I motioned Adam to stop talking. I was so swamped! Never had I felt so alive for so long! For months, all I did was volunteer at the library. It was fun, alright. But that wasn’t my scene… Well, organizing a party wasn’t, either. But here, I felt the pressure. And Isomissed that!
I missed the pressure. The anxiety. Everything! God, I felt so alive!
“Seriously, I’m fine, Adam,” I reassured him.
“You sure?” he asked, reluctant. He looked around and there were number of people moving in the things I ordered for the party tonight. It was the first party that I organized so I had to go extra mile to make sure that this didn’t fail.
I was Bree Johnson, still. And failing wasn’t a part of my description.
‘Well, except for getting pregnant,’a small part of my brain whispered. But I quickly shook the thought away. I didn’t need to worry because Adam assured me that it was no problem. He didn’t marry me for the babies… for the little Adam and little Bree…
He’s not like most guys.
I had to remind myself over and over again.
I nodded at Adam.
“Yes, just go to your work. Party starts at 8, okay?” I said and then kissed him on the lips. He was about to deepen the kiss but there were just too many people around the house. It didn’t feel very sexy to be ogled at by these strangers.
“Call me if you need anything?”
I nodded again and tapped his butt.
“Now, go work and make more money,” I told him and he shook his head while smiling at me. After Adam left, I went back to thereal actionand directed the people. It was so chaotic but for some reasons, I loved it! The mansion felt so alive! There were too much energy and it was the first time it felt like this. It usually felt so dull in here. But now? It was different—the good kind of different.
The caterer arrived promptly and I just went over the menu again just to make sure that everything was perfect. I didn’t want to embarrass Adam in front of his colleague. Though I couldn’t care less about what these rich people thought about me, I cared for Adam. I didn’t want to cause him any shame. He was too good for that kind of scene.
By afternoon, I was assured that everything would be perfect. I just gave them one final direction before going to my room and resting. I took a quick nap because I felt too tired. I woke up a little after 6 and I quickly began fixing myself up. I wore a black dress that ended at the middle of my thighs. It was well-fitted but I still made sure that I looked decent. My husband was a very decent man so I shouldn’t be any less.
I curled the tip of my hair and applied light make-up. I went down and was relieved that everything was going as planned.
“The guests will arrive any minute now. Is the food ready?” I asked the headwaiter for tonight. She nodded. I thanked her and then went around. Everything looked perfect. The tables were ready and the tabletops were arranged to perfection. The wines and champagne were already chilled. Some of them were from my husband’s collection and he said it was fine. Some of them cost thousands of dollars and I just had to stop myself from thinking about that absurd amount of money for a bottle of wine or else I’d ruin the night.
The guests started arriving and I welcomed them. Tonight was the celebratory party for the successful opening of the latest hotel my husband built. It was in Las Vegas and I had no idea what it looked like. It was already being built even way before Adam proposed to me and now, it was finally done.
People started swarming but still, no Adam in sight. I already asked the people to start serving food.
To: Adam
Where are you?
I sent a text when his number could not be reached. Adam always had his phone with him. And his other phone was with his assistant. Always. But I decided to not focus on that thought. I still had a lot of guests to entertain.
“You’re Adam’s new wife, aren’t you?” the woman asked.
I nodded. What was I supposed to say, anyway?
She looked at me from my toe up to my head as if I were some specimen under her observation. I just tilted my chin. This didn’t work on me. My parents and siblings already did worse.
‘Maybe I should send them a thank you card because if not for them, I would have crumbled under this woman’s judging gaze,’I thought.
She looked displeased with what she saw.
“What’s your family business?”
“Both my parents are lawyers.”
“What’s the name of your firm?”
“Oh, no, they don’t have a firm. My Dad just made senior partner,” I told her casually though I knew I didn’t owe her any explanation about my family’s wealth—if ever we did possess any.
And from looking displeased, she now looked at me with disgust as if I just told her that I was a daughter of a drug dealer who raped babies in their sleep.
She wrinkled her nose and politely excused herself. I shook my head. People, really. They didn’t fail to amaze me.
This wasn’t my party but I was so thankful I thought of inviting Maya! I almost cried when I saw her!
“You’re late!” I exclaimed but kissed her cheek, nonetheless. She looked stunning in her red dress. “And look at you,” I said as I scanned her. “Dressed to impress, didn’t we?”
She cocked her eyebrows.
“You know me, always aiming to please,” she said with a laugh. “Anyway, tell Adam to introduce me to his hot billionaire friends, alright?” she said. “Where’s he, anyway?”
“He’s still not here,” I responded.
“Well, more time for the ladies then!” she chirped and then got two flutes of champagne for us. I listened to her stories but I didn’t drink much champagne. I was still the host, after all. And these people didn’t needdrunkardto be added on their list of why I wasn’t suited fortheAdam Walton.…