Once Upon a Time in Monaco

Chapter 2

The place was incredible. I have never actually seen anything like that. The floor was made entirely from red sparkly marble and the windows were as big as the wing of a plane (kind of).

And people... Women were wearing beautiful dresses and jewelry that probably cost more than my entire existence. Men in black suits were drinking champagne. I felt like I was on the same planet, but it was an entirely different universe.

I breathed in and out several times, trying to calm myself down. It didn't work, so I searched for Betty, which was already at the bar talking to a group of guys and laughing, while seeping her martini.

I needed to leave this place. I didn't belong there. I turned around searching for the exit and when my eyes spotted the door that would be my salvation, I made my way through the crowd . I almost ran, but I reminded myself in time and slowed down.

However walking more slowly didn't help me when it came to not bumping into some guy, losing my balance, and falling onto the ground, while everybody was staring.

Cliché, my dear.

"Shit" I swear a little bit too loudly and try to orientate myself. In less than a second, I spot a well-dressed man on the ground next to me

Amazing.

"I am so sorry," I tell him while I stand up, but I hear no answer. The man is still on the ground, sitting and holding his hand to his shoulder. "Are you okay?"I ask again.

Still no answer. The people are starting to gather around us and I shake my head in disbelief. I even start to think about pulling him up myself, but luckily, the man stands up on his own. He touches the suit making sure there are no wrinkles on it.

"I am sorry"I repeat trying to sound polite, but the only thing that I feel right now is impatience. I want to get out of here.

"Don't bother " he says with a strong British accent, preventing me from whatever I was about to tell him. It feels like a slap to my face.

"I didn't," I tell him. "Politeness and good manners are not for everyone, I presume"

That's when he finally looks at me. He has blue eyes and black hair. Young. He kind of reminds me of the prince Erik from Ariel, that Betty loved to watch when we were kids.

"I agree with you," he says, while his hand is still pressed to his shoulder. "Some people just don't understand that pushing and falling onto people is the opposite of elegance and politeness. I presume." He is grinning with satisfaction.

I am boiling with anger.

Hit him in the face.

But I can't do that and I don't have anything to say. So I simply nod and make my way through the crowd to the exit.

***

It's been one hour since I left the party. Well, I sort of left. Turned out that it wasn't the exit but a big window that led to the balcony. And I was so ashamed that I decided not to return to the party.

I am a coward. I know that.

I search for my phone in the golden purse that I burrowed from Bet. I think I should call her, but at the same time, I could ruin her conversation with that guy in the ugliest green velvet suit with whom she was talking the last time I saw her. If she dates him I just want her to let me burn all of his clothes and become his stylist. The first thing that would be thrown into the fire would be that suit and probably his confidence.

Suddenly I hear a crack of the old wooden window behind me and I turn around.

The blue eyes are staring right into my green ones.

"What do you want?"I ask without a simple acknowledgment. He frowns but answers me in a second.

"You forgot about manners faster than I thought you would" I want to say something meaner, but I can't. I am very bad with comebacks

A future lawyer, huh?

"Oh, and I wanted some fresh air. And to be alone." 

If it's a polite suggestion for me to leave, I don't care. Instead, I just sit down on the cold floor of the balcony. 

"Well, I think that it's the destiny that led me here. Since I want the same thing. And I was here first, so I guess I am staying."

This is my territory. If he wants to be alone, he can go.

But instead, he looks at the ground, then at me, then again at the ground, and sits down right where I wanted to put my purse.

He looks at me again then closes his eyes and leans his head against the wall to rest.

"Aren't you afraid of the fact that your suit will get dirty?" I ask skeptically. 

"I 'll buy myself a new one. Or, Miss-I-Know-Everything, in this universe there is this thing called the washing machine" He answers without opening his eyes.

I roll my eyes, though he isn't looking at me.

We sit like this in silence, until I decide to finally ask him the question, answer to which has been bothering me for a long time this past evening.

"Why are you really here?" 

He finally looks at me, question in his eyes. Then something in his face changes. Something flickers in his eyes.

Trust. 

Hope. 

Annoyance or Acceptance? I have no idea.

Then he finally gives me an answer.

"It's easier to sit here, than talk to so many people, after you've been shot"