Beneath His Touch

Chapter sixteen

SARAH

The party was in full swing, a grand affair that thrummed with energy and extravagance, far beyond anything I had anticipated. Kasarani, this elite enclave of wealth and status, was nothing like I had imagined. Dressed in a cropped pink top and high-waisted black jeans, I moved towards the gate with quiet confidence. Pink sneakers completed the look, my bag slung casually over one shoulder. Yes, it was a night party, and no, I wasn't expecting to be draped in someone's jacket like some romantic gesture. I knew what I should be wearing—something more refined, something appropriate—but this felt more like me. And no, I wasn't here for a casual hook-up. I'd already given away my virginity in the most awkward, forgettable way, and I wasn't about to repeat that mistake. My next time? That would be with my husband—whenever I found him. But marriage wasn't on my radar just yet. I had other plans. I was going to live my life independently before I even thought about settling down.

"You made it, girl!" Vicky's voice rang out as she approached, her radiant smile paired with a gleam in her eyes. She was flanked by three guys.

"Hey," I greeted her, leaning in for a polite air kiss.

"We haven't officially met yet," she turned to Jerry with an easy grace. "I'm Vicky. Heard a lot about you."

"Pleasure," Jerry took her hand, flashing a charming smile. "Hopefully all good things?"

Vicky laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, I like him already."

One of the guys cleared his throat, the sound a subtle prompt for Vicky to continue.

"Oh, right," she said, turning to gesture at the others. "This is Dennis, from the journalism club. And these two are Geoffrey and Martin."

"Hey, big fan of yours," Dennis said, practically glowing as he gripped Jerry's hand. "Think we could chat later, maybe after the party?"

There was something oddly endearing about Dennis's enthusiasm, though it seemed to throw Jerry off. Still, Jerry played along, his expression shifting only slightly as he shot me a bemused look, a smirk creeping onto his face.

"There you are!" A loud, overly enthusiastic voice suddenly broke in—Brian. He bounded toward us, dressed in a ridiculous pirate costume that made him look like a comic strip character. "What are you all standing around for? Come on, let's get inside!"

Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed my arm, attempting to pull me in, but Jerry intervened swiftly, his hand cutting between us.

"Watch it," Jerry growled, his voice low and warning.

Brian shot him a dirty look but let go of me nonetheless.

"Who invited her?" A sharp, irritated voice sliced through the noise. I turned to see Cynthia standing there, her eyes narrowed as she stared daggers at me.

"Well...I..." Brian stammered, clearly not prepared for the confrontation.

"It's a party, Cynthia," I replied, keeping my tone even, though I could feel the tension brewing. "Does it really matter?"

Her glare intensified as she studied me, clearly trying to assert some dominance. Behind her stood three girls dressed in tight black leather, looking like her personal entourage. Cynthia, however, was in a pink baby doll dress, the epitome of a birthday princess with a glittering tiara on her head and makeup so polished it almost sparkled. She looked like the queen bee of some high school clique—only this was real life, not a teen drama.

"You know what," she said, her smile cold and calculating, "since you're all here, follow me."

Without waiting for a response, she swept past us, casting Brian a venomous look that made him squirm. We followed her into the house, and it became clear that her wealth matched her attitude. The mansion was massive—three stories of sleek modern architecture, with two living rooms. The one we'd just left was downstairs, while the second was upstairs, opening onto a sprawling balcony that overlooked a pool teeming with guests. Cynthia led us past the crowd and into a more private area—a luxurious lounge with seven plush leather sofas arranged in a semi-circle. And there, lounging casually, were the six notorious bulls. Familiar faces like Andy, Ashley, and Liz were there, but two unfamiliar ones caught my eye.