Bab 1: Shocked! (1)
Victoria glanced at her watch again, and it was already past eight o'clock. She heaved a sigh. She was in a rush, and the driver was taking far too long to reach the venue.
Victoria reached into her purse and pulled out a small, wrapped gift box. She smiled as she looked at it, a sense of pride and satisfaction welling up within her. The gift box was a symbol of love and she was eager to see the look on the face of who she got it for.
"Ma'am, we're here," the driver announced, his voice breaking through Victoria's thoughts. She blinked and looked up from the gift box, realizing that they had arrived at the venue. "Oh, thank you," she said, quickly gathering her things. She tucked the gift box back into her purse and got out of the car, excitement and anticipation coursing through her.
Victoria turned to the driver and asked, "How much is the fare?" The driver replied, "It's £20, ma'am." Victoria nodded and reached into her purse, pulling out the money and handing it to the driver. "Keep the change," she said, feeling generous. The driver thanked her and drove off, leaving Victoria standing on the curb.
She looked up at the imposing building in front of her, a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling in her stomach.
Victoria's eyes landed on the red carpet leading up to the building's entrance, contrast to the concrete sidewalk beneath her. The sound of a jazz classic drifted out from the building, adding to the air of sophistication and elegance that surrounded her. She took a deep breath and tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach.
She looked down at herself, checking to make sure her appearance was in place. Her sleeved blue, V-neck, flowy dress was neatly pressed, her hair perfectly styled in a neat bun, and her nude makeup wasn't bad either. Everything looked almost perfect, but something still felt off. A nagging voice in the back of her mind told her that she wasn't ready for this, that she didn't belong here.
Victoria pushed away the negative thoughts and took a deep breath. She steeled herself and stepped onto the red carpet, walking purposefully toward the building's entrance. On crossing the widely opened door, she beheld a world of luxury and opulence within. She was greeted by a rush of warm air, scented with a hint of vanilla and spice.
"This is the life," she whispered under her breath, a small smile forming on her lips. The grandeur of the building was breathtaking, she couldn't help admiring it with her eyes. She had never been in a place like this before, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe.
As Victoria's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, she saw a sea of people dressed in expensive clothing, looking like they had stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. Their style was intimidating and oppressive, but Victoria squared her shoulders and held her head high. She was determined to stay focused on her goal and not be distracted by the glitz and glamor around her.
"Welcome, everyone," a voice boomed over the sound system, echoing throughout the grand space. "Please make yourself at home. This is Mr. Sebastian Quinn's 35th birthday party, so indulge in all the pleasures this evening has to offer. After all, it's a night to celebrate!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
Victoria couldn't help but smile at the announcer's charismatic voice. It was like he was addressing her directly, welcoming her to the party. She looked around the room, searching for a waiter carrying drinks or chewables. She needed something to keep her hands and mouth busy.
A waiter appeared at her side, carrying a tray of glasses filled with sparkling champagne. "Would you like a glass, miss?" the waiter asked, offering the tray to her. Victoria took a glass, trying to appear calm and collected. "Thank you," she said, her voice sounding a bit more confident than she felt.
"When is the gift presentation happening?" She tried to sound casual, but her curiosity was evident in her voice.
The waiter's face broke into a knowing smile. "There is no set time for the gift presentation, ma'am," he said, gently teasing her. "If you have a gift, you can take it over to the table in the corner." He gestured to a table in a more secluded part of the room with less crowd.
Victoria nodded and thanked the waiter, who then left to attend to other guests. She took a sip of her champagne and made her way to the corner of the room, where the waiter had directed her. There, she spotted a little girl, who was so absorbed in dressing her doll to look just like her, that she hadn't even noticed Victoria's presence. Victoria was compelled to smile with such sight.
'She around same age that Penny,' she thought. 'Thought, Penny doesn't play with dolls, this little girl is so absorbed in her play,' Victoria thought further as she watched the girl.
The girl suddenly noticed someone staring at her and spun around. Her eyes met Victoria's, and she pouted. "Why are you staring at me?" she asked loudly, her voice full of petulance.
Victoria was taken aback by the question, not expecting the girl to bash at her. "I'm sorry," she said, feeling a bit awkward. "I was just admiring how much fun you were having."
"How dare you!" the little girl said, her face scrunching up in annoyance. "You have no right to look at me like that! Do you know who my father is? He's very important!" She said the words with pride, clearly expecting Victoria to be impressed. But Victoria simply smiled and replied, "Well, I'm glad your father is important to you. But I'm just a guest here like you are."
The little girl became angrier, stamping her foot on the ground. "Guests like you are supposed to stay over there!" she said, pointing towards the crowded area where Victoria had been standing before. Victoria shook her head, feeling a bit exasperated by the girl's rudeness. She silently wondered if the girl's parents had raised her to be so ill-tempered.
A sweet, soothing voice interrupted the tense moment. "Sweetie, why are you being so loud? What's making you upset?"
Victoria turned to see a tall, elegant woman with striking features standing nearby. The woman looks could make her pass as a model, or was she a model?
The little girl's features mirrored those of the woman standing nearby - both had the same long, straight blonde hair and high cheekbones. In fact, the only difference between them was their size - the woman was tall and willowy, while the little girl was still quite petite. But the resemblance was clear, and it was obvious that they were related.
"Mommy, it was this woman," the little girl said in a tone that sounded almost like an accusation. Then she wrapped her arms around the woman's legs and rested her head on her thigh.
The woman only smiled at Victoria, her expression radiating kindness and grace. "It's nice to meet you," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "Everything is all right, I hope?" she added, clearly concerned about the tense exchange between her daughter and the other woman.
Victoria wondered how a sweet, kind woman could raise such a rude, ill-tempered brat.
"What are you doing over here?" the woman asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Shouldn't you be back there with the other guests?" She gestured towards the crowded area where most of the people were gathered.
Victoria smiled and nodded. "I'm here to deliver a gift for the birthday boy," she said and blushed shyly thinking about how the celebrant would feel about her gift.
A frown creased the woman's face, and for a moment, Victoria thought she had said something wrong. "Who are you calling a 'boy'?" the woman asked, her tone suddenly strict. "Is that the way you address people you don't know well?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.
Victoria looked up at the woman, her mouth hanging open in surprise. She hadn't expected such a sharp tone from the woman, who had seemed so friendly and gentle just moments before. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she said, feeling flustered. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just call my boyfriend whatever I want. I hope you understand."
Victoria felt a sense of pride swelling in her chest as she took mental note that the opulence and grandeur of the birthday celebration was for her boyfriend. A small smile played on her lips as she thought of how lucky she was to be with someone so special.
Who knew this swelling in her chest would be burst like a balloon by the one the least expected?
Victoria's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a deep, smooth voice. A tall, dark-haired man had entered the room, walking up to the woman and the little girl. "Hello, My love," he said, giving the woman a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
He looked down at the girl and smiled. "Hello, sweetheart. Who's your new friend?" His gaze hadn't yet landed on Victoria, who was standing to the side, feeling both invisible and a little anxious.
"Sebastian!" Victoria exclaimed, the shock and disbelief evident in her voice. It was him - the man she loved, the man she thought she knew so well. But why was he hugging another woman and a little girl?
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone