Everyone in the arena was murmuring. Some guests pretended to sip champagne, others whispered behind gloved hands. But the truth was, all eyes were still at the place where Fred had defended the maid, the cleaner, against Tiana's sharp tongue.
Fred stood by the tall glass doors, staring into the night. The city lights sparkled like distant fireflies, but he wasn't really seeing them. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw locked tight. His brows were knitted together as if he was fighting a thought he couldn't quite grasp.
"Ana…" he whispered to himself. The name tasted familiar, unsettling.
It echoed in his head like a haunting melody he couldn't turn off.
She wasn't just some maid. She felt familiar. Her eyes when she looked at him, it all made his heart beat in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.
He didn't hear her footsteps at first, but he felt them.
They were sharp, fast and angry.
He didn't need to turn around to know it was Tiana.
"Fred," she called, her voice clipped, tight with restrained fury.
He sighed, not looking at her. "Tiana."
She stopped beside him, her heels making a final sharp click against the marble floor. Her long red gown shimmered under the chandeliers, her makeup still flawless, but the rage in her eyes burned through all the elegance.
"What the hell was that back there?" she snapped. "You humiliated me in front of everyone."
Fred slowly turned to face her. His face was calm, but cold. "I didn't do it to humiliate you."
"You defended a maid, Fred! A maid! In front of our friends, our family, those were your business partners out there! What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking," he said slowly, "that maybe we've forgotten what it means to be decent."
Tiana let out a bitter laugh. "Decent? You embarrassed me for a cleaner! A girl who spills drinks and scrubs floors."
"She was being bullied," Fred said. "That wasn't right."
"She works for us!" Tiana shouted. "She's not one of us, Fred. She's staff."
Fred stepped back slightly, his eyes narrowing. "You think that makes her less human?"
"Don't twist my words," she hissed. "You didn't even look at me once while I stood there being mocked, mocked because my fiancé was busy playing hero to some nobody."
Fred's eyes flashed. "You think this is about playing the hero? That girl was being treated like garbage. I won't stand by and watch that happen, not under my roof."
Tiana crossed her arms. "You didn't stand by. You rushed to her side like she was some damsel in distress. Tell me the truth, Fred. Are you sleeping with her?"
He flinched.
That was the first time Tiana had hit a nerve.
"No," he said firmly. "I'm not."
"But you want to, don't you?" she accused, stepping closer. "I saw the way you looked at her. Like you've seen her before."
Fred looked away, jaw tight again. "You're being ridiculous."
"I'm being smart," she said. "Because I know what this is. You're chasing a fantasy. Some mystery girl who probably bats her eyes and fakes innocence just to get close to men like you."
His hands curled into fists in his pockets. "You don't know her."
"Oh, but you do?" she laughed mockingly. "Is that it? She's special?"
Fred didn't answer. Something was bubbling inside him. Confusion. Frustration. That strange feeling in his chest whenever Ana was near.
Tiana's voice softened, but her eyes were cold. "You know, maybe this is all a game to her. You're Fred Nork. She knows what she's doing."
"You should stop now, Tiana," he said quietly.
She studied him, then took a step back. "Fine. Walk away from me. Just like always."
And then, he did.
Fred turned his back on her and walked away without a word.
Tiana stood frozen for a moment. Her chest rose and fell sharply. Her hands trembled.
Her gaze drifted across the ballroom.
She saw Ana.
Slipping quietly out through the side hallway, probably heading back to the staff quarters.
Tiana's eyes narrowed. Her heels clicked once again, this time with deadly purpose.
Ana wasn't with Fred anymore, she was behind in the restroom, sweating, staring at her self in the mirror. She could remember everything, her cleaning trolley parked beside her. Her heart was still racing from the earlier scene. She hadn't expected Fred to step in. She hadn't wanted that kind of attention.
She was just trying to finish up and leave quietly.
Suddenly, the door slammed open.
"You!"
Ana flinched, turning from the mirror. Tiana stood at the entrance with her eyes wild, breathing heavily like she'd run a mile.
"Ma'am, I…."
"Shut up! Don't pretend like you don't know what you're doing."
Ana swallowed. "I really don't. I was just doing my job."
Tiana stormed toward her, eyes burning. "What did you do to my Fred? You think you can seduce Fred? You think just because you have a pretty face and a shy little act that you can steal him from me?"
Ana backed up slowly, her hands raised. "Please, I didn't mean anything. I don't want him."
"Liar!"
Tiana shoved the trolley hard, and it crashed into the wall. Ana jumped, startled.
"Stay away from him!"
"I am! I didn't ask for any of this!" Ana cried.
Tiana stepped forward again, and Ana instinctively moved back.
"I'm sorry, let me finish up my work" Ana panicked, she faced her head down and walked out in fear. She wasn't ready for any drama. She wasnt prepared for any drama.
"This is not over" Tiana whispered to herself. She was so bent on dealing with anyone who dares to be in the eyes of Fred.
She immediately followed Ana.
"Cheap maid!" Tiana called from behind. Ana forced her eyes closed as she paused, she wasnt ready to loose her job or querried for any reason, she didnt want to be rude to her bosses fiance, not on there engagement party.
She turned again, slowly, he didn't realize she was already at the top of a short staircase.
Tiana's heel was loud "You dare walk away for me"
Ana's heel caught the edge as she tried to move backwards.
Time slowed.
"No!" Tiana shouted, reaching out.
But it was too late.
Ana tumbled backward, her arms flailing as she tried to catch herself. She hit the first step, then the second, rolling down with a heavy weight until she landed at the bottom, still.
Everything went silent.
Tiana stood frozen, her hand still stretched out in the air.
Fred had been walking toward the hallway when he heard the crash.
His heart dropped.
He broke into a run.
When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw her, unconscious.
Lying there, her dark hair spread around her face, her eyes half-closed. Blood trickled from her forehead.
"Ana!"
He dropped to his knees beside her. "Can you hear me?"
She moaned softly.
"Tiana!!... I asked you to let her be, didn't I?" He spoke in fury.
"I tried to save her Fred" Tiana cried.
Fred gently lifted her into his arms. Her body felt so small, so fragile.
And then it hit him.
He could recognise her scent.
That soft jasmine and warm vanilla. The exact same scent that had haunted him since that night.
Her breathing, even her trembling hands, it all clicked.
His eyes widened.
"It's you," he whispered. "You're the woman from that night."
Ana blinked slowly, her lips parting as if to speak, but then her eyes closed again.
Fred held her tighter, panic rising in his chest.
"Stay with me, Ana. Please."
The sound of distant footsteps echoed behind him, but he didn't turn.
He could barely hear anything over the sudden storm inside his own mind.
The mystery was no longer a mystery.
The truth was right in his arms.
But it came with a thousand new questions.