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Chapter 3 - Chapter One

The Estellaa Ball

There are twelve months each year, but only one is important. You take the expectation of those other 11 months to cultivate yourself into the fertilized field that is the rich.

All those hard work just to fall into the mercies of the socialites. This will matter more in the latter month.

December

A time filled with balls, charity events, and simply Christmas festivities. And these parties are not mere ones where you feel warm and welcomed.

This is a battleground for your next year's faith. Well, unless of course, you managed to ensure yourself in the top tier.

The Estellaa's

They were the creme de la creme of the social hierarchy. With the loss of their patriarch last July, the household had a new family head.

Madam Medeline Estrellaa is a gentle and kind soul. Being widowed for the past four months she didn't show any weakness in the face of her children, especially to Ian. Maybe that's why it's okay for her son to marry me the same year as her husband died. As her son slipped the ring on my finger she already accepted me as her daughter.

While her daughter, Ian's younger sister, was quite loathing towards me. Isabelle Estrellaa is a force to be reckoned with, with her aloof and unruly persona she was the hardest Estrellaa to coax. Yet for the benefit of her older brother she manages to tame her sharp tongue. Occasionally, she would forget that she should be accepting as her mother, and would throw acid words. Well, sometimes those words are valid.

Her hostility double when Ian proposed to me. She was certain I had ulterior motives on her brother. But I want him for the money, it's not like I was planning to kill him.

"Well done brother, you've managed to make a madam of the estate out of this beggar", she sarcastically implied towards all of the luxurious jewelry that adorned my neck. The whole selection cost 12 million, from the earrings, necklace, down to the three sophisticated bracelets.

"Yes, perhaps the only missing piece is a crown. And I'd be mistaken for royalty", I said looking down at her with a sly smile on my lips.

"Oh please, you wouldn't be mistaken for royalty even if you are", she rolled her eyes at me as her brother, who deliberately dismissed her comment, wrapped his arms around the tip of my shoulder. His fingers trailed gingerly down to the curve of my waist and settled there.

"Let's stop this catfight, the guests are waiting, your highness", he kissed my temple and smiled. We sauntered towards the ball greeting some guest that were lingering the halls for intimacy.

Classical music hummed through the air and a mixture from pleasant to the irksome scent of perfumes filled my nostrils. These people are here to impress. They were stalking for an opportunity to either take advantage or down each other.

I would know so. I've been there.

It was funny how I transgress from a gazelle on a pride into a lioness with the highest social status you can attain.

With their costly suit, embellished gowns, and gleaming jewelry. Nothing but the best from these people of course. They are here to impress you or bring you down. Hope that you're not the latter.

I've put on my calculated smile for those whom I've recognized among the crowd. From businessmen to mob fathers, wives to mistresses. Everyone who's anyone was here.

Soon men and women approached us. Some of them for business intentions while others are congratulating us for our engagement. My hand has already been passed down from one grasp to another just to get a glimpse of my engagement ring.

Reactions from women vary. Only a scarce number of them had been genuine about their sincerity with our engagement. An ample of them had wavering composure like it took a lot of their energy just to be within my presence. To my apprehension, these were the women who either had a fling or somewhat infatuation towards my fiance.

All of the things that had just happened since we joined the party had flown by my mind. It was only when a familiar couple approached us.

Wearing his all-white three-piece suit and a gorgeous brunette on his arm was my ex-lover, William.

He had his jaw clenched but when they closed off the distance he gave a quick smile to Ian.

"The congratulations are in order," he said with a touch of subtle sarcasm. I don't know if Ian caught on to that. They had a short handshake as his date extended her hand to me. I thought she wanted a handshake also but she pulled me to a hug.

"Congratulations Anna," she said, I looked at William confused. He gave me a grim smile and subtly pulled his date off of me, "Manners dear".

Ian didn't think twice when he gripped my waist tighter than before." Control your woman Mr. Goivanni" he said in a snarl. William smirked taunting Ian even further.

"We both know women shouldn't be controlled Ian, they had a choice of their own, even if it's choosing to cheat for money and power", he spoke to Ian with a suppressed wrath.

Both Ian and I huffed in irritation. I held the side of this chest to stop him from assaulting William at the greatly important occasion of their family.

Feeling unsteady and exhausted I excused myself. Taking a glass of wine from the waiter I silently slipped out of the party.

It was when found a quiet garden not far from the party that I let out a deep sigh. But relief was short-lived when I felt someone hug me from the back.

From the perfume itself, I could tell who this person was. Once upon a time, it had been comforting but now that I had someone who was wealthier and influential I had to be comprehensive not to ruin this opportunity so I struggled from his hold. " Why are you doing this to me, Ann?" William asked with desperation and longing.

I faced him with a harsh expression "What is your problem, Will? Are you trying to ruin me?" Anger was seeping out of my teeth.

His expression hardened, "I loved you. So much Ann" he grunted with equal resentment to my own. "Yet you did this to me! And after two years of dating Estrellaa you're going to marry him?!" he yelled in a hushed voice.

I didn't know how to answer him so I just clenched my jaw. "We were dating for five years, and in those years you cheated on me countless of times, but I still wanted you to marry me!" his voice gradually rising, he had already wrapped his hands around my arms. He was gripping it painfully, I could only whimper.

It must've woken him up from his fury. He loosens his hold and pulled me into a soft hug. "I was waiting for you to realize that you love me as much as I loved you and come back to me" he muttered as he let go.

His hands found it's way to my face, he caressed it. "But I guess I'm not rich enough for you" he gave me a grim smile and left.

My heart wrung in pain. I have been used to hurting people for my advantage but what William professed about what he felt even if I betrayed him punctured into my cold exterior.

I sat on the stone bench as I calm the incoming tears. I haven't cried in years, well genuinely cried and I wasn't going to start now. I'm going to get what I want, no one is going to pity party me into stopping.

"Tired of pretending?" a voice said in the shadows behind the bushes. This person was

I was about to spit fire when that voice came forward and revealed Maximus. His bright eyes that contrasted his dark complexion bore into my own.

Max has been my friend since I applied for a job as his assistant. He was the most understanding person I have ever known. Never had anything bad to say with my escapades.

Being the quiet one, he liked to observe. He had known all of me within the first year of our friendship.

I gave him a weak smile, "You can't be tired when you're rich.", he scoffed at me.

"Nana, are you sure you're happy with what you're doing?", he asks worriedly. I enjoyed how this cold ice block of a man cared for me and not in a sexual way. I had found comfort in his reserved presence.

I grip his hand as he also sat down on the stone bench. "Yes," I said with much conviction. I don't want my mind to wander about what-ifs and whys. I am happy with my life right now, I am content of feeling financially secured and adored by the populace.

"You said that like your trying to convince yourself rather than me", he held the hand with my glamorous ring near his face and scrutinized it with much intensity.

"Constantly trifling these people might be okay, but marrying yourself into one...", he trailed his words allowing me to fill up to his thoughts knowing I've experienced more awful things towards these people than him.

These were his people yet his wallflower manner enabled him to see society beyond their apparent individuality.

I wanted to say more to him. But I already spotted Ian scouring for me at the foot of the garden. He saw us with our hands clasped together, yet he didn't acknowledge anything. He only nodded at Max and turned to me.

I tapped Max's hands reassuringly. "I'll be fine Max, this is the life I've always wanted. Now that I'm here I can't let this go", I said to him as I walked towards my fiance.

Wrapping my hands around his arms he guided me in a different direction from the party.

" First you were hugging your ex, then I see you holding hands and huddled in the darkest part of the garden with your so-called friend", he asserted nonchalantly, I managed to look at him dumbfounded.

Opening my mouth to say something when he pushed me harshly onto a wall "I know you may have your flirtatious feats before, but I will not have you do them when we are engaged and most importantly when we're married, Annalise" he uttered in a quiet voice.

Tears were threatening to spring out of my eyes, I said nothing but nodded at him. I contemplated at first but gave in and claimed my lips.

He was pressing his hardened member on my thighs as he ravaged my mouth down to my neck. I moaned on his lips when felt his unforgiving hunger. His hands went down to clutch my ass and to raise me to straddle him.

I was a hot mess when he stopped. My eyes dwindled in lust and my breath was panting. He held my waist suggestively as we head home with an intention to satisfy.

---

I've let out an exasperated sigh as the machine turned on allowing me to relax the muscles on my feet. Letting the coldness of the cucumber seep onto my eyes.

A night of socializing in heels took a toll on my poor feet. I've beg Ian not to let me come to another one of his club meetings, instead have this foot massage and a pampering time.

Good thing I didn't have to ask for his card like the first year of our relationship. Instead, he opted to have me my own AmX card.

Finally a small black card with my name on it that had no limit. My face lit up every time I grab it to pay. After 10 years of climbing to the top.

"You know there's a cafe near here that seems to have one of the best lattes.", the woman beside me said. Judging by the southern accent it was Ophelia. She was a quirky gal, having the largest ranch in the south, she was more than your average spoiled girl.

"Last time I checked, you don't like coffee Lia" Siobhan sarcastically says as she chews off something which I guess is a cucumber. Skepticism and sarcasm suited her the best.

"I don't but Anna does", she bit back. I lifted my cucumber to take a look at them. Siobhan rolled off her eyes as she scowled at the manicurist.

Wanting to piss her off more, "Yeah let's get coffee after this", I smiled widely and set down my cucumber back again.

---

After fixing my lipgloss, I stepped out of my Aston. I hear multiple doors slamming behind me causing me to look back at them. "Be careful with my car you witches. It's more valuable than both of your cars combined", I glared at both of them just rolled their eyes, and muttered their sorry.

We were walking up to a two-story brick building that had huge glass windows and a balcony on each floor.

Stepping inside, we felt overdressed by our designer clothes, handbags, and shoes. People here seemed like college students and office workers who just took a break.

"Are you sure this is the place Lia?", whispered to her. She fidgets through her phone and said, "Yep! This is the right place!", we walked to the farthest table by the window.

We were already grimacing at people who looked like they were vomited by a thrift shop.

I furiously scrubbed the table with my wet wipes when, "Hi! What do you, girls, like?", a man's voice asked. I look up to see two emeralds.

Those are eyes!

I was captivated by the deep green color of his eyes underneath those hooded lids. His pitch-black hair reminded me of the color of a crow's feathers, all smoothed out to a low bun.

His white, slightly crumpled uniform did wonders to his chest. It looked packed and hard to touch. My hands burned to roam on both sides of his chest up to his broad shoulders---

"ANNA!" I didn't realize I was gawking at the man too intensely for my sake. He made me feeling like a wanton woman. His lips moved to a smirk, as he repeated his first question. "What will you girls have?"

You

I felt red from the thought of that. I quickly brushed it off. He had snickered as if he heard what I just thought of.

I faced my friends and saw Ophelia was also gaping at the man while Siobhan was eyeing me. She had that adverse look that could make a normal girl cry. I don't know what she would accomplish staring at me in that manner.

I cleared my throat and grabbed the menu, I skimmed through the pages while feeling his burning gaze on the side of my face. His stare pricked my skin. "I'll have a latte, a chicken pie, and a pineapple pie", facing him with a wavering smile.

Siobhan nudged Lia, who was still staring at the poor man. "We'll just have iced tea and cheesecake for two". She then pulled a portion of Ophelia's hair that snapped her.

Ophelia scolded at her for a moment then went to giggle in front of the man. She tucked a loose hair and bit her lip.

However, the man was oblivious to this and just wrote down our orders and nodded. He strode back to the kitchen, sparing a glance at me then went to get our orders done.

---

Sincerely,

Atticus