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“Err,” I began looking at the dress doubtfully, “Do you think this is appropriate for the ball? I mean, it’s a charity ball, not a wedding or engagement party. I don’t want to be the overdressed one there.”
“No girl, it’s perfect I promise. Blue is so your color and that style is totally in vogue now.”
I shrugged, and in a whirlwind of dress fittings, hair, nails, and accessories, we finally prepared for the charity ball. Kaitlyn fussed over me, making sure my hair stood right, my makeup unsmeared and my dress in perfect form as we got out of the ride we ordered for the event.
“Quit fussing over me, Kaitlyn. One would think I was getting married tonight or something.” I joked almost irritably. She smiled and kept her hands to herself, but could not resist looking me over once more to make sure I looked okay. Her actions were starting to look suspicious.
We arrived at the ball at six on dot.
The street was crowded, lined with limousines and luxury vehicles worth more than my apartment. Flashes were going off right, left, and center. The paparazzi were scurrying around like rats up a drainpipe snapping away at those who posed on the red carpet.
As we walked through the large doors, I was blown away by the sight of it all. The grand ballroom was enormous. Its size big enough to hold all of the elite in New York City and Malibu combined.
The tall ceilings were covered in rows of draped sheer organza fabric, creating a medieval feel with a modern twist. A large chandelier hung from the middle, its crystals reflecting the light which shimmered on the dance floor. Scattered across the room were artificial trees with the branches draped in fairy lights.
There was a band wearing black and white tuxedos, perfectly positioned on the stage playing soft swing music, their hums and beats drowning in the noise of the growing crowd.
More and more people entered the room, their gowns becoming more exquisite as they strutted into the area. I’m in heaven. One after the other, I could name the designer in my head. I knew Kaitlyn is doing it as well, her mannerisms mirroring mine.
A young hot waiter waltzed our way, bestowing us a dazzling smile before offering us champagne. Kaitlyn positively swooned and we took in the amazing view before we were ushered to our table by a different waiter.
We sat ourselves down, feeding our eyes with the obvious wealth displayed in front of us with expensive crystals and dresses worth enough to buy a spot at this event. It was a ball for the crème de la crème of the society, I wondered where all these people came from.
“Did they all fly down here from New York for the event?” I whispered to Kaitlyn.
“Some of them,” she whispered back. “The buzz on social media helped to bring this huge turnout, the man behind the campaign is a very powerful man and most people want to be in his good graces, which naturally explains why there are so many of them.”
“Oh,” I breathed. I tried to imagine how it felt to wield such powerful influence over people, and I came up short. I just couldn’t relate, the display of wealth and influence here was unlike any I’d ever seen.
A woman took to the podium to begin her speech. She introduced herself as Annie Clyde, the marketing lead for the campaign. The room began to quiet down as she began to speak about the cause and what we, as a society could do to help the turtles survive extinction. She talked about the owner of the project who was currently not yet available but would be revealed towards the end of the event. We applauded her, then we all got up to start mingling as the music continued.
At the far end of the room, I suddenly spotted my parents.
“What!”
“Did you know Mum and Dad were attending this event, too?” I whirled around in confusion to ask Kaitlyn, but suddenly I couldn’t find her by my side anymore.
Weird.
She was just standing next to me. I weaved through the crowd, toward my parents, intending to confirm for myself if they were truly here or if I imagined it. But then I lost them in the crowd.
As I looked around, the milling crowd pressed against me on all sides in frustration, I brushed up against a body, and a familiar scent caught my nose.
Breath stilled in my throat as I searched wildly for the source of the scent that had wafted up my nose, and with shock I found myself staring into the eyes of the last person in the world I expected to see here.
Raymond.
My breath hitched somewhere in my throat as I gazed up at the face of the man I’d fallen hopelessly in love with. My frantic heart began to beat wildly like a caged bird, and I stared at him like I had seen a ghost. He was so close to me, so close that I could easily reach to touch him if I wanted.
Questions swarmed in my head, the crowds pressing in on us now from all sides. I wanted so badly to reach out and touch his face, to flick away the lone hair that crossed his forehead, but I kept my hands to myself. Looking at him without a word.
“Sophie,” he breathed against my ear drawing me in a heated embrace, and I melted against his arms. I couldn’t resist him, I’d never been able to. God! I missed this. The feel of his arms around me, his hot breath fanning my ears and licking the sensitive spot behind my ears, his aftershave tickling my nose and his scent surrounding me. The memory brought tears to my eyes, and I was tempted to start bawling in his arms. I had so much I wanted to tell him.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed, pulling away from me and looking into my eyes while grabbing hold of my arms. Then he cradled my face in his hands, staring at me so tenderly that my heart broke.
“I’m sorry that I put you in such a position where you doubted my love for you. I’m sorry if it looked like I was not putting the same effort into us the way you were. Most of all, Sophie I’m sorry for hurting you. I’ve never been able to forgive myself since you walked out on me. Please, come back to me. I love us and I love what we have together.”
I tried to speak but my emotions overpowered me, and I couldn’t get a coherent word out. But I hoped my lips would do the rest, so I kissed him. Hard and passionately. He responded with the same fervor as mine and when we both came up for air, I was staring at him with all the love in my eyes beaming for him to see.
