Chapter 3 Lady of The Night

"Isabelle! Look at you!" Teja screamed as she hugged Isabelle at the train station.

Isabelle had said goodbye to her brother and Martha in Los Angeles as early as she could that day and after a tiring journey, she was now with her cousin Teja.

"Last time I saw you... you were looking like some peanut!" Teja exclaimed with excitement. "...now girl, you look amazing!"

"Enough with the compliment Teja, we need to get straight to work. Did you get my mail?" Isabelle said, getting straight to the point. She had messaged her cousin about the ball and her plans to attend with a fake identity. She couldn't completely lie to Teja but she wasn't entirely truthful either.

Teja clasped her hands dramatically, "Oh my dear, cousin, I am so excited about this but! We need to get home and talk in private. That ball is the most talked about even in this city and everyone wants information on it. Come let's go home," Teja said pulling Isabelle playfully by the arm.

Isabelle carried just a single pack back that contained the most important piece of card, the invitation and a few essentials. She came here to act like a girl from a very rich background and none of her poor-looking clothes fit that description. She only had a single change of clothes for the first night, Teja would sort out the rest.

Teja hailed a taxi as they got out of the subway and they headed to her place.

"How is Landon, now?" Teja asked as the vehicle soared through the busy streets.

"He is surviving," was Isabelle's simple reply as she tried not to think too much into it.

Teja understood her lack of words. She knew her little cousin's brother wasn't fairing well at all. She couldn't help with finances for she was barely struggling herself. When Isabelle had opened up to her about the ball, Teja couldn't refuse. It was finally an opportunity for her to help out the only family she had.

"Everything will be fine. I am certain of it," Teja said squeezing Isabelle's fingers gently.

The taxi came to a stop in front of a one-storey building that was a boutique -a high fashion boutique. The front of covered with transparent glass, so Isabelle could see the several beautiful dresses being displayed from within. This was the reason why her cousin Teja was the first to come to her mind as she considered the plan. She could be transformed into a princess with all those dresses.

Teja paid the taxi driver his fare and she walked to the building. Teja worked as a sales attendant at the shop for two years now. The owner, a very calm and simple woman, had offered Teja one of the storerooms above the boutique. Teja had in turn transformed the little space into some kind of accommodation.

"Now that we are here, I am dying to k ow how you got so lucky! Who did you say gave you the card again?" Teja asked as they settled unto the bed.

Isabelle had no reason to lie to Teja but she couldn't help herself. The lies just left her mouth expertly. "I met this really cool lady at my workplace the other day. She and I sort of became friends you know... she gave it to me."

"Do you know how many girls will kill to be in your shoes right now?!" Teja screeched in excitement. "We have to make sure you look so good, no one would doubt you! From now on you will be that lady!" Teja declared.

Isabelle only smiled at her cousin's declaration. She had told her a different story from what had actually happened. She told her that, the lady begged her to represent her at the event and when Isabelle returned, she would pay her for the service.

"You know what, let's go check out the dresses, we don't have much time!" Teja suddenly said springing off the small bed. Isabelle giggled at her excitement but followed her back down.

There were still a few days to the event but they needed to get ready. Teja made Isabelle try out a couple of dresses but they both settled for a strapless royal blue dress that pooled at Isabelle's ankles.

"You will truly be the belle of the night!" Teja exclaimed as her eyes gleamed with excitement.

The day of the ball finally came and Isabelle truly looked like she was going to be the belle of the night. Her dirty blond hair was styled richly by Teja and her make up lightly done to enhance her features. The blue of her eyes stood out as she slipped into the dress. They hugged her curves, making her seem like an older woman. By the time, Teja was done, Isabelle was truly looking the part.

"Good evening, I am Belle Fairmont of LA," Isabelle said confidently to the mirror and Teja clicked her fingers in approval.

The limousine Teja had rented for her arrived and she walked Isabelle to it. If Isabelle didn't get dressed in front of her, even she would have thought her cousin was from a very wealthy family indeed. The plan was surely going to be a success.

Isabelle could feel her heart racing as the vehicle neared the event place. She could see the spotlights dancing from the distance and her adrenaline pumped through her veins. She was doing this for her brother, she had to be strong.

The limousine came to a halt and Isabelle took a deep breath. She stepped down like she had seen so many celebrities do on red-carpet events on the television. This wasn't a red-carpet event but the guards at the gate had started scrutinising her from the moment she stepped out of the hired vehicle.

"Your unique identification code miss," the tall guy asked with a single flex of his muscle.

"Fairmont twenty-nine," she said with a small smile despite the rush of blood that was going through her brain. She couldn't even breathe properly anymore as she held on to her breathing in fear.

"Welcome, Miss Fairmont," the guard finally said as he opened the door for her to step in.

Isabelle could now breathe easily as she took slow strides into the ballroom. The hall was already filled and the party had already started. She felt eyes on her and turned to the side to see who it was, she had come here to find someone rich and kind enough to help her and she shall do whatever it took for her to get that one person.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes met with cold brown ones that stared back at her with an intensity that made her heart jolt with excitement.

Who was this man?