Cinderella in Reverse

Twenty Nine - Connections, Careers and Catastrophes

After exchanging pleasantries with the President (whom I found out his name was actually Alistaire Williams and was not actually 'President') and chatting with my dad, it was time to go eat dinner. I followed timidly behind Theo, and sat beside him at the elongated mahogany table, adorned with elegant candlesticks and a long, silk tablecloth beneath.

Impatient, President Williams boomed. "Why haven't the butlers brought out the drinks yet?" His demand was met with an empty silence, and I quickly jumped up, wanting to further redeem myself and the Callahan name. Even though I wasn't a Callahan. But that wasn't the point.

"I'll get you a drink, sir." I said boldly. The President smiled at me in gratitude, as I got up out of my chair to get him a drink.

But alas, as I made it across the carpet, my ankle gave way and I tripped. In front of about thirty people. Out of all the days to trip over, Sophia. It HAD to be today!

I was pushed back up by a pair of familiar, tanned, muscular hands. The same hands that ran up and down my body on New Year's, and the same hands that held me down...

My eyes met with, you guessed it, Finn Callahan.

Oh, and Rosie, of course.

Wait. Rosie?!

"Are you okay?" Finn asked. I nodded nervously and thanked him.

Rosie draped her arm on his shoulder and batted her eyelashes at him. "That was a good catch, Finn. You're sooooooo strong." She turned to face me with a snobby stare. "You should watch where you're going."

Stupid Rosabelle Williams. Stupid...ugh!

Then everything clicked. Rosie Williams. Alistaire Williams. Of course, they're related!

Stupid Sophia Dennings. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. You are the worst at making connections with last names.

I gawked at her amazing dress. Undeniably, yet again, she looked amazing. She wore a tasteful yet minimalistic white shift dress with a silver statement necklace and embellishments on the arms. Whereas I just pulled out a random grey dress and hoped it looked formal enough.

"I don't know what you're looking at," she said with a fake tone, shaking me out of my thoughts. "But I have better things to do."

Finn and Rosie walked to the table, leaving me dumbstruck and entirely mortified at the fact that I could've let thirty people see my underwear tonight.

~~~

"So, Sophia, have you met my daughter yet?" President Williams asked.

I nodded. "This wasn't the first time I've met her actually. We go to the same college."

Everyone was finally seated and I brought President Williams his drink. Finn and Rosie conveniently sat directly in front of me, allowing full access for them to taunt me.

The butlers arrived with plates with steaks on their arms and I gasped in horror. I was no prim and proper lady when it came to steak. I didn't just eat - I inhaled.

"I can't eat that!" I whispered to Theo, pointing at the offending but delicious looking dish. "I'll get it all over me!"

"Is there a problem, Miss Dennings?" President Williams asked pointedly

I-uh...quick! Think!

"It's not a problem! It's just um...I'm vegetarian!" I blurted. Theo muttered in shame beside me and I tried to keep a confident face.

Rosie cut in, shooting me a fake smile. "But wasn't it you who was carrying that box of pizza around, with one slice in your mouth that one time?"

Oh no. You're in the shit now, Sophia.