All of Asher's co-workers were up on the rooftop partying. Juliet walked through the door and everyone cheered. "Welcome to the family!" Someone shouted. Everyone gathered around her, cheering, asking questions, offering food and drinks.
"Everyone, find your seats!" Asher announced as he walked onto the rooftop. Just as Juliet was about to sit down, Asher grabbed her wrist softly. "You're sitting with me." He muttered and guided her to the head of the table. He pulled her chair out for her. Once she was seated, did he take his seat at the head of the table. Miranda, one of Asher's very distant cousins, also his secretary, stood up for a toast.
"To Asher and his beautiful muse, Juliet!" She announced.
"To Juliet!" Everyone cheered.
"Now, Asher, don't you think it's time for a wedding?" She joked. Everyone broke into laughter. Everyone except for Asher and Juliet. Juliet sat still, frozen in place, as Asher felt as if he had just drank a bottle of hot sauce.
Damein Alder stood up just as everyone was about to eat. "You guys really think that Juliet is here because she loves Asher? You all are fools. She's just another tool that Asher is using. Just like Celeste was, in Provence." Everyone gasped and went quiet. Juliet turned to Asher to say something but stopped when she saw how his hands were shaking.
"Guards. Please escort Mr. Alder out to his car." Asher said, his voice was deep and threatening, but Juliet caught a shakiness in it.
After dinner everyone was dancing, playing games, singing, or just joking around. Someone tapped Asher's shoulder, "Would you guys like a couple's photo?" Juliet hesitated, ringing her hands. Asher noticed and nodded to the photographer. Asher moved closer to Juliet and wrapped an arm around her. He towered over her and smiled into the camera, unlike Juliet. She just stood there, watching him.
Soon enough, Juliet realized that she has to put on performances to make people believe that she's really dating Asher. She would smile, laugh, and dance. But her smiles started to grow dimmer than the last, her laughs started to become quieter, and she sat down while everyone else danced. She didn't just want to be a performer on a stage for Asher. She just wanted to do what she came here for, then leave and never come back.
Juliet watched Asher talk to his people, but he would always disconnect when someone brought up lavender. She wanted to ask why he did that, but she thought better of it. She watched as Asher hid in a corner and pulled out the photo from earlier. She walked over to him and looked at the little memory in his hand. "Do you need something?" He asked harshly.
"I- No… I don't need anything, I just came over to see if you're okay."
"Get back to the party." He said as he stood up. Juliet backed away as he walked towards her. He slipped his hand in hers for a second before heading back to the others. She looked at her hand and opened the little paper he put in it. In neat handwriting, was written "Don't let them name the chapters. Only you get to write them."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked herself quietly as she slipped the note into her shoe.
Juliet felt as if she needed some space, so she told everyone good night and headed to her room. She changed into her pajamas and laid in silence before she walked over to her desk and started her manuscript. But she only wrote one line.
"This began with silence dressed in silver with smiles."