The Rise of the Red Queen

23

The ball is tonight was my first thought when I woke up. My head instantly filled with all the things I needed to do and that could happen. The morning was spent relaxing with Andre, Jasper, and Mark. The three of them had kept me at their feet while petting my hair to keep my mind at ease. They refused to let me worry or do anything until after a small nap and lunch. After lunch Theodore, Santiago, and Felipe met me in my office. I went over what was to happen and when. Then I gave Santiago my two sets of clothes for me to change into and a stack of paperwork. I gave Theodore the paperwork for Monet to sign before dismissing them. I checked my accounts, reviewed the latest reports on the guests coming, and called each of the small businesses I use as a proxy to invest under to see how they were doing. I had to promise to come visit in order to get Mrs. Jenkins off the phone. Mark came in just after that taking me upstairs to get dressed. I was wearing a long sleeve red tulle dress with glittering silver snowflakes decorating it all over. He put my hair up into high pigtails just inside of the edges of the tiara I had made and made me wear silver ballerina flats. I was led out the door and to the awaiting cars. It was here that I stepped away from my fiancés. "It's better if I go on my own. Carlos and Diego are driving me in. They won't be recognized by the higher-ups of other mafias as anyone's specific men. I will see you at the ball." I stated before getting into the back seat of the car they were at.

The ride was silent as we got to the ball. I took a deep steadying breath before letting Diego assist me out of the car. I walk through our security in place at the front before heading into the ball. It looked amazing with all the decorations. Red was shown throughout the ballroom in simple ways not bringing it as the main color for the ball. As the ballroom was set with white linen table clothes and gold being the highlighted color on the table surrounding the red roses at the center.  There was gold fabric draped and framing the entrances and exits from the room. The hall was already filled with many powerful men and a few women along with our guards around the room. I spotted several faces that I knew from the work ups I have on the different mafias. I was the only 'child' present though their where some men who looked about twenty standing next to the older generation of themselves. I casually walked through the ball stopping next to random people listening into their conversations.

After the sixth conversation I was finally noticed by someone. At first he spoke in his native tongue before he repeated himself in English saying "Get lost little girl." The old man eyed me from head to toe. "Did you lose your mommy or daddy?" Asked his companion with a thick heavy Russian accent while glaring at the older Russian. I simply nodded my head yes without saying a word. "I'll help you find them," the younger Russian offered but I shook my head in denial. His companion was irritated at the attention taken away from him and his deal he was trying to negotiate. I was shoved harshly out of the way as he tried to conversate with him once more. I purposely lost my balance falling to the floor. The people in the surrounding area all stopped and looked at the sound of the thud I made hitting the floor. The guards started to break their positions to come to my aid but all stopped instantly their eyes snapped to Felipe who gave the order with a tense look on his face. I was helped up off the floor by the nice young Russian who then glared at his companion harshly and refused to humor him anymore as he denied to work with him before he went back to English saying. "I apologize for him. I will keep you company, little princess, until you find your mommy or daddy." I shook my head no but didn't cause a scene when he held my hand. He lead me through the room away from the other Russian.

He kept asking if I've seen them yet as we made laps around the room. I saw Theodore and Monet heading down the hall to the cigar lounge and took that as my opportunity. I stopped walking causing the Russian to look down at me and ask once more. This time I nodded my head yes pointing down the hallway. He looked shocked as it was to be off limits unless invited by the host but took me to the doorway. The guards there glanced at me as I casted a glance to the side having them let us pass. Once they stepped away the Russian tried to contain his shock and continued walking me down the hallway. I stepped to the right toward the door. The Russian opened the door walking in ahead of me.  He was met with guns pointing at him from everyone in the room but one person. The Russian pushed me behind him gently before raising his hands in a placating manner. I relaxed my stiffened posture finally being released from him. I stepped around him going to Theodore who put his gun down once I was away from the Russian.