Chapter 29 The Gala
Evelyn's POV
The dress code for the gala was champagne, the kind of color worn by the fearless.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror as Mira zipped my dress up.
“I'll apply some makeup on your face, ma'am,” she said.
From the way things had been going since she started preparing me for the gala, I could tell it wasn't just some gala, it was for someone important.
“Who's hosting this gala?” I asked.
“I didn't get the details but I heard he's an international figure,” Mira explained. “And he had come back to take over his father's company.”
I closed my eyes and let the brush sweep over my face, the lip gloss colouring my lips.
When I opened my eyes, there was another version of me even though I could still recognize myself.
I smiled. “How are you so good at everything?” I asked Mira, my gaze still fixed on the mirror.
“To survive in the world of the rich, you have to know a lot of skills,” she said. “If not, get ready to be discarded.”
“Time to go, ma'am,” her voice raised as she gestured towards the door.
I grabbed the small handbag she had picked for me and walked out of the door.
“Ready?” Adrian's voice rose as soon as I got out of my room.
I turned my face to him and he was dressed in a champagne colored tuxedo, shining like a million dollar luxury fabric.
“Yes,” I muttered. He walked ahead of me and I followed behind him.
We got inside the sleek black Sedan car and David, who was the driver, drove out.
Adrian had his gaze fixed on a tablet as the drive proceeded.
I watched him as he worked on the tablet but pretended like I wasn't watching.
He looked up before turning his head to me. I tried to act like I was looking somewhere else but I was sure he caught me already.
“You stare too much,” he muttered.
I turned to him, acting oblivious to what he was talking about. “What do you mean? I wasn't staring at you.”
He smirked, clearly amused. “You lie a lot too, even though you're bad at it.”
My face turned red and I quickly turned away from him, looking out the window.
Silence stretched between us the rest of the drive.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a tall building. Cars were parked outside, people dressed in the same champagne colored dresses getting out of their expensive cars and walking inside.
“Don’t get off,” Adrian ordered when I grabbed the doorknob and wanted to open the car.
He got off first and came to my side of the car, opening the door for me. He stretched his hand for me to walk out with.
I took his hand, walking out of the car without hesitation. Once I was out of the car, David drove away to find a parking spot.
Adrian extended his arm and I linked arms with him.
We walked into the hall with his eyes fixed on the path we were walking while my eyes scanned the premises, not able to stop admiring the luxury of the hall.
Everything was so goddamn expensive, even the air in this space surely was.
The main hall was booming with people's voices. Soft music played above their voices and laughter echoed at every corner of the room.
Adrian walked slowly with me by his side and he grabbed a champagne flute from one of the waiters passing by. I did the same.
Everyone here was from the top business class. Their dresses said it all.
I was still looking around when someone appeared in front of me, smiling widely.
“Mrs. Kane?” She said gleefully.
I recognized her. It was Cecelia from the Elite women's meeting.
Adrian unlinked his arms from mine. “I'll leave you two to talk,” he said and walked away immediately like he had been looking for the chance to dump me.
Cecelia stared at his back as he left and her face turned into disappointment.
“And I was hoping I would be able to talk to him.”
I almost scoffed. She came here for him, not for me.
She turned her face back to me and smiled. “Let me show you to the other women.”
I let a small smile cover the disgusted look on my face and followed her.
“Meet Mrs. Kane, Mr. Adrian Kane's wife.” She introduced me to some older women who all stood around a table.
They looked at me like they hadn't heard the introduction, more like they were trying to calculate my worth with their eyes.
“The one you said was picked off the streets?” A woman asked.
I clenched my jaws but couldn't say anything. They all looked older and I didn't know what to say to them. I didn't want to be disrespectful.
Cecelia looked at me and chuckled nervously. “C'mon. Those were just rumors I also heard.”
She had been talking badly behind me but acting loveydovey all in front of me.
Typical rich people behaviour.
“I'll excuse myself first. Nice meeting you all.” I smiled and walked away.
I searched for Adrian with my eyes and found him standing alone at the far end of the room, sipping from his champagne flute as he observed every corner.
I walked towards him but just before I could get to him, Cassandra walked to him, standing with one hip raised.
“Your wife has been going about digging into you,” she said.
“Leave here, Cassandra. I don't have time to listen to shit you've made up,” Adrian retorted.
I stopped in my tracks and only listened to their conversation from where I stood. Cassandra didn't want me in Adrian's life. No one wanted me here. I wonder what she has against me this time.
“Think I'm lying?” She scoffed. “Then how do we explain this?”