THE GALA
1021 Words
(Season 1)
CHAPTER 9
The report was trash.
MRS. Brown dropped her phone on the vanity.
One week.
No Liora. No sightings. No hospital records. No credit cards.
It was like the girl had vanished into thin air.
Frustration clawed up her throat.
She was this close. _This close._
And now she had to go smile at a charity gala like nothing was wrong.
_I hate her._
By the time she found Liora, she’d make her regret ever running. She’d make her beg.
Liora Valor!!!
Only the sound of the name ruin her day. She just want to get everything and then get rid of her for good, this time.
Mrs brown sigh and took a deep breath.
She painted on a smile and walked into the *Grand Astor Hall*.
The cameras are everywhere, she needs to give a good image of herself in the public eyes
“Oh my goodness, Mrs. Brown... you look stunning,” MRS. JONES gushed.
“Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself,” Mrs. Brown replied smoothly.
Mrs. Jones did a little twirl. “I know. I had to. This is from Vex Wears, after all.”
Mrs. Brown froze.
Vex Wears.
The store where the cheapest dress started at a million.
The last time she tried to get an invite, they laughed her out.
She has always wanted to fill her wardrobe with clothes, jewelries, bags and shoes from The VEX WEARS but there are just too expensive.
“Actually, my husband just signed a deal with Vex Enterprises,” Mrs. Jones said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “They sent this personally. One of a kind.”
Was she flaunting it? Was this a dig?
“Wow, that’s from their latest collection,” another woman sighed. “You’re so lucky.”
“Of course I am,” Mrs. Jones beamed.
Mrs. Brown rolled her eyes internally.
That dress should’ve been hers. That deal should’ve been hers.
If that little brat hadn’t run.
“*I heard Mr. Vex is coming tonight. Is that true, Doris?*” someone asked.
“Yes. My husband and I think he’d be perfect for our new partnership,” Mrs. Jones said, and the other women melted.
Mrs. Brown tuned out.
Kalen Vex.
Not his brothers. _Him._
If she could get him to sign, to partner, to notice her...
And if Jae could catch his eye?
Wealth. Power. Forever.
She needed to find a way in. She could do anything to get her hands on that power.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Liora stared at herself in the mirror and hated it.
The red dress. The makeup. The hair.
It all felt wrong.
Mrs. Brown’s voice was in her head: _“You’ll never be pretty enough. You’ll embarrass us.”_
When Ryan said “party,” she said no.
Kai said “you’re coming.”
Now she was dressed and terrified.
_What if I’m fat? What if I’m ugly? What if I ruin this for them?_
What if something goes wrong? She has never been to such parties before. Back then, in her house. Her step mother would always say, she was too ugly to show her face to people.
Some times when Jake's are visiting, she won't be allowed to the main house.
And when they go for parties she was allowed either.
“Liora. Come on. We have to go,” Ryan called from the hall.
She took one last look. No choice.
She stepped out.
Four men.
Four tuxedos.
Four faces that looked like they’d walked off a magazine cover.
_Jesus. Why are they so handsome?_
She lived with them. And every day she forgot how unfair it was.
Honestly speaking everyone in the vex house are just so handsome. I mean extra ordinary kind.
Those types of beauty you see in movies.
Then her eyes landed on the fifth.
KALEN.
Sitting. Phone in hand. King of the room without trying.
Cold. Detached. Unbothered.
He looked up.
Her breath hitched.
Why did her heart always do that stupid, dramatic jump when he looked at her?
The room went still. What the heck just happened?
Why does he have such strong presence? God if he doesn't look away she will surely miss her steps and fall.
Liora’s fingers shook on the banister. The red dress moved around her like smoke.
She forced herself down the stairs, eyes down, cheeks burning.
In the dim light, she looked like something out of a painting.
No one spoke until she stopped in front of them.
"Oh my goodness, Liora, you look—” Ryan started.
“Pathetic?” she blurted, nervous.
All four of them frowned.
“Of course not,” Kai said. “You look beautiful. Why would you think pathetic?”
“I don’t know... I just feel that way,” she mumbled.
Zach stepped forward and pinched her cheek lightly. “Listen. You’re beautiful. You’re adorable. Don’t ever think otherwise, okay?*”
She nodded, a small, real smile breaking through.
These past few days were the happiest of her life.
No yelling. No cold rooms.
Just teasing. Food. Laughter. Protection that was almost too much.
It felt like she’d known them forever.
Zach was always there to make sure she was okay and she was eating.
Kai always teasing her like an older brother that she never had.
Ryan he's the most adorable one among them all. He gets worried at every slightest cough or discomfort of hers.
And kalen? Well... He is just there. Being mysterious as always.
“*Let’s go,*” Kalen said, already heading for the door.
No compliment. No look.
Just that cold, clipped tone.
And for some reason it hurt.
She didn’t know why she wanted his opinion.
She didn’t know why his silence felt like a knife.
He barely spoke to her. Ignored her like she was furniture.
She wasn’t supposed to care.
But she did.
Maybe it's because everyone treated like she was welcome and that she belong. But all his reaction is just indifference.
TBC
- Writer
