Elana
I woke up to the blinding brightness of the sun on my face and the giddy chirping of birds outside the window.
"Rise and shine, El." Cherry sang as she sighed the duvet off me.
"Ughhh. Let me sleep in just a little longer, Cher. I'll be up in five minutes."
"Yeah. I know you'll be up in five minutes, but when you're up, you'll return to this sulky mood you've been in since you returned from your parents." She frowned with her hands planted on her waist.
"I'm in that 'sulky mood' because I'm hurt and thinking of a way to prove to them that I'm not a waste like they think I am, but I haven't come up with a plan yet." I snapped and lay back down, putting the pillow over my face and just letting her take the duvet since she wants it so bad.
"Well, I have a plan."
My ears perked up at those words.
"You have a plan?" I asked, sitting up and paying full attention to her now.
"Yeah. There's an event happening tonight. It's basically just like a party. The only difference being that the only people there would be the rich, famous, and media."
"Okay?" I drawled with a raised brow. "I'm trying to think but I truly don't see how that's going to help me impress my family."
Cherry's face fell as she looked at me with what seemed to be confusion. "Well, that's because it won't help. But it's going to cheer you up. C'mon, don't turn me down."
I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling as I plopped back down onto the bed. "I'm very sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going."
"Why? C'mon please. You know I can't go alone and I have to be there."
I looked up to find Cherry on her knees.
"Oh, get up Cher. You're trying to guilt me into going now and that's not good."
"I'm not…."
"And even if I decided to go with you," I cut into her sentence. "I might have gotten the famous part down because of who my family is, but I really don't have the rich going. I don't even have what to wear."
"Yay." Cherry squealed and clapped her hands, jumping around like a kid in a candy store. "Don't worry about your outfit or anything else. I've got you."
Why did I agree to this? What the fuck got into me? Because now here I was in a tight-fitting dress, looking like a disco ball with no way to turn back around.
"Cherry, uhhh I just got to my senses and I want to go back home. Please."
"It's too late for that now boo. We're five minutes away. I mean, come on, you grew up with cameras in your face, so you can't be scared, right?"
I just nodded and kept quiet. She was right. I had grown up with cameras in my face, but that doesn't mean I enjoy having them.
We arrived at the event, and instantly we were bombarded with flashing lights and yelling voices. There was paparazzi.
"Cherry, are we going to be seeing you at fashion week?"
"Cherry, are you partnering with the Hayes?"
"Elena, are we expecting any other members of your family?"
Fuck you. You can't even get my name right.
The party went on as expected but I wasn't comfortable. This was not my circle.
Some people would expect it to be seen as we all grew up in this circle, but no. I wasn't feeling it. And I looked fucking hilarious in this dress. At least I wasn't in heels. That was a good thing right?
"Hey, I'm stepping out for a bit. I feel suffocated." I whispered to Cherry who seemed to be having the time of her life.
"What?" She snapped and turned around to face me mid-dance. "Are you feeling okay? Did you drink anything?"
Damn. She would make a great mom in the future. Whoever her daughter is would be the luckiest girl on earth.
"Yeah, no I'm perfectly fine. I just need a bit of fresh air. I think it's all the expensive perfumes making me nauseous." I joked.
It worked as we both burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Okay then. But let me know once you're back in so that I don't look for you."
"Sure thing." I smiled, already headed for the door.
"Elana."
"Elena."
"Is your family hiding a scandal? They haven't been seen in public for a while."
"Is Elaine pregnant?"
Ughhh. Why am I being pestered with all these silly questions when these people are well aware they'll be seeing the whole family in a week for the fundraising gala?
I rolled my eyes and made my way down the street, ready to be far away from the turmoil of a higher-class party.
I had my eyes glued to my phone, reading the comments of my very few but very lovely readers when I walked into a wall. A huge, solid wall...of human flesh and muscles. A lot of muscle.
Shit.
My heart raced and slowly, I drew my eyes up…and up….and up just for my eyes to meet…
"Xavier Salman? Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." I hurriedly took about four steps back.
Xavier Salman is the most mysterious and ruthless billionaire CEO in the history of billionaire CEOs. You don't just bump into him on the street.
"If I remember correctly, the party is that way." He pointed back to the way I had come, a smug smile on his perfect face.
His dark hair looked messy, like he had been running his hands through it, his amber eyes like a bonfire, and his jawline? Fuck. It looked sharp enough to cut diamonds.
"Yeah, I know. I'm actually coming from there." It amazed me how I spoke without a single stutter.
"Oh." His smile grew wider before he shrugged. "Okay. I'm not going to ask what you're running away from."
"Are you headed there?" I asked, not just because I wanted the conversation to keep going — even if I wanted that — but because I was genuinely curious.
"Yeah. I was a runner, like you. But my car's there so I have to go back and get it. Spooky." He faked a shudder, his gaze burning into my skin.
"If we're done here, I should be going." He said after a few minutes of silence on my part.
"Yeah." I nodded with a smile, and slowly, he started walking away.
I watched him walk away, and I couldn't help but think.
This was Xavier Salman. The Xavier Salman. I had just been talking to him like we were childhood friends or something.
My parents would be so proud of him. I mean, who won't? I know I am. But wait, they would be proud of me too if I walked in with him in my arms. If we were together.
Shit.
"Xavier. Wait." I sprinted towards him.
And in a moment of desperation, an idea was born.