“Oh, yeah. I do remember that doll. Uh, I forgot her name, sorry.”
She smiled again. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately and it now didn’t seem nice at all. “It’s okay, I remember. We named her Heliet. Heather and Juliet. Heliet. Stupid girls we were back then.”
I remained silent. “Why are talking about that doll now?”
“Nothing. Just reminiscing memories, you know. I slept everyday with that doll right next to me to make up for your absence.”
“Oh, too bad I didn’t have anything that would remind me of you.”
“What about that bracelet we gave each other?”
Double? shit.
“Oh… that bracelet. Right. I left it in my dresser. I didn’t want to… lose it.” I gave her a smile which I hoped didn’t look nervous.
She didn’t smile back. Instead she just walked towards me until she was right in front of me. “Okay,” she said, taking her phone out of her purse. “I have to call a? very? important person. And I hope that person answers.”
I stared at her confusedly. “Okay.”
“I’ll see you later,” she said, opening the door but stopped short at the threshold. “Actually, I’ll see you tomorrow morning at my house, in my room at eleven sharp. Wear that bracelet.”
“Your house?”
“Yes, my house. I’ll send a driver to pick you up. Don’t come in your car or bring your driver or bodyguard with you. You should be alone.”
If that wasn’t enough to scare me shitless, I didn’t know what would be.
“Um, okay. But may I ask why?” I asked nervously, scared of the answer.
“Oh, I just want to have some girl time with you. I missed you terribly. We’re going to have some fun!”
The way she said ‘fun’ didn’t sound fun at all. I didn’t know what she wanted and if she really was just asking for some girl time.
Without waiting for my reply, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving me to ponder over her words.
After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and walked out too. The party was still going on but this time there were couples on the dance floor, gently swaying to the music.
I walked towards Olivia who was sitting at a table, staring off into space. I tapped her shoulder to gain her attention and it looked like I shook her out of a trance.
“Oh my God. Are you okay? What did Heather want?” She asked hurriedly.
I shushed her and looked around to see if anyone heard her. “I’ll tell you later.”
She nodded and sighed.
“What’s got you in such a gloomy mood?” I asked, noticing her excitement had dimmed and she didn’t look like she was enjoying at all.
“Tristan’s here. My night is officially ruined.” She said, sneering at something. I turned to see Tristan having an animated conversation with a man. They shook hands after a while and they left while Tristan just looked around.
“Does he know we’re here?”
“Why wouldn’t he? That’s why I’m trying to hide from him. I’m sure he’ll say something stupid to me and make me lose my temper.”
“He’s not that bad. He’s actually really fun to be around, not that I’d been around him too much.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Julie.”
I looked at her. “Yeah. They can be. I’m a walking, talking example of-”
“Hello, beautiful ladies!” Tristan’s cheery voice reached our ears and we looked up to see him watch us with a grin.
“Hey,” I said a little too quickly. We had been so careless. I was afraid he had heard us.
“Who is a walking, talking example of what?”
My panicked expression came to the surface and I looked at Olivia for help.
“And you’re in our business because…?” Olivia asked, folding her arms in front of her chest. Tristan looked her up and down.
“Because this gentleman wants a dance with the most beautiful woman in this whole party,” Tristan said, staring at Olivia with a charming smile on his lips.
“Well, I’m not interested,” Olivia said impudently.
“Well,” he mimicked her tone before continuing. “Good thing I wasn’t asking you,” he said, extending a hand towards me. “May I have a dance, Juliet? The most beautiful woman in this whole party.”
“Uh…,” I scrambled for words, feeling flustered. My cheeks reddened at the compliment and I just nodded after which he took my hand and kissed the back of it.
“Juliet! You’re supposed to be my friend!” Olivia groused.
“Um… sorry,” I was barely able to say as Tristan pulled me to the dance floor. The lights dimmed and we began swaying to a slow song I didn’t recognize. I was more into fast paced music.
“You did that because she rejected you, right?” I inquired, looking up at him having a guilty expression on his face.
“Well, I wasn’t completely lying when I said you were the most beautiful woman here.”
“Really? So I come after Olivia?”
He didn’t say anything but I could clearly see it on his face.? Yes,? yes? I? did.
I chuckled. “Do you like Olivia?”
“I’d say no, but then we’d both know I’d be lying so yes, I do.”
“Wow, you’re pretty straightforward.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I’m kind of like that. I don’t really like? beating around the bush.”
It was quiet for some time when a new song came up and we danced around to its beat. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Heather and Ethan dance closely with each other. Heather caught my eye and just stared at me with an unreadable expression on her face.
“I hope I don’t sound rude because I don’t mean to but, are you involved with many women?” I turned to Tristan, breaking free from Heather’s blank stare.
He chucked at my question. “I’m not. The last romantic relationship I had was about two years ago and it wasn’t that serious. I broke up with her.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, may I ask the reason? Just curious. You don’t have to answer.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I broke up with her because she was a liar. She lied to me about being in love with me. She was just sucking money out of me behind my back from my bank accounts without my knowledge.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“I’m over her now. I would’ve forgiven her for taking money from me but the thing that pissed me off was that she lied about her love for me.”
I didn’t say anything. “So you like Olivia now.”
He nodded. “She isn’t fake.”
I swallowed down the guilt building up in me and gave him a smile.
“So what was up with you talking all dirty things with Olivia?” I asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
“Hey, I’m just a man with a dirty mind. I’m not some man whore.”
“You made it seem like that to us. That’s no way you’re going to get Olivia that way.”
“It’s fun riling her up.”
I shook my head at him.
Some guests walked off to the buffet table and Olivia and I decided to eat early so that we could leave early. Staying for too long would be risky.
The rest of the night passed without action and without an encounter? with Ethan or Heather which I was thankful for.
We told Charlotte that we wanted to go home and with a kiss on the forehead from her, we were off.
I bumped into Keith on the way to my room.
“Whoa. You look amazing.” He said with an innocent smile on his face.
“Thank you.”
“Where were you? Are you hungry? I could make you something real quick.”
I smiled at his concern. “I had dinner, thanks. I was at a car launch party.”
“Oh, well… you look… beautiful,” he said.
I chuckled. “Thanks.”
“Can I-” he paused, seeming hesitant.
“Ms. Juliet, you’re here. Do you need anything?” Samara asked. I didn’t know when she came so I was little startled.
“No, I don’t. Thanks.”
She walked off after giving me a smile.
I turned back to Keith. “What were you saying?”
He shook his head with a smile. People were doing that a lot lately. “Never mind. Good night.”
I looked at him questioningly but he didn’t say anything further. “Okay, goodnight,” I said, bidding him goodbye and walking off to my room to call it a night. Well, that was after I got out of this dress which I didn’t want to but unfortunately had to.