A hall filled with people I find repulsive. But I need to figure out what sets them apart.
I tried to stand in the most inconspicuous corner of the hall. Soon Ostin joined me, about ten minutes later.
"How are things going?" he said irritably.
From his intonation it seemed he did not believe in this idea from the start.
"Do you doubt my strategy?" I finally asked directly.
"I…"
For the first time in a long while, he faltered. So proper… because of Theron's influence, or out of fear of offending me?
"What do you see?" I interrupted his uncertain, not-even-begun reply.
"People. Working just for money. Fake, hypocritical," Ostin admitted calmly and evenly.
"And you don't see how the girl from 'West Hall' is looking at a secretary just like her from 'Transport Plus'?" I fell silent, waiting for his answer.
"Damn…" — and there it was, the first curse I had heard from Ostin in almost half a year. "They're both on the list of fifteen marked companies."
"Yes. They look, exchange glances from time to time, but pretend that this is their first meeting and that they are very astonished that Theron gathered them all here," I added, watching how all the girls played their roles.
Anna and her friend from the café were also pretending to meet for the first time, awkwardly talking to each other.
And then the lights dimmed, and a voice came through the speakers:
"Welcome, guests.. Please greet—Theron Vescari!"
A deafening female cry exploded in the hall. I had not even thought he was that popular. Although that might seem hypocritical, considering that I myself had fallen for him… and had even slept with him.
His recent actions toward me gave me no peace. "To break a promise"…
What fucking promise, if he never promised me anything… or did he?
Once again I cursed my memory and my inattention to things that do not interest me.
All those lustful looks directed at him while he delivered his speech ignited anger in me. But I pulled myself together—and the feeling subsided.
Afterward he came down to the guests and, one by one, shook hands, thanking every president and every secretary. The girls seemed to lose all reason right there from his smile.
All except…
One, two, three… fifteen.
All of them were indifferent to him and professional. Compared to the others, and if I did not know why we were here, I would have thought there were two camps: professionals and fans.
But they were agents. Their looks. The subtle exchanged glances.
"I accept it," Ostin suddenly said. "You were right. We needed to see this."
"But we still haven't understood what the difference between them is. Why does only part of them have contact with 'Viv'?" I said with frustration. It was one of the key points.
I examined their clothes, shoes, hairstyles, makeup, manners—and could not find any difference. Maybe if I understood fashion, I would be able to tell. But the first impression was one:
There was no difference between them. Neither in behavior nor in appearance.
Although… not all of them exchanged glances.
But all, as one, played a role, as if meeting for the first time.
"I'll look into it. You need to go with Theron," Ostin said sternly. But I heard sadness in his voice.
"Already?" I did not understand. "It's still early…"
"He's going up to the top floor. You must be near him," his voice returned to its working rhythm.
I saw Theron by the elevator; he was already inviting me with his eyes. And just as I decided to go to him—
"Take off your jacket," Ostin ordered in a cold tone.
I turned to him in confusion. He had never ordered me before.
"Be yourself, Mirey," he said.
My heart stopped.
"What did you just… what did you say?.." I stammered.
"You're part of Theron now. So be ready. I've seen you at every reception—you were always an untouchable, arrogant figure," he was also looking at Theron. "Stay that way. Don't let them get to you."
I heard a warning in his voice.
His clan. His family. That is where I am heading now. And he speaks as if this will be a trial for me. I handed my jacket to Ostin, baring my shoulders, and walked toward Theron, through glances and whispers. And as soon as I reached him:
"Are you ready?" he said almost imperceptibly.
"And if I'm not, what will you do?" I asked before stepping into the elevator.
And then the doors closed. There was no way back anymore.
"You have two choices: walk behind my guards as an assistant, or behind me, but in front of the guards, as my companion," he said calmly, standing before me without turning around. His voice seemed even, but cold.
"Are you giving me a choice or just warning me where I'm supposed to walk?" I asked sarcastically, for a moment forgetting where we were heading.
Theron did not answer, only watched me through the reflection in the elevator.
"What?" I asked, not understanding.
The door opened, and he stepped out. Guards immediately took their places on both sides. I waited until they moved after him and followed.
On this floor, the atmosphere was entirely different. Strict tables. People in black suits. Girls and women in strict, classic dresses: black, red, or dark shades.
Damn. I stick out like a sore thumb among them. Damn, damn, damn…
The classical music softened, and everyone in the hall stood, greeting Theron.
There was a lot of security. A lot. Up to seven guards at almost every table. One per person.
My eyes scanned the hall, searching for her. And at the same time I prayed not to stumble and fall because of my dress.
We were heading toward a large table, from which everyone stood and, slightly bowing their heads, greeted him. His seat was in the very center.
How pompous… honestly. This was not his style at all. And then an image flashed before my eyes—him sleeping on my couch. Here, in this hall, I seemed to see a different Theron.
Something inside tightened at the thought that I might never have truly known him. Never seen him in his real life, and not in my small apartment in an old building. Something inside painfully clenched.
He went to his place and sat down. After that, all the guests sat as well and returned to their conversations. As I passed him, I once again caught his angry glance on me.
Be yourself, you say?.. I threw at myself ironically.
I stood behind his guards, leaning against the wall behind Theron's back. Many questioning looks were directed at me, and it was so obvious and irritating. I simply began to ignore them.
And then, in a bright red dress, on one side of an older couple, I found Amy. On the other side sat an Asian couple, also older. Maybe her parents?
She was sweetly talking with them, behaving like an innocent creature.
My gaze swept across the table, and then it stopped on Liana. She was there too. And she was exchanging glances with someone—as if asking a silent question. I tried to follow her gaze and…
Dave.
Damn, that's obvious. I had already suspected it. After her words about the police, it was perfectly clear she had interacted with him. And so, one question was closed. Another remained.
I shifted my gaze back to Amy. She was looking at Theron with satisfaction. Or maybe… at his tie. She looked very happy.
Something inside me twinged.. Irritation grew. I needed to release some tension. I found a table with drinks. The main thing was not to get drunk, as usual.
Heading there, I tried to avoid people I did not know. Sometimes security extended a hand, as if shielding someone.
Seriously?..
Guards accompanied their bosses and gestured toward a free path. And after five minutes, I finally reached the wine.
There were drinks of different kinds. Waitresses poured champagne and wine upon request, and farther away, at the bar, stronger drinks were being poured. There were many people. Indecently many.
But as soon as I stopped and began choosing wine, whispers started around me. Oh, those familiar whispers about my scars. I only smirked to myself and ordered a glass of white, outrageously expensive wine.
"You should have checked the dress code before showing up here," Dave's unpleasant voice sounded behind me.
Turning smoothly, I felt him indecently close. But there was nowhere to step back. The glances around us began to gather.
His look and manner were just as insolent and brazen.
"Well, you can certainly surprise me again," he smirked. "Now I understand why my torture didn't bother you."
He spread into a self-satisfied smile.
"Looks like you've already been cut like a pig more than once."
He had grown smarter since our last meeting.
I downed the wine in one gulp, turned, and ordered another glass. The girl poured uncertainly, looking almost frightened at Dave behind my back.
Taking the new glass, I turned and found Theron with my eyes. Amy was already sitting next to him, and they were talking about something. She smiled sweetly.
Dave caught my gaze, turned as well, and looked at them.
"Don't even think about it. You won't beat her," he leaned closer, his hand settling on my waist from behind, slightly pulling me toward him. "You won't get rid of her as easily as you did us," he whispered, running a finger along one of the scars on my back.
I smoothly pushed him away so as not to cause a scene and not draw attention.
"Keep your filthy hands to yourself," I said evenly, taking a sip of wine, suppressing the anger inside. "Or is no one giving it to you anymore, that you keep trying to grab me?"
Dave flushed before my eyes. I couldn't help it—a chuckle escaped my lips.
My gaze slid again to Theron, but he and Amy were already looking at us. Dave also glanced back and immediately calmed under Theron's gaze.
A girl approached Theron, and I recognized his sister in her. Even if I had only seen her in photographs—the resemblance was obvious. Amy immediately stood up and began to move away. And Dave followed her with his eyes.
Damn it… could it be that they…
On the other hand, it made sense. She had been his sister-in-law for a long time. Or still was. They had to know each other.
"It's indecent to stare like that at your brother's fiancée," I smirked, sipping wine.
"You…" he hissed, turning to me. "I'll ki—"
"Yes, yes, I've heard that already. Reminder—my door isn't locked. You know the address. Come by," I threw sarcastically and began to move away.
I needed to find a place from which the entire hall would be clearly visible.
Fortunately, Dave did not follow me and did not throw a tantrum. The eyes of the entire clan and family were pressing on him. Especially Theron's.
I settled approximately in the same place as before, but stood behind the guards so that I was almost invisible.
Guests drank, had fun. One by one, sooner or later, they approached Theron: congratulated him, talked, hugged, and even kissed.
And then I looked at that older couple Amy had been talking to. They approached Theron, and his expression softened.
I began to go through his dossier in my memory…
Oh damn. Those are his parents.
It seemed to me that I had come here completely unprepared.
After half an hour my legs were already aching, but my eyes did not leave three figures: Liana, Dave, and Amy. And if Dave and Liana had already spoken privately several times, Amy only politely and gently communicated with everyone, remaining in a good mood.
On the horizon appeared Ostin. He was searching for someone with his eyes. Did he lose Theron?
I took out my phone, wanting to call and ask if something had happened. And pulling it out of my clutch, I noticed: ten missed calls and a message—"Where are you?"
Damn.
I called him; he answered immediately.
"I'm with Theron and his guards."
Ostin, confused, moved toward me, but until he got closer, he could not see me. So my disguise behind the broad backs of the guards had worked.
But while I was watching Ostin, I noticed that my target—in the bright red dress—began moving toward the corridor leading to a small hall and restrooms.
Ignoring Ostin now, I leaned my gaze into the hall, searching for Dave. He stood with a glass, talking to some man.
"How are things going?" Ostin asked as soon as he reached me.
"Except that Dave threatened to kill me again—nothing new, so far," I answered.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, glancing at me doubtfully.
And then—bingo.
Dave set down his glass and headed toward the same corridor.
Liana… where is she?
"Quickly find Liana," I ordered Ostin. He began looking around.
She stood next to one of the stern men. But as soon as she noticed Dave's movement, she also set down her glass and, pretending to excuse herself, headed in the same direction.
A coincidence?
"Well, there's a chance they're sleeping together," Ostin said boredly. "They've been caught in ambiguous situations more than once."
I nodded.
Yes, but Amy had been there too. I had long suspected it. All their expressions, their awareness—none of it gave me peace. But now everything fell into place. And I would risk everything to prove it.
I once again looked at Theron's back. He had not come to me even once. Though… what did I expect?
"I'm going to get some wine."
"Wait," Ostin pulled me back. "How much have you already had?" he asked reproachfully, grabbing my hand.
"Seriously, Ostin…" I pulled away. "I had two glasses of wine an hour ago. That's all."
I clicked my tongue under my breath and headed toward where the wine was served.
All my guesses and the mosaic were beginning to come together. It turned out to be much simpler than I had expected.
Another question—would Theron believe me? After all, everything I knew and saw was only words and their actions.
Liana was well informed about my situation with the torture. It was then that she threw out that remark about the police, which only Theron and the people at that meeting knew about.
Amy knew well my aversion to physical harassment. And only Dave and Theron knew about that situation when, according to Dave, I had even run away from work because of it. No one else.
Or had Theron himself told Amy about my weak points?..
With a glass of wine, I walked along the windows overlooking the open spacious balcony. In summer, tables were often set there and parties held. But in winter—only slippery snow.
A natural need made itself known.
I glanced around and saw Dave at one end of the hall, and Liana at the other. So they had already left the restroom. I set down my glass and headed there.
The small hall, where people could take a break from the music or simply sit in silence and talk, was almost empty. In the restroom I met only a woman walking out toward me.
I took care of everything I needed, fixed my hair, and lightly refreshed my face. Fatigue was taking over. My legs were aching. I thought I could already go home. I headed for the exit.
She stood in the corridor, watching me with open pleasure.
I would have liked to walk past and never see that bitch again.
But a conversation with her was exactly what my guesses lacked.
"You try so hard," she began, her poisonous smile slowly spreading across her face. "But let me guess… now Theron is a gentleman. Courteous. Attentive. Every girl's dream. And all of that—for you."
"Jealous?" I smirked, deliberately trying to provoke her.
"Oh, sweetheart…" her laughter pierced. "Do you really think everything is going according to your plan?"
She stepped closer.
"Theron is interested in a woman as long as she is not in his power. As soon as he understands that you are completely under control, everything changes. That's how it was with me."
She spoke softly, almost confidentially.
"He gave me everything: care, attention, gifts. But not himself. Not completely. Because he knew—I was already his. I always waited. And I always will wait. As soon as he realized I was crazy about him…"
She stopped at arm's length. Like a victor.
"Dinners. Affection. That unusual attitude for him. All of that was with me too. As soon as he realized I had nowhere to run. But he never gave himself. Nor his passion."
For a moment, her hand trembled. Or so it seemed to me.
"Now you are in his power. He is just waiting for you to do all the dirty work for him. And then…"
She stepped close and leaned to my ear.
"He will come back to me. I am his status. His level. He always came back. Even after fucking you in your apartment."
A ringing filled my head. I tried to suppress it.
She knew too precisely. Hit exactly where it hurt most.
I recoiled, barely keeping my balance.
She was already celebrating victory. At least, that's how it seemed to her, because her laughter broke louder and louder.
I walked back into the hall, trying not to stagger. My heart was pounding so hard it echoed in my temples. The noise of the celebration drowned everything, and my eyes searched for him.
He sat at the head of the table, with members of his family on both sides, and numerous guards behind them. I walked toward him, and he noticed. His expression changed, but I could not read what exactly was there.
I held myself together with all my strength, but inside everything was falling apart. Worse than ever. The cold, familiar mask on my face was cracking. Everything that had been gnawing at me lately… everything I had tried so hard to suppress… she seemed to know all of it.
He gave a signal, and the guards immediately parted, letting me through to him. Theron turned toward me and studied me with his gaze. I noticed no one, as if there were only him and me in the hall. Though they were all watching us, all of them listening.
I leaned toward him, pulled him by the tie, and in a whisper so no one would hear, asked:
"Did you fuck her?"
I barely forced out those words, pulling his tie tighter, making it clear I was waiting for an answer.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face, and a predatory gleam in his eyes. He looked at me piercingly, from head to toe.
"No, my love. I didn't fuck her," he said, running his fingers along the slit of my dress. "I didn't even kiss her."
I carefully loosened the knot, removing the tie from his neck. The ringing in my head grew stronger. Everything became too bright and contrasted in my eyes. The world around, Theron—everything seemed to vibrate.
Could she really be right…
I clenched his tie in my hand and slowly walked away. My legs tangled, but I fought it with all my strength.
"He was playing me again? So skillfully. So precisely."
"He always comes back to me"—her words cut into my mind.
Air. I needed air.
I saw a door leading to a spacious terrace, opened in summer for visitors. Pulling the latch, I calmly stepped outside. The cold wind and slippery snow under my feet did not bring me to my senses.
The ringing in my ears after her words did not allow me to think clearly. Thoughts burned me from within. Wet snow fell onto my white dress, instantly making it heavy and damp.
I walked to the edge and leaned on the glass railing, still clutching Theron's tie.
I did not want to believe. Could not believe that everything that was and is was his cold calculation. That she was right. That he would always return to her.
My scream tore through my throat, unrestrained. But the night city gave me no answer.
I just stood and looked at the lights, trying to put my thoughts in order.
What and where did I miss?