Chapter 32

What the f*ck was that!" I exclaimed. My heart was already increasing it working rate leaving me sitting in my seat, worried and shocked.

"What? The bang? Oh, I'm in the shooting range." Hearing these words I could sigh a breath of pure relief. I put my left palm over my rising and falling chest in a weak attempt to calm it down.

"Warning could have helped, I thought you were dead for a second." I joked but keeping a strong, serious tone this time.

"Me, die? Never!" The man on the other end of the line gasped. "Don't worry, I'll make sure I'm behind the gun that stop your faithless heart." I replied before he could, leaving him stuck for words that would normally roll out of his mind and on to his tongue. But this time his mind seemed to be a dry desert lacking the water his mouth needed. Realising that I wasn't getting a response from him, I decided it would be best to break the awkward silence and return to the previous topic.

"Anyways, Umm yeah, they're staying with us for the remainder of the mission. Is that okay?" I asked. The question was pointless because no matter what he thought, they were coming over anyways and there was nothing he could really do about it except whine and complain but other than that, his opinion was thin air.

"Yeah, I know. Sandra told me earlier today." My eyes widened, my mouth fell and my blood rushed to my paper colored cheeks, now looking stained with red water colour paint.

'oh shit'

"You knew!?" I splurged. I gradually pressured the brake pedal as I came to the white line, infront of the trafflic lights that glowed the same color of my cheeks.

"Yeah, why you ask?" He enquired, his New York accent sounding stronger than I have ever noticed before.

"No-no" I cleared my throat. "I was just making sure that ... erm, that Sandra had informed you, you know?" The confusion was pulsing through the speakers as he spoke his next words.

"Why wouldn't she tell me? We're partners. If there is any change that affects one of us, both of us are told, you know that, right?" "Yeah of course, I was just doubled checking is that alright?" Snapping back his reply did not surprise in the slightest. "Okay, jeez, it was only a question." A small mumble was heard afterwards. " You obviously got that attitude from the drug store because it's atrocious." The statement was quite but was made for my ears to hear. I rolled my eyes.

My eyes flickered once I noticed the lights switch in front of me, from a red glow to an amber and from that, to a green glow. The pedestrians had now cleared the busy road, leaving a passage way to edge further to my home away from home. I pressed the pedal once again, except this time I was pressing the accelerator. It was nice have an electric l, smart car. There was one less thing to worry about. The clutch (gear stick).

I sped off for a few seconds before asking Ryder a following question. "How's the preparations for the party coming along?" "It's a 'ball' not a party. And there doing fine. The place is set up, I think. And the elevator and steps are barricaded off or just not working." He explained to me.

*Bang*

Another shot jolted my nerves. "How about the other rooms on the first floor. Is there access to them?" The sea of questions just flushed in from my mouth and into his ears. "Duh, no! They need fingerprint ID. Unless someone's in the ball has the same fingerprint as you, I'm sure no ones getting in. Unless, you let them. I'm not but you might?" He snicker at the end of his 'your-so-dumb-Camilia speech.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up!" I scolded, earning a heartfelt chuckle on the other side. His raspy laugh echoed through my speakers and rang in my ears. But it was quickly cut short by a third BANG.

"I'll see you when you get back, I have to get ready for the ball. Bye" He gave a quick farewell and ended our conversation there, leaving me dazed, in my thoughts. Why did he hang up so quick? I mean I did say 'shut up' but I didn't mean hang up. I was being sarcastic.

I pondered about it for a few elongated moments and then snapped out of my thoughts. What ever his problem was, was not mine to interfere with plus, I got enough in my mind to handle without adding his sh*t on too.  I drove for a little while longer. Wasting my minutes by listening to the radio and half-notedly singing to the words of the modern and famous pop songs everyone seemed to  know these days. Occasionally, tapping my fingers lightly on the steering wheel, following the beat of the bass and drums underneath all of the mixing and editing of the organised jumble of notes and words of the song.

After a little while, I reached a familiar black, delicately detailed gate, which opened to my newly found 'home away from home.'

As I walked into the mansion, there was a red carpet spread along the corridor leading towards the ball room. There were tables of refreshments leaning against the walls and the lights were dimmed down, making the features to this particular part of the house seem more elegant and expensive than it already was. Men dressed in black and white bowed as I passed them. Some in under vests with gloves others with ear pieces, glued to their ears.

I bowed in response. "The place looks absolutely amazing, like a castle!" I exclaimed, my eyes carefully glazing over every detail on sight, memorising everything in a mental plan. An, I'm Glad You Like It But We Need To Get You Ready, dragged my eyes to a small, chubby lady dressed in a red skin tight dress paired with some black stilettos. Her hair was tied up in an indescribable up-do and from her neck and ear lobes dangled a glistening, white, matching pearl set. Make up was evident but not showing off and a smile was stuck to her face as she waited for me on the inside of the chain that hung loosely across the stairs. Dolly widened her eyes and tilted her head towards the top or the stairs with her hands connected by her finder tips just below her upper half.

I followed her, pacing quickly behind her into my room. "Quick put this on." She ushered me into the bathroom, with light pressure on the middle of my back, closing the door once she was satisfied with my location.

I stood in the bathroom for a second, trying to process what had just happened before actually getting dressed. Dolly had paired a beautiful gown. It was a Tiffany Blue Prom Dress with a short skirt at the front and the back faded into a long trail. The boots I were given were knee high, black boots with a five inch heel. A pair of satin, baby blue colour gloves accompanied this dress making the outfit extravagant.

I emerged out of the bathroom only to be met with Dolly's even wider smile and glowing eyes. "I knew that it would look beautiful!" She screeched reaching for my hand gently and pulling me toward the organised vanity. I sat down carefully, still trying to get used to the size of the heels.

Dolly wasted no time. As soon as my bottom had made contact with the cold surface of the chair she orders me to close my eyes as her dabbed the primer onto my delicate skin. She proceeded to carry on with my foundation, eye shadow, lashes and lips before contouring, highlighting, blushing and finishing off the look with setting spray. Best she moved on to my hair. Dolly picked up an unnoticed heated curling iron from the vanity and started to section my dyed hair. After a while of repeating that same gesture and actions she sprayed the hairspray over my styled hair and breathed out. "There!" She chimed cheerfully while turning my chair towards the mirror.

I started at the unknown figure for a millisecond to try and recognise them. It was me. I looked like a completely different person, even my own brain shut down for a second trying to proses this bomb of new pictures. My skin was toned, my lips looked plump with the nude lipstick, my eyes blue popped as the winged eyeliner emphasised my fox eye and the smoky eye shade complimented the colour  of my dress. My hair was curled dramatically giving that finished look. I looked like a prom queen except that I haven't even reached that age yet. I stared a while longer, still shook at my appearance.

"You look great, love." Dolly assured me giving me a light oat on my shoulder. She still seemed hesitant to touch or talk to me but it didn't surprise me. " Thank you, you too Dolly." I complimented her. She looked at me blankly before giving me a small, unsure smile.

When I was finished admiring myself, I walked out of the room. Now that I was ready, I might as well get ready to greet the guest in my best fake smile I could master.

Cautiously trudging down the stair case, I held on to the banister for extra support. Soon enough, I reached the bottom with a stumbling trip over the last step. Maintaining some what of a straight posture, I continued to follow the red carpet. I felt like a celebrity to be honest. The luxury, red carpet, the expensive gowns and the ball all seemed foreign to me at that moment.

I entered the ballroom with my head down making sure I didn't trip over anything.

"Whoo hoo..." A loud whistle made me snap my head up.

To be continued >>