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Now that we’re in front of this large gathering of all the states elite I’m starting to feel the tension rising again. I’m so out of my depth here. I’m a reporter so I’m sure I can hold a conversation with the best of them, but I know once they see me or find out who I am those noses are going to go up in disgust.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Percy asks, squeezing a hand right above my hip.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I’ve never been to anything this fancy. Is there anything I need to know?” I look up at him waiting for him to spill all the dirty secrets he has about an event like this.
“Nothing, most of the people are here just to show everyone else just how much money they have. You don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.” He pulls my hand up and kisses my knuckles before we take a step inside.
My breath catches in my throat as I take my first step inside and get a good look at the decor. It’s black and silver everywhere. Chandeliers are draped in lavish jewels whose reflections bounce around the room. The walls are lined with candles and soft light. The servers are all dressed in black, impeccably put together. The tables have more plates and silverware on them than I have in my whole house combined. Finally, the centerpieces are tall lavish flower and feather ensembles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so extravagant in my life. It’s like something out of a freaking movie.
“Percy, this is … it’s amazing.” That word doesn’t accurately describe what I’m looking at, but it’s the only word that I can think of right now.
“Yeah, we put a lot of effort into it every year. The more people are drawn to the event the more people we have to give money to the charity.” Percy shrugs slightly as we make our way to the table.
“Oh would you look at that? I didn’t expect to see you two here! I’m glad.”
I turn my head to see Greg coming around the table to greet us. “Greg, hey, nice to see you again.” He leans close to give me a kiss on the cheek, but before he does he looks at Percy as if he’s getting permission.
“Shut up.” Percy rolls his eyes and Greg chuckles as he presses his lips to my cheek. Apparently, both of them have had a great laugh about Percy’s jealous streak.
“How are you liking it so far?” Greg asks me as Percy pulls out my chair and helps me sit.
“It’s overwhelming how gorgeous this place is,” I say looking around again. Every time I turn my head I see something new that makes me want to ooh and ahh.
“Yeah, I felt the same way the first few times that I came. After a while it loses a bit of it’s charm.”
“Impossible.” I say more forcefully than I intended.
“We’ll see if you feel the same way after the night is over.” Greg shoots me a wink before he walks off to go mingle with some other people.
I look over at Greg and then at Percy. Percy didn’t seem bothered by what he just said, but it feels like that was Greg’s way of warning me. “Babe?”
“Hmm?” Percy turns and smiles at me.
“What did Greg mean by we’ll see how I feel after the night is over?”
He deflates a little and leans back against the chair. “You caught that, huh?”
“Of course I did. I’m a journalist after all. It’s our job to sniff out things.” I chuckle lightly.
“Well, this is a great charity and we always raise a lot of money for the cause. But over the years the guests have become more and more self serving. I was serious when I said that most people are only here to show others how much money they have. Some of the guests are just downright mean. Sexists, chauvinists, racists, there are a lot of bad eggs in here.”
“Oh, I see, well why do you invite them if they’re like that?” I don’t like to be around any type of prejudice and right now he’s saying that we are basically in a den of it.
“I only have one say, there are twelve of us that put this together every year. I always get outvoted when I motion to clear out the guest list. I always try, but it never works.”
I feel the magic draining from the fixtures around me. Why is it that the cruel and unjust always seem to have the best things?
“Come on, don’t let it get you down. Not everyone is like that. Especially with you being new I’m sure everyone will be on their best behavior.” Percy leans closer and swipes a hand down my bare arm. The motion makes me shiver and suddenly I’m no longer thinking about how fucked up the world is.
“Percival! Is that you? It’s been so long!” A woman in a long, metallic gray dress comes walking up behind Percy.
She steps so far into our space that I’m forced to lean back. She leans down and kisses him on the cheek. Her hand rubbing up and down his back.
“Camille, It’s nice to see you,” Percy says, but his voice is terse.
“Well, from the sound of it, that’s not true. Percival, honestly, I didn’t mean any harm by any of it. I just wanted to see if it was an arrangement you’d be open to.” She bats her eyelashes, but doesn’t even look in my direction. If someone had told me right now that I was invisible I’d believe it
I lean back further feeling less like his girlfriend and more like the third wheel. She tilts her head to the side and pulls her bottom lip into her mouth. “How about we just go back to how things were before? I’d rather have that with you than nothing at all.” She says softly.
