chapter 2

Chapter 2

Even in my disoriented state, the shockingly silver eye color got me.

And of all things I could process at that moment, my senses registered the smell.

His scent in particular. It was something that reminded me of crushed mint and ice underset by musk perfume.

But before I could look at his whole face, there was a distinct click before a flash of light.

I froze, that was a camera and Didn't take a genius to know who those people would be.

The heavy footsteps were approaching.

"Jake, is that the person you were to meet at this hotel?"

"Mr Montgomery—"

"Hell"

Reporters, what rotten luck do I have lord,

I tried to calm down but my heartbeat spiked automatically.

My body had gone cold, and though I tired to will it away, the memories were already coming back.

It was freshman year, just outside the school gates. Of all the times my driver should be late.

I will never forget that reporter's face….

"Ms porter? Irene Porter !"

He came out of nowhere. One moment I was standing alone the next moment he was in my face.

"Is it true that you had caused a bright scholar to lose her scholarship here in LCA?" The continuous clicking of the camera he shoved it into my face continued.

"Her name is paige smith"

I was taught never to entertain the media.

It was one of our golden rules.

But as I moved to turn away from the man, he grabbed my arm and whirled me back to face him.

" Her mother is a waitress and the father is a janitor! Did it give you satisfaction to ruin her future in a snap?"

"Is this the so-called entitlement of the mega rich? To further bury those beneath them?

Wouldn't it be considered as cruelty from the upper class of the society ?

Do the rich not feel pity for the poor in this day and age?!.

We need your answer on this matter young ms!"

I had never had an encounter like these with any reporter.

It was just my luck that there was no one around in the most grueling five-minutes of my life.

When I tried to leave,he easily pulled me back. The camera steadily taking those pictures especially when he saw the fear in my eyes.

That reporter had taken satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment as he harassed me.

"Irene !" That was Rivers's voice.

I snapped back into reality, my head turning towards the direction my name came from.

Rivers stood a few feet away but her eyes were on the man whose hands were supporting me.

"Jake Montgomery ?!" She turned to the right where the camera flashes came from.

There was a horde of reporters coming in our direction.

I wanted to throw up, it wasn't just one man, what would they do to me these time?.

"Ri-vers" I called.

Rivers was quickly by my side, her hands quickly replacing the guys' hands from around me.

Rivers still looked at the stranger.

"I'm sure you're Jake Montgomery,what the hell were you doing ok her?!."

There was a fear and accusation in her tone as she glared at the man.

"Shut up and take your friend" I was rudely pushed into River.

"Dammit!"

But the stranger was already lost in the sea of pedestrians.

The reporters completely passed us looking for where the stranger went.

I didn't realize then that I was holding a breath and I let it out in relief.

Everything happened too quickly.

"What was that about Irene?! That was Jake Montgomery!

"M-My iphone"

But Rivers was in full hysterics now.

"irene, you were photographed in the embrace of a manhore/killer/God"

What was she saying?

The look that she gave me was harsh and crazy.

" Yes! What I said! The biggest mystery in all the industries. Gosh Irene, what were you thinking? Don't tell me you don't know him!"

In my dazed state i managed to shake my head weakly. I really didn't have an idea who he was.

"So you're telling me you don't know Jake Montgomery?, the CEO of the biggest shipping and armory company in the world!!, the industry's biggest mystery and you were just in his embrace !!.

" Then how do you know him if he is a mystery"

"My dad had worked with him on a project that's how I got to see his face and never forgot it"

At my blank look she rolled her eyes heavenward.

"I can't believe we are best friends yet you don't know him, if those pictures gets out you are gonna be more famous than you are"

_ _

Suffice to say, no pictures got out from that night. Not one, so maybe Rivers was mistaken about the guy's identity.

I don't even remember his name anymore, not even his face, just his eyes, that height and that perfume I am sure was uniquely his.

I just realized one thing from that night though.

I don't know anyone else apart from the people who I was forced to associate with on a regular basis.

I wanted to google him just to be sure but since I had forgotten his name,I will never risk asking Rivers and see her have another apoplectic fit, no thanks.

I looked at my best friend who was out of it again, it was after classes on a friday and she decided she was feeling like going to the mall.

But here she was, passing her hands over the same rack for the past twenty minutes and still not choosing anything.

"Rivers" I called from where I sat

She blinked a few times as of getting out of a haze "H-huh"

" See anything you like? Because you know..." I staged a shrug.

"I haven't noticed that blank far-away look as you pretend to shop" I think I knew her thoughts though.

Her party was on Sunday, her eighteenth birthday party. And as I found out the announcement of her engagement.

It took some time for my word to sink in and her eyes narrowed at me

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, porter" but then a slow smile spread on her face as she looked at me.

Then it slowly turned into a smirk and I looked at her worriedly

"I don't like what's going on here"

She skipped to my side and promptly dragged me out of my sit

"I want to dress you up! Please, Irene!" Rivers gave me puppy eyes then proceeded to lock me in a hug.

" Oh,no" I roamed my eyes around to see the clothes in that store, before whispering to her.

"Their designs are too edgy and flashy. O can't wear those."

She pouted, looking at my clothes over.

A white button down cotton shirt and blue skinny jeans.

Yes, my clothes were branded.

Yes, they're as expensive as Rivers dresses, but I will never wear uncomfortable dresses in the name of fashion.

She flicked me a glare, "you promised to wear red to my debut party! You promised, are you backing out of that all of a sudden?" She stomped a foot little like a misbehaving child and crossed her hands over her chest giving me a daring look.

I exhaled a breath.

She's been sorta out of it lately, as if she is always preoccupied in her mind and couldn't keep still.

To suddenly see her as her normal self over buying me a dress... I sighed in defeat.

"Fine! But get me something comfortable. No crazy metallic embellishments and no spikes."

Who knows why people need deadly weapons as a fashion statement? I didn't know.

With a soldier salute, "Aye aye! Of all things to doubt?,not my fashion statement, it's just wrong to doubt it. Like ever"

She happily went back to the racks and now I worried about myself more.

Rivers' shopping concentration was really remarkable if you ask me. But then…..

My best friend was engaged and I couldn't believe it.

" How about this one?"

" That neckline is too low"

"So what? Your boobs are B! It won't look slutty "

She insisted on the dress, pushing for me to try it on.

"Next" I said

Rivers grumbled under her breath.

"How 'bout this one?"

"Yes, let me show my butt to the world"

"You haven't even tried it yet!"

" I can tell by just looking."

"Such a prude! There's nothing wrong with showing some skin from time to time"

"If you show skin, you can't expect people not to look. I don't want them to look."

She looked at me as if my logic was failing her

"Irene, they'll only be seeing it, they won't be touching it!"

My mouth fell agape, "touch? What are you talking about? All the more, no!"

In the end I had to help her look. Rivers' debut party was going to be more like a business gathering. Most of the guest are big time or medium-sized businessmen, wealthy local and international personalities, and the media will be there to flaunt the crowd associated with the Ruiz name. That along with the grand party to celebrate their daughter's coming of age.

Which means I wanted to blend into the crowd. But at the same time I didn't want to disappoint my best friend who was determined to change my wardrobe. We got to the back of the store when I noticed a red dress tucked into the end of the rack.

I pulled it out and promptly stopped. I went back to the front of the store to a tired and frowning Rivers.

" How about these one?"I showed her the dress.

Her eyes widened and she clapped in glee.

" Where'd you get this? I love it! You gotta try this on"

I was ushered into the dressing room. It was a glitter lace, turtle- neck dress that showed off half my back, empire waist and trumpet skirt whose end will be gazing at the ground if I wear five-foot heels.

Rivers knocked, tossing me silver stiletto.

Somehow the red complimented my extremely pale complexion and willowy structure. I was far too small at the height of 5"1, my hair was waist-length and black, my eyes a deep blue and lips as red as blood.

I was sometimes called snow-white, with my skin as white as snow, hair as black and ebony and lips as red as blood things were spot on similar to the actual Disney princess, bit if you asked me, being these thin, I looked dead if not for the red lips I would have looked like the walking dead.

" I already know the shoes match, don't thank me"

I was handing the sales girl my card when Rivers pushed it away and handed her card over. " you better wear that,or else!"

I laughed

I was startled when she threw her hands around me and started squeezing me in front of the staff

" I'm so lucky to at least see my best friend wear something so red and so matured, You're all grown up now!"

I playfully pushed her away, " you say that as if you are leaving, stop being so dramatic"

That night, we ate fast food . I don't know what has gotten into her but she wanted McDonald's. I mean, I don't have anything against them but Rivers described fast food places as "disgusting".

"You sure?" I asked her doubtfully.

" I wanna try it. I know you sneak into these places when I'm not around."

After eating there, she vowed never to eat fast food ever again. My eyes rolled at will.

I couldn't help but feel something was going on. But come to think of it, this was probably normal seeing as she was about to announce her engagement.... And after that the wedding was sure to quickly follow.

Back then, I didn't know what she was about to do. It never came to my mind that she was going to do something as drastic as that. Had I known, I would never have worn that red dress, I would have never let her pay for it in the first place. Not when in the future I would réalise the mess she would be leaving me in.

One dress and a pair of shoes couldn't pay for the mess she would be Leaving me in.