Emilia was excited when she received the next email with the details of the next event. Thankfully, it was not another dinner, but rather a gallery opening.
She researched the artists featured during the exhibition, and any influential guests that were publicly announcing their attendance.
She bought her new dress from the same shop as before, this time picking an emerald green pleated midi dress with cape sleeves. As her dress was an obvious staple, she only put the earrings on. Same pair as before.
Patrick came around to give her the invitation when she was almost ready. He was in awe of her again, and he very keenly offered to get her a green matching stilettos with an ankle strap, which Emilia couldn't be more thankful for as it complimented her outfit perfectly.
Once ready, Emilia sat in the car with the driver who drove her two weeks earlier.
She could get used to this. She could get used to chatting to the driver about his family on the way to yet another fancy event.
The new gallery was breathtaking in the glory of lights that were placed at the entrance. It was modern, inviting, intriguing.
Emilia looked around in admiration as she entered the tall building within the city centre. After years of seeing it slowly erupt from the ground, she was among one of the first seeing it finished.
She passed the invitation to the staff member who quickly led her inside ensuring that the waiter passed by her as soon as giving her a chilled glass of champagne.
Emilia took it with hesitation. She barely ever drunk but right now she wanted to fit in. The beauty of this event was that she wasn't expected to talk as much. She didn't have to entertain anyone with the continuous conversation all of the time. Instead she slowly paced between the rooms, appreciating the remarkable artwork of a few well know artists. In the corner of the large hall a string quartet played classical music which build the atmosphere up. Between the art and the music, it was as if you entered the fairytale. It all fitted together like the pieces of puzzle into this wondrous image.
The evening made Emilia particularly nostalgic. Once upon a time, Emilia made a decision and chose sciences over arts. Sometimes she wondered if she did the right thing. She wondered if she could've had a career where she could be creative for a living.
But doing arts up until the start of university meant that she had a different appreciation of the work before her than an average person.
"Emilia?" A young woman's voice sounded behind her. Emilia turned around to find Grace who was approaching her with excitement.
"Good evening, Grace."
"So good to see you!" Grace gave her a half hug as a welcome. "How are you?"
"I'm well. Yourself?"
"Great too." Grace looked around carefully. "It's so good to catch you without Mr Hayden causing all that tension at the table last time."
"A lot of people hold Mr Hayden in a very high regard. It is only expected that his presence causes people to feel particularly self-conscious."
"Certainly." Grace nodded in agreement not realising that Emilia purposely interfered in her somewhat negative view. "My brother is going to be so upset that I've got to see you whilst he is away." Grace chuckled.
"Jacob?" Emilia remembered that she exchanged her number with him and haven't heard from him yet. It fell out of her mind completely.
"Yes. Poor Jacob had to go for a business trip pretty much the next day after the gala dinner. He is working like 12 hour days to get the contract with a company that already does sustainable wear, just like you recommended!"
"Oh wow, I do sincerely hope that it works out for you both."
"I hope so to. Maybe you should consider being our business partner? We could use your big brains."
"Oh. Maybe one day." Emilia smiled back at Grace shyly.
"Jacob is yet to shut up about you. Just so you know, he is truly smitten with you."
"I'll consider that a compliment." Emilia blushed in reddest red which was barely concealed by her thin layer of make up.
Grace was pulled away from Emilia by someone who recognised her from school.
Emilia managed to find a quieter room where the central piece was the most mesmerising sculpture of a woman blowing the dandelion made out of some sort of metal. Emilia's eyes were open wide in true wonder as she looked at each piece of work, but she kept returning to the sculpture.
All that walking in the new shoes has proven to be a bad idea. The stiffness of the fabric that made the shoe started digging into the back of Emilia's heel. She concealed her discomfort well as her skin slowly rolled over the edge of the shoes, creating painful blisters.
"Good evening, madam." Someone approached her again. She was getting better at maintaining the small talk with strangers.