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.