Destined to be a royal spouse

Chapter 4

Jolie laughed and replied: "No, I have not gotten anyone yet, but I have hope that I will eventually meet my true love one day."

"Why don't you come with me to the ball that will be held next weekend. Mom said that I should seize the opportunity to get close to George. Since he knows you guys as my childhood friends, I think it will be a good idea. What if I use that opportunity to tell him about what I feel." 

'At least, Jolie might be attracted to him, she is so beautiful. I just hope that they will be invited.' Jessica hoped in her mind. 

"You mean that a ball will be held next weekend, will your parents or George approve of our coming without being invited?" Jolie was ecstatic. 

"I have to ask my parents if you guys will be invited. I am also thinking of telling Maxwell about the ball."

"What?!!"Jolie and Florence screamed to show how disappointed they were.

"My dear, you don't have to tell him. In fact, you have to be extremely careful about what you tell him, because one, I don't trust that he is serious with your relationship with him. Two, you are yet to know if the prince is or is not interested in you. You have got to wake up. Okay!" Florence elaborated as Frederick and Jolie nodded in affirmation while Jessica was calm. They were getting closer to the club.

Jessica felt some chills all over her body, but decided to ignore it. She really needed to cheer herself up after the day filled with one uncomfortable scenario or the other. She told her friends that they would not stay long, that they should take something moderate and leave immediately, so that her parents would not restrict her from going to fun places as they once did and later gave her the freedom with strict instructions against returning home very late. Jolie and Florence insisted on dancing for a while. Frederick and Jessica went to the bar to get some drinks. 

"What will I serve you?" Asked the bartender. 

"I will have a glass of Martini and you Jessie what will you take?"

"A glass of Margarita is okay by me."

The bartender took their orders and left. In few minutes time, he served them their drinks. They were drinking and also chatting about a lot of things. 

"Have you gotten yourself something nice to wear for the ball?" Frederick asked her unexpectedly, which surprised her a lot. 

"Emm, I just got the information this morning from my parents about it when they were convincing me to get married to him, so I don't know if they have arranged for it."

"Why don't you ask them, when you get home?"

"I wouldn't want to give them the impression that I am interested in going to the ball."

"Why not, you need to find out from them if they have arranged for it. And the ball will be next weekend."

"Try to understand what I am saying. If I ask them, it would mean that I have fully accepted their decision. Come on! I have to make them understand that I have to make my own choice when it comes to relationship about marriage."

"I got what you said perfectly well, but what I want you to know is that you have to impress him and get to know more about him. You never can tell what the future holds for you."

"It's alright, I will try."

"That is my Jessie." Frederick smiled and gave her thumbs up before he sipped his drink.

Jessica sipped her drink and thought of how she would ask her mom about the outfit without her mom believing that she had given in to their choice. After all, she is going there just for their sake and nothing else.

"I want to go to the gents, I will be right back."

"Okay. When you return, we will have to leave here right away."

"Yeah, sure."

In few minutes time, someone nudge Jessica and staggered a little. 

"Hey, watch your steps." Jessica retorted at the young lady that would be of her age. 

"Oh! Sorry about that, I am a bit tipsy." Replied the lady with a not so cute smile. 

"I hope that you are balanced now."

"What do I say. By the way, my name is Anita. May I know your name?"

"I am Jessica. It's nice to meet you."

"What a pleasure. Are you alone or you came with someone?"

"I came with my friends."

"Wow. That sounds good, but why are you here all by yourself, where are they?" Anita smirked.

"They are on the dance floor. I don't feel like dancing." Jessica replied, but was a bit embarrassed. 

"Yeah Jessie! I am back. Who is keeping you company?"

"Is he your boyfriend?" Anita asked as she gave Frederick a once over.

"Frederick is my friend. Frederick this is Anita. She met me here a few minutes ago." Jessica replied and she was longer comfortable with the presence of Anita.

Anita seemed to read her mind and she excused herself to leave. 

"I have to go now. We shall see." She said and left abruptly. 

"I don't like her." Frederick commented as if he was controlling the urge to push her away from them. 

"Neither do I." Jessica said with a look of disgust on her face.

"How come you guys were chatting?

"She nudged me when she came here and nearly fell on me. She started apologizing and introduced herself. What am I expected to do, if not to introduce myself too."

"Yay!! That was so much fun we had on the dance floor." Florence shouted out loud as she danced towards the bar along with Jolie. 

"There is no doubt about that. We have to go." Jessica hurriedly stood up, but Jolie stopped her.

"Oh come on, I want to have a drink!"

"Then be fast about it or I leave."

"Don't you worry. You have had a drink and you expect us to be left out, because we decided to dance first?" Jolie said smiling and pointing at Florence and herself simultaneously. 

Florence and Jolie ordered for their choice of drinks. They were served their drinks. 

After a while, Jessica's phone rang.

"Hello, mom!"

"Where are you, my dear?" Katherine asked her daughter in a dearing tone

"I am hanging out with my friends. I will come soon."

"Be carefull out there or your dad and I will restrict you from hanging out as we did before." Her mom scolded her. 

"Please mom, don't do this to me. I won't come back late." Jessica said almost shedding tears. 

"When you return will determine the next step to take." Her mom said before ending the call.

Jessica had felt something unusual inside her bag when she was bringing out her phone to know who was calling her. So, when the call ended she decided to be sure of what she felt previously. She rummaged through her open bag and...

"Jessie what are looking for?" Asked Jolie. 

"Hmm, nothing. I touched something when I was bringing out my phone. And I want to be sure of what it is. 

"Have you found it?" Asked Florence in a teasing manner.

"Yeah, I think so." Jessica replied as she brought out some drugs wrapped in a small zip lock bag.

The four of them were shocked. They looked around to ensure that no was looking towards their direction. Jessica on her own, imagined of how the drugs could get into her bag just like that without her knowledge. 

"I don't know how it got into my bag." Jessica defended. 

"You said Anita nudged you, before you introduced yourselves. Are you sure she was not the one that put it there?" Frederick reminded her.

"I think that you are right." Jessica confirmed. 

"Who is Anita?" Asked Florence curiously. 

"I met her speaking with Jessie when I returned from the gents. When she left, Jessie told me that she nudged her and staggered before they started introducing themselves to each other." Frederick explained. 

"You have to trash it immediately, before someone sees it or maybe the cops decide to come around for inspection. Give it to me. I am going to the ladies." Whispered Florence.