Later that night, as the day faded into a cool, breezy evening, I found myself sitting with Vanessa in the living room of our hotel suite. The dim lighting gave the place a warm, cozy vibe, and after the wildness of the day, I was more than happy to just relax with her. She was sitting next to me on the couch, sipping a glass of red wine, looking as poised as ever. Her dark, wavy hair fell elegantly around her shoulders, and her sharp eyes seemed to be studying me, as if she had something on her mind.
I could feel the weight of her gaze, and after a moment, I turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, what is it? You've been giving me that look for the last ten minutes."
Vanessa smiled, setting her glass down on the coffee table in front of us. "What look?"
I laughed, leaning back into the couch. "That look you give me when you're about to drop some news on me. What's going on?"
She chuckled softly, her hand reaching out to rest on my knee, her fingers tracing light patterns there. "Okay, fine. You caught me. There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
I nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and slight unease. "Alright, hit me with it."
She took a breath, her eyes still locked on mine as she spoke. "There's a... social event coming up. It's a pretty big deal in my circle, and I was thinking about bringing you with me."
I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn't really been to any of Vanessa's high-society events yet, and the thought of stepping into her world—one I still didn't fully understand—made me a little nervous. "Oh? What kind of event?"
Vanessa smiled, but there was a flicker of something—amusement, maybe even mischief—in her eyes as she leaned back into the couch beside me. "It's called Pet Night."
I frowned, trying to make sense of the name. "Pet Night? What's that supposed to mean?"
She laughed softly, her hand still resting on my leg. "It's just the theme of the event. Basically, everyone dresses up as animals. It's... well, it's a bit of a tradition."
I raised an eyebrow, still not fully understanding. "Dresses up like animals? What, like a costume party?"
Vanessa shrugged, her eyes sparkling. "Something like that. You can go as wild or as subtle as you want. But yes, everyone wears some kind of animal-inspired outfit."
I tried to imagine it—some fancy, elite party with everyone dressed up like animals. It sounded bizarre, but I knew Vanessa's world was full of things I couldn't wrap my head around. Still, it felt a little... odd.
"Okay," I said slowly, still processing the idea. "So, it's just a party where rich people dress up as animals?"
Vanessa laughed, shaking her head. "Not quite. It's a bit more... elaborate than that. It's a huge social event. A lot of important people will be there. It's a chance to network, make connections, and show off a little."
I nodded, starting to get a better idea of what she was saying. This wasn't just some costume party—it was one of those high-society events where people subtly (or not-so-subtly) flaunted their wealth, power, and influence. But still, the animal thing?
"So, what kind of 'animal' are you thinking of dressing me up as?" I asked, half-joking, but also half-dreading her answer.
Vanessa smirked, her hand trailing up my leg now, her touch sending a small shiver down my spine. "I haven't decided yet. I was thinking something... sleek. Maybe a wolf. Something classy, not too over-the-top."
I couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image of me dressed up as some sleek wolf, trying to fit into this elite world. "A wolf, huh? And what about you?"
She leaned in closer, her voice lowering as she smiled. "I'm still working on it. But trust me, whatever I choose, we'll look good together."
I smiled back, though I was still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. "And... that's all there is to it? Just a party where we dress up as animals?"
Vanessa hesitated for just a second, her eyes flicking to the side before meeting mine again. "That's the gist of it. There's more to it, of course, but nothing you need to worry about."
I raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "More to it? Like what?"
She shook her head, her smile never fading. "Nothing major. It's just one of those high-society events where everyone likes to show off a bit. Trust me, you'll be fine."
I leaned back, feeling a little skeptical but also intrigued. "Alright, if you say so. I'll admit, it sounds... weird, but I'll go along with it. Just don't make me wear anything too ridiculous."
Vanessa laughed, her hand squeezing my leg gently. "I wouldn't dream of it. Besides, you'll look good no matter what I put you in."
I couldn't help but smile at that, though I was still a little nervous about the whole thing. "So, when is this happening?"
"Next month," Vanessa replied. "It's a pretty exclusive event, so there's time to prepare. I'll make sure we get you something perfect."
I nodded, trying to relax into the idea. "Alright. Pet Night. Sounds... interesting."
Vanessa smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss against my cheek. "It'll be fun. And besides, you'll be with me. Nothing to worry about."
I smiled, though the uncertainty still lingered at the back of my mind. There was something Vanessa wasn't telling me, something about the nature of the event that felt... off. But for now, I decided to let it go. If she thought it would be fine, then I'd trust her.
"Alright," I said, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her closer. "Let's see what Pet Night is all about."
Q: What do you think Pet Night is about?