Emerald

10. The Game

'' Jade my girl, I honestly think you should relax! '' Marcia spoke through the phone, while I gulped down a glass of water.

'' No, you don't understand Marcia. T-this-- He knows... He knew that this was going to happen! He knew that I was going to be here!'' I rambled on, in fright, I clutched my bathrobe.

'' Look Jade maybe this man knows you from before and he must be... obsessed with you? '' Marcia addressed as I fiddled with the bathrobe

'' I'm not going to the gala, I'll just call in sick and let Mia go! '' I stated, the thought of locking myself in my room sounded better than facing that man.

'' Jade the more you fear him the more he will scare you. Also, are you that much of a schoolgirl that you can't confront a man? '' Marica mocked and this thought did give a knock in my mind.

'' Marcia, you know that I can. It's just that--''

'' Oh, it's just that he has got your panties in a twist eh? By giving you flowers and shit, come on now jade do not play Snow white with me right now. What is with you girls and flowers! One man sends you flowers and predicts the future for you and you are scared worse than a rat '' Marcia finished and I kept my mouth shut.

'' Jade you go to that damn party wear that damn black dress you spent a fortune on and confront that man who has stolen my heart! '' Marcia answered and my eyebrows lifted so high up I thought I'd not have them anymore.

'' Who stole your heart? '' I asked extremely shocked!

'' Gosh, why do I have to explain everything, JADE! He is playing a game with you, a cat and mouse game. He is luring you into his trap so that he can take advantage of the fear you have in your heart for him and use that to ruin your sleep.'' Marcia said and I am not going to lie her words of wisdom did hit hard.

'' So you're telling me that he likes me and this is his way of conveying it? '' I questioned and I heard her sign.

'' Yes jade, if a man sends you flowers he likes you! '' she expressed me while my inner thoughts told me that those flowers could also look nice on my gravestone otherwise.

'' Look take it as a game, go to the party and find this mysterious man and question him why the fuck is he after you! Got it? '' Marcia said and I hummed in response.

'' Got it! '' I replied as I bit my lip.

'' Now since you're in Paris, make sure you get me some fine wine and cheese'' she hollered and I laughed out.

We chatted some more and cut the call, I recounted to Marcia about the journey from California to Paris was quite tiring I was curious to see what seat I would get when I stepped foot in the plane. But I was greeted by the flight attendant telling me that this was a private jet. I wanted to get out from there considering that maybe I came to the incorrect place, it was until the attendant told me that I was at the precise place and this was Mia's jet. I stepped in and the beige leather chairs came first in my line of vision looked so big and poufy, there was a bar at the end of the plane and the lights were brightly shining right in my eyes.

The moment my butt touched the chairs I felt like they were clouds that I was sitting on. Mia had arrived shortly with her bodyguard Valerio who looked so buff and muscular. I had requested orange juice since I don't drink alcohol much, the glass in which I was served orange fluid was so fine I thought if I held it too tight it might break. During the whole flight, I kept thinking about how this whole place and atmosphere screamed rich and how if I broke something I'd go bankrupt paying for it.

We shopped the whole day today and looked out for dresses and jewellery, Of course, Mia had to pick out some bushy dusty pink dress and I was not a fan of it. I also remarked that mia noticed that I was acting weird because I was extra jumpy and curious today, I can't help but feel that nervous wretch feeling crawls up my spine whenever I think of the gala. I mean I was excited to meet this person I wanted to see his face properly and know him, but the other side of me never let me do so.

I witnessed him that night, His speech was deep and thick, strong and bold It was as if he understood what he was speaking. Apart from me was terrified to meet him he did not look or sound approachable that night, I couldn't get rest for days each night I'd close my eyes I would see those deep red roses taunting me with their colour, His brown eyes and black face mask.

I took a glance at my watch and realized that the pep talk with Marcia extended above an hour, I was left with only another hour to get ready for the event. Time passes away so fast when you're engrossed in fear and anxiety. Marcia was right I need to confront him and ask this man, what's his deal!

-------------- GALA---------------

I was decked in my black sequence dress that hugged my body perfectly. My face had all sorts of makeup on, red on my lips and black liner on my eyelids, black heels on my feet and a sparkly clutch in my hand. I gagged at the smell of expensive bitter perfume I never understood why would you wear perfume which emanates like rotten eggshells on your garments. Okay maybe I am exaggerating too much but still, you get the feature.

The place was so lively and beautiful a soft music in the back, a bar at the end of the room and of course waiters walking around with drinks on their trays. I although discerned something very different about this gala, everyone who I saw was wearing black, red or gold was there a colour code? Or maybe everyone in this room had the same colour preference.

The ladies here wore such heavy jewellery I feared that they won't even have their necks for tomorrow. Most of the ladies here looked like a fashion model magazine, with deep necks and thigh-high slits, killer heels and fake smiles with botox on their foreheads. Damn, there is so much plastic in this ocean.

As a waiter approached me I chose the classic red wine and gave him a smile with a ' thank you '. But before he could leave he handed me a small piece of paper. It looked very similar to the one which I received with the flowers the other day.  I looked up in search of the waiter but he faded into a pure atmosphere, I was about to free the piece of paper in my hand but was drastically stopped.

''Jade, I wanted to tell you something''  Mia said and I turned to face her.

' go on? '' I told her, she took a long deep breath. It was as if she was scared of telling me something because she did not look normal. But before she could speak she was dramatically stopped.

'' MIA! ''

''STORM?'' Mia ran into a lady's arm's and hugged her as her life depended on it. 

'' Bitch it has been fucking 14 years! Since I last saw you! hoe!'' the lady who I know now as storm hollered.

'' Jade! meet storm she's my best friend!'' Mia introduced me to storm as I watch the storm pass me her slayer smile.

'' Hi, nice to meet you! I'm jade, Mia's assistant '' I said confidently and looked her deep in the eye.

I watched as the two of them moved back and forth with questions and answers, they both looked so happy. The glow on their face showed the love they had for each other in their hearts, I too wanted a friendship like this someone to rely on someone to trust. But I guess I never got to experience that until I met Marcia.

Marcia bestowed me a new side of myself that I never knew I had, she drew out the best in me and cared for me. She mothered me even though she won't say it cause she is a savage but I know from the way she brings me cupcakes during lunch break and sometimes when I need a beer before I can even speak on the intercom she already is knocking on my door holding two chilled bottles of addiction.

People find friendship within the same age groups and they do tend to go along just fine, but finding a friend who is as good as being called a godmother is a whole different story. I'm grateful for Marcia, no matter how much she tries to set me up with all the men she finds 'hot' and ' happening'.

I suddenly remembered the chit in my hand and decided to read it, folding open the paper my eyes took in the words that were written in a black gel pen. My breath hitched in my throat as I frantically looked around the place and I'm sure that I resembled a panicked rooster searching for an escape. But I was trapped in between his cage and he was playing a good game. His note made me a hundred per cent sure of it!

'' Emerald. you look extravagant  '

*•*•ohhh, what do we think?•*•*