Chapter 4 AT THE PARTY

Bob noticed that Jessica and the maid had been interacting for a while, so he moved close to them.

"Any problem?" He asked facing Jessica.

"Nothing dear. Polina just asked to see me urgently."

"For what?! And didn't you tell her she's with her man?" Bob asked facing the maid with a frown on his face.

Kayla replied: "I told..."

"Jessie, where are you?!" Polina's voice interrupted their conversation.

"Bob, I'm sure something is certainly wrong. I need to go see her." Jessica said, as she opened wide the door and rushed down the stairs.

"Where are you, Polina?" Jessica asked as she walked into the sitting room looking around for Polina.

"Tara ra ra ran!" Polina shouted from a corner leaving Jessica scared.

"So what's the meaning of all these?" Jessica asked in anger, surprised to see that her friend was in a bobbly mood, different from what she thought.

"I needed to tell your maid that it's urgent because I know you won't come out to me if I didn't say that."

"So what..."

"Moreover, I wanted you to leave the company of that wizard you call a boyfriend."

"Don't be silly girl," Jessica replied angrily.

Polina smiled at Jessica wittily and drew her close to herself. "Guess what darling. We are going out tonight. There's a party I'll love us to attend." Polina whispered into Jessica's ears.

"Who is 'we' if I may ask," Jessica responded. "Me and you of course," Polina said, with a witty voice. Jessica ignored her and was about to climb upstairs when she heard Polina's voice.

"It's a party for elites. The General Manager of 'Diamond Spark" will be there. On hearing this, Jessica turned to look at Polina.

Before that day, she had hoped to meet Dr(Mrs) Jenkins, the General Manager of "Diamond Sparks." Jessica had met Mrs Jenkins before, but she looked forward to having a relationship that was beyond the office with Mrs Jenkins.

"Diamond Spark" was one of the most successful companies in New Haven City, and it was a surprise to many that it was owned by a woman.

Jessica had always dreamt of getting close to Mrs Jenkins so that she could learn from her, and she had once told Polina about her desire. Now that Polina told her that Mrs Jenkins would be at the party, she was now interested in going.

Jessica turned and walked towards Polina.

"Are you serious?" Jessica asked.

While the both of them were still talking, they had sounds of footsteps down the stairs. They both looked towards the stairs when they saw Bob approaching.

"Jessie, so you think I have nothing important to attend to? You are truly an idiot!" Bob said, with a stern look on his face, as he moved where Jessica was. Jessica tried to avoid him, as she and Polina moved back from him.

Bob was formerly in the military, and Jessica knew how violent he could be, when angry. Though he hadn't hit her before, he had made attempts to, so she always tried to avoid him when he was angry. His anger was one of the things Polina noticed that she hated him.

"Leave my house, Bob!" Jessica shouted in fear.

Bob looked at her in disdain for a while before stepping out of the house.

As soon as he stepped out, Polina faced Jessica. "I told you that guy is a monster. But you will never listen to me." Jessica looked at her friend as she panted.

"Thank God, the monster is gone. Let's go up." Polina said, as she held Jessica's wrist, and pulled her up the stairs. They both entered Jessica's room and then Polina walked towards Jessic's wardrobe and opened it.

"Oh, yes! This would be nice" Polina said as she pulled out a short shiny red dress from the closet. Jessica was already lying on the bed, so Polina walked over to her and pulled her friend out of the bed.

"Polina I am exhausted," Jessica said with a low voice. "Asides from seeing Mrs Jenkins, I have someone who wants to meet you tonight," Polina said.

"So who is it?" Jessica asked with enthusiasm.

"When you get there, you'll know who it is," Polina replied.

"Now, get your butts up and let's get prepared." Polina continued. Jessica thought of the possibility of meeting Mrs Jenkins, though she wasn't sure of who Polina wanted her to meet. She knew Polina to be full of surprises, so she didn't dare to ask her.

Jessica stood up from the bed to prepare for the party and took two cans of energy drink to help her regain her strength.

**********

They got to the Ball quite late but the groove was still very much on. Everyone wore a new dress or suit which would be discarded after the night was past. In the sky, the moon provided a natural disco ball and lightning into the house which held the main event. Greetings were offered out along the gravel path, dainty fairy lights added a surplus amount of colour to the parade of footsteps. Exchanges gifts were made- a bottle of Rose in return for a bowl of peanuts, which will be lost to the hawk-eyed scroungers of the party.

A sweet melody echoed through the buying

atmosphere, and it seemed to be coming from the ballroom. Jessica and her partner waved their way through the crowds of champagne-baring waiters to get to the bar. A collection of violinists, harp players and pianists were placed at the far end of the hall. They stood idle by the door for a few minutes, feeling the changes in music and the story it told, while also keeping their eyes wild open.

As the music came to a quick pause, Jessica was approached by a young man, around her age, whose quick introduction was lost under the eager clapping of those around them. As he offered out his hand, Jessica realized what he wanted and received it gracefully as he led her out to the dance floor.

She didn't let herself get distracted. She was no longer sure about her relationship with Bob, so she decided to shelve every thought of him aside. Her feet glided effortlessly on the floor, but her eyes were open and constantly flickering around the room, suspicious of everyone in the

room. Polina seemed to sense her uneasiness and guided their path dance through the crowded centre, and closer to the instruments which, Jessica decided, was much to her advantage.

From there she could see the dance floor and hall outside, and because of this, she began to relax into her partner's arm and then a tall figure was caught in the corner of her eye as he darted up the stairs outside. He looked like someone who Jessica had met before. "Sorry I need to use the restroom" she said to her partner as she tried to disconnect her hands from him, and she left the dance floor to trace the dark man who seemed like the man she met in the elevator at her company.