Chapter 42: CHAPTER FORTY ONE: HOUSE PARTY TWO
\-BELLA-
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on Artemis’ face. The beads of sweat that had crawled up with those words were enough proof that she was scared of me and was definitely going to be on the lookout.
“What was all that about?” Jamie held up an icy look. He really couldn’t help but think about Artemis. Did he actually love her? I was his now, yet he kept choosing her over me.
“We planned on playing cards tonight. The one with the Queen is named the Heiress.” I forced a smile. He sent me a wicked smirk, which a part of me saw as a warning.
I had tried manipulating him just like I had done to Jarvis five years ago, but he hadn’t bowed down to me and let me work my magic. I had drugged him just so I could get him into me and have him comply, but he had stopped himself, chorusing her name, “Artemis.”
What is it that he wants just so I could be his? I didn’t need him, but my plan would work more effectively if he fell in love with me and became my lover.
What a hard bastard.
I strolled along, searching for Mom. She had asked me to get her some grape wine so her friends from the states could wine with her and Dad.
“Where the hell have you been?” She flushed upon getting to me, her hands clutched as she gazed at my naked hands. “Where are the drinks?”
“I asked Catherine to help me get it from the car; I was too lazy to help.” I held up a sad look, my hands clutching onto my dress like I meant every word.
“I’ll go get it myself; keep the visitors busy.” She showed me to the foreigners who were pretty much billionaires I had come across at some point during my life as a model.
“You know you look sexy as ever, Bella.” Sir Tritium said.
“Thank you.” I held up a smile, staring at his Spanish pants, which merged perfectly well with his 19s waistcoat. “You look great; your wife has quite the taste.”
“Yeah, wish she lived past the Titanic.” His face turned plain, his eyes on the shots before him.
“My condolences.”
“We’re not here for that. We’re here to party, to celebrate your sister’s engagement with the Prince of Height.” He held up a grin, pouring himself a shot of cocktail.
“Beautiful Diamond.” Lady Vanessa let out as she walked up to me. She looked stunning in her purple Cinderella gown, which had stones worth millions embedded in them.
“Mrs. Vanessa, you look stunning.” I praised.
“Why wouldn’t I?” She said in a clear voice. “This dress was made by Lady Frey.”.
Knowing Lady Frey as the only fashion designer in Hyperion Heights who worked only for billionaires and had several unique collections that won awards each and every year. Her gown had to be a top edition.
“You know, it would have looked nice on you when you were still a model on the runway.” She said playfully.
“Come on, Vanessa, she wouldn’t last a performance on the runway. She’s lost her edge. Her commercial was just a waste of money, and it would have been nice if she just stayed low and did commercials for local soaps.” Sir Tritium flicked his wrist, taking in another shot.
They laughed it up, and I followed. I couldn’t let them see me as a weakling who would tear up upon hearing such words.
“Why don’t you be like Artemis?” Mrs. Vanessa suggested. “I mean, she’s beautiful, strong, and had the power to hold down a prince compared to you, who held down a revoked CEO.”
My eyes slightly narrowed as she continued teasing. I couldn’t keep up the façade anymore, the hate I had for Artemis, the meetings I had secretly attended with the mirror just to plan her downfall.
I clutched my hands, targeting Miss Vanessa’s face, which was hurled up with makeup. The urge to make her swallow her insults welling up in me.
A guard tapped me on the shoulder abruptly. “Mrs. Bella, some men are waiting for you outside the house. They claim they are your subordinate from the west.”
Subordinates of the west?
“Pardon me, Mrs. Vanessa, Sir Tritium, I have important matters to attend to.” I flashed them a smile before taking to my heels.
I observed the surroundings outside the hall, checking to ensure no one was within sight. I heaved a sigh, turning the knob to reveal my guests.
“Why keep us waiting, Snake?” Jackson, King of the underground sex industry, let out. He hadn’t been seen for years after he was imprisoned for sexing out his neighbor’s maid to death.
The scent of tobacco whizzed past my nose. His presence crowded my senses in an instant. Nathan, the high school playboy who had an immense urge for ladies. Why had he come here? I had only asked for one jockey for the job.
“I didn’t send for both of you.” I flushed.
“You said you have a job, and we decided to take it.” He walked up to me, his hands roaming around my boobs. I pushed his hands away, staggering back.
“You guys are way too extreme for this job. I’ll find another person, thank you very much.” I took the knob, prepared to slam the door on them.
A hand crawls out almost immediately, holding the door in place. “There’s no way we’re leaving this job. You wanted a jockey; you have a jockey.”
They had the perfect body build, their criminal status perfect for the job. They had quite the tool to make it look all real, and they had quite the skill when it came to secrecy; they were both perfect for the job.
“I only need one of you. I’m not looking for a double jockey hook up.” I forced a smile.
“Make sure to enjoy the party. Your dinner will be more than ready in mere minutes.” A smile appeared on my face as I stared at the drug powder in my hands.
I fell back into the hall, searching for Artemis. She stood there laughing as she talked with Alexander. They stared at each other, their eyes glowing under the blue lights. They looked so in love, wanting more of themselves like they’d never see each other again.
Would he still look at her the same way tomorrow when the deed’s been done? Will he have the willpower to forgive her? He couldn’t. The picture was almost enough to destroy their relationship; this would make him trample upon the words of love he had spat out and make him walk straight into my arms.
“Are you heading for Miss Artemis’ table?” I asked Catherine.
“Yeah, Big Mom said I should deliver the wine to her.” She held up a frown.
“Still holding grudges that I hit you hard in the face when I was taking Artemis pictures.” She hissed, trying her very best to look strong. “I wouldn’t hesitate to send you out if word of that ever comes out. Do you hear me?”
She nodded like a good little girl, dropping the tray in my hands. “Carry on then; there are a lot of visitors waiting.” I waved my hand, sending her off like a little chick.
“Very soon you’ll be wondering why you had dared Bella Mercedes, the one and only Bimbo who gets whatever man she adores.” I whispered, watching the white powder fall into the red wine.
The red wine is a very expensive wine used in hosting the affluent in a party. Its taste was exquisite, and it also had the ability to hide the hardest of drugs in its color.
With a whirl, the liquid mixed with the white powdered drug, no color change visible due to the light. The drink wasn’t shining in the slightest, and the smell was fabulous, like nothing ever happened.
Wearing a smile, I raised the tray heading for their table. They were busy having that beautiful conversation that they weren’t observant enough to see me approaching.
“Give this drink to Miss Artemis. Don’t falter.” I whispered to Madelyn, the new maid. She was very little to understand whatever was going on, so she bounced off with the drink.
“Just a sip should do the trick.” I muttered, staring as the little girl dropped the tray just as instructed.
Artemis was a really cautious girl; she would never drink what pertains to her as long as I was in the hall; that’s why I had the drink swapped. She would play love with Alexander and take what belongs to her back.
“Hey, Love,” Jamie’s voice crawled into my ears, his hands on my waist as he pulled me closer.
“I thought you were up in your chambers.”
“Just came to check up on what naughty stuff you were planning. Nice to see you fell into my trap.”