Chapter 8

• Two evenings later, Tanya came into my room with Rachel in tow.
• " Listen Barbie, "she said in her usual blunt way, [she sometimes called me Barbie, though I could never figure out why], "listen up, we're going to a party and you're coming with us."
• I began to stammer my refusal but Rachel came forward and hugged me, whispered loudly, "Marianne the Snob will be there too and we need to show her what you are really like, right? ‘
• I hesitated. At some point, I had explained that I had fled from the hostel, because of Marianne. she added, squeezing my hand,
• ’We got this, girl.’
• The thought of how I had ended up on a stranger's carpet, doing unspeakable acts of passion, made me blush furiously. Marianne was the last person on my mind now.
• The girls, however, would not take a No for an answer. I tried to put my foot down but Tanya was adamant.
• 'Jazz's rugby team has won the championship, 'she explained. 'It is a big thing; Jazz is in line for a scholarship now. Anyways, the owner of the team was throwing a celebratory party for the boys and their friends.'
• 'But why should I come?' I asked, chin jutting out obstinately. After all, I was no buddy of Jazz. And spending the evening with a room full of husky young males with their testosterone levels soaring wasn't my idea of fun.
• Yes, your idea of fun would be older men with dominating personalities, making wild love to you on the carpet, sneered a little voice inside my head.
• Tanya sat down on the bed beside me, pushing away my stacks of books impatiently while Rachel made herself comfortable perching on the edge of the table.
• "You look like you need a break,' said Tanya sincerity glowing in her beautiful green eyes.
• 'Hey, hold on! 'I spluttered indignantly getting to my feet. 'Just a few days ago, you were telling me about m...what was that?...energy levels and...'
• Rachel slid off the table and came to me, smiling.
• 'Yeah babe, that's just it, 'she drawled in her soft Southern way, 'You need an outlet for that energy! Cos my buddy Liam has been checking you out quite often these days and I sure am beginning to feel jealous.'
• Tanya chipped in, nodding her head seriously,
• 'It's like you're waving a flag, a come hither flag or something without being aware of it. All those signals are getting your attention but you're the only one totally unaware of it all! I think Jazper has been looking at you differently too!'
• She sounded so earnest, that I burst out laughing. Trying to imagine Jazper having the hots for anyone except for Tanya was a laugh. The poor guy was besotted by her! As for Liam, he was a computer geek and he generally went about with a lost look on his face when he entered the realm of the real world and real people. He came around with Rachel when she needed help with her studies and sat in the front room, munching on the goodies I had baked.
• Shaking my head in exasperation, I gave in to them although I didn't believe either of them for a minute.
• Within hours we were on our way, but only after I'd made sure that we were NOT going to the country club where I had been so thoroughly... well, just thinking about it made me feel hot!
• ***
• On the way, above the din in the car, I discovered that we were attending a black-tie gala at the residence of Delano, the co-owner of the rugby club which was one of the foremost of the Mid-America Geographical Union, particularly the state of Nebraska. So Jazz and Liam were in black ties. To be honest, neither of them looked happy about it but then, as I heard Jazz grumble morosely to Tanya,
• 'When the Boss pays us to dress up like dummies, we must.'
• From the snatches of conversation, I had picked up. Delano was a man with very deep pockets, involved in a lot of shady deals. The words gun running and drug trafficking floated around me but I was too concerned about my appearance to really pay attention. Soon the lull of voices faded away as my thoughts fled back to Lucas.
• When had I ever stopped thinking about him, anyway...?
• Shifting restlessly in the cramped space of the car since there were seven of us, all of who were Tanya's friends and those of Rachel and Jazz I sighed. The girls were dressed to kill in tea gowns that emphasized their long legs and slim hips.
• It had come as no surprise to anyone that I had nothing even remotely suitable for the occasion. My lame suggestion that I would go with the vanilla-colored dress I had brought from home was shot down unceremoniously by Tanya. I had last worn it at a christening and it did look a little old, I sighed as I studied it tiredly.
• But my friends, ever protective, had dived into their wardrobes and finally, Rachel had flourished a gown someone had gifted her which she had not worn as it was a couple of sizes small for her.
• Length-wise short, I discovered, as I squeezed my ample bosom into the gown which was pale pink in color, the color of pearls. My olive skin made me look like an exotic doll, I thought when I saw myself in the mirror.
• The slinky gown was a little stretched around the hips and the top for me, since though I was shorter than them, I was well-endowed. Tanya had whistled appreciatively while Rachel had laughed and rolled her eyes, mouthing 'Hottie". Predictably, I'd turned beet red.
• With my long hair swinging freely down to my waist, I'd applied the minimum of makeup. Tanya said I looked like a bit of a nun out for a good time. I didn't try to wrap my head around that one!
• *****
• The car came to a halt. I looked around me, startled. I'd been miles away. Rachel was grinning, calling me.
• I stepped out, hesitantly, taking in the sprawling lawns, the huge house, and the sounds emanating from around: loud music, bright lights, Party mode!
• The place reminded me of the club where I had lost my head and more! Gritting my teeth, I resisted the urge to dive back into the car as a shiver of trepidation coursed through me.
• "What's wrong?" frowned Tanya, ever sensitive to my moods while Big Jazper hugged her and tried to drag her ahead.
• "Nothing, nothing," I said quickly not wanting to spoil the evening for her. I studiously ignored Jazz's sly grin and tipping my head back, I gave Tanya a reassuring smile.
• I trailed behind them into the mansion, up the stone steps, and into the interior which was overflowing with people and loud talk.
• The hall we entered must have been a long corridor with a sweeping set of stairs leading upstairs at the end of the room. Exquisitely carved tables were arranged artlessly while the walls held framed works done by maestros. The house of a billionaire, I thought, trying not to gawk. The chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling were twinkling invitingly as the guests milled around. Doors opened discreetly off the hall and a host of liveried helpers moved around balancing trays of food and drink which the guests seemed to be helping themselves to.
• Tanya swept up a champagne glass as she walked and I saw Rachel and the men do the same. Sadly, Uncle’s lectures had too strong an effect and I rarely drink, only for a rare glass of wine if at all, on a special occasion. Not wanting to appear like an oddity, I demurred when the bearers offered me sparkling drinks.
• We entered what looked like a glass-domed hall, where the sounds were the loudest. I saw Thomas Harding but my friends were flanking me and hurrying me along. I had not told anyone about that disastrous night, certainly not about Lucas and what I had been up to on his carpeted floor!
• He had two girls hanging onto his arms, dressed in skimpy clothes that left nothing to the imagination but he had not noticed me. I looked around me with curiosity as the group I was in laughed and talked loudly.
• The wealthiest people in the country seemed to be there. I saw a couple of movie stars, two Senators, and other celebrities, all turned out in their glamorous best. A few journalists too, snapping pictures, hanging on the words of the high and mighty.
• *****
• There was an enormous decorated stage at one end of the room, and I idly wondered why anyone would want a monstrosity like that in a room that was already so tastelessly decorated. Left to myself, I would have stripped it of those ugly-looking wall hangings...
• I was beginning to get a headache, standing there sipping fruit juice, which a dour Jazz had managed to procure me on Tanya's explicit instructions.
• Suddenly, the sound of applause; I turned as Tanya nudged Rachel and said,
• 'There's Delano. He would have been Harding''s stepdad if his mom had managed to keep her claws in him long enough!"
• Rachel giggled and said,
• "Yeah, I heard they had a torrid affair a year ago. But Delano's a smooth guy. Works his way through women like he was using paper towels or something! I heard he dumped Alice Smythe-Winston and took up with Senator Elly Gregory the next day!'
• I barely registered what she was saying as I watched the man who limped to the center of the platform.
• The man I knew as Lucas...the man who had made violent love to me for one night and left me clamoring for his touch...
• Lucas?
• WAS HE the billionaire Delano?