C H A P T E R 5 8
Vince was very fast when it came to planning parties. Literally the next day I got a call from him saying that the party was tonight at eight. Everyone who was between eighteen to thirty years of age was invited.
I was told that roughly a hundred and fifty people were invited. That was just how many people Vince knew. Amelia, Heather, Olivia, Tristan, Ethan were the only people I knew that were invited.
Rachel and Antonio couldn't make it because they were overseas. Antonio had gone to visit his supermodel girlfriend, Audrey Wave. Rachel was busy travelling across the globe to advertise and promote her new clothing line.
Thank God it was a masquerade party. I didn't even want to think about what would've happened if all the people who were invited to the party recognized me. I would make sure to pick a mask which covered most of my face to be extra safe.
I hadn't seen Olivia much since she returned from her sleepover with Heather. Something was definitely up with her but I had my own problems that were keeping me busy.
One thing I had noticed in Olivia was that she seemed a little malnourished. She looked frail and sick. I knew I had to have a talk with her. I was worried about her. She spent most of her time cooped up in her room and she didn't eat well during meals. She seemed distant.
I was in my room getting ready. I hadn't seen Ethan for the whole day which was a relief but at the same time was unsettling for me. I just hoped he'd be fine. He should be.
I was ready and was waiting for Vince to come and pick me up as I didn't know where he lived.
I wore a one shoulder black gown which was black at the top and gradually turned dark blue at the bottom with crystal sequins at one side of the waist and on the shoulder strap. I paired it with a pair of sparkly silver heels and silver earrings. I also wore a diamond studded ring.
Vince came to pick me up soon enough and then we were off to his house.
Ethan was going to be there too. Right now he was on his way to pick up Heather from her place.
He didn't come home to change. Samara told me that he had a lot of work so he asked someone to send his suit to his office.
If he had a lot of work why was he even coming to the party?
Vince pulled up into the driveway of his mansion which was as big as the Jenson's and led me inside and into the ballroom.
A band was playing some song at a corner and food was laid out for whoever was hungry. The balcony doors were open for anyone wishing to get some fresh air. People were talking and some couples were dancing to the music.
I hid my face from everyone until we made it to the table where masks were laid out. I quickly selected a silver one because that one looked good with my dress and quickly put it on. Vince put on a dark blue one and looked at me expectantly.
"Yeah it looks good on you." I said, knowing that he was asking about that.
"Thanks. You want to meet my friends from university?"
"No."
"Come on, they all want to know who my new girlfriend is." He said tugging on my arm and leading me away from the table.
"Vince, I'm your girlfriend only in front of Ethan."
"I know. I was kidding. I'll tell them you're my friend. They don't know that I dated you. They also don't know that you tried to buy me. The media only said that you tried to buy someone but they didn't reveal my name so no one but our families and close friends know what really happened. Relax."
"Okay but make this quick. What if they recognize me through the mask? I'm still not ready to reveal myself in public."
"Yeah, I understand. Don't worry."
Vince led me to a large group of people who were standing together and talking amongst themselves.
Vince caught their attention and he introduced me as an old friend and then they all started introducing themselves as if I'd remember everyone's names.
I just told them I was Juliet and they didn't question further probably because I was giving off this cold vibe that they must have sensed.
I spotted Amelia so I excused myself and walked towards her. She was sitting on the bar stool sipping on her drink.
"Hey," I said, taking a seat next to her. So far she was the only one I knew in this party apart from Vince.
She turned to face me and her eyes widened. "Hey, so much happened and you didn't even tell me. I got to know it all from Heather. Why didn't you tell me before, we could've worked something out instead of you directly facing Heather."
"Yeah, I actually didn't want anyone to know but Heather accidentally got to know about Ethan and I. And I swear I didn't mean for anything of this to happen. I wasn't planning on being with him. I know my place and I'm not good digger."
She laughed and let her hand fall on my shoulder. "Relax. I know. You're a really great person, Julie. It's just that I could've helped you if you would've told me your problems. So you're pretending to date Vince to reject Ethan and get him to move on?"
"Yeah."
"Does Vince know he's getting used for this?"
"Yeah, I told him. I just didn't tell him my real identity."
"Wow, and he's still helping you."
I nodded. "By some miracle."
"So...you really like Ethan?"
I sighed. "Yes. I didn't know when it happened. It just did. Do you know when he's going to arrive?"
"Well aren't you impatient to see him? Heather said they'll be here in five to ten minutes.
" We fell silent, watching other people interact and enjoy themselves before she spoke again.
"I knew something was up when you two were talking at the stables.
You guys looked so intense as if you were discussing something important.
I was scared something happened but it was just this. "
I smiled at the memory of when Ethan opened up to me.
I ordered some alcohol and the bartender gave me a brown liquid in a wine glass.
"Oh look, they're here."
I looked up to see Ethan and Heather arrive hand in hand. Now that I knew they were fake dating, I could see more and more of how much it was an act. Like Vince said, their movements seemed rehearsed and monotone.
Ethan was looking around anxiously and once his eyes settled on me I knew he was looking for me. I diverted my eyes and took a sip from the bitter drink in my hand.
They mingled with some people with Heather trying her best to make it seem as if they were in a loving relationship but Ethan wasn't cooperating well as he seemed distant and absent minded.
I felt a presence next to me and turned to see Vince sitting next to me.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey, so our act starts from here." I told him.
His eyes widened and he gestured behind me. I turned to look at Amelia who was looking at us. "Hey, I didn't see you there." Vince waved at her.
"It's fine. She knows we are putting an act."
Amelia snickered at him.
"Oh," Vince said. "Do you want to dance?"
"Sure."
Vince held out his hand for me and I took it after which he led me to the middle of the dimly lit dancefloor. There were other couples dancing to the slow song and Vince turned to me, putting his hands on my waist. I rested mine on his shoulders and gasped when he pulled me incredibly close.
He was a really good dancer. His movements were graceful and flawless and if I was someone else watching him dance with some other girl, I'd have thought it was the most romantic couple dance I'd ever seen. All the while I struggled to keep up with him and look as good at dancing as him.
I could hear some people stop and applaud our dance but Vince's eyes were fixated on me and I couldn't look away as my heart rate picked up.
He hip lifted me, taking me by surprise and set me down on my feet, extending our arms wide and drawing me in so that I smoothly rolled into him. Then he took my other hand and twirled me once before dipping me and pulling me up by making an arc.
Suddenly his face was very close to mine and my mouth popped open due to the unexpected action.
"Vince what're you-"
I stopped talking when he held the sides of my face and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.
Suddenly, he was ripped away from me and it took me a while to process what just happened.
I saw Ethan between us, grabbing at his collar while Vince smirked at him.
"Don't even think about it." He said and shoved him back.
"What's going on?" Someone asked.
"Isn't he dating Heather? What is he doing?" I heard someone else whisper.
I heard murmurs of confusion among the crowd and Heather came into view. She latched her hand on his arm.
"Ethan!" She reproved.
Ethan let go of Vince's collar and shook her hand off of him.
He grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. I didn't resist because I didn't want him to create a scene in front of the others because that would most probably reveal the true nature of his and Heather's relationship.
I didn't expect him to react like that. I thought that seeing me with Vince would make him give up on me and that he would quietly move on from me but he decided to intervene, that too in front of all those people knowing the repercussions they'd have to suffer.
Thank God there were no reporters around and that the mansion was well guarded so that no one would slip in but I just hoped that the people present at the party wouldn't spread rumors.
We stopped at the balcony and he turned to face me.
"I'll ask you again. Why are you doing this?"
"I'm not doing anything. It was you who did that stupid thing in front of all those people." I rebuked.
"So you're still not going to tell me the real reason?" His tone was harsh. It was obvious that he wasn't taking this well.
"I did tell you. I can't do anything about it if you refuse to accept it."
He scoffed. "Do you have some sick fascination with seeing me suffer? Do you derive some sort of pleasure from torturing me like this?"
I shook my head. "It's nothing like that. How can you be so affected by this? Its not like we were in a relationship. We just liked each other, had a small stupid crush. Now I don't like you anymore. So just move on already."
Without waiting for his reply, I walked away. I couldn't be in his presence for long when I was hurting him with such harsh words.
I didn't want to return to the party after what happened so I just hung around at the other part of the mansion near the balconies.
I was just walking around there when I heard low huffs and cries of pain. I followed the sound to one of the balconies whose door was open and peeked out from one of the closed French doors.
It was dark out there but I saw a feminine figure in the moonlight huddled in a corner. Her breathing was ragged and she was clutching at her stomach and her other hand was tightly gripping the railing. She seemed like she was in a lot of pain.
She raised her head and in the little light that was available I instantly recognized her.
Before I could go out to help her, I heard someone shout her name.
"Olivia!" Tristan, I recognized came running towards her and crouched next to her. "Are you alright?"
Olivia straightened up upon hearing his voice. "O-of course I am."
Tristan shook his head. "It doesn't seem like that. I'm taking you to the doctor."
He went to pick her up but she objected. "No! I said I'm fine. It's just some stomachache."
"This looks much more serious that a simple stomachache. Let me take you to the doctor. It'll be fine."
"I said no." Olivia said, more sternly this time.
"Is this because of what happened that night?
If it is because of that, you don't need to feel so awkward around me.
You don't need to ignore me. Just say the words and it will be like it never happened and we can go back to being friends.
But please accept my help now. You don't look so good. " I could hear the worry in his voice.
She looked fed up of him. "I-it's just period cramps, okay! I'm on my period! Nothing serious."
"Then do you need pads, or tampons? Or-or chocolate? Do you need me to drive you home? Should I call Juliet? I think I saw her somewhere around here-"
"No! It's fine. Just call Heather."
She asked for Heather and not me?
"Are you sure you'll be okay and won't need to go to the hospital?"
"Yeah." Olivia sounded weak and slightly irritated.
Tristan took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
"Hello, Heather. I'm out on the balcony with Olivia. She doesn't feel well. She says she has a stomachache but I think it's more serious than that. She's asking for you. Can you please come and get her?"
He paused to hear her reply.
"Okay, get here fast."
I was worried about Olivia's condition but it was quickly replaced with jealousy about Olivia thinking of calling Heather first rather than me.
I was going to go help her but after seeing that she clearly preferred Heather more than me made me back off and go back to the party. It hurt.
On my way back I ran into Heather who was hurrying in the direction where I came from.
Upon seeing me, she stopped. "What're you doing here? What about Ethan?"
"Don't worry. I hurt him again, just like you wanted me to." I snapped.
She raised her eyebrows. "Are you saying that I'm the one hurting him when all I'm doing is saving him from a bigger and painful heartbreak?"
I didn't reply and she rolled her eyes.
"You should have better control over your feelings." She continued on her way but I stopped her with my words.
"Why can't we be together?" I heard her turn around to look at me although my back was to her. "If I tell him the truth and if he still accepts me, can't I have a chance with him? Or are you like this because I'm not rich?"
"Julie, I told you it's not because of that.
I came from a poor background too but I don't consider such things to get in the way of love.
All I'm afraid of is that he'll reveal the truth to everyone if you tell him.
He doesn't keep things from people he cares about especially if it's something as big and important as this and I know he won't be able to keep this secret for long.
If he doesn't take it well, you'll be the only one to suffer.
I'm just thinking about your own welfare.
" This time her voice was soft and comforting but it did little to help me.
"I see. I wouldn't want to lose another person's trust after losing Olivia's." I retorted.
"What?" Heather questioned in confusion but I was already walking away from her.
I told Vince that I didn't want to be at the party anymore and he must have sensed that I wasn't in a good mood and it was best to not nag me right now so he decided to drop me off. I didn't see Ethan anywhere so I assumed he had gone home as well.
When I reached my room, all I wanted to do was sleep. Lately life was starting to feel too stressful and lonely. I was starting to feel unhappy here and for the first time in a while I wanted to have my old life back where I didn't have to deal with the problems I was facing being here.
I kicked off my heels and ripped out the jewelry I had on. Samara had promised me that she was going to bring some hot water for my feet to soak into because they were aching due to the heels.
I struggled with the zipper of the dress and I called out for Samara hoping she could hear me.
The door opened.
"Samara, help me with the zip. My hair is stuck in it." I said as I tried to move the zipper again but gave up when I felt a searing pain in my scalp.
She did not move from the door for a few seconds before I heard her slowly approaching me. I had my back to her and couldn't even move to see what was taking her so long because I didn't want to pull at my hair because of the zipper again because that shit hurt.
She was excessively slow and I tried my best to be patient with her and it felt like she finally touched the zipper to help me after a very long time.
Her fingers brushed my bare back occasionally and it caused me to shiver because it was getting a little cold.
It took her about five full minutes to get all my hair out of the mess and to lower the zipper down to it's full length.
I massaged my roots and looked up to stretch my aching neck from having to keep my head lowered the whole time.
My eyes flitted momentarily towards the mirror in front of me and my breath hitched when I caught sight of Ethan behind me.
I couldn't react for a few seconds and we just stared at each other from the mirror. I felt his warm breath flush against my neck before his fingers gently grabbed my elbow and pull me back until I was pressed to him.
His other arm encircled around me and he dipped his head. I felt his lips press to my collarbone and involuntarily I felt the tension in my shoulders disappear and I relaxed.
"What're you doing?" I whispered.
He didn't answer me and instead trailed his lips upward and over my neck, placing butterfly kisses along the way until his lips reached the back of my ear. I closed my eyes against my will and bit my lip to prevent myself from moaning.
He should stop otherwise we both wouldn't be able to stop from what might happen next.
Thankfully he decided to break the silence.
"We definitely aren't some stupid small crushes of each other.
If we were, I wouldn't be persistently pursuing you after you rejected me so many times and if you don't feel the same for me then you wouldn't have let me do what I just did.
I don't know what you're doing this for but I don't believe the reason you give me.
I will continue to like you...from a distance, and hope everyday that it would be the day you'll come to me.
I'll wait for you for as long as I can."