Daren burst into the closet, bringing out a collection of dazzling rhinestone dresses.
"Oh no! Daren, I wouldn't be caught dead in those!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "Lana may look stunning, but I want something more elegant yet laid back. Let me find something myself."
I rummaged through the closet and found a cream sequin mini dress. It had a cowl neck, long sleeves, and an exposed but tasteful back. The dress exuded elegance with a touch of sassiness. Long dresses were always so inconvenient, after all.
As I tried on the dress, I realized that pairing it with boots would make the outfit appear too outdoorsy. Instead, I opted for a pair of cream-colored lace-up heels. Luckily, Lana and I shared the same shoe size, so I quickly slipped them on. With my ensemble complete, I confidently stepped out of the closet, catching Daren's wide-eyed stare.
"Now that's the reaction I was expecting," I grinned, sashaying towards him. I needed his assistance to tackle my unruly hair, though. I handed Daren Lana's curling iron, knowing that he was not only a fashion expert but also a professional hair stylist. He happily took the iron, promising to work his magic.
***
"I wonder what is taking them so long," Lana mused, glancing around the room at her guests. "I can't check on them; I have to stay and entertain."
As Lana exchanged pleasantries, a wave of gasps swept through the room, and everyone turned their heads towards the stairs. My arrival had caused quite the stir.
"Sorry, sis, for taking so long. Daren was determined to raid your closet," I chuckled.
"I wasn't raiding anything! I just wanted to find the perfect outfit for her," Daren protested.
"You should be grateful I saved your closet from him," I teased.
"Ashlyn!" Lana scolded playfully.
Lana giggled at our bickering and linked her arms with both of us. "Alright, that's enough from both of you. Let's enjoy the party together. And, Reina, you look absolutely fabulous."
"Thanks, love," I replied.
Daren feigned shedding a tear and dramatically declared, "I never thought I would live to see the day you two would get along."
"Well, you're alive and well, dummy. Come on now," I said, pulling Daren along.
The three of us continued to socialize and enjoy the party, our bond stronger than ever. Society had started taking notice of me, and everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place.
****
"Waaaah! Please don't leave, baby!" Lana pouted, her voice filled with a hint of desperation.
I inwardly chuckled at Lana's adorable display. "Come on, Lana. I need some rest, and I have to cook at home."
"You can cook here too! Pleaaasee, don't leave!" she pleaded, widening her eyes.
As much as I wanted to stay and bask in Lana's company, I knew I needed some time alone to reflect on the day's events. Besides, Lana had a tendency to talk for hours, and I needed some peace and quiet.
"I promise I'll visit often, okay? We'll have plenty of time together," I assured her.
"But what about that thing you wanted to tell me earlier?" Lana pressed.
Oh no, I couldn't let my panic show. If Lana found out about my secret, there would be chaos.
"Next time, baby. I love you," I said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Bye!"
With my purse slung over my shoulder, I gracefully ran to the exit, not caring about the attention I drew. Being skilled at walking in heels came in handy. Only a few guests remained, and they were closer to Lana, so they smiled and nodded in understanding.
"Phew! I thought she was going to tie me to herself. Where on earth is Charles? I'm exhausted," I muttered to myself.
"Ahem, Ashlyn."
Oh no, Axel had impeccable timing. I stood tall and resolved not to let him ruin the great time I'd had with Lana. Thinking on my feet, I pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber.
"There's no way in hell I'm dealing with a suffocating ride with you, Axel. See you," I said with a smile, my eyes gleaming mischievously.
His expression flickered, a mixture of anger and surprise. Was he about to hit me?
He stepped closer, invading my personal space, but I stood my ground.
"Hey, Axel, maybe try this thing called 'personal space.' You seem to be forgetting about it," I quipped.
He stared at me for a moment before finally speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "And what are you going to do about it? Spill wine all over me?"
Ha! I knew he was angry with Lilith. Did I care? Absolutely not. That dumb bitch had tried to poison me. She was lucky I didn't do something worse.
"Nope, you're too tall for that. I'd cut off your balls. So keep your nasty, cheating ass to yourself for the rest of your life," I retorted, smirking as I walked away, leaving him astonished behind me.
"Jealous, much?" Axel taunted with a sly smirk, his eyes glinting mischievously.
I rolled my eyes, refusing to let him get under my skin. "Of what, hun? Your disgusting spunk?" I shot back, trying to mask my irritation. "Ohh my, my ride's here. Good night, Axel."
Stepping into the car, I slammed the door shut with a satisfying thud. The tension from the encounter with Axel lingered, making me crave a distraction. "What a fuckin' long day," I muttered to myself, exhaustion settling in.
As the car carried me away, my eyelids grew heavy, and before long, I dozed off.
***
"Ma'am… Ma'am!" a voice called, jolting me awake.
"Oh! We've arrived?" I blinked, groggily coming to my senses.
"Yes. Sorry for disturbing your sleep, though. But you need the rest, and a bed is the most comfortable place to do that," the driver replied with a warm smile.
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a touch of gratitude for his consideration. I paid him and stepped out of the car.
Surprisingly, the lights weren't out yet. That meant Axel must have arrived before me. Curiosity gnawed at me as I made my way towards the front door.
"Oh, Charles! I thought you had retired for the day?" I called out, spotting the familiar figure waiting patiently.
"Not until you're asleep, ma'am," Charles replied with a respectful nod.
"Ohh! Well, I'm off to the kitchen. Could you ask that bubbly girl who gave you my popcorn to join me? I can't remember her name for the life of me," I requested with a sense of anticipation brewing within me.
"She'll be with you in a moment, ma'am," Charles assured me.
Entering the house, I dropped my bag on a nearby chair before heading towards the kitchen. It had been a long day, and I longed for something simple yet comforting. Spaghetti and Meatballs it was.
Unconsciously, I kicked off my shoes, feeling the plush carpet beneath my feet. Ah, comfort and paradise intertwined.
Reaching the kitchen, I deposited the groceries I had obtained earlier and surveyed the lack of stocked items. Ashlyn clearly had a tendency to rely on fast food, and I couldn't help but shake my head.
As I began to gather the necessary ingredients, the presence of someone else in the room caught my attention. Turning around, I spotted the young woman I had requested, her gaze filled with surprise.
"Hello, ma'am," she greeted tentatively.
"Heyyy! Thanks for coming here. I could really use the help and someone to talk to. I hate cooking alone," I exclaimed cheerfully, trying to put her at ease. Her initial hesitation made me laugh. "Don't worry, I did not call you here to question you. I just want someone to talk to while I cook. Plus, you seem to love food."
She looked taken aback by my friendliness, and I found it oddly endearing.
"A-alright, mistress," she stumbled, clearly still adjusting to the circumstances.
"Hmm... Seems like I'll make an exception for you, though. With such a cute face, why don't you call me by my other name? Reina," I suggested playfully, my eyes gleaming mischievously.
She blushed and immediately responded, "I wouldn't dare!"
"Awwn, come on!" I teased, nudging her to be more at ease.
"Miss... Rei..." she reluctantly uttered, her words brimming with a newfound familiarity.
"I can't hear you..." I prodded gently, enjoying the way her shyness melted away.
"Reina!" she exclaimed, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
"Hehe, see? Nothing terrible happened. Now, how was your day?" I inquired, genuinely curious about her experiences.
She appeared both confused and relieved by my genuine interest. "It was boring but fun too. Mr. Charles assigned different tasks to the maids. I got to chat with them," she revealed.
The mention of maids caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but furrow my brows in curiosity. Had I missed something during my time away?
"Oh, right! The Master does not like noise, so he decided that the maids should do their chores and remain out of sight unless absolutely necessary," she explained, offering a glimpse into this mysterious household.
My focus now wrapped around the tantalizing prospect of a secret hidden within the walls, my cooking project momentarily forgotten.
"Pass me the oil, will you?" I requested absentmindedly, my thoughts consumed by the intriguing information she had shared.
As she passed the oil to me, her gaze betrayed an unspoken question. My curiosity piqued, I gestured for her to share whatever was on her mind.
"It's nothing, really," she hesitated, her words carrying a tinge of uncertainty.
"Hehe, it's definitely something now. Since you yelled that much. C'monnn. You literally told me about your day," I goaded her playfully, pressing for the truth she seemed hesitant to reveal.
She hesitated once more, then pulled out her phone, a twinkle of excitement in her eyes.
"Mistress, have you by any chance checked your social media accounts?" she inquired mysteriously.
My interest was immediately piqued. Ashlyn had social media accounts? I hadn't even been aware of their existence.
"Ermm... Not really," I confessed, curious to see what she was about to show me.
With a mischievous grin, she opened her phone and clicked on TikTok, clearly eager to reveal her discovery. "Haha, here it is…"
I was in shock as I watched a video of Lilith pouring champagne on me, and then me retaliating by emptying a bottle on her. But it was the comments that truly took me by surprise.
"Oh my God! She looks terrible. So that red hair was all fake? Gosh, I never knew!"
"Waahhh! I think my ribs are going to come apart. Just look at her face!"
"Hehe, I like the color mix. Why would she wear such a flashy dress to a birthday that isn't hers? What's she trying to do?"
"Serves her right!"
"Such a bitch. I've always seen her walk all over people."
"Whoever touched her sure has guts! I like the person already… Hold up, what am I saying?! I love them!"
But one comment caught my attention...
"Hehe, I see Reina is back."
Who the fuck was this person?! The only person who knew I was back was Lana. Who else knew about my personality disorder and that I wasn't Ashlyn?
I decided to investigate later, and for now, focused on dinner. I cleared my head and handed the phone back to Tina. Ahh, I had finally remembered her name!
"Well, well, well. Looks like someone recorded what happened at the party, huh?"
"Yep, and it totally serves that bitch right! Arrgh, the audacity! What gave her the right to toss champagne at you? She was always acting so high and mighty! Hmph! I'm so glad she's been put in her place. She has no right to treat you or anyone else like she has."
Hmm, it seemed this Tina girl was much more fond of Ashlyn than I had realized.
"Tina..."
"Oops! My bad, but Mistress… I really don't like her. She has treated you so badly and that annoying head maid is always supporting her. I and the other maids couldn't do anything!"
"Why do you say that? You could have reported it to Axel."
She shivered and swallowed. Something was definitely wrong. Her whole expression changed, and I could see beads of sweat running down her face, despite the coolness of the kitchen.
"I-I tried to once..."
I could sense the fear in her voice and wondered what Axel had done to her.
"What did he do, Tina? I'm not asking you as Reina, but as a friend. Please tell me."
She suddenly locked eyes with me, tears welling up. She struggled to hold them back, her trembling hands giving away her inner turmoil.
I wanted to embrace her and offer words of comfort, but something told me that her words would only further fuel the anger within me. So instead, I kept my hands to myself.
"He allowed Miss Lilith to brand my back with a hot iron while he watched. He also caned me and told me to 'face my job' in the kitchen."
My blood boiled as I heard her devastating revelation. Axel, that bastard!