Chapter 8

"Would you like some juice?" asked a voice.

I jumped slightly and turned around to see Ace.

"You scared me," I said, then took the glass of grape juice from him. "Thank you."

An amused smile played on his lips. "Are you not enjoying the party?"

"Well, it's different from my usual taste. But I'm getting used to it," I said.

"I see." He took a sip of his drink. "Why don't you talk to the women there? They are nice ladies."

"Well, I did," I said, sighing softly. "What else am I supposed to talk about?"

"You really do not like this, do you?" he asked, laughing out loud.

His laughter attracted the attention of the women.

"Oh my, Ace, stop it. Nothing's funny here and people are staring at us," I said. My cheeks grew warm, and a tingling sensation arose in my stomach. I could feel the sharp gazes boring into my back.

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

An ushered conversation followed between them. I could not hear what they were saying but I knew it was about me.

This is so bad.

"Relax, Dalia," said Ace. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and took my hand in his. "You have nothing to fear. You're smart, beautiful, and kind. Be confident and it will show in your body language. Okay?"

I nodded. He gave me a warm smile and left to go join his colleagues.

Maybe he is right. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

I finished my juice and kept the empty glass on the counter.

You can do this, Dalia. Just behave confidently.

I took a few deep breaths and prepared myself to go and join the group again.

You're the host, you idiot. You cannot afford to stand here alone in a corner like a scared schoolgirl on her first day of school.

Just as I was rehearsing what to say, a voice spoke beside me.

"Dalia," she said.

"Christina." I smiled, even though my blood had run cold. There was something about her that made my heart cower in fear.

Could it be that I was overthinking? This woman probably had her own sad story that was too terrifying to even think about and here I was making assumptions about her. Not good. I had to stop my thoughts from being so harsh. For all I knew, she had stayed back from going to dinner with the other ladies to keep me company. Maybe she had noticed how my attempts at being a basic host were miserably failing.

She had to have noticed. My sixth sense had been heightened in alertness all evening owing to her constant fixated eyes on me.

"Are you enjoying the party?" I asked, not dropping the smile. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you," she said. Her lips, though curled upwards in a small smile, were contradicting the icy glimmer in her eyes.

She did not have that glint in her eyes when she was talking to other people.

Where are the other women, anyway?

I saw them going towards the buffet arranged in the dining area.

Why are you going alone? Take this lady with you. Even if she is trying to make me feel better, I'd rather prefer being alone. At least, I don't have this stabbing pain in my heart in her absence.

"So, Dalia, how are you liking this city?" she asked.

"Well, to be honest, I've not got the chance to see the city yet. But Ace and I are planning to visit a few places next week," I said.

Christina's maid stood behind her like a statue, her eyes fixated on the ground.

"You should visit sometimes, Dalia," said Christina.

Yeah, right.

She was glaring at me now. Maybe she had caught me staring at her wheelchair.

Embarrassed by my action, I looked down at my feet. "Sure, I will."

"I don't live very far from here," she continued. "Have you seen the white house a little distance away? That's where I live."

My head snapped up.

She lives there? It's her house?

"I have seen it. Such a beautiful house," I said. "You should visit us again soon too."

"Excuse me, ladies," said a voice.

"Ace." I heaved a sigh of relief. He must have noticed my plight and come over to ease my predicament.

His eyes met mine and I saw restlessness in them. He was rescuing me from an awkward situation, so why did he look worried?

"Dalia, Sabrina called and told me that she has been trying to reach you. Maybe it's something important. Why don't you call her?" he said.

I nodded and giving Christina one last smile, I hurried away from there.

Thank you, Ace.

I occupied a quiet corner nearby. I could see everyone from my spot but not all could see me.

Sabrina had not been trying to call me. But just in case Christina was watching me, I unlocked my phone and checked my messages.

You're childish, Dalia. Christina knows that it was an excuse to get you out of the conversation.

I glanced in her direction. Ace and Christina were talking. They appeared to be deeply engrossed in a conversation and somehow it seemed rushed and laced with tension. Ace's forehead was drawn into a frown and Christina was scowling.

What is going on between them?

My breath caught in my throat when I saw Christina, quite discretely, wipe away a tear. She muttered something to her maid, who then wheeled her away from Ace.

Visibly distressed, Ace clenched his fists and turned away angrily. He appeared regretful and confused.

Do not interfere, Dalia. You don't have to be nosy.

But what had I just seen?

Curiosity was a delicately tied thread around the neck. Pulled too tight, it would kill.

I closed my eyes for a moment and thought of tomorrow when I would be home, away from these confusions and trials.