The Accidental Hacker

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

On the night of the party, Tom sent a car to pick me up because he'd be working late. I was glad because the dress he'd found for me was a Cinderella costume (which after all the pantomime donkey jokes I'd make, I kind of deserved). It was actually lovely, if rather unwieldy to wear on public transport.

A beautiful black town car came to collect me and while it might not have been a horse drawn carriage, I certainly felt like a princess heading to the ball. I just hoped I wouldn't turn into a pumpkin come midnight.

The dress was white and gold, with a pinched, corseted waist and a massive skirt, kind of Georgian in style. I also had a beautiful blonde wig and it was kind of cool to see myself with light hair.

We pulled up at night club that had been hired out for the evening and the driver helped me from the car which wasn't just nice, it was necessary with my massive dress and hair. I thanked him and headed up to the entrance, which was roped off to keep the paparazzi back.

Tom had warned me that they might be here but there wasn't a red carpet, so posing wasn't necessary (unless I wanted to, which I certainly did not). With my head held as high as I could manage, I headed to the doorman.

"Name please?" he smiled at me.

"Uh, Harri Calder. Harriett Calder."

He checked his clipboard.

"I'm sorry miss, you're not on the list."

Panic infused my whole body. "No, I am, Tom said he'd put me down because he might be late."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I can't let you in." He was perfectly nice but he obviously didn't believe me.

Jesus, he probably thought I was some stalker chick chancing my arm. I don't think I have ever been so humiliated. And in front of the photographers. Right now the fact that I didn't look like me was a small comfort.

I turned for the car but it had driven off and new people were exiting their vehicles. I went to reach for my bag to text Tom, but I realised I must have left it in the car.

In under a minute, my night had gone from magical fairytale to fiasco, and I couldn't even enjoy the fact that Robert Downey Jr was walking past me. I paused by the kerb but I had no idea how long I'd have to wait for Tom, he'd given the impression that he might be up to an hour late, so I decided to go home. At least I could contact him from there.

I had to walk some way down the road because I wouldn't be able to hail a cab in all the melee around the entrance. I couldn't pay for the cab of course, but I had some cash at home so hopefully he'd wait for me to go inside and get money. London cabbies were usually nice.

I raised my hand to hail a few passing cabs but I think I was still so close to the commotion outside the club, that the drivers were distracted and didn't notice me.

I continued walking, my eyes stinging with tears but I refused to cry. What did expect, really? I was a nobody and I didn't fit in with Tom's circle. I shouldn't have come tonight because I clearly, it was a huge mistake and I was deluded. It was a mistake to ever believe I could be worthy of someone like him, he was so... so perfect and I was just little old me.

"Harri! Harri, wait!"

I turned at the voice and saw Tom running towards me and I'm not afraid to say, I was elated.

"Darling, where are you going?" he asked as he caught up with me.

"They wouldn't let me in, they said I wasn't on the list."