Covering the small bandage on the side of my head, I slipped on my sparkling Jimmy Choos heels. I sighed, grabbing my clutch.
This was it!
My most important event of the year. And I simply must not let a single thing get out of place, no matter how much those flames distracted me. It had to be a dream.. a nightmare. It must have been. Many times I argued with myself whether or not I should call her. I was worried, scared, for the life of the woman that indeed raised me. Every moment felt so real... physical, the fire, the heat, the roaring flames and... her screams.
I could still hear her screams in the back of my mind, faded, making me lose balance; making my legs lose the strength to hold my body. I steadied myself by grabbing onto the table beside me. I sighed. shaking my head, before standing straight again, but it only got worse.. my heart started racing as the screams that was once faded, grew louder and louder in my head, a horrible ringing sensation that wanted me to rip my hair out and scream, hoping my own screams would dominate over hers.
The pain suddenly subsided as I put the seafoam eyes into mind. It gave me something to hold to, a strength of hope to pass the pain and despair. It gave the sweet oxygen that my lungs dearly craved for. It pulled me into its dangerous depths, making me forget the real world and the pain. From the waters that tried to drown me the seafoam eyes provided me with a beacon of light, powering me on to fight against the large waves.
I sighed. How some person I dreamed of was able to have such an effect on my frayed nerves and thumping heart I didn't know, but took its comfort without thinking, for it provided me something no other could.
I gulped, smoothing the navy dress, waves of nets flowed around my legs, its volume giving it an elegant look of beauty. The dress lined up against my chest, pushing against my breasts, before it flowed down past my ankles. The back would slide across the floors as I walk. A dress' elegance is what mattered most to me, Sooyaa's Desires promotes elegance and beauty, with un underlying sexiness, hence the material hugging my breasts enough to show a little bit of my cleavage, a teasing factor to have men wondering what I have hidden. Adding to that factor I allowed it to be off-shoulder and it a small drape around my breasts and arms in a finer silk material.
The upper half of the dress was plain midnight blue compared to the lower half- the skirt of the dress. A soft fabric of the same shade ran down, and a large net piece surrounded it, with golden star patterns embedded into the net. The off-shoulder dress exposed my neck and shoulders boldly.
Sighing, I slid my fingers along the waist of the dress, where the skirt and chest piece of the outfit met, and also where I had embedded the shape of the dragon the stars revealed to me that night, with small coin-sized diamonds. I didn't have an exact reason for why I had, but it definitely completed the look, something small to glimmer under the bright lights.
Taking a deep breath, I looked at myself in the mirror. I had kept my make-up to a minimum, apart from the ruby lipstick that stood out alarmingly. I left my hair flow into its usual waves, leaving it down completely, letting it graze my shoulders and back softly.
I groaned in annoyance seeing the stitches on my arms and the small bandage on my head that wouldn't hide for me. I had applied plenty of make-up along my arms and allowed my hair to cover the bandage, but no matter what I did, it would still show. Everything else was perfect and in place, but the accident had thrown off the whole look, but I was still here, standing confidently against the world. I was never the one to back down so easily, that's why I kept strong and lived.
The knock on my door snapped me away from my thoughts, "Yes?" I asked, letting my voice sound through the door.
"Ms. Kwon, the gala has begun, everyone would like to see you, ma'am." The sound of my sales department secretary, Claire, sounded through the door.
"Yes, thank you, Claire. I'm coming." I acknowledged her words.
"Yes, ma'am." She said, before I heard the sound of her footsteps fading off as she walked away from the door.
I sighed, opening my phone hoping to see Cameron had sent me some updates regarding my case. I had asked him to hire America's best detectives and find the one responsible for trying to have me dead. The world worked in sick ways, bribery, manipulation and murder for one to achieve and succeed. Though some hope for change, evil still lurks into the minds of greedy to achieve their goals by one means or another.
Scrolling through the messages, I shook my head in seeing there was nothing new they had found. While Cameron had tried to comfort me, that didn't stop my worries, the one responsible for almost killing me was still out there, searching for another way. While I had tightened security and only allowed people in the guest list in, something in the back of my mind pricked at me.
My eyes shifted towards the unread messages mother had sent before our fight. Everything in me screamed to press the dial button and hear her soothing voice. I gulped, once again hearing her screams and feel the heat of the flames. It was my mind playing.. a dream- it couldn't have been real. But seeing she had not tried to contact me afterwards, sent a small shiver down my spine... fear. I always hated that emotion. I hadn't felt a strong wave of fear for so long, and now it was slowly appearing again, masking over the worry. If something really had happened to her, my father and Jackson would try to contact me, but then again I blocked them both. My eyes wandered to my phone again, and an overwhelming urge took over, wanting me to call her.
"You know what, I do wish for you to be dead! I do!"
But her words sent a sharp burning anger through my veins and I shoved the device back into my clutch. Over the years, I thought she would be the only one who actually cared, but it was really just an act to win over her husband's love again. I was the mere tool she used to achieve her goal.
Opening the doors, I allowed the clicks of my Jimmy Choo's against the marble floors to wander into my mind, and block every thought of mother and this family.
The sound of soft music and people chattering, clinking their glasses already reached my ears as I walked closer towards the ballroom set downstairs. Standing near the top of the stairs, I placed my hands on the rail looking down at the crowd of people that gathered around. I smiled seeing the gala was already a success. I felt proud looking down at familiar faces, all of those I had invited.
My eyes quickly glanced over the ballroom. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, shining towards every corner of the large room. The seafoam colours stood marvelously against the silvers that ran along the decorations, catching everyone's eyes, admiring the beautiful colour I have chosen.
I smiled climbing down the stairs that lead to the ballroom, some eyes turned towards me, taking in the elegance of my entrance and my dress. I smirked, watching the many eyes that trailed my footsteps. The back of my dress slid gracefully down the stairs behind me, giving everyone a glance of my sparkling Jimmy Choos with each step I took.
I was instantly met with handshakes and congratulations as I stepped down. While everyone's eyes held joy, I knew the world was secretly jealous of where I stood. Not everyone can build themselves up and start a company, and develop it.
"Congratulations, ma'am." Amelia Jiance, the daughter of my father's secretary congratulated me, while eyeing the dress I wore. She was ready to start a career, a company of her own, desirably. Many times she had tried to contact me through my father, but of course he denied saying he could help her himself, another way to boost his so-called perfect image.
But, she had spotted me during an event my father held, asking me for advice. Though it was mentoring she wanted, I had asked her to become a model under my company, where she could see how I run everything and even have fame of her own.
Thankfully, it was a success, every magazine wanted her, because she had it all, everything kept to natural. Long legs, perfect curves and good posture, and her square shoulders.
"Thank you." I smirked, "I hope the shooting with Vogue magazine went well."
"Definitely, ma'am, thank you. And you look stunning, by the way." She complimented me.
"I know." I said, looking around at the crowd; my eyes wandered around, happy to see everyone was enjoying themselves. The eyes of many men watched me.. watched my every move, trying to undress me with their eyes. I scoffed, turning away from many of their eyes until a certain dark-eyed man caught my eye. My eyes narrowed into slits as he smirked at me, raising a glass of champagne.
I gritted my teeth, cutting off Amelia from whatever she was saying, "Excuse me, Amelia."
"Oh sure..-"
Passing her, I walked straight up to the man, balling my fists, "Antonio Venturi!" I spoke his name, through the gritting of my teeth.
He chuckled, smirking with an over-confidence that made me want to punch his stupid face, "Kwon Jisoo," He raised his champagne glass, "Don't you look ravishing." His eyes travelled the length of my body, boldly.
"Get your disgusting ass out of my gala!" I hissed. I tried to keep my voice down, not wanting to draw attention to this Venturi.
"Why, is that way to treat your guests?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Last time I checked the list, your name wasn't on it!" I snapped.
"Nope, but I have my ways." He winked, bringing the glass to his lip and taking a sip of his drink.
"What do you mean, Venturi?!"
"He's my plus one." The soft voice of a female spoke, before she came into sights, wrapping her arms around Antonio.
"Delancey Williams.." I spoke her name, keeping my voice monotone. She was her father's most prized possession; the richest girl in New York city, "Isn't she a bit young for you?" I asked Antonio as I gazed at the seventeen year old beside him. Her silky pink dress barely covered her body; revealing her naked hips at both sides. Her soft coffee skin glowed with pride like the diamond necklace that laid on her neck. Her eyes narrowed into slits, trying to glare at me. The silky dress hugged her figure before flaring out. A soft pink she confidently pulled off. I smirked seeing the jealousy grow in her nut-brown eyes as she looked at my dress.
"Huh, is the confident, mighty Kwon Jisoo jealous?" Antonio chuckled wrapping an arm around her, but his eyes were still set on me, causing the young girl to frown up at him, making her shiny waves of blonde hair to drape over her shoulders.
"No," I told him sternly, "Just trying to help daddy's girl here from making the worst mistake of her life!"
"Excuse me?!" She snapped, gritting her teeth at me, "You won't be only one to run a multi-million company. Williams' cooperation will be mine; I'm the company's heiress!" She flared as she looked into my eyes.
I crossed my arms looking directly at her, "Really?" I asked casually as Antonio watched us with interest.
"Yes, and watch me I'll run my company better than some party girl." She smirked, looking at me up and down.
I scoffed, "I think you may be talking about yourself, Delancey!"
"What?!"
"You're still young, business isn't something you would understand." I said, trying to brush her off.
"Bring it, b*tch!"
I raised an eyebrow at her foul word, causing Antonio to chuckle and whisper something into her ear.
I shook my head at the nonsense happening in front of my eyes, "Delancey, the last I heard, your father is putting Williams' cooperation under my rules. 60% of the profit will belong to me. You, my darling, will be working under me. So, be careful on how you plan on addressing your future boss!"
"What?" The shock in her eyes nearly suffocated her.
"Did you think your father was planning on leaving a multi-million company into the hands of a girl who knows nothing about business?!" I smirked, "Honey, business is more than knowing how to throw a good party."
She screamed in frustration before walking off, earning questioning glances from people around.
"Great, you upset my date, Jisoo!" Antonio grumbled.
"Get out, Antonio!" I snapped.
He chuckled, drawing in close to me, until I could smell the alcohol in his breath but I stood my ground, I was not about to back down so easily, "One of these days, I'll make sure you will fall for me, Kwon Jisoo." He whispered.
"Leave, now!" I gritted my teeth.
"Alright, alright!" He chuckled, placing a kiss on my cheek. I felt my body heat up in flames again, a strange sensation of an invisible fire consuming my body once again. I pushed him off roughly, glaring at him as the sound of the flames rose. The fires, I could feel it again, ready to take their reins, "Oh and I'm sorry to hear about the accident." He faked concern, "Such a shame, it wasn't me to come up with an idea like that. But then again, I wouldn't want a precious little girl like you harmed."
The words he spoke took me by surprise, I felt my breath catch my throat. The flames calmed as shock registered in my body, "If it wasn't you... then... who.."
The Venturi simply chuckled, "Be careful, sweet Jisoo." He said as he walked off.
The heat that once embraced my skin died down. My breathing came out in pants and I could feel my heart hit against my chest violently. I sighed, shaking my head. Clearing my throat, I straightened my posture again.
A waiter passed with a tray holding full glasses of champagne, but I stopped him by quickly grabbing a glass making him almost trip, thankfully, he didn't drop the tray. I rose an eyebrow at him as he stared at me, he cleared his throat quickly walking away.
I sighed, taking a sip of my drink.
I didn't know whether to trust the Venturi or not. But if it really wasn't him..
Who was it?
"Ms. Kwon!" I snapped my head hearing my name, spoken by two urgent voices.
Claire and Cameron rushed towards me from both sides, "Ma'am, it's time for your speech!"
"No ma'am, please. I must speak with you!" Cameron spoke, preventing me from following Claire.
"What?" I frowned.
"It's Mrs. Euna Kwon.." He panted out.
"Mother..?" I whispered, gulping as I heard the faded screams of her ring in my head.
"Yes," I could hear the pity in his voice and it dreaded me, "And.. we have found the one responsible for almost killing you."
My eyes widened and my breathing almost stopped at his words...