Whispers of Fate

xviii

Poor Jade almost had a heart attack arranging the party. As soon as I'd mentioned it to her she'd begun making guest lists and putting together mock menus, fretting over the many decisions that needed to be made. Given that I was due to leave in little under a month we were working on an extreme time crunch that wasn't good for either of our blood pressures but she took the brunt of it.

It was an arduous task but eventually all the fine details were worked out. We temporarily converted the studio into a party venue, moving the work to one of the boutiques that was currently undergoing renovations. It was kitted out with a rose-gold theme of balloon arches, table spreads, a karaoke machine and an open bar. It was like a child's third birthday on steroids and I loved it.

The day of the party I was also finalising my packing. Most of my wardrobe had either been sent back to my England flat or across the pond so I was working with limited options. I settled on a striking high-necked black dress, sleeveless and figure-hugging, ending halfway through the thigh. Enough on show that it felt slightly scandalous but also leaving the main attractions to the imagination, just how I liked it.

I allowed Lotta to do my makeup, marvelling at the skill with which she painted my face with. I had been doing makeup for almost fifteen years and I was nowhere near as good as she was.

When she was finished tweezing, pinching and swiping at my complexion and I was allowed to look in the mirror I went into momentary shock. My nose, normally looking too long for my face, was contoured so not only did it look perfectly proportionate but also like the slight bump in the bridge was designed to enhance my bone structure. The shadows of my cheekbones were impossibly high and my eyebrows were brushed up and across, gelled into position. The colours on my eyes gave the impression of a natural look but the subtle flick of a brown eyeliner pencil made them almost doe-like.

I could have been wearing a full face of makeup but I also could have just been standing in good lighting and that was the true sign of artwork. I hugged her gratefully, glad that this was the impression I would be leaving on France.

I opted to twist my hair into a classy, low-neck bun although I knew full well that as the night progressed I would absolutely be pulling it out and letting it flow freely down my back. It was the same ashy colour it had been originally, just a shade lighter and infused with many more expensive products.

The music was already playing as I entered the building, telling me that Teo was already in the room. I followed the sound of the speakers as they got progressively louder, leading to the mini stage we had built into the studio. That's where the 'DJ booth' (two speakers and a table with a computer plugged into them) was set up, Teo perched behind it on a chair.

He looked up as I entered and although his face remained impassive I felt his eyes scan me. I swallowed back any butterflies I got from the thought that he found me attractive. Now was not the time to be crossing the line with him, I lectured myself.

We weren't alone as Jade and Lotta came in behind me, arms linked. They had been getting close quickly as the weeks had gone by and although they weren't official I could feel the switch in their relationship.

Jade was in planning mode as soon as she walked through the doors. She moved slightly out of Lotta's grip so that she could survey the room and make sure everything was in order. I watched as she adjusted the balloons in the entrance and greeted the bartender we'd hired for the night. She was going to be just fine managing the department, I thought.

We chatted briefly about how nice the place looked but not a minute after we'd settled down guests began to float in. As the host, it was my job to greet them. Shoving down the introverted part of me that wanted to pull her hair out at the thought of so much socialising, I rolled my shoulders back and plastered a smile onto my face. This was my farewell to the city and I was going to make sure I went out with a bang.