Chapter 251 The Pies

Chapter 251 The Pies
Maeve was sweating from every orifice. She stood before her mirror, dressed in a navy-blue velvet dress embossed with black details all over it. She could not get her heart to slow down. What if Thorin saw her? What if he recognised her? She knew what she had to do, lie, lie through her teeth. And make sure she stays away from Thorin as far as she can and for as long as she can.
“Mommy! Wow! You look like a princess!” exclaimed Valeska.
That lifted Maeve’s mood. “Thank you, sweetie!” Maeve crouched down in her heavy dress and kissed Valeska on her cheek. She pulled Valeska in her embrace and pondered, “I am never letting him find out about you. he doesn’t deserve to know about you.”
“Mommy, let go! You will be late. Don’t miss tasty food,” said Valeska.
Maeve scoffed and laughed loudly. “Okay, okay, going! Do you want me to sneak some cake and sweets for you?”
“No! Stealing is bad. Mommy, how can you forget that?” snapped Valeska.
“Sorry, sorry, dear police woman! I am sorry. No stealing!” laughed Maeve.
“Will Grandpa Eirik be there?” asked Valeska.
“No, dear! The party is just for employees, not outsiders!”
“Don’t forget your invitation,” ordered Valeska.
“Yes, ma’am!” laughed Valeska and ordered a cab. Driving in her car would be difficult with such a heavy dress. She put on her black heels and reached the party venue. The Kaveri Grand Hall was shining from top to bottom. The outside was lit with cool blue fairy lights, with royal purple and deep red fabric wrapped around every pillar. The gold details everywhere made it look like a royal palace.
The fountain outside the hall was being lit by a different colour light at equal intervals. A grand table was set at the entrance, and two people were checking the invitation and handing out the masks. Maeve recognised one of them to be Isara. Maeve took a deep breath, placed her hand over her corset as it was getting difficult for her to breathe.
“You are okay, you are okay, just have to keep your distance, keep your distance,” Maeve gulped and moved forward with her clutch purse in her hand.
“Caught you!!” Vella shouted right behind her, making her jump out of her skin in fear. “Woah! Woah! Are you okay? Are you still worried that he will kill you for breaking his record?”
“Shut up! Don’t tell anyone!” Maeve immediately shut Vella down. “No one must know. You and Thessia know that is enough for me. Okay?”
“Okay, okay, chill! Let’s just do this. We are supposed to attend the party. He never said that you have to meet with him. Get inside, show your face to Thessia, and then I will help you get out of the party, happy?” suggested Vella.
“Oh my god! I love you so much!” shouted Maeve, happily. They both moved near Isara, greeted her, showed their copy of the invitation, grabbed their masks and walked in. Maeve kept grabbing her dress in fear when Vella snapped at her for fussing over and over again.
They both had their masks on, and now they were on their mission: find Thessia, show their faces and then run away. A waiter passed by with drinks on his tray. Vella grabbed an alcoholic drink when Maeve stared at her with anger and annoyance.
“What? I didn’t say we couldn’t enjoy the food till we wait for Thessia. Grab something! Enjoy!” shouted Vella. Maeve shook her head in annoyance and grabbed a fruity non-alcoholic drink.
“Where is she?” asked Maeve.
“Come on, with all these masks, can you even recognise anyone?” asked Vella. Another waiter passed by them, and he had creamy mini pies on his tray. Vella urgently placed her glass on the tray and grabbed four pies. She gestured to Maeve to place her empty glass, and Maeve obeyed her but not before rolling her eyes at her.
“Two yours, two mine!” smiled Vella and handed her the pies.
“Oh my god! You are a hungry hippo!” snapped Maeve and grabbed the two pies folded in napkins.
“That’s why I am so charming. Not like you. Starving and bitter!” taunted Vella.
“What???” laughed Maeve and took a big bite of the pie. It was delicious. Maeve had to close her eyes to feel the sweet taste of the pie.
Thorin and Corvin stood in a corner sipping champagne, staring at the party. Everyone was enjoying it, but not those two. “Vespera is so smart. She called her friends and left out our friends!” snapped Thorin.
“You told her not to disturb those idiots because they need time to arrive in Veyantara,” replied Corvin.
“Yeah, yeah, I know! And where the hell is she??” Thorin growled loudly.
“Who?” asked Corvin.
“Maeve Arrendale, who els…” Thorin was getting angrier and angrier, but suddenly he lost his voice. His heart raced like a cheetah and then immediately slowed down. He got a whiff of that familiar scent, but it was coming far away from him. he urgently looked at Corvin; he too looked at him at the same time. “You feel that right?” he asked. Corvin nodded, his eyes widening in shock.
Thorin noticed Vespera moving ahead of him with her friends around her. She was the centre of attention. Everyone was praising her, complimenting the party, complimenting her dress, complimenting her look, her jewellery, everything. Vespera humbly kept asking everyone to stop talking about her. But no one was listening to her. She giggled and laughed.
Every single friend of hers suddenly closed their eyes and took a deep breath. Thorin realised that they too had caught Eve’s scent.
“Ahh! Delicious!” moaned Maeve and took another bite. The pie was finished. Maeve was about to move to the other pie when suddenly a waiter bumped into her. She opened her eyes, and the pie flew away from her hand. “Ah, ah, ah!” she cried, trying to catch the pie, trying to grab it before it would hit the floor, because she didn’t want a tasty pie to go to waste. But her heavy dress made her move slowly, and the pie almost brushed along her finger and dropped.
Maeve bared her clenched teeth, showing remorse and with one eye closed, looked at the shiny, sparkling shoes that the pie had fallen on. She lifted her head and saw a group of beautiful women staring at her. All of them were looking at her with shock and awe. But one of them was looking at her with pure hatred and anger.
“I… I… I am so sorry, so sorry! Please, please, please forgive me! Oh my, your shoes! Ehh! I am so sorry. I cannot tell how sorry I am. Please, please, I will… give… you my… shoes. Right! You can take my shoes, and I will wear your soiled shoes all evening. I will clean them up and then bring them to you tomorrow. Um… what is your name? Sorry, couldn’t recognise you behind the mask,” Maeve kept blabbing on and on. It looked like Vella’s soul entered her body.