Someone Like Adam

35. Burning In Jealousy

"What do you think? Black or White?" Dad asked my opinion as he eyed both suits. The white one was really graceful but the black one suited Dad better.

"Black maybe?" I cast one last look before turning my attention to his wide range of ties.

"Black it is." he said and put the other one back. I chose a grey tie and a pair of silver cufflinks and placed them with his suit.

"You should get ready too Ali, the party will be starting soon. Wear the dress that I gifted you on your birthday." Dad said, patted my shoulder and made his way to the bathroom.

Giving one last look to his suit to check if it was perfectly ironed or not, I exited his room and trudged towards mine where Emily was already flopped on my bed, waiting for me.

"Have you brought your dress with you?" I asked.

"Yup." she said without averting her eyes from her phonescreen. "Damien?" I peeked at her screen and raised my eyebrows the next moment.

"Y.. Yeah." her face turned white suddenly as if I caught her stealing something.

Giggling at her expressions, I pulled the new dress out of my cupboard. It was a maroon silk dress, a color I don't usually wear but this dress looked so decent and cute that I couldn't stop myself from wearing it.

"Damn Ali! It's so pretty." Emily praised and I nodded, it was indeed really beautiful.

"OK, let's get dressed." I sighed, pulling it out of hanger and taking it with me to the bathroom.

...

One hour later, we both were fully dressed for the party. Emily had done my make-up and hair and I did hers, and at last, we both ended up looking fine as hell. I had pulled Emily's hair up in a braided bun, with few blonde tendrils framing her cheeks. For her makeup, I chose a soft look that will compliment her cute blue dress. Emily did my make-up in the same way but for my hair, she styled them in a way that they ended up looking like perfect beach waves.

Before leaving the room, we took a mirror selfie, something I haven't tried yet and sent it to Sophia. Her reply came seconds later, saying we looked pretty enough to knock breaths out of these salty-ass businessmen.

Chuckling at her reply, I put the mobile back in my purse and linked my hand to Emily's. The party had started now, if you can call serious business discussions a party. There were old men at every corner of our house, talking about stocks and money, their wives arranged in separate groups gossiping about God-knows-what.

"Alicia!" I heard Dad calling me. Leaving Emily near the living room, I strolled towards Dad who was talking to a man and a woman. The man was dressed in a simpler suit than the other people I have seen, while the woman was running her fingers through her dark, curled hair, her thin figure cladded in a black satin gown.

Dad wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me in front of them. "Meet Alicia!" he said. Both of their faces turned grievous at my mention, I swear I even saw a hint of moisture in the man's eyes.

"You are really pretty, just like her." the man stepped forwards and whispered. I looked towards Dad in confusion who had a sad smile on his face.

"Who are they Dad?" I asked in hushed voice, making sure they don't hear me but they did.

"I am Daniel Steve. This is my wife Katherine Steve." the man introduced, a kind smiled etched on his face. "Your mother was very dear to us. She was my sister, my friend and the most amazing woman I have ever met."

I have heard their names before but I never met them personally. It felt nice, meeting with someone who knew my mother and was close to her.

The air thickened with tension as each one of us remembered her in our own way. Tears pricked the back of my eyes as her face flashed inside my memories. "I.. I'll go check the entrance." I excused myself and rushed towards a deserted corner of the house. As soon as I was out of everyone's sight, I let the tears flow down my cheeks.