Hiding from Mr. Billionaire

4 Discoveries

The instruments began to play abruptly as everyone gathered in the center of the ball room again. Ruby squealed and pulled Vivian with her into crowds the right away. The same man who'd asked her to danced caught up to her and guided her to where they stood facing one another. The man's grey eyes were piercing, clear, and definite. He gave her a smile and glanced around the room, waiting for the others to settle in. As she managed to get within the line up she saw the same grotesque man standing at the very edge of it, Jasper, observing everyone with a tall and powerful stance. She pushed the image of him out of her mind as the instruments grew, and the violin soon filled the room once more.

Vivian was enjoying the knew upbeat music, too busy concentration on her steps. From time to time her eyes wandered to him by accident. For most of it though, she found herself gazing at the ceiling. It was painted with such beautiful tapestry, gold lining, and intricacy. It was no secret that the Wrights were rich, despite the fact that no one knew much about their linage. Vivian never herd of the Wrights before in her life. And she wondered how Ruby could've gotten such information.

"The girls talk a good deal," Ruby told her. "But too be honest some if it is both quite astounding as it is believable." They watched as Agatha smiled farewell at her friends in the distance and causally disappeared behind a curtain. "Her dress reminds me of my own," she giggled.

Vivian gazed at Jasper, who talked among the men in the room, turning his back toward most women as he passed. One man he was talking to shifted in their feet uncomfortably. Simeon saw this and bid farewell, clearly not liking the man's lack of confidence. It wasn't surprising to Vivian that he was also picky and arrogant. The rich, imperfect man with a peculiar taste, she didn't expect anything less of him than that- as horrible as that sounded.

"What if I speak to him," she mumbled out loud.

Ruby whipped around and laughed, "that's bold of you, considering that the lot of us here are trying to avoid just that. Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?"

She scoffed. "In what way could this man possibly hurt me? it's not as if I'm trying to court him"

"Well, he may think otherwise and shun you. Jasper is notorious for turning nice young lady's into, you know" she leaned in Vivian's ear to whisper. "whores"

"Again, more rumors. Shunning women by a nickname isn't precisely going to fix a thing. I think you should tell that to your ladies that have nothing better to do with their lives than prey on upon men and gossip in public. Besides, I'm not attracted to him. He's far from perfection.  I merely think of him someone that could possibly be interesting."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "You and your education, my, I wish I had the same mindset as you, I really do. You're literate, determined, beautiful. A woman with our same income could only dare dream to have half of the pursuits as you. But face the reality of it, Vivian, upsetting this man holds dear consequences to you and your standing. I just don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Watch, and I'll show you"

Before she could speak Vivian's special admirer appeared with the most infectious smile from his group of friends behind him. "Excuse me but I just couldn't get away from you," he gestured and pulled out his hand. "Care to walk with me?"

The sisters both looked at each other in complete astonishment. Ruby was the first to come out of her daze and her gaping mouth rose into a taunting smile. "I forgot to mention this really important thing," she rambled. "I'll be around if you need me."
With that Ruby left Vivian and went toward the group of gossip women in the corner. Vivian glared at her angrily. Managing a courtesy she took his hand for a walk down an empty hallway. A few couples popped up here and there walking about as well, deep in conversation. But Vivian and this man stayed silent the whole way through.

"I'm sorry," she said out of the blue. "It's been a whole night and I still haven't got your name"

"Ah, my name is Reuben," he said. "Reuben Wright."