The Resistance Mogul

Chapter 2 - Dinner

When I arrived at the large silver gates, I knew I had arrived. I waved at the guard to let the car in. We pulled up at the large oak doors just as they were opened by Albert, my butler and the person that raised me. "Miss Bitterblue, welcome home. I trust you had rested well." The annoyance in his tone told me he was not impressed with my sudden disappearance. Usually I would tell him before hand, but this time I just left. I didn't want him to be able to find me. Soon after he spoke two maids came running forth to grab my bags, before I could tell them I can do it, they ran back inside.

Albert walked me to my room and opened the door. He nodded to an envelope on my dresser and then left me to be. I took in the full view my room. My room was neat and clean, and every part of it matched with the other. The blue curtains matched the pillows placed on my white bedspread. The rose water smell in my room could only mean one thing, my parents were coming home.

They love they smell of rose water, so the maids spray the house with it before they arrive. They were rarely ever home, always in some foreign country. The only times they came over here was if they had work or there was a party being held. That's when I remembered the letter on my dresser, it must be related. I walked forward and picked up the white envelope. I broke the golden seal and started to read the letter.

It was an invitation to the Golden Ball. The ball is an annual event held at the Broad Street Ballroom. All the high-end fashion designers, magazines, models and magazine CEO's attend. As I read further down the letter, I noted I am permitted to attend with a plus one. In past events, I wasn't allowed a guest, but it seems that has changed. Before I could think of who I was going to take, a light knock filled the quite room. "Yes?" I called out, going to open the door. A maid stood in the hallway, almost shaking with anxiety. I recognized her as Emily, a new girl that came to work for us not even a month back.

Her emerald eyes looked up to mine and stuttered, "Your parents are here, Miss." Before I could think, she ran off to join the other servants to greet my parents. I look at the floor and wonder if I should just jump out the window instead of seeing them again. I smile to myself in the mirror and continue to step forward, through to the hall. There they stood, in their all their glory. My mother flashed a slight smile at me as she collapsed on the elegant couch. "Darling, how are you?" I parted my lips to answer, but she continued before I could speak. "The flight was awful, the hostess spilled my champagne all over my white chiffon dress and then refused to pay for it! I will have her fired and I'll make sure she'll never get a job in an airline again!"

I noticed my mother's hand tightly gripped her bag, her knuckles white. "Sounds dreadful, you must me tiered Madam. Please, let me take your bag as you relax." Albert cooed, taking her bag rom her grip. He was the only one that knew how to quite my mother. "I'll ask Maria and the girls to draw you a bath. Would you like the lavender or the rose treatment Madame?" My mother glanced and the roses on the table and nodded. Albert turned towards the maids and continued to give them orders.

My father looked to me while on his mobile as he held me from leaving. "Veena, I expect you to have a suitable partner for the Golden Ball next week. You need to find a known name, perhaps the Adams boy." He walked to the stairs and then turned to me, glanceing at my face and then my hair. "Clean yourself up, you look as if you spent a week in the pubs." With that her left me alone in the grand room.

I left to my room and with shock, three maids stood in the center of the room. And old woman steped forward and started to speak, "Miss, we have been ordered to get you ready for dinner this evening.." I stepped towards the woman and tilted my head. "Dinner? Whats' the occasion?" The other two younger woman stepped behind my and started to strip me, placing a silk robe over my naked body. "The Adams family is coming over tonight, Miss" one of the woman said.

I sat in the warm bath as one girl washed my long silver hair, another fixing my nails and the last dragging a soap filled cloth on my skin. They sat me infront of the mirror after I was dryed. The started to paint me and drees me in finary as if I was a doll. I stood up a beheld myself in the mirror. I was in dark blue dress that flowed softly afainst my thin figure. My hair in ringhets and a soft bun brushed against my shoulders. The blue in the dress brought out the vivid blue in my eyes. I laughed slightly at the sight.

I stepped down the hallway into the dinning hall. At head sat my father, with my mother to his right. Mr and Mrs Adams sat on the left of the table with their son, Aaron, seated across from my seat. "Dear Veena, you look beautiful tonight." He breathed as he stood from the table. He took my hand and kissed it. I look over at my father as he gave my stern look. He has alwaysed wanted me to end up with Aaron since his family was powerful, wealthy and well-known.

Although he has insisted, I've refused everytime. Aaron was a stuck-up basterd and he only wanted me for my name and ties to the company. Still I smiled at him the swweetest I could and sat down. The dinner felt long and like a life time, but I was destracted the whole way through. All I coulf think of was Holden and that night in the park. "Veena, Veena!" I heard my father yell, "You're dosing off." I sit up straight in my chair and blink rapidly. "Was I? Sorry, I'm very tired."

Mrs Adams giggled anf smiled, "Poor girl, you are such a dreamer." My mother scoffed at the stament. A slight smile curled on my lips at my parents reaction. "Well I belive it is time for us to hed off." Announced Mrs Adams as he looked at his watch.

The Adams left and all was quite. The servents scurried around me, cleaning verything in their sight. I stood on the balcony outside my window, looking over the city. The lights shon brighter than the moon and the noise filled every quite space. New York is the city that never sleeps, with its late night parties, shows and festivals. One day I will live in the quite world and see the stars. Just like that night in the park.