Excelsior

Chapter 17: Unmasked

Meryl and Chloe gossiped about what the evening awaited as the chauffeur drove them to the famous Excelsior Hotel in Downtown. The guest list was to be expected to be full of names like the Cabots or the Bartlett. For Chloe, this was the long-awaited opportunity to be recognized among the best families.

They were greeted in the two-story events room and their gifts were left on the large table. Meryl noticed that Chloe's gift was untagged, and for a second it surprised her, only then she forgot about it.

The place was bigger than it warranted. The guests were no more than ninety people, and because of that, the hall looked bigger than it already was.

Diane exchanged glances with them and then turned her head. She was chatting with Miss Conrad, and the girls came over to say hello, even if Diane refused to exchange a word with both of them.

The girls were chatting when the presenter took the stage and the music stopped. The guests stopped their chattering. The man with the slender figure and thick voice thanked the audience, and proceeded to announce Miss Cornell, who was at the top of the stairs. A searchlight pointed at her.

Chloe had never seen her smile like that time. The young woman descended the stairs slowly followed by her friends, and the paleness of her complexion next to the crystals in her red dress acted as a mirror, causing the light to reflect in the room.

When he reached the last step, he was handed a microphone and gave a poignant, short speech before announcing the time for the aperitifs. People clapped and the music continued as she paced around greeting people and warmly thanking people for their attendance as Chloe chatted with her friends. Soon the moment came when Angelica honored them with her presence to thank them and exchange compliments.

"I was hoping to see Mr. and Mrs. Cornell," Meryl said.

"They are having a party in my honor with their closest friends tomorrow, right, Diane?"

She smiled subtly at her and nodded.

"I wanted to organize this party just for my circle." She turned to see Chloe. "I hope you are enjoying it."

Diane's gaze filled with skepticism. She raised an eyebrow and gave a little laugh that no one else seemed to notice.

"Anyway, girls, I have to keep saying hi." The Bernard sisters have just arrived. I hope you enjoy the evening, I will make an important announcement soon," she said and the girls said goodbye.

Diane opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, and then held herself back, seeming to have regretted her decision.

"Were you going to say something, Diane?" Meryl asked her.

"Actually, I was, Meryl. I'm glad they finally want to listen to me. I couldn't help but be surprised when Miss Cornell said that she had only invited her closest circle to this party, and without the intention of offending you, or you Chloe, you are not part of Angelica's circle. Barely and a few words have been exchanged at school, am I wrong?

"Even if that's true," Amanda said, "Diane, Angelica may have wanted to befriend them, and what a better way to do that than y inviting them to her party?"

"You may be right, Amanda. In my years of knowing Angelica, she likes to be a reserved and cunning girl, just like her parents. She might consider inviting someone to any party to win their sympathy; Yet you forget that this is her own birthday party, not just any event, so she must have jealously guarded her guest list. Something tells me that she invited them for a purpose." She looked coldly at Meryl and Chloe.

"I don't think we can hint at anything yet because we do not have Angelica present."

"Yes," Chloe added, "asking about Angelica's reasons is in bad taste. We could just ask herm."