Chapter 4 The Gala Trap

Nina's PoV

Miss Nina Williams is cordially invited to the Annual Dominex Enterprises Gala Tonight.

I read the line at least ten times. Then I read it again. My fingers traced the engrossed handwriting at the top of the invitation like it might disappear if I blinked too hard.

It was hard to believe that my name belonged to something as expensive as this. This had to be a mistake. No one would care to invite the girl who only does nothing but fetch coffee and get treated like shit by Dominic.

I couldn't even dare say a word to him, not even when he was scolding me... or treating me like I should have never come to a place like this in the first place.

So why would he want me at this gala? And that was when I saw the small note scribbled near the bottom corner in black ink.

"Formally invited by Mr Dominic Varela."

Just like that, my heart forgot how to work. I held the card in my hands like it could burn me. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, each one louder than the last.

I didn't know whether to smile or scream. A thousand questions had already begun running through my head. Why me? Why now? Was this another one of his moves to even make my life more miserable than it was?

But still... deep down, some tiny part of me buried the fear... to believe that this was finally a chance. Maybe he had finally seen how hard I worked. Maybe he was finally starting to treat me more like a person than an animal.

Maybe Dominic Varela finally saw me. But whatever it was, I was going to show up to that gala, clinging to hope like it was oxygen.

I stood in front of the mirror bracing myself for what was to come. This was the night. My heart was already pounding so fucking loud, the mascara stick shaking in my hands as I touched my makeup.

My reflection blinked back at me. "You've got this Nina. Maybe you might finally meet your Prince Charming after all." Whispering to myself more than anything.

I finally arrived at the Marcellus Grand Hotel where the gala was hosted. Paparazzi swarmed the entire stairs as each car pulled up to the red carpet, the atmosphere filled with money, power and expensive cologne.

One breath. Two. I can do this, I told myself as I stepped out of my cab with wobbly knees, my heels clicking against the stone like warning shots.

Inside, the ballroom was nothing but a dream. High ceilings reflecting the glow of a thousand candles hanging from the massive chandeliers. Waiters wearing black and white uniforms filled the entire room, holding their silver trays balanced on glove covered fingers.

And there I was, lingering near the entrance, gripping my purse like a lifeline and trying not to look completely out of place. My eyes swept across the room, searching......

And then I saw him....

My boss.

Mr Dominic Varela.

Standing at the center of the ballroom, a glass of champagne in his hand, surrounded by men in expensive tailored suits and women who looked like they just stepped off magazine covers.

He was dressed in black.... Of course he had to be.... His suit tailored to perfection. His dark hair slicked back as usual. He looked like Something out of a dream..... or rather a nightmare.

Sometimes I wondered whether this man was made out of ice and fire, it fascinated me most times. "Focus Nina, he can never be with someone like you." I told myself.

And then, as if sensing the way I stared at him, he turned. Our eyes locked with each other for just a second. But it felt like the whole room had gone silent for us.

No ounce of smile, or even a nod to acknowledge me. I told myself not to care. Not to feel disappointed. But I just wish this man would notice me for once in his life.

Maybe he didn't invite me out of respect but pity. Trying to shake the anxious feeling creeping into my chest, I wandered towards the drinks table. Offering to help them as one of them told me it was an instruction that came from Dominic.

I should have known that being in a place as this would come at a price. The tray felt heavy in my hands, but I could manage. Breathe Nina, I told myself. Just breathe.

I moved carefully through the crowd, offering champagne with a steady smile. My fingers were shaking at how heavy the tray had been, but no one noticed. Or rather they didn't care.

I was invisible here. But that was fine by me anyway. I had already made it halfway across the ballroom when the shoulder came out of nowhere.

Hard and unforgiving.

It slammed into me like a brick wall. The tray left my hands, landing across the floor as the glass spilled every drink inside of it. A wave of golden champagne lifted high above... crashing down with full force.

Right onto Dominic's expensive tailored suit. It spread across him. His hand still holding his champagne glass, clenched tightly at his side. The glass didn't even tremble, but his eyes.....

It was dark, filled with nothing but fury. Dangerous.

"What the hell did you just do to my fiance?" Liliane , his fiancee, spat. standing frozen beside him, her eyes wide, mouth parted in horrified silence.

Everyone turned, staring at me. The paparazzi were getting ready to capture what was coming next. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

But it didn't.

I stood there, drenched in shame, while Dominic stared at me like I had just vomited on his face, slowly looking down at his ruined suit.

Then up again at me.

I opened my mouth to say something....anything....but no sound came out. The look on his face didn't change, instead, it grew even worse.

"What did you just do to my expensive suit you fucking bitch!!!"