Love's Second Act

Four: Lexi

As Sam and I stepped into the grand ballroom, my eyes widened. I couldn't stop my gaze from sweeping across the transformed space. "Oh, wow!" I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Though I felt the eyes of the elite crowd upon me, my major focus was on the ballroom. Twinkling string lights sparkled like diamonds against the dark blue and purple drapes, which created a breathtaking backdrop. Some star-shaped decorations and centerpieces in the corners of the room added a touch of luxury, while a majestic silver-lined chandelier reflected light like a showpiece. Which it was.

My feet seemed to move of their own accord, carrying me deeper into the room. For some reason, I felt like a kid in a candy store, my eyes darting from one wonder to the next. The tables were dressed in sleek black linens, while scented candles flickered like fireflies on a summer evening.

We designed it, Sam, Lily and I, but it all felt surreal. Maybe it was because there were people inside the building now, dressed in varying levels of elegance, that made it pop.

I passed by a small mirror, and watched as my designer gown shimmered in the light, increasing the small burst of courage I felt. True, I borrowed the dress from my best friend, but it hugged my features so well.

Beside me, she whispered, “It looks like you really wear it better.”

I turned to her with a smile. “Thank you so much for this.”

However, she waved me off and held onto my hand. “Oh, please. It's nothing. Let's enjoy the party. We worked hard for this.”

I nodded at her, raising my head up to the array of balloons perched on the ceiling. I gasped in delight at the starry night sky projection on the ceiling. I slowly twirled around, taking it all in – the photo booth with its Milky Way backdrop, and the sea of guests mingling and laughing in their elegance. It was truly a night under the stars.

As we approached the stage, the live band's music enveloped me, but I was more concerned with the increased silence in the room. For some reason, everyone's eyes were on Sam and I turned to her with worry.

However, she was looking at me with a raised brow. “What?” I asked her, my fingers suddenly tingling. “Are they looking at you or me?”

“Lexi, don't you realize how stunning you look? You seem like a guest, not the event planner,” she explained, and my heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves.

“Oh, well…,” I trailed off, pulling her to one side just as people started to talk again. “I didn't realize that. I feel nervous.”

“Why?” She whispered, her eyes shining with pride. “Enjoy the moment, girl. Who knows? You may meet prince charming here.” With that, she let go of my hand and started to walk away.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“To mingle and have fun. You should do the same too,” she responded, before quickly getting lost in the sea of crowds. For a moment, I felt my willpower drop. I wasn't used to big crowds like this, all my previous jobs had been small weddings, or birthday parties. Nothing this grand.

However, I took in a deep breath and started to make my way through the crowd as well. I worked hard to plan this and transform myself into this beauty, and it couldn't go to waste.

The whispers and murmurs in my ear grew louder.

"Who is she?"

"Where did she come from?"

"She looks absolutely stunning!"

I tried hard not to smile, instead focusing on anything else. Thankfully, someone tapped me and I turned to see Lily. If I thought she looked radiant before, that was an understatement.

Her gown was hand-beaded with stunning indigo pieces that shimmered like diamonds. The flowing, pleated skirt seemed to act as she walked, along with the dramatic, lily-coloured train flowing behind her. She looked like a vision of loveliness, a shining star in her own right.

“You look lovely,” I said lightly, trying to mask how much her outfit shone to me. Still, she just shrugged with a small smile.

“So do you. You clean up quite well,” she responded, pulling me further into the crowd. “I hope you have a copy of the auction list? I just want to be sure everything is in order.”

I nodded weakly. “Yes, I do. Everything is in place. I just hope everything goes smoothly."

Lily nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "Everything looks great, Lexi. You did an amazing job."

"Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you, and Sam."

As we approached the bar, another group of guests turned to stare. While Lily waved at them, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, so I quickly looked away, focusing on the evening's schedule.

"Lexi, just relax and enjoy the night," Lily whispered, sensing my discomfort, before she grabbed a glass and walked towards some men.

As I gave the bartender my order, I noticed a group of women eyeing me with a mix of curiosity and envy. Our eyes met and one of them approached me, a fake smile plastered on her face.

"You must be the event planner everyone's talking about," she says, her voice dripping with condescension. “You did well, actually. Congrats.”

My spirits lifted, even though I could smell the darkness. “Thank you. We–”

I stopped short as my eyes met a familiar one across the room. His gaze pierced mine as he raised his glass of wine to me. Julian Blackwood.

Not wanting to be rude for the second time, I raised mine as well and watched as his head c****d slightly. There was a hint of a smile across his lips, and it looked like one of admiration. Or was it mischief? Before I could say anything, he excused himself and started to walk towards me.

My heart instantly skipped a beat, as I thought back to our first meeting. What did he want from me now? To throw me out? I quickly rehearsed the apology in my head, just in case, and tried to calm myself.

Immediately he stopped in front of me, the woman looked between the two of us, cleared her throat and quickly walked away. Though I wasn't looking, I knew a lot of gossip was going to be coming from her.

As my eyes met Julian's, a surge of nervousness came over me. "Look, I just wanted to apologize for our first meeting ending so...weirdly" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

To my surprise, he shrugged and waved his hand nonchalantly. "No need to apologize, Lexi. Water under the bridge. Let's focus on the present, shall we?" He smiled, and his eyes crinkled at the corners, making my heart skip another beat. What was with me today?

"I insist," I responded, feeling a s sense of relief wash over her. "I didn't mean to come across as...difficult."

Julian chuckled. "You weren't difficult. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for being rude for no reason. I…wasn't just in the right head space.” He paused for a moment, his eyes locking onto mine.

"You know what? How about dinner? I'd love to formally apologize and also celebrate your incredible work on this event. I saw your portfolio, and I must say, you truly outdid yourself."

I hesitated for just a moment, my eyes catching into Sam's as she stood across the room. She frowned slightly, a question on her face as she started to walk over but I smiled, more for her benefit. Understanding, she stopped and raised a brow, obviously expecting gist later.

My eyes glazed back to Julian and I nodded, my smile mirroring his. "I'd love to," I responded, feeling a spark of excitement ignite within me.