(The Croft’s Palace, Los Angeles.)
***
“Are you for real?!” Naomi gasped wide eyed. Elva had just told her about her and Natalia’s adventure.
Elva casually nodded and picked up a finger sandwich. Naomi blinked repeatedly and sipped her wine in one gulp like it’ld cool her off!
“So this party is somewhat filled with people you previously knew?” Elva nodded again.
“That’s epic!” She gushed. “Tell me more!”
“If I keep on talking, it won’t be fair to the number of guys hangin’ around to ask you for a dance.” She teased and Naomi looked around.
“And how are you sure they aren’t after you?”
“If they were, do you really think I’ld be idling around here with you??” She cocked a wicked brow.
Naomi gasped again. But her face turned gloomy all of a sudden.
“It’s a shame that the only person I want would probably never look my way ever.”
“Hey! I was only guessing because I’d never seen Jake look at a girl either specially or naughtily. So don’t stop hoping. And like what a special person always tell me…. It’s gonna be alright. You’ll see.”
Naomi smiled appreciatively at her and Elva returned it before dropping her wine glass.
“Now I have to go find Natalia in whatever planet prince charming rode her off to. Have fun!” She winked and left.
A couple of steps away, Elva turned and saw three guys standing where she previously stood and chuckled.
“Gosh!” She walked into a quiet place and reached for her phone. Jake probably knew where Natalia was.
Elva had barely unlocked her phone when she was twirled around into an obscure spot and engulfed in a hot, passionate kiss.
She didn’t bother to open her eyes and she didn’t need to. The passion and emotion in the kiss told her who it was. Her hands flew to the back of his neck and Ricky pulled her closer, deepening the kiss…
***
After staying frozen for a whole minute, Natalia stepped away from Arian and broke the intimate connection.
“My love…”
“Mr De’ Argent, to you it’s Empress Alexis!” She curtly stated with an icy look. And Arian’s face twisted in confusion.
He took a cautious step closer. “Natalia, I know I screwed up big time but I…”
“Mr De’ Argent, you’re intruding my personal space.” She coldly pointed out. He tried to reach for her.
“I need you to please hear me out! I’m terribly sorry for…”
“It’s not appropriate to touch other women when you came here with a date.” She bluntly stated. Arian was getting desperate!
“Screw Selena! She’s not my date and I don’t like her! I never did!” He tried not to raise his voice.
“Mr De’ Argent, it’s not my business to get involved with your personal life.” She gritted icily. He threw caution to the wind and grabbed her.
“You’re my personal life! And you have every right to know what happened. Natalia, I love you so much! I’m a mess without you. You can yell at me, hit me, curse at me or… or even run me over with a damn car! But please know that I’m really sorry for whatever happened to us.” He hugged her with painful tears in his eyes.
Natalia stepped away again and backed him.
“Mr De’ Argent, we’re in a formal event so behave yourself! This place is crawling with paparazzi and it won’t be beneficial to anyone if we both get involved in a web of unnecessary scandals.”
Arian persistently walked over to her front and grabbed her.
“I don’t care! I’m ready to do anything and go through anything to make sure you forgive me and get back together with me.” Natalia venomously scoffed.
“Let go of me.” She threatened. But he slid his hands slowly up her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry, my love.” He whispered with all sincerity in his heart, gazing into her big brown eyes.
Natalia couldn’t talk. She froze again. Something shifted in her heart staring at his enchanting mint green eyes, but the ice Queen Alexis pushed her away and returned the next second.
She stepped away from his hold and shot him a cold look.
“I’ve been trying to be polite, Mr De’ Argent but my patience is running out. So listen and listen well! The girl you once knew is dead and gone forever. Whatever relationship you both shared is deeply buried and forgotten!
“You don’t know me and heck, I don’t even know you! In fact, we’ve never met! I’m not the pathetic loser you played…” Her eyes became unnaturally brighter.
Arian’s misty eyes softened the more. “Natalia, I… ”
“You’ll shut up till I’m done talking!” She snapped, blinking away her tears furiously. Arian frustratedly tugged his hair.
“You what? How dare you talk to me? How did you think I’ld feel finding out that I’d been stupidly messing around with an engaged person?! Did you know how humiliated I was to find out from your fiancée?!
“Speaking of which, where is she?? With the rate at which she follows you around, it’ld be hard very soon to differentiate you and your shadow!” Arian’s heart skipped a beat.
She knew??
“Natalia, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. At first, it wasn’t important because I was never gonna marry Selena! You mean so much to me that I couldn’t break us up for anything!
“Then I tried to stop it. I really did! I wanted to tell you after I’d found a way to absolve the union. I know it was wrong and selfish and I admit I was an idiot but please forgive me.” Tears fell freely from both their eyes.
“There’s nothing to forgive. We’re not together anymore and it’s definitely gonna stay that way! Arian, I’m over you and the only thing I feel right now is hate, disgust and resentment. Focus on your girlfriend, lover, fiancée, wife or whatever! And LEAVE ME ALONE!” She tried to walk away but he pulled her back.
“Arian, let go of me!” She yelled, trying to break free but he didn’t let go.
“I don’t believe it! You’re only mad at me, that’s all. I know you still love me just as I’m still crazy about you! You can’t hide your attraction and your emotions tells me everything. I’m never again gonna let you go!” He swore and crashed his lips on hers on impulse…
Selena watched the scene from afar. They were together, kissing! She was worried about Arian and had come looking for him only to find them yelling at each other and then greedily devouring their lips the next minute.
Hot tears burned down her cheeks. Why? What she couldn’t do for months, the bitch did in one night? Arian might’ve gotten his voice back but they were never EVER getting back together!
She angrily wiped her tears and stormed back to the party…
***
Nicky sat with Jeffrey in a quiet spot for hours. Because of the shock she’d received earlier, she needed all the silence she could get.
“You okay, now?” Jeffrey kissed her hair fondly and she snuggled more into him.
“I don’t know. We were best friends! Best friends don’t keep secrets this big from each other.”
“Bae, think of the other side of it. Who knows if they were ordered not to spill their identity or something. I’m sure they didn’t mean to and I’m totally certain Ricky didn’t know either.” He comforted and she scoffed.
“I’m suuuure Ricky didn’t know!” She bitterly snorted.
“If he could keep his relationship from me for years so I believe he didn’t know his girlfriend’s connected to royalty.” She rolled her eyes.
“Actually… He didn’t know the truth, Nicky.” A feminine voice said from behind.
Jeffrey turned to look but Nicky didn’t. The voice was way too familiar!
“And I’m not connected to royalty, either.” Elva chuckled and walked over with Ricky.
“Elva! It’s great to see you again…. even under different circumstances.” Jeffrey beamed, holding one of her hand with his free hand.
But Nicky scornfully slapped his hand away and scowled at his betrayal.
“And you too, Jeff.” Elva forced a smile.
“Thankfully, with you back, Ricky’s gonna stop crying in my house all night on how much he misses you.”
“I can see you’ve had too much to drink.” Ricky frowned.
“You wish!” He scoffed and they threw themselves silly glares.
Kids.
“Hey Nicky.” Elva smiled but Nicky kept quiet, looking the other way.
“I think you girls need some time alone.” Jeffrey muttered and disappeared with Ricky, leaving Nicky to bore malicious holes into their traitorous backs with her glares.
The garden bench could fit in two people only, but the ball gown she wore almost consumed the entire seat. Elva noticed and stared at Nicky but the strawberry blonde threw her eyes away disdainfully.
Elva pursed her lips and lowered her eyes sadly.
After a while, Nicky humphed and moved her butt only an inch. Elva grinned and sat down.
“Nicky, I…”
“Before you say shit…” She bossily raised her hand to command silence. “Just know I moved only because friction moved my dress!”
Elva hid a smile and nodded. Nicky folded her arms back.
“Start talking.” She ordered and Elva obediently started an explanation.
“Natalia and I are really sorry for keeping things from you…”
“Aren’t you supposed to be hanged for calling an Empress by name??” She curiously raised a brow. Elva chuckled freely.
“Of course not! This is the twenty first century and there are certain flexibilities. Besides, we’re best friends…”
“… minus me?”
“Plus you!” Elva emphasized and Nicky maliciously snorted.
“But you quickly replaced me with that pink bunny!” She seethed, referring to Naomi.
”In fact, this conversation is over!” She yelled and aggrievedly jerked up…