I could describe Juliet’s birthday party as overwhelming and extra. A lot extra.
The dinner was hosted at a five star hotel,? Serene? Serenade’s? ballroom. The whole place was decorated from top to bottom. It looked like a palace.
If this was Charlotte’s ‘simple’ dinner party, then I never wanted to see what her extravagant ones were like.
Getting into the ballroom had posed a great challenge. When our cars arrived at the hotel, the entrance was crowded with the paparazzi. They were going crazy over what the celebration was about. I knew they had a slight inkling about it. Today was Juliet’s birthday. The Jenson’s are hosting a secret dinner party. What could be the reason?
It was too obvious. Only a fool would not be able to guess that this was their daughter’s birthday party.
With that, rumors would spread. The paparazzi would speculate and try to find more information. Not everything would be in our control. Somehow the news would leak that the long lost billionaire’s daughter was finally found. That she had finally returned. Charlotte would start forcing me to reveal myself. It would be a breaking news that would circulate all the news channels for a few days and the whole world would gossip about the daughter’s whereabouts and what she must have done in all this time.
“Julie!” Olivia hissed at me, snapping me out of my reverie.
We had managed to get into the hotel after the paparazzi was forced out of the way when they were blocking the parking space.
There were strict orders given to not let anyone with a camera in and the guests were requested to not post anything on social media about the event.
We were standing outside the doors of the ballroom. I was a bundle of nerves at Olivia’s side because in less than a minute, I’d be meeting every person who was close to Juliet. I bet there would be a lot of them.
For some reason, I felt as if it was my last day acting as Juliet. My secret might be revealed at the smallest of slips. I had be very careful as I was unwillingly venturing into a dangerous territory.
Suddenly I remembered that I didn’t catch up with Keith. I had decided that I would talk to him once I had gotten ready but then I completely forgot about it once I came downstairs and was bombarded with compliments.
Today most possibly might be my last day among these people and if it was, I wasn’t sure if I could get to meet Keith one last time.
“Here goes nothing,” I heard Olivia mutter and just then the doors opened and I froze.
There were a heck lot of people around. Like sunflowers to the sun, all the people’s zeroed in on me and I instantly felt my throat dry up. I could barely move a muscle and the people must have stared at me for a full minute before Olivia eventually softly pushed me forward.
I didn’t notice that there was a grand staircase descending down to all the people who now had began clapping and singing the birthday song.
My cheeks heated up. Whenever it would be my birthday and people around me started singing the birthday song I always felt embarrassed.
It was two minutes of pure torture. Two minutes of old and young people singing the birthday song to me.
When it finally ended, I gave them a wide smile, well as wide a smile as I could muster.
I descended the staircase with Olivia, thanking God at least she was there with me. Charlotte and Amelia had left me alone with her, only giving us directions on where to go.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, Olivia left my side and disappeared into the crowd. I panicked, not knowing what to do.
Suddenly two hands grabbed both of my hands in their hold. They were Heather’s and Amelia’s. Both grinned down at me making me realized how I was a little short than them both.
Heather was in a nice gown with a thigh high slit and matching dark blue heels. It was dark blue with small, white shimmery beads on it. It resembled a cloudless night sky. Her brown hair was straightened perfectly and she had on the perfect makeup to go with her gown. She looked really breathtakingly beautiful and her grey eyes seemed bigger than they usually were. Ethan was so lucky to have her. Together, they looked like a perfect couple.
The room was filled with chatter, laughter and the clinking of wine glasses. I was offered a drink by a passing server but I politely declined. I didn’t want to get tipsy and do or say something wrong.
The two girls led me to various people, one after the other. I spent more than an hour just talking and meeting new people. I was introduced to many of Juliet’s extended family members. A lot of aunts, uncles, cousins, old people, long forgotten school friends and some foes too and college acquaintances, and more old people. I didn’t talk much and Heather and Amelia came to my rescue more number of times than I could count. I was so glad to have them beside me.
We were trying to meet up with everyone but not talk much with them because long talks would lead to deep conversations and there was a chance of someone going down memory lane. We would always ease ourselves out a conversation with a “I missed you so much. You should visit me sometimes at the mansion” and without waiting for a reply, we would bid farewell to them and then move to the next group that we needed to entertain.
There were indeed a lot for people. Charlotte had said that there were not more than hundred but it looked quite the opposite.
A lot of personal photographers were hired to click pictures of us with every group of people we met. The whole place was huge. At the center was the dance floor but no one was dancing and the sides of the room, there were huge slowly spinning round dinner tables with about fifteen chairs each.
I caught a glimpse of Ethan, Antonio, Rebecca, Rachael, Robert and Audrey in a group, talking. Audrey looked stunning in a short aqua dress whereas Rachael looked every bit of the diva that she was with a two-piece beaded crop top dress.
Charlotte and Alistair were mingling with the guests. I was tired of talking to so many relatives. I wanted a break but there seemed a never ending line of people eager to meet me.
I had briefly talked to Mr. and Mrs. Jenson before we both were swept into a conversation with different people.
Many people asked about my whereabouts and I had given as brief an answer as I possibly could. Many a times I would just dodge the question with a “does it matter? I’m here now and that’s all that is important.”
Heather and Amelia were impressed with my acting prowess. They were convinced that I had convinced everyone that I was the real Juliet.
I looked around for Olivia who was at the bar, sitting on a stool with a drink in her hand. Tristan was next to her and they were laughing. Yes, laughing. I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. I just hoped she would be responsible and handle her drink intake and not create problems for me.
Finally, we reached our group.
“I thought I wouldn’t be able to see my sister tonight,” Antonio said, surprising me when he stepped forward and swept me in a hug. I relaxed in his arms. I was still not used to much physical contact with my alleged siblings. “Happy birthday, princess.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
That was followed by Rebecca, Rachael, Robert and Audrey taking me in a hug, wishing me a happy birthday and I thanked each one of them.
“You look beautiful in this dress and necklace. It fits you perfectly!” Audrey said, studying my outfit.
“Thanks, Ethan gifted it to me,” I said, looking at Ethan. “Thank you,” I said to him.
He smiled at me. “You chose to wear it. Did you like it?”
“Yeah, I loved it. Both of them.”
“You never gave me gifts,” Heather pouted, jabbing her elbow in Ethan’s side and he winced.
“What do you want?”
“Whatever. I don’t want anything from you,” she said.
Ethan gave her a flat look. “That’s why I never gave you anything.”
I chuckled at their banter.
Heather glared at him before grabbing me. “Come on, Juliet. Let’s go meet my parents.”
Laughter sounded from behind us as we left the group and looked for her parents.
“My parents are Patricia and Justin Allen. And Amelia’s are Felicity and Jack Harris. Juliet’s, Amelia’s, Ethan’s and my parents are best friends. They had been since high school. Naturally, we three became the best of buddies. Tristan and Ethan thought we were too girly to hang out with,” she rolled her eyes. “So the two weren’t really close with the three of us.”
“Oh,” was all I could say.
Heather went up to a group of adults and tapped a man’s shoulder. He turned around and grinned at me.
“Juliet, my girl. Happy birthday,” he said, hugging me while I remained shocked. He pulled away. “So how was life out there? Pretty cool I think. I bet you enjoyed a lot. Even I had attempted to run away when I was a kid but I was not brave enough. You are something else.”
I smiled at him nervously.
“You remember me, don’t you? I’m your uncle Justin.”
“R-right. How can I forget you.”
Beside him was a woman, Patricia I assumed who was scrutinizing me with hawk like eyes. I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. One thing I noticed was that Patricia had green eyes and Justin had black eyes. So how the hell did Heather land with grey eyes?
“Mom, stop staring at her like that. You’re making her uncomfortable,” Heather came to my rescue.
“Juliet? Uncomfortable?” The woman scoffed. She didn’t seem very pleasant. I remembered how Charlotte told me that she had threatened Heather that she would marry her off to someone of her choice if she didn’t stop her scandalous ways and get a boyfriend she was actually serious about.
“Hello, aunt Patricia,” I said and she looked shocked.
“At least you learnt some manners out there,” she sneered at me and walked off with her husband.
“Well, that’s mother for you.”
“Heather, if you don’t mind me asking, are they your real parents? I observed their eye colors and yours-”
“I’m adopted.”