Chapter 5: Secrets and mask
1028 Words
The borrowed dress from Selen made Mia feel like a child playing pretend. It was too tight around her chest and too long at the hem, but she had no choice. Her own dress lay in ruins, cut to pieces by someone who clearly wanted her to fail.
"You look lovely," Lisa said, helping Mia with the final adjustments. "Just remember to breathe."
The Bennett mansion's ballroom was packed with New York's elite. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the roses Mia had helped Mr. Reed tend decorated every table. She recognized some faces from magazines – CEOs, politicians, and old money families who probably spent more on wine than she had made in a year of teaching.
Selen worked the room like she was born for it. Her red dress caught every eye as she moved from group to group, laughing at just the right moments and touching Harry's arm whenever she got close to him. But Harry seemed distant, barely responding to her attempts to get his attention.
"First time at one of these?" A kind voice asked. Mia turned to see an older woman in a simple but elegant black dress.
"Is it that obvious?" Mia asked, grateful for someone to talk to.
"I'm Margaret Wilson," the woman said. "I run one of the schools that benefits from the Bennett Foundation."
Mia's eyes lit up. "You're a teacher?"
"Principal now, but I started in the classroom. Twenty years teaching third grade."
For the next hour, Mia found herself deep in conversation about education. She carefully avoided mentioning her own teaching experience, but she couldn't help getting excited about Margaret's stories of helping struggling students.
"You have a teacher's heart," Margaret observed. "The way you light up talking about children..."
Before Mia could respond, a commotion broke out near the buffet. A little boy had knocked over a tray of drinks, and his mother was scolding him in front of everyone.
Without thinking about her borrowed dress, Mia hurried over and knelt beside the crying child. "Hey there, what's your name?"
"Tommy," he sniffled.
"Well, Tommy, accidents happen. Want to help me clean this up? Then maybe we can find some cookies in the kitchen."
Together, they picked up the scattered glasses while Mia told him funny stories about her own clumsy moments. She didn't notice Eleanor watching with narrowed eyes, or Selen's calculating smile.
Across the room, Harry stood with a group of investors, but his eyes kept drifting to the scene by the buffet. He watched Mia lead the boy to the kitchen, both of them giggling now.
"Harry, darling," Selen appeared at his side, slipping her arm through his. "The Rothschilds want to discuss their donation."
Harry gently removed his arm. "Then you should definitely talk to them. Excuse me, I have some business to discuss with the board members."
He walked away, leaving Selen staring after him. Her perfect smile slipped for just a moment before she recovered, turning to charm the Rothschilds instead.
The evening wore on. Mia found herself enjoying conversations with teachers and social workers who actually worked with the children the gala was meant to help. She almost forgot about the competition until she overheard two women whispering.
"Can you believe Harry Bennett is actually considering that nobody for a wife? When he has someone like Selen Rivera interested?"
"Eleanor must be furious. The Riveras are practically royalty in the fashion world."
"Well, it's obvious which one he'll choose. Did you see that purple dress? It doesn't even fit her properly."
Mia's cheeks burned. She slipped away from the party, finding refuge in the quiet kitchen where she'd taken Tommy earlier.
"Hiding too?" Lisa asked, appearing with a cup of tea.
"Just needed a break." Mia accepted the tea gratefully. "How does Selen do it? She makes it all look so easy."
"Practice," Lisa said simply. "And motivation. Though I wonder what exactly her motivation is..."
Later that night, after the guests had gone home, Mia couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Lisa's words. What was Selen's motivation? The money? The status? Or something else?
She decided to get some fresh air in the garden. The moon was bright enough to see by, casting silver light over the roses she'd helped tend.
Movement caught her eye – a flash of red disappearing behind the old oak tree. Selen. But she wasn't alone.
Mia crept closer, staying in the shadows. She could hear voices now.
"It's taking too long," Marcus was saying. "Harry barely looked at you tonight."
"Patience, darling." Selen's voice was different – harder, colder than her usual sweet tone. "Once I'm Mrs. Bennett, we'll have access to everything. The foundation, the companies, all of it."
"And Harry? He seems more interested in watching that teacher than paying attention to you."
"Harry's just feeling guilty about the whole situation. Once Eleanor forces his hand, he'll do what's expected of him. He always does."
"And the teacher?"
"Won't be a problem much longer. I have plans for her."
Mia's heart pounded so hard she was sure they would hear it. She started to back away slowly, but her foot caught on a root. She stumbled, catching herself against a tree trunk.
The voices stopped.
"Did you hear that?" Marcus asked.
"Probably just a cat," Selen said. "Now kiss me before someone catches us here."
Mia didn't wait to hear more. She ran back to the house as quietly as she could, her mind racing. Selen and Marcus were lovers? They were planning to use Harry and take control of his fortune?
She had to tell someone. But who would believe her? Harry barely spoke to her. Eleanor was clearly Team Selen. And if she was wrong, making accusations would only make her look jealous and desperate.
Back in her room, Mia paced until sunrise, the weight of her discovery keeping her from sleep. She had proof that would end this whole competition. but using it might cost her everything she'd come here to gain.
The next morning's headlines would only make her decision harder: "Bennett Heir's Love Triangle: Society Beauty vs. Mystery Woman - Who Will Win His Heart?"
- Writer
