Chapter 3 BUSINESS-LIKE

Liana didn't fail the task of glamouring her friend up for the dinner party. Despite Aviva's complain that the gorgeousness was too much for just a dinner party, Liana reminded her that it wasn't 'just a dinner party' it was a billionaire's dinner party, the Hilton's at that.

Aviva took Liana along with her since her mom wasn't in a healthy state, she couldn't possibly go alone. As they both stepped down from the ride which picked them up from their home, the girls jaws dropped instantly. How heavenly and surreal everything seemed.

As Aviva stepped down from the garden steps, the soft crunch of gravel beneath her heels served as a gentle reminder of the opulent world she was about to enter. The warm sunlight danced across her face, casting a golden glow on her skin as she made her way further into the mansion.

The sound of gentle chatter and the clinking of glasses carried on the breeze, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Aviva's heart beats slightly faster as she approaches the entrance, where a liveried butler stood waiting to greet her.

"Good evening ladies" He said, his voice low and smooth.

Welcome to the estate, please allow me to take your wraps" Jus as Aviva handed over her shawl, her eyes immediately caught the back of an elegant male leaving a room into an elevator with a lady beside him

"Isn't that Jace Hilton?" Liana whispered to her and she shrugged it off.

"Don't know Lia, now hush" She playfully told Liana as they both proceeded into the house behind the butler.

The air was thick with the scent of old money and refinement, a world away from Aviva's humble beginning. Yet as she walked alongside the butler, she felt a sense of belonging, as if she had finally found a place where she could be herself.

As Aviva stepped into the grand dinning room, she was enveloped by the warm glow of crystal chandeliers and the soft hum of refined conversation. The billionaire's family known for their impeccable taste, had spared no expense in creating an evening that would leave a lasting impression.

The table, set with fine China, sterling silverware and delicate glassware, sparkled like a work of art that seemed too beautiful to use. Each setting was adorned with a personalized place cards written in elegant calligraphy. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats wafted from the kitchen, teasing the senses and building anticipation.

Aviva and Liana didn't get to see any members of the Hilton's until the dinning was filled up, reserving spaces for them. Later on everyone was present except for the main purpose of the event, Jace Hilton. Mr Hugo Hilton, the father of Jace, resplendent in his elegant tuxedo raised his glass in a toast.

"To new friendships and unforgettable evenings" He said, his voice warm and sincere. The room echoed with gentle clinging of glasses and the mummur of appreciation. The dinner itself was a masterclass in culinary excellence.

Aviva looked around but couldn't spot Jace himself, though she hasn't seen him in person but she could tell that he wasn't present at the moment.

Liana I haven't seen..." She was about whispering to her friend about his absence when he finally stepped in.

The whole guests paused on their actions as they welcomed him enormously. Aviva's heart froze momentarily, her eyes met his as he smiled warmly.

"Sorry for being late, had some business to attend to" He drew out a chair beside Aviva and sat down.

"Let the merriment continue" Mrs Hilton smiled awkwardly and everyone returned to their actions.

As the evening wore on, Aviva couldn't help but feel a growing sense of disappointment. She had been looking forward to getting to know Jace better but he seemed distant, preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Despite her best efforts to engage him in a conversation, Jace's response were brief and lacking in depth. He seemed more interested in his phone, occasionally glancing at the screen with a mixture of concern and annoyance.

Aviva tried to brush off the feeling of rejection, telling herself that maybe Jace was just having a bad day. But as the dinner party drew to a close, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been wrong to expect more from him. The dinner party was more business-like than she imagined. She found herself feeling increasingly disconnected, she had been hoping for a more intimate, family-oriented evening, but instead she felt like an outsider looking in. Jace's parents seemed more interested in discussing mergers and acquisitions than in getting to know her.

Aviva couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment in her chest, turns out that not all that glitters are gold.

"I don't belong here Lia" She sadly said to her friend who was quietly swaying her head to the cool music played in the background.

"Don't say that amigos, this is exactly where you ought to have been, right from birth" Liana reassured her with an encouraging look and Aviva let out a low sigh.

Liana was a person of flex and highlife enjoyment so she was never gonna understand her, Aviva thought to herself. As the girls prepared to leave, Jace's parents thanked the girls for joining them, their words polite but lacking in warmth. Jace himself merely nodded in her direction, his eyes already fixed on the door.

"Thanks you for dinner" Aviva smiled trying to keep her tone light, "It was lovely meeting you, Mr and Mrs..." But Jace was already gone, disappearing into the night without so much as a goodbye.

"Emergency dearie, its an emergency" Mrs Brenda was quick to explain her son's rude attitude and Aviva managed to force a smile.

"It's okay we're leaving already" Aviva replied politely.

"Martins drop them off" Mrs Brenda instructed and left with her husband.

Throughout their ride home, Aviva mind wasn't at rest. She kept on thinking about her mom and the more she thought about it, the more it seemed impossible to keep the balance between her sick mom and the business-like Hilton's.

"Lia I can't do it"