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Three steps from the door were enough to glue her feet to the ground, the ephemeral, flamboyantly refined decor, leaving her stupefied. All pitying fleeing urges and recalls dissipated at the surroundings. The usual structure was absent, only several paintings conveying the essence of the gallery, creating an open space resembling a ballroom. With her sight downward, the first alterations she had noticed was the luxurious, soft flooring, red concealing every inch of the marble and presenting heel marks of the females invited. Crimson velvet curtains strips resumed the coloring scheme, expanding it to the ceiling, where, in turn, crystal ornaments hung from. They bounced off the light from the twinkling off-white LEDs falling like rain on the bare parts of the walls, the perimeter of the canvases picked to be displayed acting as an umbrella.
"Champagne, Miss?"
Her gaping mouth shut. "Thank you."
Liquid courage. If she was getting through the night, she was going to need a little push.
The waiter dancing along the guests lowered the silver tray. Rose slid a flute off it and awkwardly smiled as he moved on. The burning fluid scorched her throat, promising a forgetful past and memorable present. She advanced forward, skimming the oversized crowd for a familiar face. Anyone she'd stick with so she would not parade the grounds companionless.
"You came!" Meredith ran from the shadow of a Roman statue, bringing her into an embrace. "I thought for a minute you would not show."
"Everyone was talking about this, so I had to check it out for myself." Rose made, concealing her shaky chest, clinking her glass with M.J.'s as she raised it.
"And?"
She discreetly scoped around to overload her brain. Further in now, she spotted a two-person orchestra on the far corner playing the violin and the piano. The keyboard musical instrument had long lit candles in rustic candlesticks on the closed lid, more sporadically illuminating the ground of the provisional stage. It was set by the once bolted side door that invited the mass to exit despite the freezing weather. Radiators that produced a fire effect and heated floors kept the inside warm regardless of the gapping second entrance. On the opposite side, a grand Christmas tree touched the high ceiling, the many boxes carrying the parts of it making sense, seeing its size. It was three times taller than her, crystal ornaments similar to the ones hanging overhead styling the fake green pine needle, a red and gold ribbon running in a spiral from the top down.
"Aha! It got you too!" Meredith accused. Rose let amazement overtake her. "I said it was something else. It's the only occasion I force myself to look ridiculously posh." She pointed at her attire, the one-piece pantsuit flaring at the bottom, where black stilettos peaked out from. Her hourglass shape was exaggerated by a metal belt, the v of the neckline ending above her belly button, the heavy sacramento toned material draping over her cleavage, hanging by silver chains on the shoulders.
"You look amazing, M.J." She expressed in awe, having seen her only in jeans and shirts that did her no justice.
"Right back at you, girl." Meredith did a once-over on her figure. "Red is definitely your color. You will have plenty of requests to have an escort on your way out, lady." Rose blushed and brushed off the comment, sipping more of the champagne. "Hey, I'm serious. There are a lot of singles here, even if you only want to have a passionate night."
