Anywhere But Home

{16} Deadly Secrets Part 1

Emily Roberts 

''Black or white?'' I asked raising my voice a little so Tori who was already dressed in a navy-blue dress and applying some makeup in the bathroom could hear me, mentally giving up. I can't decide. ''I love the white one ... but the black one is so ... so freaking beautifully amazing too.'' I sighed taking a sit on my bed.

''How about you pick another colour, other than those two?'' She suggested coming off the bathroom with a little mirror on her hand, putting some bronzer on her face with a little brush. ''You don't have to look like you're going to a funeral all the time. Black and white suits you flawlessly, but so do other colours.''

''You know that that didn't actually help me, don't you? I'm even more confused now.'' I mumbled, trying on the black high heels I bought in a hurry today along with four dresses. What?  Now I have to be more professional and that includes fancier clothing and with the paycheck I have, that won't be a problem.

She rolled her eyes. ''Aren't those heels too high?'' She asked dodging my question, leaning on my closet looking at me.

''Probably yes .. but it's like they say. The higher the heel, the better I feel.'' I replied shrugging, looking at myself in the mirror. They are cute, simple and have a little sparkle which I usually don't like, but sometimes changing is good. ''I still don't know what to wear though.''

''Just take the grey one. It's something different for a change.'' She blurted, walking towards her bed, grabbing her silver purse and taking from there her phone. ''Crap!'' She gasped unlocking her phone. ''Emily you have five minutes to get ready. The limo is five minutes away and I can't be late or my parents would chop me to pieces.'' She said in one breath typing something really fast on her phone, leaving me breathless. Five minutes? Get dress and apply makeup in five minutes? Is that even humanly possible?

I think I froze in time because her eyes widen.''Have you heard what I just said?'' She gasped shaking her hands in front of my eyes. ''Emily!''

''I'm going!'' I replied tossing my hands in the air, grabbing my grey dress from the closet. The simplicity of it, was actually what made it stand out for me.

                                                                                             ***

Don't ask me how, but I did manage to get ready in five minutes. It was a record for me.

''You know .. I find this situation, oddly familiar.'' I said breaking the silence that was in store in the limousine since we left college.

''What do you mean?'' She said, diverting her eyes from her phone, looking then at me.

''You, dragging my tired ass to parties without even asking me if I want to go. It's starting to become our thing.'' I replied sarcastically shrugging.

''This isn't a sorority party. It's a party to help other people. Here you don't get drunk. Here you get broke.'' She said chuckling, stuffing her phone into her purse. ''But it's for a good cause.''

I rolled my eyes and shook my head smiling. ''How did you get the invitations anyway?''

''My dad is one of the lawyers of the foundation.'' She stated proudly. ''You see, this is a party that my parents insist that I attend every year and since they are in New York and I'm here, they thought I should attend even without their presence.'' She informed. ''I had an aunt, from my mother's side, that passed away with breast cancer nearly three years ago and it was a really tough time for my family. She was twenty-five years old. So young and so full of life. It really made me realize how brief life can be.'' She sighed, looking through the window.

''I'm sorry for your lost Tori.'' I state putting my hand on her shoulder giving a gentle squeeze.

She immediately looked at me. ''It's been a long time, but thank you.'' She said giving me a small beam.

We were almost arriving. Looking at the window I saw us entering through the gates that led to a huge mansion. The driver parked the car in front of the red carpet, that was located throughout the stairs and immediately rushed to open the door, because there were cars behind us, helping us both walking out of the car. 

Climbing the stairs, where people of different ages. All sophistically well dressed. At the top, I could see maybe ten photographers, spamming people with a lot of photographs as usual. I hate taking pictures. Sorry, I don't hate taking pictures. I hate appearing on them.

''They really exceeded the expectations this time. This looks amazing!'' Tori gasped walking towards my spot.''Shall we?'' She said winking an eye at me.

''After you.'' I said making a signal for her to go first since she is the one that has the invitation in the first place.

''Enjoy your evening ma'am.'' A tall and well-built guy that was wearing a black uniform said with a strict face towards the middle-aged woman who was standing in front of us after she gives him her invitation. He looked intriguing. His grey eyes, chocolate-brown hair and short beard made him looked like one of those Greek gods. What is he doing working as security? Should be a crime.

He moved his gaze now towards us. ''Good evening ladies.'' He said checking us from top to bottom, giving a little more attention to Tori. I chucked internally. Guys are so predictable. ''May I see you invitation please?'' He asked shaking his head one time, maybe trying to focus and stay professional.

Tori handed him the invitation and he read it. He took a look around and grabbed a pen and start writing something down, handing the invitation back at her when he finished.

''Have a nice night Miss White.'' He said glaring at Tori, who I think was clueless about what's going on here. I coughed a little. ''For you to Miss Roberts.'' He added a little embarrassed, maybe because he forgot about me.

I grabbed her arm before things got heated up. ''That guy was so totally, hitting on you.'' I said smiling widely. I can't help but start laughing. ''It was so freaking priceless!'' I cried watching her cheeks light up like a Christmas tree.

''He was not.'' She mumbled composing herself. She cleared her throat and I took the opportunity and grabbed the invitation of her hand.

''Emily, give it back!'' She yelled almost quietly, trying to take the invitation out of my hands but failed.

''Never have I ever seen a beauty like you. Hope we will meet again soon.'' I read it out loud so both of us could hear. ''Ohhhh!'' I teasing whined giving it back at her. ''He was so hitting on you.'' I said laughing so hard making my eyes wet a little.

''Can you stop it?'' She asked slightly annoyed. ''This is a serious party. Try to act normal. If that is even possible.'' She said this time with a small smile. I know she liked to be wooed. She is just playing hard to get. Girls and our seduction plans. But I decided to give it a break and enjoy what was happening in front of my eyes.

As we approached the ballroom, I felt overwhelmed. The ball was probably the size of a football pitch. There were over twenty tables spread across the room and each one of them had the finest décor and cutlery I have ever seen in my life. The windows, the curtains and even the ceiling handwork made by someone really talent gave this place an old vibration as if we were almost in a castle.

There were waiters serving people some of the really small appetizers I have ever seen and drinks all around the building. A lot of the top businessmen and women from all around the country where here, making their presence noticed.

''So this is how the other half lives.'' I whisper loudly at Tori, who was standing beside me, absorbing what was going on.

She giggled. ''We should take a sit. I heard that they are going to make a speech. Our table is the number ... ''She stopped talking and looked at the invitation for a second. ''Ten.'' She added, raising her head to search for it. ''Right there.'' She pointed to a table that was really near the stage.

''There goes my chance to sleep.'' I said teasingly, taking a sit on one of the seats that were vacant, looking at Tori who rolled her eyes.

The lights went down a little and a huge light was focus on a gentleman in his fifties standing on the podium. ''Is this working?'' He said tapping on the microphone two times, receiving a thumb up from the soundcheck man, earning a few laughs from the audience.

''Ladies and gentleman, in the name of Anne-Marie's foundation, I want to thank you all for attending this charity event, promoted by Smith&O'Connor, Blackwood Enterprise and Saint-James Memorial. Without you, all this wouldn't be possible.'' He started, giving a big smile and a round of applause towards the people standing on the table two seats besides ours. I couldn't see well who they were from where I was standing. Are Christopher's and Brian's parents here?

''This foundation means a lot to me. It was named after my grandmother, who was one of the victims of this terrific disease, which keeps killing thousands of women all around the world. She left her money so we could start a program to help women going through the same she went through.'' He took a little brief pause. ''And finally, being able to be here, in front of hundreds of people, I can't help but feel humbled and overwhelmed.'' He stopped and people including myself applauded.

''Now .. I want to call to the stage the owners of the companies that made this event possible.'' He said clapping.

The first one, speaking was the owner of Blackwood Enterprise. He talked a lot. The second was Saint-James Memorial. The owner actually gave an interesting speech, if you were into business stuff, which I'm not.

''And now, because Mr.Smith and Mr.O'Connor were held in a business trip, welcome to the stage, Christopher Smith.'' He said, catching my attention immediately. I looked at Tori, who was looking at me shaking her shoulders.

As he was making his way to the stage I stopped to admire his beautiful features. He was wearing a black Tuxedo that really accentuated his body. He looked profoundly sexy. But also nervous. I never thought I would ever see him like that. I thought about waving at him, but that would be stupid.

''Good evening everyone.'' He said his voice cracking a little at the end, which he managed to cover it up immediately by straightening up his posture. ''I know, it would be a lot wiser and time-worthy to listen to my father other than me, a eighteen years old boy.'' He began gaining a few chuckles from the audience. ''And I promise I won't take too much of your time, because I think I speak in the behalf of everyone in this room, we are all hungry. At least I know I am.'' He continued as he noticed that the audience was actually enjoying his presence in there.

He straightens up his tie a little. ''My father and Brian's father were really upset about not being able to be here tonight with all of you.'' He added now on with a serious tone. ''But I think, if they were, they would have told you that they believe that we can all make a difference. My father .. always tell me ..'' He stopped and looked at the side smiling. ''That happiness is within the simplest things. Helping an old woman crossing the road, offering a meal to a homeless man, helping others is a gift that we all have. And if we use that gift to its max, we will achieve greatness. And that is what we are doing here today. We are here standing united for this great cause.'' I look around and saw all eyes on him. His nerves are all gone and he is speaking with confidence. ''So make your stand here tonight. The auction starts in an hour, so please make yourself feel at home, eat and drink all you want but don't forget to do what you all came here for.'' A few people laughed understanding the hint. ''Thank you!''

We all stood up and applauded. I leaned closer to Tori. ''If he didn't know what he was doing, he definitely pulled it off.''I said mentally debating if I should go there and say something.

''If you want to go there and say hello to him, you can.'' She said taking a seat. I followed her. How did she even ..?

''I don't .. I mean I want too .. but I don't know.'' I sighed.

''Woman just go there, for the love of god.'' She said ordering me to stand up. ''Go now.'' She repeated turning her back at me.

I walked closer to his table as I felt the nerves suddenly taking in. It's just a guy. You are just being polite. It's not a big deal. Act normal.

He was sitting backwards. I put my hand on his shoulder and he turned around almost instantly. ''Hey.'' I said smiling.

His lips turned from a thin line into a huge grin. ''Emily.'' His face softens.'' Thank god you came potato face.''