Perfecting the Truth

Chapter 3

It was midday and everyone in the city was buzzing with excitement. Today was a big day. Some of the finest and wealthiest men of the country were going to be present on one of the most important events. The Escort's Ball.

He was feeling slightly nervous about the whole deal. What if he got cought? They would surely take his head. Think straight, dammit! he scolded himself. He was wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly. His broad shoulders seemed even broader and the dark blue- almost black- color of the tux made his eyes that were a dark emerald stand out. Even though Wes had the looks and the money- something that girls seemed to consider the perfect combination- he really wasn't that into the life he was expected to live. He made sure to do other things than going to parties just because someone's daughter, whose name he dind't care to remember, bought a puppy. Ridiculous, but everyone didn't seem to mind. They believed that an Elit's cosmic life was the gratest gift of all and tried to climb the social ladder desperately. What they didn't know was what was happening behind the scenes. Well, it wasn't pretty to say the least. And Wes knew that all too well, did he not? He wished he didn't. But he had to be there, in front of everyone, to take his Escort, like the rest of them.

The Ball was held in a building that was extremely modern looking- they had spent millions in order to make it look modern, intimidating, but mostly another brainwasher, as Wes liked to call them. The Heads literally brainwashed everyone. Through TV, events like this one and a little something that no one was supposed to know. But Wes did and he wanted to tell everybody that they shouldn't want that life, it wasn't worth it. Not whith all that crap that was happening, anyway.

But he didn't say a thing. He got ready, put on his charm and got into the limo. He was one of the most important of the Elits, afterall.

*

Snap! A photographer took a shot. Snap! Snap! Snap! Others followed.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen!" The reporter's enthousiastic voice announced. "In this fine morning, we are standing right in front of the newly built architectural masterpiece of the year. The Anavenetro! The Elit made sure that it was designed and made by the most skilled architects. Its purpose is to hold big events like the one we are about to attend. So stay with me because in less than an hour you and me will be seeing live the Escort 's Ball for the first time! Woo! I'm so excited! Don't you...." the talkative reporter went on.

Ten minutes later, limos arrived and people in expensive tuxedos made their entrance. The Elits. They were consisted by men and women alike but today only men were attending. Most of them batchelors. They had come to this ball that was so widely known to find an Escort. Usually they were already sold a month or so before the ball but they wouldn't say that. They told everyone that the batchelors went to the ball in order to find their perfect trophy wife/assistant/whatever they wanted her to be.

The Escorts were androids designed to perfection. Beautiful faces with porcelain skin and eyes in different shades of blue. Their body was made for swimsuit modelling. But they weren't human. They didn't have a heart. Not only literally but metaphorically also. Despite what the Elit said the Escorts were not designed to be someone's partner for life. They were assistants that you could order around even though they were more intelligent than most. Depending on their owner the Escorts had many tasks. From everyday errands to handling the media to even offering their body if their owner wished so. Which is why Wes was so against it. He didn't want an Escort. All he wanted was to sit in his beach house that was at the other side of the country and relax. His work was stressing him out. But he couldn't show it, so he put on his best smile and got out of the limo. He was immediately consumed by the paparazzi, who were trying too hard to invade his personal space - he did not appreciate that.
" Wes! It's Hanna from the Sun City News! I've been meaning to.... " and so on and so forth. Honestly he didn't give a damn about Hanna, or Sarah, or whoever cheap reporter bothered him. He smiled and walked straight ahead at the front stairs of the building to let the photographers take pictures. After he was finished with that, he went and sat at a corner, waiting for the gaits to open and the Escorts to be presented at the Ball.
He knew that his would create a fuss and that was the reason he was so stressed out. He usually tended to avoid the media and he now had to find excuses for his custom made Escort. All he wanted to do was take his Escort and fly with his private jet to a private island-that way no one would bother him anymore. But that would cause a full blown chaos.
After an hour or so of waiting with the other Elites, the building lit up and the gates opened triumphantly. They were welcomed with a grand set of stairs that led to the Ball room. The whole building was made of marble that had topaz and gold details, very delicate but fierce too- it was obviously made for a ridiculous amount of money. The bachelor's walked through the entrance and positioned themselves at the bottom of the staircase in a line, waited or their Escorts.

* * *
Wes

I stepped into the grand building that was looming over me and positioned myself accordingly to the others.
We waited. The paparazzi were limited by a red line and - of course - bodyguards.
They filmed from a distance usually, but this time we let a camera man record the event from up close.
The lights dimmed a little and flickered in a programmed way, trying to resemble candlelight. It was a sign that the Escorts were close. The moment was coming.
The lights were shut down for a minute or so, creating an atmosphere.
When they opened again, the Escorts were standing straight across from their assigned bachelors. And so was mine.