The Matters of Power

Chapter 40- Strange Deception

Nothing strange or unnatural happens for the rest of the school day, other than the fact that I seem to find Julieta spying on me whenever she can in our classes and during lunch. It's unnerving that this rich man's daughter, not to mention that her father is the man who forced me into his game with his powers, is starting to pay attention to me all of a sudden. No doubt that Mr. Corvanez is having her spy on me in case I don't try to make progress on his demand of 'total destruction' with the Guerra Family. What bewilders me even more is that I actually had to focus on my surroundings to be sure she wasn't spying on me, let alone anyone else who is able to block my senses from sensing them. Finally, as I'm about to enter my class for the day, Julieta suddenly appears and tugs me away from the door, surprising me. "Marcus. After school. Behind the library building. Don't make me wait." Before I can say anything else, she turns around, brushing her hair against my face, and walks away as she ignores me. As I listen through Business Basic lectures, my mind goes crazy over the sudden turn of developments that I've just gotten myself over. Is this some form of confession? No, this was too cryptic and serious to be that. Plus, she clearly has shown to be hostile towards me and nearly all of the guys in the school. I doubt she would go against her father and tell me what he's been thinking, if she even knows about his twisted experiment. By the time the final bell rings, I made up my mind to just hear her out and deal with what happens next, regardless of if it's gonna get me on her even worse side, if there even such a side to her.

Just as expected, Julieta arrives behind the library just as I do too, and we look at each other for a few seconds in awkward silence, waiting for the other to start talking. I think about making the first move, but then she starts to do something that resembles a cute form and twiddles her fingers. "So... Marcus. I know this might be strange from me, but I need you to help me with something." She gets up near my face and does pleading eyes, "Can you act as my boyfriend at a social gathering that's coming up in the next two days? Pleeeeeaaassse?" I honestly didn't expect her to resort to this, and I might have fallen for her tricks, but I know that she's a snake just like any other. "No," I sternly respond, "I must say that I must recline such a ridiculous request." Julieta is taken aback by my reply, clearly not expecting the answer she wanted. "Wha-" She quickly regains her composure, "Alright, listen here Marcus. I'm giving you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accompany me to a social gathering of the highest quality, with the daughter of Star-Cor Technologies no less, and it's that easy for you to brush it off?" "But why me?" I start to fight back, "There are more influential people in this school that might as well be engaged to you for their money and influence alone. Why not go to those suckers?" "That attitude right there," she stops me in my tracks, "that disdain for those snobby babies is unlike the others who try to approach me. Not to mention, you make friends with others who aren't rich but actually look like you have fun with. Besides, you can act more formal than them and I hear you can understand multiple languages, especially German from that Hugo fella. I want you, that's why. If that's not enough, then I can guarantee you that you can meet other people, especially that Guadaro guy, he's certainly popular enough nowadays." Hold on, Guadaro will be there? That makes this request somewhat easier to accept. If I can understand him and be able to see how powerful he his, then I can figure out the correlation between that celebrity and Mr. Corvanez.

"Fine then, I accept." I decide to agree to Julieta's odd request. "What do I need to do? I don't exactly have much in the way of a tuxedo to attend things like that." "God no, you don't need a tuxedo, that's overkill for things like this, even by their standards. Look, tomorrow after school we'll go to a tailor that I know who'll set you up with a custom-fit suit and tie, get some minor things to add, then make sure that you're good with etiquette..." She seems oddly relaxed when she explains all this. Is this because she has such high hopes for me or is she's used to these standards? "By the night of the social gathering I'll text you where we'll meet up away from potential paparazzi eyes and hope that everything goes right for us. Sound good?" I nod. "Good, then we're done here. I already gave you my number, but don't you dare try to share it with anyone and be sure to tell your parents." And just like that, she quickly leaves towards the front of the school, and I drag my legs back home, suddenly mentally exhausted from the thought of going to a rich people event that no amount of meditation is going to help me calm down.