.
The large house came into Lacey's view as the car drew nearer. It was a wide bungalow with flowers adorning the house's entire sidewalk, lights illuminated the carpark and it was as if she stepped into a fairy tale home. This was like the houses she saw in movies and she never imagined that she could be in such a luxurious house.
Mark's face flashed into her mind and she shook her head. He had demanded to know where she was going, saying that she was still a married woman which her mother lambasted him for it.
She shook her head again, tonight she was here to get the deal and forge ahead with her career. If he wasn't going to be careful with his words, he might as well leave and help her focus with her life.
" You are welcome, ma'am " A bouncer greeted her at the door and she showed him her card. The faint sound of music filtered into her ears and she looked around.
" Thank you." She replied with a polite smile, as she drew her dress down, smoothening any creases that threatened to rain on her parade. She knew the elites were in there and she wasn't going to look like a tramp because she wasn't.
He handed over a mask to her and nodded, " Please go in." He said and opened the door.
Lacey smiled, wore the mask and went in.
It was as if she stepped into an alternate universe because she was almost blinded by bright lights that threatened to take anyone's eyes as long as they were present. " What the hell?" She muttered lowly.
The living room was large and that wasn't even the most surprising thing. The fact that there were almost two hundred people present in the room was bewildering. The room was going to reek of sweat soon. She thought.
Now she understood why her boss had sent her a Christmas themed dress even when it was still two months away.
It was a costume party.
Where is the host? She thought and she turned when she heard a loud cough. She saw a man wearing a joker outfit, grinning widely as he stood on the makeshift podium. How she was able to see was beyond her.
" Good evening, everyone. As we all know that this is the annual party hosted by Mr Alistair, you're highly welcome once again. For those who are just attending for the first time, get ready to have a blast!" The moderator said and the crowd erupted into cheers.
She didn't share their enthusiasm as she kept scanning the room to see the man who invited her.
Waiters began to pass with drinks and cocktails so she receded into a corner where no one would see her.
She could spot some movers of the corporate world making a fool out of themselves as they drank on. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and tried to check the time. She had turned down all the servers who tried to convince her to take a sip for she needed to have a clear head when she was negotiating with Alistair. That man was a wicked man.
She heard the clicking of a tongue, " No, that's not acceptable here. Only if you want to be kicked out of this place." The unmistakable voice of Mr. Bill anointed and Lacey quickly swiped her hand across her phone. She switched on the recording button.
" I didn't know that we weren't supposed to use our phones." she said.
"Now you know." He said and turned to her, "What are you doing here without your husband?" He asked.
" He's fine, sir." She replied. He was definitely mocking her and she didn't know why he derived pleasure in doing that. It wasn't as if he was going to get a special award from it. " How is work going, sir?" She asked him to keep the conversation going.
"You don't need to know that, dear."
She didn't reply and mainly looked ahead, " I don't know what you saw in that pauper of a man. Is it that you didn't see a suitable suitor or you just decided to live your life for that useless man?" Mr. Bill replied.
She took a deep inhale, "I don't think that's your business, sir." She snapped and quickly averted her eyes. She was surely going to lose her job. It was a given. All of these because of a man. A man that was ready to make her lose all.
" I'm sorry if that came out wrong. I didn't mean it that way."
" I'm sure you meant it exactly the way it sounded. You didn't know when you blurted it out. What's it called again?" Mr. Bill asked, placing a hand under his chin in mock remembrance, " Aha! I know what it is. It's called a Freudian slip." He said.
Lacey couldn't help but roll her eyes at the annoying explanation, she only hoped that he didn't report her to her boss. That man was an ass licker especially of those who were wealthy. He would never put his staff above those people.
" I'm sorry for whatever way it must have sounded." She said.
" Well, do I have a choice? Well, maybe I do. I'm just scared of what might happen to you when your boss hears that you were disrespectful to his clients. I bet he wouldn't be happy but I wouldn't want you to be dismayed or troubled." He said with a smirk.
" Thank you sir." She replied curtly, relief evident in her tone.
" I'm sorry about what happened earlier. " She repeated not because she wanted but to be sure that she eased his annoyance.
" Okay, so what will you give me in return?" He asked with a maligning grin.
Lacey took a step backward, " What do you mean by that sir?"
" You aren't a kid, you know what I mean, you have a deadbeat husband, good-for-nothing fool. Surely you can't tell me you plan to be faithful to him?" He continued.
" Let the poor woman go." Mr. Alistair thundered.