A HARSH REALITY

Leaving the girl to take her own time calming herself, Marcus left the car to attend to an important call.

''Huh... this is nothing Vili. It is nothing at all. It's not as if you're gonna give a speech on the stage, right?... haha...yeah... huh" exhaling out loudly, Vilian patted her chest twice. Before she could step out, Marcus tapped on the windshield and asked her was she ready. In return, Vilian nodded her head with a confident smile. Marcus opened the car door and stepped aside. Making her dress proper, giving one last glance at her appearance from the mirror, Vilian got out of the car. A chill ran down her spine due to the cold breeze hitting her. She looked at the sky. It was already giving a purplish hue indicating that it was reaching the time of night.

"After you, Mi'lady," said Marcus, a gentlemanly gesture rather than a formal manner. Vilian nodded and started walking, carrying a natural elegance in her. Of course, most of the people were taking their own time admiring her. It was a usual thing but made the girl nervous unusually. She felt like she was walking on the egg shells, not knowing when the shells might form a crack.

"A very warm welcome, Ms.Frost." a person greeted suddenly.

He wasn't much familiar to Vilian, so she just nodded with a smile and thought he might be the co-host of the business party by the way he was dressed and greeted each and everyone with a fake smile. It was quite visible that the man was tired already from greeting everyone.

Vilian entered the party hall while Marcus was following her like a bodyguard. The girl's presence turned everyone's attention on her as if the spotlight was directed at her. Vilian felt so self-conscious, for she didn't know any of them, who were present in front of her like the earlier parties she attended.

"Who is she?" some of them kept on murmuring, while some got to their conclusions of who might the lady be.

"Ms. Vilian? what a pleasant surprise!"

"Mr. Watson?" asked Vilian in a surprised manner, for she too didn't expect the presence of one of the Watsons here.

Ashley came forward, taking her right hand on his, and left a soft kiss on the back of her palm.

"You... do know how to catch everyone's attention on you, do you?"

"What are you telling?" asked Vilian confusingly.

"Look...whom are they talking about? It is you indeed. Don't worry. Not negatively. You look dashingly gorgeous in that red dress. Take it as a compliment."

"Do you know him, Mi'lady?" Marcus questioned confusingly.

"Oh, Marcus..." Vilian was interrupted by Ashley before she could reply.

"Of course we do. She's my best buddy's sister, right, Miss. Vilian?" he asked Vilian.

"Best buddy?"

"Oh, it's Danny that I mentioned." grinned Ashley smacking his head himself lightly.

"Call me, Vilian"

"Huh?"

"You can call me, Vilian I said," said Vilian giving a friendly smile and moving her hands forward to shake her hands with him. Ashley gladly accepted her and nodded his head.

"And you may call me Ashley or... Ash. Well, Ash would be fine. Co'mon, let's not block the entrance." said Ashley and grinned.

"Sure, Ash" both started to become comfortable in each other's company randomly speaking of nothing in particular, while Marcus kept following them behind without letting him be a hindrance to them.

"Ahem...excuse me Mi'lady?"

"Yes...Marcus?"

"I guess we should start our business"

"I'm sorry Ash... I'm here on behalf of my father, so you know"

"Oh, that's fine. I get you," assured Ashley, understanding. Suddenly, people started murmuring louder about something or someone in particular, while turning to look towards the entrance. Chuckling out Ashley said,

"Looks like my brother is here finally."

"Your brother? He's invited too?"

"Of course, he is. A business party without him is never a business party at all. He's always the first to be invited." said Ashley proudly of his brother as if he was praising himself.

"But I've never seen him before in any of the parties that I've attended," said Vilian.

"That's because he rarely attends the parties or accepts it." Vilian was left in an 'Oh' reaction.

"Ok, if you would please excuse us," said Vilian and left with Marcus.

Walking towards where Marcus was taking her, she observed, The party room. It was meticulously set up for what seemed to be a very important and very high-class event. chandeliers dangling from the high ceilings provided little sparkles of light from one end to the other end of the room. There were many round stand tables filled with business people along with their partners. It was decorated eye-catching with a blue and gold motif color that screamed of wealth and high prosperity. Crystal champagne glasses and silver cutleries were to be visible. Lively paintings and decorations on the walls were all giving out the most lavishness. As if that was not enough people were present all dressed in millions and billions of dollars worth of items of clothing, pieces of jewelry, etc... which altogether shone brighter than the lights which were lit in the room. If one were to catch up here with a single glance, they'd know that this was a gathering of the most influenced, rich people.

Walking into the deeper side of the room, Vilian was in awe of the extravagance. Marcus snapped her out of her awestruck daze leading her towards a table. An old man was sipping red wine from his glass, giving a glance at Vilian, which made Vilian compose herself more.

"Good evening, Mr. Rutherford. Meet Miss Frost. She is here on behalf of Mr. Frost." said Marcus and Mr. Rutherford just nodded his head but never left the gaze he was giving, Vilian since the beginning. Neither, was he smiling nor was he frowning, but just gave a strange look. Vilian felt uneasy.

"Good evening Mr. Rutherford. I'm Vilian Frost." Greeted Vilian and put her hand forward to shake but the handshake was simply ignored instead Mr. Rutherford nodded his head and raised his wine glass, so Vilian took it as acceptance and they started talking about the new branch of their company that was in progress to be opened in the east of Luceras. Rutherford was the main partner in the following work and sponsored Demus' company with enough amount of types of equipment. The conversation continued and went on for a little longer than they expected. New people joined in the table and gave some chit-chats. Vilian felt so tired that she time to time sighed incoherently and at a point, she unknowingly felt like she'd yawn, so she excused herself to the restroom and went out to an open balcony which wasn't much visible for one to see from the party hall but she caught sight of it when she was observing her surroundings.

Walking towards the open area she felt the coldness sink into her skin which made her suck in an ample amount of air. The night sky was clear. She leaned onto the railings to gaze at it more clearly. Stars were filled in the sky like pale corn on the freshly turned ground.

"Night sky is like the promise of life in the darkness," murmured Vilian. Her eyes were smiling and her breathing deepen just by looking at the night sight.

"A harsh reality it is..." said someone from behind which made Vilianstartle and trip to fall above railings.