The Heiress’s Secret Twin

Chapter 4: At The Gala

Natalia’s POV

The night of the party came.

I sent a picture of my dress to the group chat and made my way downstairs

“Everyone is going to be head over heels tonight” Kendal teased

“That’s if I don’t mess things up”

I replied, as I raised my head up from my screen

I saw Arthur running up the stairs

He ambushed me right before I was about to leave the house.

“You look like you’re going to a funeral in that dress” he said glancing at my black sequin dress

“Almost… except the funeral would be for me if anything went wrong”

“Took you long enough, we’ve been waiting”

“I was heading to the car right before you ambushed me”

“Ambush? I was running to call you”

“Are you upset about the photo? everyone was talking about at school”

he said with a smile plastered across his face.

“You guys actually look good together”

“Go away Arthur, you’re going to make us late”

I pushed him away.

His smile grew wider, completely ignorant to my growing frustration

“I’m serious, move”

“Alright, Alright fine..”

He laughed

I swung the door open and quickly made it out the before he could say anything else.

A horn came from the car, that was my sign I was already running late.

Dad and mom had already been waiting in the limo.

I sat at the back with mom and Arthur and dad sat at the passengers seat while the driver sat in front of the wheel.

Immediately we go to the gala, I knew I was in for a lot

The room was filled with so many people.

Celebrities, Businessmen, politicians, share holders and investors, journalists, and so many other dignitaries my father had always talked about at the dinner table.

It looked looked extremely glamorous, like it was straight out of a movie, The sound of soft jazz music echoed through the walls, with fancy crystal chandeliers illuminating the entire hall, the smell of expensive perfuems filled the air, and waiters carried trays of expensive cocktails and appetizers.

Everything looked perfect.

I stood next to my father, trying to look like I was actually interested in doing this, even though everything inside me wanted to run back home.

I did exactly what I had been told

“Heads up”

“Shoulders back”

“Smile”

“And try not to cause a scandal”

I immediately fixed my posture and forced a smile

“No don’t smile like that”

My mother snapped.

“How?”

“Smile like you mean it”

She responded with a grin plastered across her face, like she was about to snap.

“This is going to be a long night”

I murmured to myself.

We were being ushered towards our sits

But I couldn’t help but notice the people staring at me, and the whispers that followed the stares.

Even without asking, I already knew what they were talking about.

The photograph, of course, it had to be.

Unfortunately, a single mistake, an embarrassing one at that, had become the talk of the town.

“Ignore them”

My father whispered to me.

I was a Sinclair

This was an easy feat.

At least that was what I said to myself.

Mum and Arthur took their sit, while I stayed close to my father.

He took me around the room

Greeting and shaking hands with several guests I had never met in person, but had always heard of.

They all stared at me like I was some lost ancient artifact, and that made me even nervous than when I had arrived.

After we finished greeting the various dignitaries, we made our way to our seat.

And that was when I saw him.

Sitting right across the room.

From our table.

Adrian Valerius.

With a slight smirk on his face.

He sat right next to his father, dressed in a black tuxedo which made him look even more arrogant than he had been before.

His gaze met mine, and surprisingly…. He looked calm

Calmer than me, which almost seemed odd to me.

After everything that happened and with the rumors flying around, how could he remain so composed?

It was as though the whispers didn’t botherhim.

Like the headlines meant nothing.

Like nothing had happened that night.

He just sat there comfortably, like he had not just embarrassed me in a room filled with people.

Like he wasn’t the reason this rumor started in the first place.

Like he wasn’t the reason my dad scolded me in the first place, if not for him, I wouldn’t even be here, I wouldn’t have to pretend like everything was okay while he sat across me smiling like he was perfect.

And that annoyed me to my core.

The fact that he seemed okay, but I felt far from okay.

I didn’t even realize my father had noticed me staring

“Stop.”

“Stop what?”

I stared at him

“Stop looking at him”

“I wasn’t”

“Yes you were”

“I was simply looking around the room”

He sighed.

“Natalia-“

“Yes, I know, I know”

He turned his focus back to the party.

I excused myself and stepped outside the hall through the rear exit.

I needed to breathe.

Immediately I stepped out the room, the music faded behind me and the cold night breeze hit my face.

I let out a huge sigh.

For a moment, if felt calm.

But I knew it wouldn’t last.

“Running away so soon?”

I froze.

I heard an oddly familiar voice behind me.