Thirty Days Of September

chapter 42: glassful of wine

One day, at a party where Aaron and Atasha were in attendance, the party was in full swing, the atmosphere buzzing with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. Aaron and Atasha mingled with friends, enjoying the vibrant energy surrounding them. They had just stepped away from the buffet table when they spotted Candice across the room, her posture tense as she scanned the crowd.

"What's she doing here?" Atasha whispered, her heart racing at the sight of Aaron's ex. She felt a mix of apprehension and determination; she wouldn't let Candice ruin their evening.

"I don't know, but let's not let her get to us," Aaron replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. "We're here to have fun."

Just as they turned to move away, Candice approached, her expression darkening as she locked eyes with Atasha. The tension in the room thickened, and Aaron instinctively stepped closer to Atasha, ready to shield her from whatever Candice had planned.

"Well, well, the snatcher" Candice sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Atasha straightened, refusing to be intimidated. "I'm not, Candice. I am invited to this party, and I plan to enjoy it."

Candice stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "You think you've won? You're just a placeholder until someone better comes along." With that, she picked up her wine glass and, in a sudden movement, splashed its contents directly onto Atasha's dress.

Gasps echoed through the crowd as red wine splattered across Atasha's outfit. Shocked and furious, Atasha wiped the liquid from her face, her cheeks flushed with indignation. "You're pathetic!" she shot back, her voice steady despite the chaos.

In a swift reaction, Atasha grabbed her own glass and flung its contents onto the floor, creating a vivid splash of wine. The floor turned slick, and Candice's eyes widened in surprise as she tried to regain her composure.

"You want to play dirty? Fine!" Candice shouted, stepping back in an attempt to regain her balance.

But the slickness of the wine on the floor betrayed her. As she stepped backward, her feet slipped out from under her, and she stumbled. Time seemed to slow as Candice lost her footing, her arms flailing in an attempt to catch herself. With a loud thud, she fell to the ground, rolling slightly before coming to a stop, mortified.

The crowd was shocked, and Atasha couldn't help but smirk. "Well, that's one way to make an exit," she said, shaking her head.

The crowd was dumbfounded.

Atasha looked at Candice on the floor, a mixture of sympathy and triumph in her eyes. "Maybe this will teach her not to mess with me," she said, her confidence soaring.

Candice, red-faced and humiliated, scrambled to her feet, her pride in tatters. "You'll pay for this, Atasha!" she spat, fury etched across her features.

"Is that a threat?" Atasha asked, her tone unyielding. "Because I'm not afraid of you."

As Candice stormed away, the atmosphere shifted back to its celebratory spirit, and Aaron turned to Atasha, pride shining in his eyes. "You handled that perfectly. You can now defend yourself."

Atasha smiled, relief flooding through her. "I just refuse to let her ruin my happiness."

They both returned to the party, feeling lighter and more united than ever. Surrounded by friends and laughter, they shared a toast, the night continuing with joy, laughter, and the sweet taste of victory over past insecurities.

As the laughter from the crowd began to fade into the background, Atasha pulled Aaron aside, her expression turning serious. The thrill of standing up to Candice had dissipated, leaving behind a twinge of guilt for the scene she had caused.