Chapter 7 Friend or foe

Angelica picked up her dress and sat in the backseat of the car as a guard opened the door for her. Nicholas was already inside the car, his profile looking icy and unapproachable. Angelica remained silent throughout the ride, however he had suddenly spoken up before they arrived at their destination.

"I know that you are eager to hold onto me and publicly display that you are now my wife, but I prefer that you stay away from me during the party. You should only approach me when I specifically request it. Is that clear to you?"

Angelica was taken aback by his words, however she lowered her head and timidly said, "Yes." She didn't want to do anything to get on his nerves, so she quietly decided to follow whatever he asked of her.

The car drove into the celebration venue, the place was filled with a refined elegance, distinguished guests filled the entrance to the opulently decorated venue lined with a long red carpet trailing from the roadside till the hall's entrance.

Nicholas didn't waste any time in alighting the car, and perhaps due to the fact that they were in a public place with countless eyes, he waited for her until she came down from the car. Angelica was surprised seeing him curve his elbow to her, without looking at her he motioned for her to hold onto his arm, but the annoyed furrow around his brows told her that he absolutely didn't like the idea, perhaps he was just doing it so his mother wouldn't hear of him publicly disregarding her.

Angelica slowly hooked her arm onto his elbow and he strode onto the red carpet. She could feel the softness of it beneath her feet inside the heels she was wearing. Angelica was overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of the posh venue, but she restrained herself from looking around too much.

She was even more awed as they walked into the hall the size of a national stadium.

All the guests looked glamorous matching the magnificence of the setting itself.

Everyone was dressed like modern royalty wearing masks that matched the theme of the event.

"Nicholas, you're here, your mother told me you'd be in attendance with your wife." A beautiful middle aged woman called, her gaze travelled over to Angelica with a hospitable smile on her face.

"Mrs. Donald." Nicholas greeted politely.

"And this must be Diana, Eliana had told me so much about you, you're indeed as lovely as she said you were." The woman complimented staring in approval at her dress which was a designer piece.

"Hello Mrs. Donald, Mom has equally told me great things about you. She said you were the most elegant woman she knows among the circle, I can see that is true." Angelica commented, having studied the people around Diana and Nicholas's mother for months, she knew exactly what to say.

As expected, the woman was highly flattered by her words, it was almost as if receiving a compliment from Eliana herself, and the woman was known to be quite high class and proud, her speaking good about someone meant a whole lot.

Mrs. Donald couldn't hide the satisfied smile on her face, after a few more words exchanged where she had obviously taken an instant liking to Angelica, the woman excused herself leaving the couple, "I hope you both enjoy the party. Diana, join me later at our private table ok?"

Angelica nodded smilingly and the woman walked away to greet the rest of the guests.

However, the man who had been silently standing beside her the whole time finally spoke with a dark voice filled with disgust, "As expected, you do have a way with words, getting in everyone's good books with your sweet words, exactly the same way you got my mother to like you." He gazed sideways at her giving her a harsh glare, "Good thing I know women like you to not fall for your little fake tricks."

Saying that he snatched his arm out of hers, "Feel free to go around charming everyone into adoring you, but keep your distance from me. I prefer not to see you anywhere near me unless I specifically request your presence." With that he strode away and before she knew it, he was lost in the sea of guests. Angelica was left standing alone among countless strange people she had never met before.

She looked around nervously then slowly made her way to the side to stand in a place less crowded, the guests met each other mingled and chatted among acquaintances but Angelica was left to stand all alone in a secluded corner.

She wondered what went on in Nicholas's head, all he ever knew how to do was get annoyed at every single thing she did.

"Ma'am would you like a drink?" A passing waiter offered her a drink among the ones he was holding in the tray.

"No thank you." She politely declined noting that every drink he had was alcoholic, she definitely didn't want to get drunk tonight and risk making a stupid mistake.

The waiter bowed and left.

"Diana! I see you didn't miss this one either." All of a sudden, a soft female voice travelled over to Angelica's ears.

Quickly turning around she was met with a girl in a black gown, her mask matching her whole outfit, the makeup around her eyes was dark and smoky making her look quite sexy with her dress falling down her shoulders revealing a great amount of the mounds in her chest.

Because of the mask the girl was wearing, Angelica didn't recognize who the girls was among Diana's acquaintances, so she stared at the girl cluelessly.

"What? Are you wondering how I recognized you even with the mask? How could I not when you're wearing the dress you stole from me." The girl stared at her derisively.

Hearing her words, Angelica was quick to finally recognize who the girl was, she was someone who Diana intensely disliked due to their years of rivalry between each other. It was a mutual dislike, and Diana had emphasized Angelica stayed away from the girl anywhere she happened to meet her.

"Ah, Miss Bradford, I almost didn't recognize you earlier. I'm sorry I can't hang out, so I'll leave you to enjoy the party." Angelica made to swiftly excuse herself from the lady's presence but Kate was quick to block her way of escape.

"Where do you think you're going when we aren't done speaking yet? The other time you were so arrogant at the store because you were with your so called mother in law to be right? You confidently bought the dress I liked just to annoy me and rub it in my face that you're marrying Nicholas Stoll isn't it? So where is your so called husband now, has he abandoned you all by yourself?" Kate had been incredibly angered by the scene at the mall two months ago before Diana's wedding when she had gone shopping with Eliana Stoll.

Kate had liked this very dress Angelica was wearing at that time, but Diana had suddenly showed up and snatched the dress from her, however Kate couldn't do anything since Diana had come to the store along with Eliana who was also a share owner of that store, Kate was forced to just swallow it and leave the dress to Diana who had gloated to her about it, and now seeing Angelica wearing that same dress, it irked her.

Angelica who didn't know anything about what she was talking about had to stay and listen to all her complaints, she wanted to avoid the woman as Diana had advised, but Kate wasn't giving her a chance to leave.

"Che! You were so arrogant boasting to everyone that you were getting married to Nicholas Stoll weren't you? But just look at yourself, abandoned and left alone, serves you right for being such a bitch and marrying a man who doesn't even care about you!"

"Watch your words Miss Bradford, you have no right to make comments about my relationship with my husband!" Angelica spat at her sternly.

Naturally, Angelica wasn't someone who allowed herself to be bullied, especially not by spoilt rich young ladies, and in this setting, she could also use Diana's personality to stand up for herself.

Kate sneered, "What are you getting so angry about? I'm just stating the truth. And if you're so confident that your husband adores you as you bragged last time, why isn't he here with you right now?"

"And how is that any of your business? You should learn to stay within your limits Miss Bradford, otherwise you might just step on the toes of an elephant!"

"What is going on here?" Just as Kate was about to retort in anger, Mrs Donald showed up sensing the unusually tense atmosphere between both women.

"Nothing much Mrs Donald, Kate here was just commenting how much she likes my dress, isn't that right Miss Bradford?" Angelica was quick to jab it onto Kate's face knowing that she wouldn't openly show to the host of the event that she was trying to make trouble at her event. The Donald's weren't people to mess with and Kate could as well be thrown out of the event if she was found to be making trouble.

Angered by Angelica's strong comeback and deliberately jabbing at the fact that she was wearing a dress she wanted, Kate felt like strangling Angelica, but she kept her cool and replied, "Yes Mrs. Donald."

"You're right. Diana's dress is indeed very beautiful. Diana, come with me, there are a few guests I'd like you to meet." Mrs. Donald held Angelica leading her along into the crowded side of the hall.

Kate was left to glare at Angelica's beautiful and poised back as she walked away, rage seething through her.

"Gloat all you can now Diana, it won't last for long." While glaring at Angelica, a tall and handsome figure entered her eyes. Having seen him earlier when he came in along with Angelica, Kate knew that was Nicholas.

A smirk appeared on her face as she cast her glance over to Angelica who was smilingly conversing with a group of people, "Let's see how proud you can react when I show to the whole world what a lowly bitch you truly are." Hatred brimming in her eyes as she glared at the direction Angelica and Mrs Donald had gone in.

Kate kept the glass of wine she was holding on a table, turning around to a concealed area, she deliberately pulled down her dress at the chest area making it reveal a lot more of her cleavage before she turned back forward picking up her glass of wine, she approached Nicholas.