In your Arms

Chapter Twenty Eight

Amity arrived 10 minutes before 6 o'clock, the Bellevue gallery was already half filled with people and she thought that by the time it would start the place would be full. She weaved herself in the crowd trying to find a familiar face. Most of the people she saw looked aristocratic and classy.

"Jordin!" Someone shouted her name and she knew it was Therese. She turned her head sideways and spotted her friend in one of the corners of the gallery with Mikael and two middle aged adults. Amity smiled as she saw her friend waved at her and she walked towards them. They hugged each other as soon as she had reached them.

"Oh my you look amazing!" Therese told her with wide eyes.

"Same as you, my friend. You look wonderful as well." She told her then turned to Mikael, "You look dashing yourself, Mikael."

"Thank you, Jordin." He replied, "By the way, these are my parents. Jackson and Hildegard." The two middle aged adults acknowledge her with a smile and she smiled back.

"Nice to meet both you." Amity told them then turned to Therese, "How about you? Where's your parents?"

Therese almost frowned but tried to suppress it. "They're at work. They're always busy." Therese shrugged. "But Nikolai will be coming in a bit. At least he has time." Therese tried to smile.

"What about your parents, Jordin?" Mikael's mother asked her.

"I.. I no longer have parents.. It's just me now.." She answered softly.

Mrs. Ramos suddenly looked awkward, "I'm so sorry dear.. I didn't know.."

"It's okay, ma'am. They've been dead for a long time." She managed to give a half smile. It hurt that she'd made a lie about her parents being dead but the truth is they're still alive. It's as if she had wanted them to be dead and it made her feel bad.

Their conversation were broken off when Elise took the spotlight and started to speak on a microphone. She greeted all of the people who had attended the night's event and called for the three of them to join her in front. She introduced them one by one along with their work. Amity was so overwhelmed with all the attention they've been receiving. Seeing other peoples faces in awe and fascination really made her feel elated.

As Elise announced that the guests can finally look around and check out the paintings in the gallery, she introduced the three of them, to some of her friends and gracious patrons. Most of Elise's friends came from wealthy families and some are famous personalities. Amity, Therese, and Mikael were in total awestruck.

Amity felt in need of air, she's not used to this kind of attention. While Therese and Mikael were graciously answering questions and kept on talking with some people, she felt a little bit uncomfortable with it. She was a reserved kind of person.

She slowly left their circle and let her two friends do the talking with the guests. Amity grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter who passed by her and walked around the exhibit. She was looking at several paintings when a female voice greeted her. Amity turned to see it was Patty.

"Jordin! You look beautiful!" Patty hugged her tight and Amity did so as well.

"Patty, it's nice of you to drop by. Thanks." Amity told her appreciatively.

"Nah, it's nothing! I wanted to see your work." Patty said to her smiling then suddenly looked troubled. "But uh, well.."

Amity looked at Patty with wrinkled eyebrows, "What is it?"

"I'm with a few people you see.." Patty answered looking uneasy.

And then they had came into her view, two guys that are approaching behind Patty as she spoke. First was her boyfriend Uno wearing a white suit being followed then by Alexander who wears a tuxedo. Some of the young, sophisticated girls turned their heads as Alexander passed at them but he didn't even bothered to look at those girls at all. He just walked straight following his best friend and threw nervous looks at her a few times before reaching her and Patty. Amity's breathing went fast.