Fractured

Chapter 4

Feeling

Both of them were knocked back to reality.

Amber jumped so fast that her skin almost left her bones behind.

One minute, she was there; the next minute, she was gone.

Norbert groaned. He had never felt this upset before.

Looking at Mrs Tim, he scowled.

“Yes, Suzanne? What do you want?”. He felt like crying.

The cook smiled slyly.

Her plan had worked out just fine from the look of things.

“Nothing, Sir. I just came to check on my worker”. She smiled.

“I see. Do you, by chance, know what she is called?”. He asked.

Mrs Tim smiled broadly.

“Amber. Her name is Amber, Sir”. The cook said and left the room.

“Amber”. He said, smiling like a schoolboy.

————————————————-

Finally

The day of the ball is eventually here.

Norbert stood up from his bed, somewhat rejuvenated and excited.

He had been thinking of the girl from last night nonstop. He slept dreaming about the damsel. Amber. A beautiful name, so befitting for a gorgeous woman.

Even as he said that, he chuckled to himself.

That was so cheesy.

Better don’t say it in her presence. He continued to soliloquize.

Anyway, he had to prepare mentally for the day’s event. He is not expected to be seen as nervous. No. Not even on a day like this.

He didn’t know what to expect. Yet, he knew it could go south really fast or then, it might turn out well.

He wasn’t hoping for anybody to like him. He just hoped the man he wanted would not disappoint him. That was all that mattered to him.

This was his only chance, an excellent opportunity to meet him one-on-one in an open space with people. If he recognized him, it would be obvious.

He was ready.

Ready to pay back in kind.

His thoughts briefly and instantly went back to Amber, and he couldn’t stop smiling.

Just then Matthew knocked and entered.

“Hi Norbert, Are you smiling or are my eyes seeing things?”. He asked, stopping in the middle of the room.

Norbert looked like he had been caught stealing candy.

“What do you want, Matt?”. He pretended to be upset.

“Ah ah, you can’t hide under that facade, spill,” his friend quickly retorted.

“You sound like a schoolgirl”. Norbert said, irritated.

“And you look like one; I mean, I can see colour in your cheeks, man. What’s going on?”. Matthew wondered.

“Nothing that concerns you, bastard. Why are you in my room this early?”. He asked again.

“Of course, I came to call you for breakfast; Suzanne threatened to beat me if I didn’t bring you, so please help me by coming down”. He whined.

Norbert dissolved into laughter.

“Let’s go”. He said.

“Just like that?”. Matt asked, surprised.

Norbert never ate breakfast.

“Mmm hmm”.

Something was going on and Matt was going to find out. He certainly will.

*************************

It was time. He had been a little bit disappointed when he hadn’t seen Amber earlier at breakfast.

He felt as if Suzanne knew he was looking for her with his eyes because he could swear that she was smiling weirdly.

He hoped to see her tonight.

“Sir, guests have started arriving. Please start getting ready”. James said and stepped out of the room.

“Yes, Dad”. He mumbled. James was always so prim and polite about everything. He usually didn’t have any issues with it, but today, he felt annoyed for no reason.

The mood he took to the breakfast table was not the same mood he’d taken back.

He sighed. This whole situation was strange and new to him.

Twenty minutes later, the courtyard was filled to the brim with exotic cars of different models and colours. It was not unexpected.

The ballroom was filled with designer dresses and suits. It was almost hilarious how everyone dressed so gorgeously to impress.

Of course, the paparazzi were not left out. Norbert knew that by tomorrow morning his face would be all over every fashion magazine.

He was ready for the hurtful words that he knew would come.

As long as she was okay with how he looked, he could handle any other person.

It was time to go mingle.

He took his mask and wore it just as the herald announced his arrival.

The hall was dead silent. You could hear the drop of a needle.

He reached out to the public address system and he stood before everyone.

“Thank you all for coming; he began; I hope you all enjoy your night and have fun. And I hope to meet some wonderful and great businessmen and women tonight, too”.

There was a loud cheer, especially from the men. This was why they came. These power-hungry bastards.

They were all in for a surprise.

“Cheers to a great future of working together, you may all remove your mask now and have fun”. He finished.

They clapped with enthusiasm and started removing their masks, he waited patiently for everyone to remove theirs.

When he finally saw the man he was looking for, he took a breather and removed his mask.

Immediately he did, there was a great hush in the crowd. Nobody spoke for a full whole minute.

*********************************

Amber wondered what the hush was for, she turned around and saw that the whole crowd was looking directly at the host of the event.

The man who had just given the opening speech.

If that man was the same person without a mask right now, then it means…

Then…. Wait!

“Oh my God!”. She needed an airbag.

“Hey, greenie. You seem to be worried. Are you okay? Is everything alright!”. Kate asked worriedly and compassionately.

“Yes, yes. I’m fine, Cat”.

She tried to smile.

Even though she was troubled and, somehow, confused at that moment.

“I just need a few minutes,” She retorted.

With the speed of light, She ran into the nearest restroom she could see around.

No, she didn’t kiss the master of the house last night.

She couldn’t believe it.

How could she be so stupid?!

Of course that was his room.

Oh my goodness!

After about five minutes inside the toilet, she flushed and washed her face. Now, she stepped out, only to collide with yet another woman.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Are you okay….?” The woman paused and looked her over for a few seconds.

“Wait… Amber?!”. Terrified, She almost screamed.

“Hey, Veronica”. She greeted her father’s wife sheepishly.

“Amber Harmon, why are you dressed like a maid?!”. The woman screeched, finding it difficult to believe her eyes.

“I don’t have time f

or an explanation right now; please, do me a favour; don’t tell Papa you saw me. I love you, bye” She kissed her stepmother’s cheeks and ran off.

So much for trying to stay low-key.