AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Theballroom was too exquisite to simply exist inside someone’s home.Thewhole affair was past ostentatious.Thetheme wasa night inPariswith appropriately reflective food, décor, and music.Uniformedservers passed hors d’oeuvres.Therewere multiple bars with exaggerated champagne towers for show.Alive band sang inFrench, and the room was packed with guests.Spiralstaircases led to the second floor of this majestic ballroom.Itwas the only unoccupied area as it didn’t hold the same festive atmosphere.
Iwhistled under my breath. “Exactlyhow rich is this guy?”
“Goodquestion,”Jayagreed.
Ourpondering was interrupted by a server holding a silver tray. “Champagne, madame?”
Didall the servers have aFrenchaccent, or was it a façade because of the theme?
“Oui, s’il vous plait,”Ichirped.Jaygrabbed two flutes and passed the second one to me.Raisingmy flute,Iclinked it with his. “Cheers.”
Thefirst sip of the refreshing drink barely hit the back of my throat whenInoticedJayfixating behind me.Ifollowed his gaze to find thatJordanhad spotted us, rushing over with enthusiastic glee.Theword on the street was that she had been courting the mystery celebrity responsible for this event and handling his parties to sway him to sign with her firm.
Despiteskipping town shortly after my wedding, it didn’t impact my friendship withJordan.Onereason was because of what we both did for a living.Beforegetting married,Iwrote corny jingles and sold the soundtracks for a profit to various lingerie and racy ad campaigns.Aftermy wedding,Iconsidered giving up music because my brand was on the spicier end.Jay’sfamily was prominent, and he had often reminded me that being an “AmbaniWife” came at a price.Neitherof us could shake those expectations, and creating music for indecent commercials did not fit the bill.
Jordan, whose vocation was inTalentandPRmanagement, vehemently protested the decision.Shedevised a stage name for me to hide behind, so my family andJay’sbusiness associates wouldn’t discover my alter ego.Jordanhad maintained my secret identity for years while ensuringIremained relevant with consistent jobs.Thepersona allowed me to work remotely on soundtracks based on client specifications.Iloved the steady stream of income and lovedJordanmore for not letting me give up.Morethan propelling my career, she’d helped me maintain financial independence.Forthat,I’dbe eternally grateful.
Asidefrom professional aspirations,Jordanwas my constant upon return, helping me embrace life inNewYork.Tonightwas no different.
“Hello,Jordan.”Jaynodded.
“Canyou believe this house?”Jordanexclaimed instead of acknowledgingJay’sgreeting.Herlong blonde hair was styled in beachy waves, bouncing over her shoulders.Shewore an asymmetrical white dress, accessorized byCarrieBradshaw’sfamous, blue-studdedManoloBlahniks.Itgave her five-foot-six frame an additional boost.Atthirty-three,Jordanlooked more like a model than aPRpowerhouse.Asusual,Iwas struck by my best friend’s beauty at first glance.Numerouseyes were glued to her with similar approval.
“Helloto you, too,Jordan,”Jayrepeated.Hehated when people dismissed manners.Myhusband and best friend were as different as night and day.Shewas easygoing, whereasJayepitomized formal and polite culture.
Jordanwaved off thehello, unaware and uncaring. “Didyou see the courtyard?” she asked.
“Ihaven’t been out there yet,”Ireplied, quickly hugging her.
“Thereis a string quartet outside,” she gushed.
Jayrolled his eyes, giving up on correctingJordan’smanners, and gestured at the bar. “Oh,Isee a friend of mine.”
“Lies,”Iberated.Businessmenlike him had little interest in personal relationships, focusing instead on making connections. “Youhave no friends.”
Jaylaughed softly at the jab. “Fine.It’san investor.Doyou mind ifIsay hello?”
Isighed at the question.Ithought we’d at least hang out together at the party ifJayrefused to stay home.However,Icouldn’t argue. “Notat all.”
“Doyou ladies want anything from the bar?”
Weshook our heads in unison sinceJordanalready had a drink, andIwas still nursing my champagne.Assoon asJayleft,Jordanfilled me in on everything that’d happened at the party thus far.Aftershe grew tired of giving me the latest gossip, we made the short walk outside.Freshair impaled my senses while the laughter in the beautifully manicured courtyard was indescribably jovial.Therewere bars outside as well, along with the coveted string quartet.Irealized it was so the guests could enjoy drinks and music while filtering in and out for a smoke break.
Theattention to detail astounded me.Ihad attended many extravagant galas and affairs, but this party made the rest look like amateur hour.Theevent’s magnificence was something out ofTheGreatGatsby.
Therewas only one dilemma.Thebars were packed, and the servers with champagne trays were inside making rounds.Insteadof flocking to the overflowing bar,Istopped beside the giant champagne tower. “I’mnot standing in that line.”Istared determinedly at the coupe cocktail glasses, feeling daring from the bubbles fizzling in my veins.
“Ithink those towers are for display only,”Jordanargued.
“Thenthey shouldn’t have made them look so delicious.”
Jordangiggled. “You’recrazy.Oh, guess whoIran into earlier?”
“Who?”Iasked, distracted.Asif playing a dangerous game ofTetris,Icarefully worked on extricating two champagne coupes.
“Tina,” she replied. “Sheis divorced now.I’dfeel sorry for her if she wasn’t a giant bitch.”
Isuppressed a laugh.Tinawas a nameIhadn’t heard in years, butIshouldn’t be surprised.Itseemed many of our mutual acquaintances were in attendance.Tinawas the mean girl equivalent inJordan’sformer clique.
