wore that mask to not show him what he was doing to my insides. My heart and stomach fluttering were doing nothing to ease my emotions toward him. I just wanted to hug him and never want this moment to end. To distract myself, I put the rose in a vase just beside my doorway and made a mental note to never let it wither.
"You look really different though… in a good way, of course," he told me.
"Yeah, that's the point. I don't wanna go out there as Valerie Jones, per se. I am someone else to stay off the paps' radar," I explained to him and he raised his eyebrows in realization.
The crowd of paparazzi in front of my building had gradually begun lessening day after day until no one cared enough about me anymore. That might be because I had hardly left my apartment during the first week I was fired. This made them lose their interest and thought of me as some fling of Skye. Humiliating but I was relieved to be left alone.
"Oh." Skye nodded his head.
"How'd you know the color?" I finally asked him when curiosity got the best of me.
"Well." He shrugged with a sly smirk. "I have my ways, April Glow."
I furrowed my brows, confused. "April what?" I laughed strangely. There was still some tension lurking between us but we both seemed to be ignoring it.
"April Glow. Your new name because you just said that you're a different person, right? Now shall we?" He held out his elbow for me and I reluctantly put my arm into his. There goes the sparks.
It had actually slipped my mind that he was still standing outside the threshold of my house. I berated myself for not inviting him in even when it wasn't needed anyway. "How did you come up with that name so quickly," I asked him as we made our way toward the elevator. We didn't have to wait for it and headed inside.
"Like I said, I have my ways, Ms. Glow." He winked and looked ahead, not sparing me another glance. From the side of his face, I could see how amused he looked.
The distance from the elevator to his parked car didn't register much in my head because all I could think about was our close proximity.
A unique smell wafted through my nostrils and it took me a minute to realize that it was coming from Skye himself. It was a mixture of scented candles and something woodsy. It took every willpower in me to not wrap my arms around him and breathe him in better. I was in love with his priceless scent. It was very much different from his usual cologne and I wished he could wear it more often.
What the hell am I even thinking? Shut it before you start buying those candles and putting them everywhere in the house. I smiled to myself because it wasn't such a bad idea.
I gasped silently when my eyes fell on his car. One look at the logo and I knew it was a ZAE Inc. model itself. It's surprising that I didn't see this car while I worked at his corporation.
"I thought you said you love living like a normal person." I smirked teasingly with a raised brow.
He laughed softly and unlocked his car. "Well then I forgot to mention this one tiny detail. I have a thing for vintage cars and I wanted this the moment I laid my eyes on it. But I'll be clear, I don't usually drive this. Just for big occasions," he told me, patting the roof with twinkling eyes.
"You sound like you're in love," I joked and he laughed again.
Opening the passenger door, he helped me in and I felt like a princess as he put the hem of my dress inside neatly. Why does he have to do that? Why does he have to be so thoughtful? At least then, nothing would have been so complicated.
"Thank you."
Skye nodded his head, not saying anything. Within seconds, he was behind the wheels and soon we were on the road.
From the side mirror, I could see an SUV following us and I glanced at Skye, jabbing a thumb behind me.
"That's my security team," he answered my silent question with an assuring smile.
"Oh."
The car ride was silent after that because I let Skye live in the illusion of me giving him the cold shoulder. To say the least, it was anything but comfortable.
I felt something indescribable in my heart and I gulped in fear. The foreign feeling was changing my entire system.
It was then that I remembered that it wasn't a romantic date or something. I had a mission to complete. A culprit to catch. That being the prime reason I was tagging along with him.
Prime? My thoughts voiced out.
No, it was the only reason I was even attending this event. It had nothing to do with the beautiful man sitting right next to me. Why am I hearing sarcasm in my own thoughts?
Groaning internally, I peered outside the window and hoped to reach the destination before I would turn into a crazy person because of my own thoughts.
My wish was granted because we reached the Marriott Marquis in no time. However, it wasn't what I had expected. A red carpet event?! Why didn't it dawn on me earlier?
I almost stopped breathing, looking at all those photographers. A supposed valet came to us and I was about to open my car door when Skye quickly rounded the hood and bent down to help me out.
Taking my hand in his gently, he snaked an arm around my waist and literally held me up. I stared at him wide eyed because our noses were almost touching. Our kiss flashed in my mind and I had to shake my head to come out of my trance.
He was back to giving me his intense look and I couldn't look away. He was still holding my hand as he began grazing his thumb on my knuckles.
We were brought out of our daze when the flashes went off furiously. Skye put me on my feet and I quickly gathered my dress from inside the car with his help.
As we started walking on the red carpet, Skye grabbed my hand and squeezed it once because of my slightly tremulous body. I could feel my confidence boosting from that small action. From the looks of it, I could tell that they recognized Skye even with his mask on. Or maybe his car gave it away.
"Is that you, Valerie?"
"Are you Valerie Jones, miss?"
"Is it true that you're not gay, Skye Williams?"
"You look different, Ms. Jones!"
"Are you two together or is it just some hoax?"
These were what I could accumulate from all that hooting and boisterous voices as we were making our way toward the entrance. The only reason I was even able to hear them was because they were closer to me as compared to the other screaming reporters.
Skye's hold on my hand tightened just as an idea struck in my mind.
Skye's security team consisting of huge built men guarded us by creating a human chain and I was more than grateful for it. I needed that shield to keep my distance from these money hungry paparazzi trying to just promote yellow journalism.
Quickly schooling my features into one of arrogance and snobbery, I lifted up my shoulders and sneered. "Please, don't insult me," I spoke in a sensual, Welsh accent and the ruckus almost stopped.
"Then who are you?!" Someone shouted.
"Are you both dating each other?"
"Do you like Mr. Williams?"
"How'd you move on so quickly, Skye Williams?"
I put on a smouldering gaze and cupped my chignon for a second, taking my sweet little time to answer their questions. April Glow is gonna be a sophisticated bitch, I thought, on the verge of bursting out in a roar of laughter.
"But I must say that your complexion is exactly like that of Valerie Jones'!" Another shout.
"Stop being offensive, everybody," I told them as I gently nudged a security guard to get past him. Taking a random reporter's microphone, I continued, "A lot of people have the same complexion and to answer your questions, it's… Ms… Glow. April Glow," I ended my sentence in a sing-song voice.
Just as I said that, I strutted off toward the entrance while walking side by side with Skye. I glanced at him to see his expression. He looked beyond amused and there was this conspiratorial smile playing on his lips.
Noticing my stare, he turned to me with a full blown grin. It disarmed me for a second but at that particular moment, I forgot about the whole world but his beautiful smiles. Truly a fine specimen at that.
"That was brilliant, Ms. Glow. You really did glow out there," he said, bumping his shoulder with mine.
I smiled softly and bowed my head, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden. I'd forgotten all about him watching me while I was trying to be someone else. I wanted to cringe at myself but the flutters in my stomach made me proud of myself. "Yeah, I had to do that," I mumbled as I tried to handle my huge gown with one hand.
Sensing my struggle, Skye took his hand out of mine and I almost went back to take it again but he started helping me out with my dress. A true gentleman, eh? I beamed when he wasn't looking. "You gave an unknown person a personality," he continued while holding a portion of my dress.
"I love acting like a sophisticated queen bee," I answered, giggling and he joined me as well by releasing a hearty laugh.
We quickly composed ourselves as we reached the entrance after handing out our invite to the guards stationed outside.
My eyes bulged out of their sockets as we stood at the entryway with a theatrical pause. The entire hall was packed with beautiful people striding around elegantly. A few waiters with sparkling drinks snaked through the crowd.
The buffet tables occupied the three sides of the room at the very back. Expensive rose colored silk drapes were hung on all the walls. The Persian rug beneath felt so soft under my stilettos that I might just cuddle with it. A soft melody was playing from the front of the stage.
I felt Skye's arm wounding around my waist in an almost protective manner. I frowned at him to give him my piece of mind but before I could do that, we started walking.
I huffed out angrily and walked or more like modelled my way amongst the crowd. Not me, it was just "April" that preferred to be elegant. My eyebrows raised and a smirk started forming on my lips when an idea hit me.
Even when I was shaking because of his arm around my waist, I decided to get back at him. Wrapping my hands around his bicep, I squeezed it teasingly and rested my head on his shoulder.
Skye tensed immediately and gave me a look which clearly meant, 'what-the-hell'. I shrugged and continued walking.
"I am April Glow, Skye. Not Valerie Jones, remember?" I whispered and blinked my eyes purposely.
His expressions pinched and he looked away from me, making me bite my lip hard to not laugh out loud. It was fun to tease him. Payback, sir.
I don't know why I was still clinging onto him. I don't know if it was all just an act or if I really wanted to be within an ace of him. Maybe that was why I was just using this non-existent April girl as a cover-up.
At that particular moment, I realized something. That I was scared to not be close to him after the night would be over. That I wouldn't find another occasion to inhale his intoxicating scent. That we would have to go our separate ways.
But why? Why was I scared?
I stiffened when a voice inside my head took that moment to answer my question.