CHAPTER 26

Okay, so maybe I had exaggerated my being fine. For the past few days, all I could think about was how Reeves chose that girl over me. She had nothing to offer him, and though he was using her as a rebound to get over me, it still hurt my pride, because he could’ve easily picked someone who was on the same level as me, at least that won’t hurt, but maybe, coupled with that, I was kind of annoyed that Reeves would actually chose anyone that wasn’t me, it got me thinking: was he really hurt or he also had his own evil motives as I did? That was very likely, seeing as he didn’t want to talk about the whole thing at his house that evening.

Thoughts like these hijacked my sleep. I was too busy to sleep, because my brain was working overtime, trying to figure Reeves out, at some point I thought I was going to go crazy from all the thinking, this was very bad for me, very bad. I even went as far as calling in sick at work, and because I had carried a sour expression on my face for the past week, everyone believed I was really sick.

I tossed and turned on my bed, wishing something would take my mind off the way I was feeling, it wasn’t like me at all, and because the way I was feeling was because of a man made it worse. I contemplated calling Stephen, but he had been very busy, at least he said he was, and I didn’t want to disturb him at all. On cue, my phone started vibrating in my hands, my ringtone following almost immediately. It was Stephen calling. How did he know I needed company?

“You’ve been the worst friend these past few days,” I attacked.

“I know, and that’s why I’m calling with good news. You know I’ve been busy these past few days, right? Well, that’s because I was planning this charity ball, accompany me as my date?” Stephen rushed his words, making “ball” and “accompany me” the only words I heard clearly.

“It’s not like I have something better to do with my time anymore,” I smiled into my phone, finally, something to take my mind off Reeves.

“You have to be the best dressed though, because there are a lot of rich men attending,” Stephen was trying to make me feel better, and hell, it was working. Hearing the words already got me excited.

“I’ll come pick you up by 7, I know you won’t disappoint,” Stephen said, I shook my head in response, forgetting that he couldn’t see me; I was too excited to care. I hung up and hurried to take my bath.

I almost forgot what it felt like to go for these things; Reeves really took all my freedom. Before Reeves, I had a habit of going to clubs on Fridays and balls on Saturdays or Sundays. Most times I was hired mainly as a date because; I’m just gorgeous like that, and all these men always used their date to show their superiority. The hotter and expensive their date looked, the higher their ego, especially when people couldn’t shut up about them and their dates. It was like an ego match.

Talking about this reminded me of the last date Reeves took me on, we were perfectly dressed, and not to blow my horns or anything, but if Reeves were to attend a ball, we’d be all everyone would be talking about. Stephen is just as good looking as Reeves, and he had me on his side, so I was going to make sure I shone so bright that the guests had no choice than to keep their eyes on us.

I went for a long sliver dress, because when I said I would shine, I meant it literally. The dress hugged my curves tightly, but not too much that it was suffocating, it was just right; the dress had a sexy slit that started from the point slightly above my knees down, giving me and edge to show my pretty perfect legs. My makeup was subtle and soft; we don’t want the guest thinking we are trying hard to please them. I pulled out my favorite wig to top up my look; the wig was wavy and long, like waist length long. I was doing it again, admiring myself too much. I had just worn my heels when Stephen came knocking loudly. I grabbed the silver clutch I had paired with my dress, shoved my phone in it and rushed to the door.

“So?” I gave Stephen a 360-degree view of my outfit.

“Okay, hot stuff, steady stepping on necks, I see,” Stephen hyped. I laughed at his dumb choice of words and flipped my hair, so he’d continue. Stephen went for a black velvet tuxedo, which looked superior on him. We spent the ride to the venue blowing each other’s horns—more him than me, obviously.

“Let’s go and make the world jealous of our gorgeousness,” Stephen put out his arms for me when we got to the venue. I hooked my hands in his as we walked confidently into the hall.

As expected, Stephen and I turned heads with our presence, and Stephen being the host got us even more attention. I loved it, the looks of adoration and jealousy that filled the eyes of the guest, and I enjoyed looking at each one of them, to register their looks in my head; and that’s when I saw him, Reeves. Since when did Stephen and Reeves become so close that Reeves was attending an event by Stephen? Even from the distance between us, Reeves still looked good. There was a swift movement beside Reeves and Daisy appeared, whispering into Reeves’s ear. I scoffed and rolled my eyes at them and focused on my friend who looked too cool, greeting his guests with a cold and mysterious aura that he had when he was with other people. I didn’t bother greeting anyone because they didn’t matter to me. When Stephen was done greeting people, I dragged him to a corner, far from Reeves and his date, to question him.

“Since when did you and Reeves become besties? Why is he here?” I asked, folding my arms as I fished for answers.

“I didn’t send the invitation to him personally, I swear. The board made the list and had people send them out. I wanted to tell you about it, but I wasn’t sure he was going show after what happened between you guys; and I wanted you to accompany me, if I had told you, there’s a high possibility that you’d refuse me,” Stephen explained. He had a point though, if I had known Reeves was coming, I would’ve thought twice about attending the thing.

“Fine, just make sure he doesn’t come anywhere close to me,” I pressed my lips together. Stephen nodded and hugged me.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Melanie the snatcher,” that voice was oddly familiar, and I didn’t have to think twice to know that it was someone I hated. Emilia.

“Babe, how are you here?” Stephen rushed to his girlfriend.

“I should’ve known you wouldn’t keep your paws off him,” Emilia spat. I took in a deep breath and looked at the woman. She had aged in a bad way that showed all over her body, and I think we can guess why: she still didn’t know when to shut up or say nice things. I couldn’t even control the lazy expression my face took when she appeared.

“Hello to you too Emilia, nice to meet you, again,” I smirked. I never bothered exchanging words with Emilia ever, because she was a waste of my time; and she still is, who knew, if I exchanged words with her, I’d get a few wrinkles like her. It’s funny though, because Emilia prided herself with her flawless skin, always playing the innocent and pure girl that didn’t talk much, when in real life, she was more annoying and louder than an alarm and a siren put together.

“Nice dress,” she smirked “Let me guess, you had my boyfriend get it for you,” she was on her high horse, thinking she could talk down at me because we weren’t in school anymore. Then, I replied to people who were rude to me with a hot slap, but I had outgrown that phase now, and honestly, it’s not like Emilia’s skin would survive if I slapped her. Her stupid voice had started gathering a small crowd, and before long, it felt like the all the guest had their eyes and ears out for us. Even the instrumentalists had stopped playing their music.

“No, he didn’t, he did buy other things though,” I smiled and bit my lips. Stephen stepped between us, as a way of telling us to stop, but his girlfriend still had a lot to say.

“You can’t tell me to stop! I literally came here to surprise you and the first thing I see is you holding this stupid gold digger in your arms. What do you take me for? I was fine with you coming here because I thought you had outgrown whatever you had with her, but look at you,” Emilia yelled. I was fine with Emilia saying shit to me because I didn’t care about any of the guests. They weren’t my business partners, so I could care less about what they thought about me. But it wasn’t the same for Stephen. This was his work, and his girlfriend was about to cost him investors and what not.

I pushed Stephen aside as seeing the hurt on his face hurt me too, and this bitch couldn’t even tell that he was hurt.

“I’m your problem. Talk to me and leave your boyfriend out of this.” I took up her personal space and she took a couple steps back.

“Come on, I know you still have a lot of shit to say to me,” I spat.

“Of course, you have nothing of you own, so you get off by living off people. You think it’s your sexy woman charm, but you’re just a beggar, a very disgusting one at that,” Emilia spat. Okay, she had venom. I noticed movement from the crowd behind Emilia, and out of that bunch, came out the only person I didn’t want to be there in that moment. Reeves had pushed past a few people to get HD view of my embarrassment. No, I knew I was stronger than this, I had been confronted countless times, and those confrontations never bothered me, and it wasn’t going to start now.

I squeezed my fist to calm myself down, but it wasn’t working, so I did the first thing that came to my mind.

“I have respect for you boyfriend and his guests, so we are going to do this outside,” I smirked, and then I turned to Stephen

“Don’t even dream of following me,” I warned him and dragged Emilia by her hair and out of the hall.

I was so angry that I felt like delivering a thousand slaps across Emilia’s face.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” I spat at her when I successfully dragged her outside and away from eyes and ears.

“I know you hate m—and darling the feeling is mutual—but you had no right to do all of that here. Don’t you know what this means to Stephen?” I shot; Emilia’s confidence was history, she recoiled: going back to being the little obedient child she always portrayed.

“Don’t even dream of going back in there until you’ve thought hard about your behavior tonight. And just so you know, I was never a threat to your relationship with Stephen, you were,” I kissed my teeth and walked away. I couldn’t go back to the party now because that would only bring bad market for Stephen, so I texted him instead, letting him know I didn’t kill his girlfriend and I was done for the night. I ordered an uber back home because the whole night was tiring. I didn’t have the heart to take any more drama, and I’m talking Reeves and his ‘girlfriend.’ Reeves had gotten the full description to what I was now, which was good, because I wasn’t going to tell him, and I didn’t want him lingering in the past like all the other men did. I only agreed to the ball in hopes that I would find a man to take Reeve’s place, but I got to kill other birds I didn’t plan for. When I had said the guests would have no choice but to keep their eyes on Stephen and me, I didn’t think of it this way.