C H A P T E R 2 6
?You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.?
I got one of the biggest shock at the breakfast table the next morning.
I was told, no, more like ordered to accompany the Jenson family to an event. A launch party.
Apparently, the Jenson group of industries were going to release their new product, a car what-was-its-name, at the launch party.
Mr. Jenson had droned about the two front seat car which came in a slew of colors providing buyers with unlimited color options and many other accessories. The car cost a whopping three point four million dollars and it was the latest model in the country.
I had stared at him for a full minute after his description of the car, which I could care less about. Internally, I was freaking out.
I'd have to go out in public! I couldn't do that! That would surely expose my secret and I'd be dead. Great. Now I sounded like a freaking vampire afraid to go out in the public. Sunlight would've been much better.
"So be ready around eight, alright? We'll take your friend with us too." Mr. Jenson said, flipping through a page in today's newspaper while I just sat there with a half chewed piece of pancake in my mouth.
"Ew, close your mouth," Olivia grumbled as she popped out of nowhere. "Good morning, Mr. Jenson."
I closed my mouth, only then aware that it was open when Olivia pointed it out.
"Good morning, Olivia. And haven't I told you to call me Alistair?"
"You have, but I can never get used to calling you Alistair. So please let me just stick to Mr. Jenson," she said, smiling sheepishly as she dabbled her pancake in syrup.
"Okay." Mr. Jenson smiled. "Oh, and you're coming with us to the launch party. That is, if you don't have any prior commitments."
"Um...what launch party?" She asked, eyeing me questioningly while placing a piece of pancake in her mouth.
"The car launch party scheduled for tonight. We all are going." I informed her and her reaction was identical to mine. She stared at me with her mouth hung open, allowing me a disgusting view of the chewed up pancake in her mouth.
"Ew close your mouth," I mimicked her and she obeyed.
We didn't say anything for the rest of the breakfast, mainly because Mr. Jenson was there the whole time, reading the newspaper and occasionally checking his phone.
Olivia had her head in her hands for a while before she finally recovered anf ate her breakfast silently.
I couldn't go out in public. If it attracts the paparazzi's attention, the news would spread all over the world.
If the real Juliet was alive, it wouldn't be long until she got to know about it.
And if she decided to return, we'd be screwed.
If she didn't, we'd still be screwed. Just a little less.
I'd have to be in an act forever until I die.
I wouldn't be living my life. I would be living someone else's life.
After breakfast, we made up some excuse about looking at dresses and quickly skipped to my room.
"We should've ran away yesterday! I told you we should've!
But you're so fucking selfish and a gold digger!
We're in this situation because of you! Why couldn't you have just listened to me when we still had a chance to leave?
! Why did you have to push our luck?" I seethed.
I was so mad right now, I could stab someone and not feel guilty at all, most probably Olivia.
"Shut up, Juliet. Someone will hear you!" She hissed back at me.
"You think I care?" I scoffed. "They'll get to know everything eventually! We'll most probably got to prison for this. All because of you. You and your selfish motives."
"Juliet, just calm down and listen to me. We can sort this out together. Just-"
"We can't, Olivia. We just can't. We got ourselves in this deep shit because of you. And - oh my God, we should've left long ago."
"Don't act like this was all because of me, Juliet-"
"My name is Julie! You're literally trying to turn me into Juliet!"
Olivia stepped towards me and grabbed my arm. "Listen, Julie. I want you to shut the fuck up. We haven't been caught. And we won't be, if you just listen to me."
I laughed humorlessly. "What makes you think I'll listen to you? Because I listened to you, we're in this situation right now. Trust me, if I wouldn't have been so stupid and just done what was right, we'd be okay right now. Listening to you is like asking for trouble."
Olivia ran a frustrated hand through her hair.
"I know you're totally freaking out right now, and that you're scared.
But nothing has gone wrong. Everything's perfectly fine.
But if you continue on like this, someone would get to know about this.
We don't want that right now." Olivia said slowly, as if she were explaining things to a mentally retarded person.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. But I couldn't. I was seeing red. I wasn't sure who I was mad at. At myself, Olivia or just this situation we were in right now. I was hyperventilating and my hands were shaking. I was scared.
Olivia sighed. "You'll find me in the library when you've calmed down and are ready to talk things out with me."
Without another word, she got up and left.
I drew my knees to my chest and cried. I didn't even want to cry. But I did. So much that I didn't have any more tears to shed. I was scared. I wanted to be as far away from this as possible.
The event was at eight. I had remain cooped up in my room for the majority of the day.
Olivia was not present at lunch. When I asked Samara, she told me that Olivia said she'd have a late lunch and had spent the entire day in the library.
Charlotte asked me what I had decided to wear to the event and seeing me struggle to answer, had informed me that a woman named Miranda would come around four in the afternoon to get me ready. Apparently, she had been my personal stylist for about eight years now.
"Mom?" I asked, biting down on my lip.
"Would I be alright at the event?"
She gave me an understanding smile. "You'll be fine, Juliet. Trust me."
Even thought she didn't really know why I was scared and nervous to go, her little assurance actually did manage to soothe some of my nerves.
"Rachael and Antonio are flying down here for the event. They're bringing along Audrey and Robert so you'll get to meet them at the event," Charlotte said after some time, effectively killing any kind of relaxation she brought to me after telling me I'd be fine.
"Oh, great. I'm so excited to meet them." I said sarcastically but thankfully she didn't catch the sarcasm in my voice.
I ran as fast I could. As fast as my legs, which had been denied any form of exercise for a couple of weeks because of my lethargic self, could possibly manage.
My life depended on this. I had to get there before the clock struck four! I had a little over fifteen minutes. I could make it!
I ran up the last flight of stairs and threw myself at the library door. Yanking it open, I startled Olivia for a moment before she composed herself.
"What do you want?" She asked sulkily as she turned away from me on the swivel chair and continued reading whatever book she had in her hands.
"Olivia! Miranda will be here in fifteen minutes!" I screeched. That caused her look up at me.
"Miranda who?"
"My personal stylist for eight years."
"Oh, great." She rolled her eyes. "More drama."
"What am I going to do? What if something wrong happens?"
"You're doing it again. Stop freaking out. It's not the end of the world."
"But it might very well be the end of my life!"
"Stop with the dramatics already, Julie. I'm tired of this."
"Okay! Okay, I'm calm. I'm absolutely okay. Just tell me what to do."
"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself of that."
She put the book on the table and stood up. Walking over to me, she placed a hand over my shoulder and guided me out of the library and to my room. I silently walked to my room with her a few steps behind.
"We're all going to the event. I'm aware there will be a lot of paparazzi in and around the place.
But we can manage this without being noticed.
First, the event is a big one. Many important personalities from the movie and music industry as well as prominent industrialists will be present.
What are the chances that you'll be noticed in that big of a crowd?
Furthermore, if we find a big group, we can blend in with them and stay at the back of the crowd.
Second, we'll make you look different than how Julie usually looks.
I've been through a lot of her public appearances and interviews.
There's a running theme in all her appearances.
She likes bold and heavy makeup and elegant dresses.
She rarely lets her hair down. And we're going to do the exact opposite.
We'll keep the makeup light, hair loose on your back and the dress simple.
Nothing too eye-catching. You should probably wear a black dress so as to blend in.
Many women turn up at these events dressed in black so there's no chance you'll be recognized. "
After hearing this, I felt a little relieved.
Olivia had a plan after all. I was afraid she would not care about it and leave me to fend for myself.
She could always tell the Jenson's that she couldn't make it.
But I would have to be present at the event.
It wasn't a choice anymore. More like a command.
"Okay. I think we'll be fine."
"We'll be. Don't worry."
Just then, there was a knock on the door which nearly made me jump out of my skin.
"That must be Miranda."
When I opened the door, a woman stepped in. She smiled at me and I returned an awkward one.
"Miranda?" I asked.
"Juliet, it's nice to meet you again. It has been quite a while." She said, extending her hand to me. I shook it.
"Nice to see you too. This is my friend, Olivia."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Olivia said, shaking hands with her.
"The pleasure's all mine. I'm Miranda Allen, Juliet's personal stylist."
"So are we like...going to start now?" Olivia questioned awkwardly.
"Well yes, we'll have to in order to get you two ready by eight."
"Okay."
"I'll call my girls and then we can get started. Let's move to the parlor."
I didn't even know this mansion had a private parlor. We moved to the parlor where there were a bunch of girls setting up beauty equipment.
"So, I'll start with Olivia. Can you please tell me how you would like me to keep your look like?"
"Um...I'm not exactly sure. I just want it simple, nothing too eye-catching. And the dress must be black."
"Okay, and what about you, Juliet?"
"Oh, the same for me, please."
"That's odd. Your preferred look is quite opposite of what you want right now."
I shrugged. "That's what I want."
Three and a half hour later, we were all ready. Miranda had done an amazing job with both of our looks. She did exactly what we wanted.
Olivia wore a simple, backless gown with black stilettoes. Her hair was done up in a messy bun with loose tendrils of her hair fanning her face. She looked gorgeous. She had put on simple black studs. Her makeup was a bit on the heavy side but it looked fabulous on her.
I had worn a black halter dress with cutouts on the sides allowing me to flaunt the side of my waist. It had a slit which reached up to my thigh. I paired it up with silver stilettoes. My makeup was minimalistic and my hair was let loose with the ends curled.
We were all done at around seven thirty. We thanked Miranda for her awesome work. After she left, we descended down from the parlor.
Entering the living room, we saw that Charlotte and Alistair were already seated at the couch, waiting for us. Charlotte was in an elegant maroon gown which suited her and Alistair was in a tuxedo with a tie which matched Charlotte's gown.
Charlotte looked up as soon as we entered and rose up with a smile. "You girls look lovely!"
She stepped forward and gave me a hug. "So do you, Mrs. Jenson."
"Thank you, Olivia."
"Are you all ready? We need to leave right now or we'll be late for our launch party," Alistair said impatiently. "Oh, and you three look amazing."
I giggled. "Thanks, dad."
"Is Ethan going?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, of course. He left a while ago to pick Heather up."
Charlotte and Alistair gave some instructions to the guards and servants and then we proceeded towards our cars.
As I slid into the car's backseat with Olivia, my nerves bubbled up to the surface again. I refrained from biting down on my nails but I was squeezing my chessboard style clutch purse to death.
Olivia looked over at me and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Relax."
I nodded and turned away to stare out the window as we zoomed past New York streets.
After some time, which seemed incredibly short, we arrived at the venue. The place was crowded with paparazzi and fancy cars. Hoards of people with cameras rushed to the oncoming cars and crowded around it. Thank God for tinted windows.
Our car drove straight into the parking area where paparazzi wasn't allowed. Charlotte and Alistair's car pulled up next to ours.
I was afraid we'd have to go to the front of the entrance to enter the venue but Alistair and Charlotte led us through a door at the end of the parking lot and then we were inside.
It was a big, fancy hall. Right in the middle was a smooth, raised rotating platform where a white car was placed.
I gathered that the car was Torrec Serychel.
I didn't know much about cars so I just stuck to knowing its name.
It was exactly how Alistair described it as. It exuded opulence, grace and grandeur.
The hall was filled with people dressed in their finest. Women in elegant gowns chattered with their friends. Men dressed in black tuxedoes with women hanging off of their arms made business conversations with each other.
Upstairs, there were balconies with comfortable seating where prominent faces from the creative industry were huddled together, most likely gossiping or looking for work.
On one side of the hall, there was a buffet set up with delicious food laid out. The aroma spread throughout the hall, beckoning me to come and devour all of it.
People were still pouring into the hall in pairs and there was soft music playing in the background. I assumed there was going to be dance.
"Juliet!" Someone hollered, almost giving me a heat attack. I turned towards the source and found Rachael, holding onto Rebecca and a handsome man, who I assumed would be Robert Ainsley. They made their way towards us.
Rachael looked so beautiful that I couldn't help but stare at her in awe and a hint of envy.
She looked like a true goddess in that dress of hers.
She had worn a blood red dress with a deep V-neckline.
There were two slits from her thigh which showed both of her long legs.
She had on a sparkly diamond necklace and her hair was curled just perfect.
Her black high heels further made her look taller than she already was.
Robert fell an inch or two short in front of her.
Her makeup was done amazing and her lips were painted red.
"Hey, you look awesome," I said as I was pulled into a hug.
"Thanks, and so do you. Olivia, you too look amazing."
"Thank you."
"Hey, Rebecca!" I said, picking her up easily. "You look like a princess." And indeed she did with her blue frock and black wedges.
She giggled in my arms. "You look pretty."
"Thank you!"
"Hey, Juliet. How have you been?" Robert spoke up after my little chat with Rebecca.
I looked up at him and gave him a hesitant smile. "As I've always been, I'm fine. What about you?"
"The usual. I'm actually planning to take a vacation with my family. Need a break from all of the work, I guess."
I nodded. "Yeah, you probably should. That's a good idea."
It was surprising, even to me how easily conversation flowed with people I met like two minutes ago. It wasn't that hard to talk to them as if we'd known each other for forever.
We talked to them some more before we were joined by Charlotte and Alistair. They exchanged greetings and talked about business.
"Where's Antonio?" Robert asked as he looked around for him.
"He'll be here any minute. He said Audrey takes a lot of time to get ready," Rachael said, rolling her eyes.
"That's true. Women do take a lot of time to get ready," Alistair said, looking at his wife pointedly.
"Or maybe you don't have anything worthy to look after so you don't need much time," Charlotte retorted, shooting Alistair a fake glare.
"Are you calling us ugly?" He asked.
"Just you. Both my son and son-in-law are handsome men."
We all chuckled at Alistair's shocked face.
"I'm your husband, woman."
"Unfortunately," Charlotte sighed but we all knew she was just playing with him and how much she loved Alistair.
"I can't believe you find other men attractive than me!"
"What? You call that bald spot on your head attractive?"
"You did not just comment about my hair. Y-"
"I didn't. For that, you need to have hair, which you don't."
We all burst out laughing. They were just so cute together.
"I'll have you know that I was the most handsome boy in my high school days."
"You were a nerd. That was hardly handsome. You were just a little cute. And my tutor," Charlotte said, smiling at the memories.
"Hey guys!" Antonio's energetic voice boomed in our ears and we turned to look at him.
His hand was around a very beautiful woman, Audrey.
I had seen her in front pages of magazines and newspapers.
But seeing her in person, in front of my eyes just told me how little justice the pictures did to her beauty.
She had black hair with brown highlights and her eyes were a rich shade of brown.
Her skin looked so soft. Her dress was the most beautiful I'd ever seen, not that I'd seen much anyway.
It was cherry red mermaid gown with the top half sequined.
Her hair was swept to one side of her face and she had worn big red earrings which matched her outfit.
Much like mine, she had on a pair of silver heels.
"Hey, man. We've been waiting for you." Robert said, greeting him with a hug.
"Sorry. Got late because of Audrey here," he said and gestured to her.
She playfully hit him with her purse. "You were the one who wasn't allowing me to get ready."
He shrugged. "I missed you badly, so forgive me for wanting to spend a few more minutes with my girl."
"Oh, Ethan and Heather are also here," Rachael announced and we turned towards the entrance where Ethan just entered with Heather latched to his arm.
I didn't want to end this chapter like this, at Ethan and Heather's entrance but the chapter was turning out to be too long so I had to end it here.
I took a lot of time to write this one because it wasn't saved properly and when I opened it again, it was not where I left it off.
Luckily I only just had to write about five hundred words.
But that didn't stop me from trying to tear my hair apart because I hate it when that happens.
Thank God, at least it wasn't the whole chapter.
So, what do you guys think about this?
I'm in love with the dresses, especially Audrey's.
For Olivia, Julie and Rachael, I had initially written the description of the dresses and when I searched it up, I got almost exactly the same dresses as how I had described it.
Audrey's dress, however was described after I saw and fell in love with it.
I think I go into too much detail.
Do you think that gets a little boring?
Maybe I should tone down on the descriptions in further chapters.
But I really like to describe what they wear and post pictures about the dresses!
So I made up the name of the car, Torrec Serychel.
Don't even ask me how I came up with it.
Okay I'll tell you.
My chemistry book was lying right in front of me and I combined the first four words I saw randomly to create that name.
I hope it's not too weird.
Thoughts about Heather? Do you like her or not?
Don't forget to vote, comment and share!