The engagement venue was in the ultra ritzy party central part of the city, before yesterday she had not even believed even with three years of pay that she would enter the district let alone one of the well known and very popular clubs, bars or event centers but her she was and unfortunately not to party but for a very personal and anxiety inducing issue.
The event might as well have taken up the entire five story building, looking at that amount of guests that were waiting to enter, a single floor would not be able to contain them all.
Rita got in line, she felt so out of place with all the gorgeous and extremely gorgeous people around even if she was in the right colour, when it came to her turn the bouncer, a tall and bulky specimen of a male with dark hair tied in a low ponytail whose light dark yet pale skin said he was indian and a Vampire must have seen it too because he looked her up and down before asking for her invitation.
She did not feel comfortable with anyone especially men looking at her right now with everything that was going on, more so with thoughts that Theo might have already released some content already.
She reached into her purse, brought out the pink card and handed it over to the bouncer. He opened the invite, quickly scanning it before he nodded and gave it back to her. “Welcome Miss, enjoy the party.” Flashing a small smile that she was not sure reached his eyes because of the dark glasses he wore, his voice came out deep and smooth, the sound making her insides shiver deliciously.
He gestured for the doormen standing infront of the dark glass doors to open the door, she just managed a polite smile before walking in. If only she was here to meet someone like that and not a, no matter how beautiful, slimy bastard of a Vampire that was Theo Arsen. If only she was not here at all.
The venue’s interior with its high ceiling and very clearly expensive carpet was very stylishly decorated, work that could rival Penny’s, actually did. Rita wondered which one of her rivals had done it. It was a good thing Penny could not read minds because hats off to the individual that got this place this supped up, it looked just as gorgeous as the guests.
The momentary distraction turned into more than moment of self-consciousness, she did not look as beautiful as the people in here, Vampire or not, human or not.
She did not even want to think about statues because every single person in here with her, if their clothes, fashion or jewellery were anything to go by, could throw away three years worth of her pay in less than an hour and would not bat an eyelash. Real or otherwise.
She was basically a freshly dug out potato in the midst of fresh out the fryer, golden, crispy diamond decked french fries or a soggy boiled one next to bowls of creamy mashed potatoes prepared by five star chefs or Ramsey Gordon.
The food based anologies conjured up by her brain only made her stomach growl, she had not eaten the whole day because of her anxiety and there was no sign of any actual food only glasses and bottles of alcohol and blood.
The sight of blood made her want to throw up the non existent contents in her stomach, she turned away and faced the stage, who knew how long it would be till the waiters brought the food out. It definitely was not going to be anytime soon. Calm music played by the mini orchestra near the stage weaved through the air conditioned room slightly calming her self conscious nerves.
She should just find the bastard, get what she came for and leave, she could eat something once she was out of here and away from him. She looked through the trong of people, weaving through bodies and eyes that fixed on her with several emotions, disgust, anger, confusion, intrest, lust. Some of the looks directed at her from either direction were momentary, others lasted longer likely trying to burn a hole through her.
She had spent half an hour looking for the prick when she felt a large hand on the left side of her waist and cold breath blow on her right ear. She whipped her head to the right while trying dislodge herself from the arm on reflex, she met the smiling face of the prick himself, the attempt failed because the prick held on fast or maybe that was just his usual strength she thought remembering the time he had tried to get his lips on hers.
His whispered voice might as well have been sandpaper against her skin. “I knew you’d come.” The smile on his face was triumphant, glorious in his victory and all she wanted to do was smack it right off.
Rita replied in a harsh whisper of her own, throwing a hot concealed glare at him. “Yes, I’m here now so give me what you have and I’ll keep my end of the bargain.”
Theo’s grey eyes danced with myrth whilst his arm brought her into his side more as he started walking them off somewhere. “What’s the rush? You’re a guest, my guest, enjoy the party, I’d feel bad if you didn’t after all I had a large hand in executing it. Do you like the room? I personally designed it.”
Rita’s eyes widened. He designed this place?!
Theo’s smile furthered. “Surprised?”
She was but she was not going to boost his ego anymore than her expression already had. She schooled her face, putting up an unimpressed look which she hoped erased any hint of her previous indirect compliment and looked up at him.
“I’ve seen better.”
Theo let out an amused breath before he chuckled. “Sure you have.”
They reached the bar, Theo offered her a seat which she took out of nothing but courtesy, he did not deserve it but this was his sister’s engagement party and she did not want to start a commotion.
Theo took one next to her. “Want anything?” He asked, motioning to one of the waiters.
Why the heck was he stalling? He knew what she came for and she wanted to get it over with and get out of here.
“You know what I want.” She said, eyeing him with enough animosity to hack just about anyone to pieces. Except him unfortunately with his still smiling face as he told the waiter their orders, rather his orders. She wondered what he had told the waiter to bring, what he possibly told him to put in it.
The waiter returned with two flutes of Grape Sparkler, she remembered the sweet fizzy cocktail, delightful as her memories were of it her mind kept going to the possible contents in the drink other than just pressed grape juice and sparkling wine.
The waiter settled the drinks in front of them and went to serve others, the thought of drinking water presented or bought by Theo was never a good idea to her even when it was capped and unopened, drinking alcohol with him was on an entirely different danger blare.
Theo casually took sips of his while she left hers untouched. Aside from the Theo aspect of this particular endeavor, she did not want to drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
He cocked an elegant eyebrow upwards, gesturing towards the drink beside her. “You don’t like Grape Sparkler?”
She replied with an unintrested tone that shot right to the point, the real point of her words both said and unsaid. “I’m not really prone to drinking alcohol when I’m anxious and besides I didn’t come here for drinks.”
Theo held his drink in his right hand while facing her, his back straight but relaxed looking like every woman’s most wanted eye candy in his semi formal attire, a black long sleeved shirt from what she felt before was probably made of Egyptian cotton or something with sterling silver buttons that could be actual silver for all the world cared, his trousers were snug against his legs and his shoes, a well polished black leather.
He could just walk into the street and his clothes would not draw even the slightest bit of attention. Perfect for slinking away in the night.
“You don’t need to worry Rita I didn’t tell him to put anything in it and no need to be so anxious, just relax, enjoy the party, you’re practically my date. Trust me okay. Like I said before no need to rush.” He said before taking the last sip of his drink.
Of course he had no reason to rush, she was right where he wanted her. She should have seen the date thing coming, she did but far too late, now everyone who knew he had a girlfriend would think she was a hoe. Great.
Before she could think further of the particular thought lights all dimmed bringing attention to the stage where the celebrant were standing drinks in hand.
Theo’s sister, Evangeline as told by the invite, like all vampires was ethereal, her blue long sleeved mermaid dress hugged her body, accenting all her curves, the diamonds on her ears and neck sparkler in the limelight. However, they did not come close to stealing the true limelight from the massive rock on her finger.
Dark haired like her brother, the resemblance even from this far was uncanny, her fiance, Darwin in his matching blue, ethereal as he should was blond with awe stricking vibrant aquamarine eyes.
A waiter handed Evangeline a microphone, she took it and held it to her lips, the microphone carried her voice throughout the hall as clear as water and sure as the wind. The voice of someone that was not the least bit bothered about public speaking. “Thank you all for accepting our invite and for coming. We invited you all here to share in our happiness.”
With all the show of wealth, fake smiles, flirtatious and no so we’ll concealed bitchy looks from most people in the room, Rita was not exactly sure these people were here to share in anyone’s happiness.