After eating the rushed meal John had prepared, Perry drove himself to the family house. He was going to stay till the ball. Though he wasn't in the mood to go anywhere or speak to somebody. He went straight to his room after greeting the whole mansion that was full of here and there because of the ball.
***
"You are not going?" Willmar stood in front of Phoenix's desk with her arms crossed on her chest. She was not angry though. She just wanted her friend to be happy.
"You know going to a ball has got nothing to do with my happiness."
"I'm not saying so. You should go. You know the guy would be heartbroken if you don't show up."
"How do you know that?" We've only met once"
Today is the day of the ball Perry had set. Phoenix knew he would want to see her since she had received a separate invitation card apart from her so-called family who also got one. She was aware it was also for them to smooth the contract. She wasn't going. She had given the card to Anna to go in place of her.
What's the big deal?
"Sit down. Don't tell me you're going to stand forever," Willmar wasn't listening.
" I hate what you are doing to yourself." She finally sat down.
" You should go out there, just have fun, you know; go on trips, see the world. Baby girl, you're no longer that little girl, who wouldn't show up anywhere. C'mon." Willmar poured her heart out. But the latter was busily typing on her computer.
" Seriously," Willmar hissed at her friend.
"I'm talking to you," she was now beside Phoenix about to pounce on her. Her face didn't look friendly at all.
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Were you saying something?" Phoenix asked in return with a hitched tone.
"Never mind," Wilmar finally gave up.
.
.
.
"Mum, I want to find Perry," Phoebe told her mum excitedly. She was in her best self and had taken a lot of time to dress up. And just for Perry.
Nothing was going to stop her from being intimate with him tonight.
"Hello, nice to meet you too. I'm happy that you accepted my invitation." Perry greeted almost all the guests. He kept doing that as his part to meet the one person he had been expecting to see.
His grandfather Worcestershire would give out the opening welcome very soon.
What was it?
He saw John approaching him and asked if he had seen the CEO of FACE. John shook his head to say no. But John wasn't up to that. He was on an errand.
"Miss Phoebe wants to see you," he informed Perry who was staring at the main entrance.
"What?" He wasn't sure of what he heard.
"Miss Phoebe wants to see you," John repeated his statement.
Perry nodded after giving it a thought. "I am behind you." He had no choice but to let her wish come true.
.
.
.
Anna arrived late. Though she was only there to deliver a message, she didn't feel comfortable. She had drawn attention from all types of people present there.
Lemme make it quick and get out of this place.
She scanned through the groups one by one to check for the one she was there for. Still, there were piecing gazes from the old and young men. She was in a suit. That confirmed all the gazes. She quickly ran to the staircase after spotting him there.
Perry made it to where John had led him. It was a mistaken one after John pointed up to the staircase. His patience was running out, but he had to.
"Hi," he was greeted by the softest voice ever. His hand rested on the railings and did not try to take another step.
The wrap dress fit her perfectly revealing her feminine curves. The wine color blended with her skin tone.
"Phoenix!" He muted to himself but his companion heard him loud and clear.
Anger began to seeth within Phoebe. She had taken all the time in the world to dress up, and here he was, taking Phoenix's name in front of her.
Perry could see the color changes on his companion's face and had mistaken Phoebe for Phoenix. He had forgotten that John had told him it was Phoebe and not Phoenix. He had to do something to get her back up.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were Phoenix. I'm expecting her so that we can both sign the contract. I'm sorry if I've offended you." Perry revealed the contract to her.
It seemed Phoebe wasn't interested in that at all. The apology was all she needed at the moment.
"It seems you haven't taken anything since your arrival,"
Phoebe couldn't hold her smiles in. Her cheeks burned with excitement.
"She's not here," Perry admitted to himself.
"Thanks, I'm okay." Just having him in front of her made her satisfied.
"I'd like it if you..." She tried to close the gap between them.
"Sorry sir," a voice made her halt in her tracks.
Who dared to cut her in the middle of a beautiful setup?
Anna, the wretched's secretary.
"Anna,"
"You know her." Phoebe behaved like she never knew her blocker.
"Yes,"
And she was in a suit.
What's with this boss and employee thing?
"Please excuse for a minute." She heard her companion say.
Perry led Anna to the other side of the up corridor. Phoebe just stared at their backs. She was furious.
"I'm sorry to have disrupted your conversation." Anna apologized for her behavior when they were out of Phoebe's sight. A little bit of her was happy that she cut the so-called twin of her boss short.
"Phoenix isn't a little bit well." She began with her message.
"It's not that she doesn't want to be here; it's just that she isn't the social type, and thinking about all the chaos within made her get a headache," Anna added her lines to the message.
"It's okay. Is she alright?" Perry asked with concern itched in his voice.
"She has taken a day off. That would do for her."
"Okay," he sounded better after hearing this part.
"And the contract, she wants to go over one last time," she added the contract though it wasn't mentioned to her in the message.
"I have no problem with that. She can take all the time in the world to read it again. I'm okay with it ." He told Anna.
"Thank you, sir, please permit me to leave." Anna tried to get away after delivering the message.
"No, no. Please stay to have a drink." Perry persuaded her.
"Thank you, sir, but my outfit is not suitable here." She made an excuse.
"If you say so." Perry let her go.
"Thank you. Have a good day." She said and left through another door.
Perry stood there looking at the crowd that had gathered in front of his grandfather.
He had no joy in going back to Phoebe.