CHAPTER004
1867 Words
A Night Built On Lies
The opinion of NORA WHITFIELD.
Hours went by Nora sitting on the side of the bed and gazing upon the clothes in her suit case.
Most of them were simple. Jeans. Shirts. Casual dresses that she used to wear to work or when she went out with her friends.
Nothing that was fit to a dinner date with a billionaire.
She sighed and threw a black top back into the suit case.
What am I to wear, what am I to wear?
Her voice was little in the big hotel suite.
She got up and started pacing the soft carpet, wringing her hands.
Dinner by seven.
She heard those words over and over again.
Why was it not more like a dinner, but more like a test?
She stood in front of the mirror.
Her mirror image looked back at her.
Plain hair. Bare face. Comfortable clothes.
It is a disaster, I said to myself.
She turned and went to the window and looked down at the city streets that were busy far below.
Cars moved like tiny lights.
People walked freely.
No contracts. No fake marriages.
She felt her chest tighten.
"Maybe I should just leave."
The idea came to her mind silently.
Leave the hotel. Catch a flight. Go home.
Yet another idea came afterwards.
Her father.
Jail.
Debt.
She shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
Nice thinking, Nora, nice thinking, she said to herself. Fleece and have thy father pay the price.
She groaned as she fell on the bed.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Her eyes grew heavy.
Sleep gradually dragged her down before she could have thought of it.
The banging on the door brought her to her senses.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
She groaned and rolled over.
The knocking continued.
Louder this time.
She pushed herself out of bed and fumbled towards the door.
When she opened it, she froze.
There were at least six women outside.
All dressed in black.
All holding bags and boxes.
They fled into the house before she could utter a word.
Nora blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me," she said quickly. I suppose you are in the wrong room.
One lady with crimson glasses looked at her.
"Are you Nora Whitfield?"
Nora hesitated.
"Yes… but how do you know my name?"
The woman smiled warmly.
Oh, darlin, it is, because we are here to see you.
"For me?"
"Of course."
Another woman placed a big makeup case on the table.
"Mr. Ravenscroft sent us."
Nora’s eyes widened.
"He did?"
"Yes. He instructed us to have you ready to your dinner to-night.
Nora stood there, stunned.
"Oh."
It was the only word that came out.
The red-glass lady applauded.
Ok girls, we are already late.
She swung Nora about tenderly.
"Go take a shower."
"What?"
"You heard me. Shower first. Then we begin."
Nora turned her head around.
"But—"
"No time," another woman said. Dinner is at seven and it is after three.
She was thrust into the bedroom before Nora could protest.
The group was trailing her as a moving army.
The following hours were as though a weird dream.
Hands everywhere.
Hair being brushed.
Face being touched.
Brushes of makeup sliding over her.
Hot curling tools to twist her hair.
Someone adjusted a dress.
Someone filed her nails.
Someone sprayed perfume.
Nora sat in the chair, utterly overcome.
I tend to do my own make-up, I mostly said.
One woman laughed.
"Not tonight, sweetheart."
Another voice joined in.
"Tonight you look like a queen."
There was a third voice that was close to her ear.
Mr. Ravenscroft is a man of taste.
Nora shifted nervously.
"I noticed."
Her hair was being twisted once more.
A red dress was taken off a hanger by another woman.
Nora stopped breathing when she saw it.
It sparkled under the lights.
The whole fabric was covered with red sequins.
The dress ended just below the knees.
Off the shoulders.
Tight.
Very tight.
"Oh no," Nora whispered.
The woman who was holding the dress smiled.
"Oh yes."
"I cannot wear that."
"You can."
"It looks expensive."
"It is."
Nora swallowed.
What in case I spill something on it?
"Then we clean it."
"What if I trip?"
"Then we catch you."
"What if I faint?"
A woman behind her laughed.
Then Mr. Ravenscroft is likely to take you in the trap.
The room was filled with gentle laughter.
Nora sighed.
"Fine."
They assisted her in dressing.
It fit perfectly.
As though it had been prepared just on her account.
The cloth covered all the parts of her body.
Her waist.
Her hips.
Her chest.
She was before the mirror and could hardly recognize herself.
Her hair fell now in soft curls.
Full and shiny.
Her make-up was plain and beautiful.
Her lips were brightly painted red.
Her skin was glowing under the lights.
One of the women got on her knees and took on sparkling shoes.
Nora looked down.
"Louboutin?"
The woman nodded proudly.
"Yes."
"They look expensive."
"They are."
There was another woman who cut tiny earrings on Nora.
They are perfect, she said.
Nora was given a small clutch bag by someone.
Silver.
Shiny.
Elegant.
Nora stared at herself again.
"Is that really me?"
A woman behind her smiled.
"It is the new you."
The wall clock ticked noisily.
It was earlier than Nora thought seven might be.
"Time to go," someone announced.
They led her to the door.
With each step, the heart beat of the woman, Nora, was quicker.
The door opened.
And there he stood.
Elliot Ravenscroft.
His grey eyes looked at her at once.
He momentarily looked surprised.
Just for a moment.
Then his face folded back to that inscrutable air.
"Hmm."
He nodded slowly.
"Nice."
Nora blinked.
That was it?
Nice?
She felt slightly offended.
After all that those women had done?
He looked at the team leader.
"Good work, Stella."
The woman smiled proudly.
"Thank you, sir."
The company hurriedly packed and moved out of the suite.
Nora and Elliot were soon alone.
He looked at her again.
Slowly.
From head to toe.
Then back up.
He was a black tuxedo sharp.
Clean.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Nora quickly looked away.
She was not complimenting him.
Not after that weak "nice."
He extended his hand.
"Shall we?"
Nora hesitated.
Then she put her hand into his.
His hand was warm.
Strong.
Together they walked out of the suite.
They were followed along the corridor by silence.
Neither of them spoke.
The elevator ride was quiet.
The hotel lobby was quiet.
A smooth black Rolls Royce was awaiting outside.
Nora stopped walking.
"Oh."
Elliot opened the door.
"Get in."
She sat down in the back seat very gradually.
The vehicle smelled of leather and expensive stuff.
She tried not to stare.
But it was impossible.
The interior was like a floating palace.
She sat at one end of the seat.
Elliot sat on the other.
He sat down and opened his laptop and started typing.
The ride proceeded without any sound.
Nora was tapping her fingers together.
Say something, she said to herself.
He did not.
The car halted a few minutes later.
The driver opened the door.
As soon as Nora went out the lights flashed all around.
Cameras.
Voices.
People shouting.
"Mr. Ravenscroft!"
"Look this way!"
"Who is she?"
Nora stood still at the abrupt sound.
Her chest tightened.
Her breathing grew fast.
She felt dizzy.
Elliot noticed immediately.
His hand closed around hers.
He rubbed his back of her hand.
"Relax," he murmured quietly.
Security guards came immediately.
They stood in the way of the photographers.
"Step back!"
"Move aside!"
The guards created a path.
Nora and Elliot were pacing rapidly around the restaurant.
The noise faded behind them.
Nora let out a long breath.
"How are you so famous?" she asked suddenly.
Elliot shook his shoulders as he tightened his cufflinks.
"No idea."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That is not believable."
He did not respond.
A hostess walked toward them.
"This way, sir."
She started to take them to the personal area.
Elliot halted half-way along.
"No."
The hostess blinked.
"Sir?"
"We will sit in the main area."
The hostess nodded and looked confused.
"Of course."
Nora leaned closer to him.
I figured rich people were fond of privacy.
He looked down at her.
Sometimes attention comes in handy.
The two of them were sitting at a table in the middle of the restaurant.
All those around them took notice.
Phones lifted.
Whispers started.
A waiter poured wine.
They ordered dinner.
For a while, they ate quietly.
Then Elliot spoke suddenly.
Did I say you are beautiful to-night?
Nora nearly dropped her fork.
She blinked at him.
"Thank you."
Her cheeks warmed.
He gave a faint smile.
"You are welcome, darling."
Nora froze.
Darling?
She studied his face.
Something felt strange.
His hand was across the table.
He touched her cheek gently.
Nora leaned back.
He seized her chin lest she should go too far.
We are in company, he said to himself with a smile.
She remembered the contract.
Her stomach tightened.
"Right."
"Act naturally."
He rose up and kissed her on the forehead.
Gasps filled the restaurant.
Then suddenly he knelt down.
Right there.
At the centre of the restaurant.
Nora stared in shock.
In his hand a little velvet box came into sight.
Individuals started picking their phones.
Cameras flashed.
Her chest felt tight.
Tears filled her eyes.
They were all believed to be happy tears.
But they were not.
She felt trapped.
Like a bird inside a cage.
Elliot opened the box.
The diamond ring flashed in the lights.
Nora Whitfield, he said placidly.
"Will you marry me?"
The room waited.
All eyes were on her.
Her hands trembled.
But she nodded.
"Yes."
"I will marry you."
There were shouts of joy in the restaurant.
Elliot took the ring and put it on her finger.
The diamond was huge.
Strangers gave applause about them.
Compliments were heard all around.
Nora forced a smile.
Together they went out of the restaurant.
Photographers again surrounded them outside.
Elliot faced the cameras.
This will be my future wife, he said calmly.
One month we are going to be married.
Nora’s heart stopped.
One month?
She made herself calm her face.
He kissed her forehead again.
"Right, my love?"
She nodded slowly.
"Right."
At last they got back into the car.
The doors closed.
The flashing lights faded.
Silence filled the car.
Nora turned toward him.
Why did you not inform me that the entire dinner was meant to be media?
Her voice carried anger.
Elliot did not raise his eyes off his phone.
I supposed you have read the contract.
"I did."
"Then you know the terms."
His voice was cold.
And I have no explanations to make to you.
Nora stared out of the window the rest of the ride.
The city lights blurred past.
Her fingers touched the ring.
Her life had changed.
It was all different now.
Yet there was one thing that kept on reoccurring in her mind.
What exactly had she accepted when she said yes to Elliot Ravenscroft?
- Writer
