ROSALINE
Jonathan Wade. The gay son of the W&W fashion house. He looked just as his pictures described, as though he'd walked out of them. There were barely any alterations to his features. His lips were heavily glossed, and his fair hair completely slicked back by a ridiculous amount of gel, leaving just a tendril to dangle on his forehead.
His grin wasn't forced, but for some reason, it felt so, and I watched his eyes widen when he looked at me. "It is such an honor to have you here!" He added to his first, ever-so bewildering statement.
I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me how much of a fool I looked like, just gawking it at him while my lips twitched to find the right words.
"Wife?" I heard Harry echo, his voice distant in my head space as I had completely zoned out of the situation.
Jonathan's sudden interest in me almost caused me to choke on my own saliva. I'd never thought anyone knew me besides my family and, of course, Gerald's family, but knowing that he was aware of my existence just sent me to a kind of hell I didn't know existed. I was immediately swallowed by guilt for Harry's unawareness in this situation.
I reluctantly took his hands, too bothered to capture Harry's expression because I was so sure of the surprise that'd be owning his expression. "Oh, hi..." I responded, stealthy in returning the handshake. "I didn't know anyone knew so much about me. It's... a nice... birthday you're having."
Was that even a reasonable response?
"Are you kidding me?! The entire internet has your pictures flying around before and after you got married. It's such an honor to meet you, Rosaline," Jonathan continued to stroke my hand, his gaze still fixated on me like he placed me under some kind of scrutiny.
It was discomforting in a way; regardless there was an upside that came with being recognized for my background. This was the first time in an open setting that I hadn't been cast in the shadows. The fleeting euphoria didn't stop my chest from tightening with guilt as I didn't plan for Harry to find out anything about me this way, either the fact that I was the daughter of the second most influential business in the country or that I was married to the Gerald Thorne.
Thinking about it now, and it really was heavy information.
"Uhm, Am I missing something here?" Harry said in a jesting tone, but I could hear beneath it. Surprise and disappointment were blended somewhere between his words. "You... are-"
"Rosaline Rivera."
"Married?" He completed, throwing me a questioning look, and I finally realized what weighed more to him. Of course, it wasn't my parents' status. It was the fact that he'd been hanging out with a married woman as though she was his friend from kindergarten. "When was I going to find out?"
Harry didn't look pained at all. If anything, his expression was unreadable. It had never been unreadable, but oh, well, what did I know? It felt like I barely even knew him. Jonathan, on the other hand, was enjoying this way too much.
He wiped his blond hair off his forehead and inclined closer, that scandalous mouth-agape expression properly defined by his pale face, and with his hand pressed tightly over his lips. Jonathan broke the ice, hitting Harry as he talked.
"Don't tell me you didn't know! Did you not see the news, Harry? The union was bomb! Two biggest industries coming together, it almost felt like it was an arranged marriage!" Jonathan glanced at me. "Of course, I know it's not! You two must be so in love, right?"
Ah. Sign me out of this situation. "I knew about the marriage, Jonathan. I just didn't know it was... her."
I felt my stomach flip again, and breathing was beginning to feel more and more like a chore. Kill me already. Harry was becoming such a good friend of mine, and I didn't like how the conversation was going. "Well, now you know," I finally said, pretending like I wasn't heavily bothered.
"Now I know," He echoed. "Now I know."
"Oh..." Jonathan breathed, and both our heads snapped in his direction. I had completely forgotten he even existed. "I'm sensing some weird energy here. Is this like some love triangle that reporters would love to hear about!" He gesticulated as he spoke, slurring every single syllable. "You know I live for drama and the spotlight!"
I knew that much. Jonathan's scandals for a year alone were enough to fill an entire magazine. And did he just say reporters?
"No, no! That's definitely not the case!" Harry defended, but I remained stuck on that word, slowly pulling into reality. "She's just a lovely friend of mine."
"Lovely, huh? Such a touche word to use." Jonathan whispered. Even as I stared into blank space, I could feel his burning gaze prick my skin.
Meanwhile, I'd blanked out. Reporters at Jonathan Wade's birthday party would definitely cook up a scandal, and I had fallen right in the middle of this. It stirred me up, and my feet reflectively tapped the floor in a tuneless rhythm. Paparazzi were everywhere, and I came in here clutching the hand of a man who wasn't my husband. So much for a peaceful rebellion. How did everything in my world center around Gerald?
I needed to get out of here. "I think I just heard the announcer request for the celebrant," I lied with a huge smile, pointing in the direction of the main stage. "Wouldn't that be you, Jonathan?"
"Oh! Bless me!" He grabbed his chest dramatically, and his attention immediately diverted. "I should get going, Rosaline, Harry. It's so nice seeing you here! We can pick up this... little discussion after I'm done welcoming the other guests. For what it's worth, you two would have made the best couple!"
With that, he scurried away. Finally, some air. No, wait. Harry was still here.
"So, that happened," Harry sighed, pointing in the direction Jonathan walked. "I'm sorry about that. Jonathan isn't normally this intrusive."
"No. It's no problem." I responded, looking around rather than at him. I'd dived into this ocean of self-awareness and was becoming more and more conscious of what the consequences of my actions might be.
There might be someone in the shadows lurking nearby to capture a moment of misunderstanding, voila, a hit to both our companies. It was beyond frustrating.
"So... Mrs Thorne?" Harry dipped his hands in his pocket. "That was a bit unexpected..."
"No, Rosaline is just fine. And I meant to tell you, of course, at the right time, but I may have belittled my father's name, hence this. I'm so sorry, Harry, if I put you in a difficult spot. I just didn't think it mattered in our friendship. I am genuinely sorry." I rushed, wholly displaced.
"There's no need to apologize, Dumbledore. I completely understand. It's not easy being in the spotlight all the time. I'm not mad, Rosaline. I'd never get mad at you."
"Oh, you clearly underestimate my ability to be a menace." I released a breath I didn't know I'd been holding, and relief washed over me. I was glad he understood, but I had to leave regardless. "Thank you, Harry. Excuse me while I use the ladies."
I held my dress by the hem and found the loo. My stomach seemed to be doing wonders with that anxiety. It was like a game of went on in there, and all that flipping and turning filled my bowels. I let myself into one of the numerous compartments and settlers on the seat when I heard the door jam again.
Someone must have walked in, and it had me jumpy. I slapped my forehead. It was a restroom, and people were meant to walk in. Now, I had to wait for them to leave because I was physically incapable of facing any human at the moment.
"Did you see her?" I heard a woman ask, supposedly, another. I couldn't see either of them as I was passing time on the seat, scared even to breathe properly.
"Who?" The second voice asked. "There seems to be a lot of hers tonight."
"I mean the West Royal girl, the family's triumph card. Did you not see her at the hall? All over a man?"
Trust me, I melted completely into jelly, and my face fell. I was the one being gossipped about. Yet again, I'd managed to dig up dust on myself. My heart thumped against my ribcage with wild rhythms, constricting, and the small walls of the bathroom stalls seemed to be closing in on me.
"Oh, yes!" Gossip number two chimed. "I saw her! Isn't she like the same girl who stole her dead sister's man? You know the worst? I heard from a trustworthy source that she might be the reason her sister died in the first place!"
"That isn't all," The other responded, lowering her voice. "There were also rumors that she has always tried to seduce Gerald even as her sister dated him! She literally gives me goosebumps! How could someone be so cruel?!"
"And now she's here with another man? Absolutely ludicrous! It's always the quiet ones you should fear!"
I'm stung, but not as much as I haven't felt before. I guess I was getting used to being the human trash where everyone seemed to dump a bit of the shitty side. My heart was getting used to being trampled upon and torn apart. First, my family, now by random strangers? Amazing. If everything they had said was what the world thought of me, then fine.
With all the strength that I could muster, I kicked the stall's door open; the loud bang echoed through all of the main restroom, and their fearful squeals pleased my ears. "Oops! Sorry, I was trying to be less quiet, so you don't have to fear me."
I stormed towards them, ignoring astonished expressions. And to think these ladies were people I haven't seen before. "Don't worry about me. You can go on with your discussion. Oh, sorry, I pronounced gossip wrong. And you might want to close your mouths. There's only so many germs one can handle."
They shared fear-mixed, curious glances with each other, unable to say a word, and it angered me more. How could they say such horrible things and go mute when faced with their adversary?
I turned around, and right before I twisted the door knob, I tilted my head in their direction, smirking. "Just to be sure, you don't happen to have any hot boyfriends I can snatch immediately after murdering you?" I paused, scanning them. "Then again, never mind. I don't think anyone will be interested in people like you."
It didn't get to me. That petty gossip didn't get to me. I mentally recited as I pushed my way through the crowd and found myself back in the hall. I wasn't sure I wanted to see Harry either. My eyes were locked on the huge doors, and I ventured towards them until my luck decided to shine.
Or, in this case, dim and a sudden spotlight shone upon me. No. No. Don't let this happen! I turned around in the big bright circle, unable to walk away, when Jonathan's voice danced to my ears.
"Amongst us today is a special guest of honor," He began. Special guest of what? Hello? "And she's come to grace us with her presence today! It wasn't easy inviting her, but a dear friend of mine was able to pull it off! Please welcome to the stage, Mrs Rosaline Rivera Thorne!"
A round of applause rippled through the crowds, and I continued to shrink on the spot, blinded by the lights yet plagued with the weight of piercing, expectancy eyes. I frantically searched for Harry within the crowd, but there was only so much I could see. I sucked my teeth and tried to summon the courage to walk up there.
"Aren't you forgetting one more name?" That familiar voice announced from behind me. "This Queen here... is a package deal."
His voice turned my fears, and my body turned without my permission, too eager to see his face. To confirm that it was him.
GERALD?! Why was he here?