Chapter 21 The Vanity fair party
Ariel
The Vanity Fair party arrived sooner than I would have preferred. By that time, Richard had already been buried. Privately, of course, by some close associates who had taken care of the whole process since he had no family that no one knows of, I had fully integrated myself back into my career, going live and ignoring every comment about Richard and finally, I had started recording my upcoming single. A bought one also because I was still sceptical about the whole creative control thing.
Like, what do you mean, after so many years of being told what to do, I could finally have a say? Yeah, no, I'd rather just stick to the commercially safe option for now, as Richard normally says. Besides, I have this whole Anna Cole thing to worry about.
By 2 pm, the team was already in my apartment, set up and making decisions on my behalf.
"I think she'll look good in this one... The blue and the..." I heard Madison say to someone as I finished getting ready.
I had just finished bathing and doing a bit of my skincare routine that was quite non-existent.
"Madison" I peeped my head out of the room slightly to tell Madison I was ready for the fittings and she nodded. She signalled to a girl I knew was her assistant and I went back into the room as they came in with a bunch of dresses.
After that will be hair styling and makeup; then I'll put on my dress and we'll be ready to go.
Phew.
I'm nervous and not because this is my first event in a while.
Throughout the ride to the hotel where the event would be taking place, I kept going through different game plans to become friends with Anastasia Coleman in my head.
From approaching her politely, to scheming a fall so I could pretend to help, to accidentally spilling some wine on her dress, I had thought of every case scenario, except none of them were hitting.
There was no guarantee we would click, as I already said to my captor, which isn't an option and I doubt she'll want to remain friends with me if I embarrass her by spilling wine on her dress or making her fall at an important event.
Ugh. I had to think of something else.
"Hey, are you okay?" I turned to Jonas in the large van, who was staring intently at me.
"Yes. Why not?"
"You just seem nervous."
"Which is understandable..." He nodded.
"There's no need to panic. Just follow the script Sarah gave you, ignore any question that makes you uncomfortable and smile at the cameras. Press aren't allowed into the party."
I nodded, barely registering his words.
What if I just start up a conversation about astrology signs?
I mean I looked mine up and I'm a Cancer.
That's good, right?
I wouldn't know because even after the party started by 9 pm, after a full two hours of red carpet, interviews and interactions with other celebrities who expressed their sympathy for my lupus condition, Anastasia Coleman was still nowhere to be found.
Like what is going on? Is she not coming to the event anymore or what? And if she's not coming, what does that mean for me?
Instant elimination? Whatever the Vincent guy had meant by "I don't think you want to find out."
Oh God.
I grabbed a glass of champagne from the neatly arranged row on the table in front of the group I was mingling with and gulped down half of its content almost immediately.
"Jeez, are you okay?" I turned to the pop artist, Ryan, who has stuck by me the entire time since I got to the party. He had a look of concern on his face.
"Yes. Yes... Why?"
He shrugged. "You've just been so fidgety and alert like you're looking for someone."
I chuckled lightly to hide the surprise in my eyes. So I hadn't been subtle at all.
"Oh really. I guess I'm just nervous. Being my first event in a while and all."
He nodded with an understanding look.
"Also, I need to find my manager." I'm tired of faking my laughs and interest in whatever my group was saying. It was made up of a bunch of celebrities, artists, and designers. My cheek already felt numb from the fake laughs.
"Oh okay. Do you need me to accompany you?" I raised an eyebrow. "No. I think I can manage that on my own."
He smiled and, if I hadn’t imagined it, turned a bit red. Huh?
I ignored whatever that was, finished the glass of champagne and excused myself from the group to go find Jonas or, as I truly intended, text the Kael guy or Vincent that their target was not here.
I had to know what to do next or if they had a plan B for this situation because I sure as hell don't have one and I'm not ready to die for something that isn't even my fault.
"Ariel!" I whipped my head around as my name rang through the room just as I was about to leave the hall. It was Jonas, of course, and he rushed forward to meet me.
"Jeez, why did you yell?"
"Sorry. You didn't hear me the first time. Where are you going?"
"R-restroom. I need to pee."
"Okay." From the expression on his face, I knew I hadn't needed to add that last part.
"Well, I'll be waiting for you here then." He said as he grabbed a glass of champagne for himself and I hurried out of the room after nodding.
The hallway was quiet but not deserted when I walked out. There were still a few people roaming about, including staff and the organisers.
I immediately headed towards the sign I was sure I had seen earlier that said 'restroom'. It was a few steps down the long hallway, to the right and...
"Ouch!" I yelped as a cold liquid seeped through my dress right after colliding with someone at the turn. I had been looking down at the burner in the person's defence since I had been pondering what to text those guys; she had been busy on her phone too, I realised as I bent to pick up the burner amidst shattered glass and spilt liquid, and I froze when I saw who it was.
"A-anastasia Coleman."
She looked up, remorse on her face. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking and... Fuck... Your dress..."
I looked down to see that my once-silver dress was now red and damaged. Shit.
What do I do?
"Let me help you with that?” She said as she tucked her phone into a pocket in her dress. “Do we... Let's go to the restroom. I'm sure we can get some of the stain out if we scrub it enough." I just stared at her as she proceeded to lead me to the restroom.
"Uh... Sure."
Once we got there, she took out a napkin to help me scrub the stain out as she had said, but with shaky hands. Her hair was slightly dishevelled, which was obvious now that she was so close to me; her voice, slurred and her eyes unfocused. It was almost like she was under the influence but I wasn't sure which one. Alcohol or drugs.
That made me feel uneasy immediately, but not as uneasy as when she stretched out her arm a little too far right then, revealing a fresh-looking bruise beneath the sleeve of her dress.
I felt my eyes widen, taken aback.