The Deadly Nightshade | { BOOK 1 of The Flower series }

[28] Truth or Dare?

After Wanda and Jade danced for a while, and Wanda making jokes that earned Jade to laugh, Ethan had to stop them because Tony wanted Jade to begin the introduction. Wanda was reluctant to let her go, but she promised Jade that she would be near, keeping an eye out. Jade was happy to hear that because if she started to feel overwhelmed, all she had to do was find Wanda, and she'd calm down.

Now that Jade was once again the centre of attention, where the piano was, she shook hands with many people. There was a long line of people waiting just to talk to her, add in their comments about her, or to say hi. When the first person held out her hand, Jade hesitated, afraid if she were to be sucked back in the past, but it never happened. Those worries flew out the window, and she focused back on showing a fake smile to the middle-aged couple. She had to greet herself as Jade, not the name she had always known herself as. It felt extremely foreign and weird to her, but Tony had insisted.

Some of the comments were positive, while others were judgmental, but Jade forced herself to brush them off to the side. She so badly wanted to snap back at them, but she didn't want to damage Tony's reputation. Instead, she flashed the stuck-up people a sweet feign smile, making them look taken back at her reaction, and asked them to move along because they were holding up the line.

Pepper and Tony stood on either side of her from behind. Tony had been nodding in approval on how she handled everything on her own and how perfect her greetings had been so far, but on the inside, Jade was overwhelmed.

After two hours of shaking hands, the last couple and their twenty-one-year-old son had approached Jade with wide smiles. The husband extended his hand out. Jade grasped it, shaking it. "Hello, I'm Jade Stark. I hope you're enjoying the party."

The man grinned, nodding. "Oh, Tony sure does know how to throw one," he commented in a thick French accent. "Remember your birthday party where you wore the Iron Man suit. It was crazy."

"I did enjoy the recent one," Colbie interjected, shifting her dark brown eyes on Jade, frowning sadly. "It was a shame that you weren't present."

"Well, I was kind of occupied," Jade replied with a small laugh.

Tony smiled, chuckling before he clasped a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Sweetheart, this is John Sawyers and his wife, Colbie."

The ginger-haired woman flashed her a soft smile, shaking her hand. "Hello."

Tony then pointed at the twenty-two-year-old boy. "And this is their son, Liam." He was tall, built just right. His dark brown eyes were shining brightly. His ginger hair was styled in a quiff, and it was clear to see that it was gelled like that. He had a sharp jawline and plump lips. His tuxedo was plain black, while the lining was made in a bright red. He wore a matching half-face masquerade mask.

Liam gently gripped Jade's hand as he lifted it to his lips. She almost yanked her hand out from his grasp, but she saw Pepper's assuring smile, silently telling her that this was normal. Jade looked back at Liam as he released her hand. "Hello, Liam. I'm Jade."

He smiled. "Oh, I know." He gestured around at the hundreds of guest. "Cela a dû être fatigant de vous présenter alors que tout le monde ici connaissait déjà votre nom."

It must've been tiring to introduce yourself when everyone here already knows your name.

Jade returned his smile as she nodded in agreement, understanding his mother tongue perfectly. "Tu n'as aucune idée."

You have no idea.

Liam beamed, eyes wide. "Tu parle français? Est-ce que HYDRA vous a appris?"