Melissa walked in the ballroom, her hair in a smooth beautiful ban dressed in an off shoulder white body con long sleeved dress that kissed the floor. A black clutch bag in her hand matching her strapped heels that picked from her long slit showing her smooth legs whenever she made a step forward. The dangling diamond shaped earrings shining when she turned catching attention just as the ring in her finger. Busy talking to the organizer in change she did notice the person walking towards her until she tapped her shoulder standing behind her.
"Lisa?" Turning around she exclaimed. "Goodness what are you doing here?" She asked hugging her.
"Wow Melissa you look divine. When you walked in, it took me a while to realize who the moon goddess was." Lisa said complimenting her looks.
"Don't flatter me Lisa, still what are you doing here? You didn't even inform me your coming to the city. I would have picked you up." She took Lisa by the hand taking her to a private corner to talk. Stopping she turned to lady she was conversing with. "This finishing touch is better than I imagined dear. The guest shall arrive anytime now please have everyone in position." Melissa instructed her on what to do since they were tasked in over seeing the ceremony preparation.
They stood at one of the tables in a corner. "Sorry I couldn't call, I wanted to surprise you. The manager got me a job here when I requested it. Apparently the Johnson group is purchasing the hotel back home."
"Is that so, I had no idea. How is everyone at home? Have been so busy handily got time to visit."
"Everyone at home is doing great, mother was worried when I decided to come though."
"So where are you staying?" Melissa asked taking a glass of wine from a waiter passing by.
"The hotel organized a temporally place for me to stay as I settle down."
"You can live in my apartment, I will have it cleaned then you can move within the week but in the mean time you stay in the villa." Melissa told her.
"Thank you, I'm grateful to Mr. Johnson too, for giving me this job. How is my little boy Tommy?" Lisa asked placing her glass on the table."
"He is doing okay now. I enrolled him back to school though he has nightmares at times." She showed her Tommy's picture in his school uniform.
"I'm grand your happy."
"Why did you leave the province? Be honest with me Lisa. Did something happen?"
Melissa's persistent questioning reminded her of the pain she tried so much to forget. Realizing the man she was planning to marry was already married with two children shattered her world. Melissa had occasionally warned her about him. Every month when he went away for two weeks on business she never suspected him until when she got to his house to prepare him a surprise meal. A woman carrying a two years old baby girl and a boy behind her, opened the door before she could use her key. For awhile she stood there not able to respond to her question later making up a story about being one of the house owner's workmate checking if he was home. Whenever she thought about his response when she confronted him brought tears in her eye's.
"It's a long story, we will talk some other time when I'm not working, look the guest are arriving." She said blinking her eye's.
"Those are my workmates." Raising her hand Melissa called them over.
"Wow! This city life is really favourable to you. You are already engaged?" She saw the ring when Melissa waved her hand then looked at the diamond earrings.
"Yes, a few days ago but we are keeping it a secret for now."
"What to Mr. Johnson? Congratulations"
"Shh, you can't tell anyone about this." She said covering Lisa's mouth.
"Ahem!" Arms crossed over her chest, Nancy cleared her throat standing behind them. "I was hoping it's not true?"
"You saw the note, I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Melissa said.
"You made me look ridiculous suggesting to have the two of you hook up yet you were tumbling under the cover's all along." She took a glass of wine washing it all down to regain her breath.
"Ha ha tumbling." Nancy kept a straight face as they laughed at her choice of word.
"We were not at the time. He just proposed a few days ago." She told them all about their first meeting, having a son and how he proposed.
"How romantic? Your relationship is like a fairytale." Nancy said fantasizing.
"Now do you forgive me?"
"How can I stay mad at you?" Nancy raised her arms for a hug. "Oh no hugs today, it will spoil my makeup." She dropped her arms stepping back.
"Don't tell me you use those cheap make-up that where off with the least bit of excitement." Jenifer said.
"I'm a great designer don't insult me." She said touching her face.
"I didn't introduce you, his is Lisa my friend from the province and Lisa, these are my coworkers and great friends Nancy and Jenifer." They exchanged greetings shaking hand's.
"What is he doing with her?" Nancy asked looking at the entrance making them turn to see who had walked in.
Sasha walked down the red carpet proudly chin held high her arm hocked on Mark's like lifeline, Wearing a short purple sleeveless dress with white wedge's Sandal's. She looked like fresh lilies blooming in the morning sun. The couple stopped as photographer's took their picture's and reporter's present asking endless question's about their rumored wedding.
Not responding, Mark's eye's settled on Melissa. Smiling he admired how beautiful and innocent she look in the dress. Following Mark's line of vision, Sasha clenched her fists when she saw the admiration in his eyes looking at Melissa in the company of four ladies wearing the designer dress she thought was meant for her.
Johnson's family designer was her good friend, when she saw the dress design on her sketch book she liked it and asked for the dress. After finding out it was Mark's order for his fiancee to be she definitely thought the dress was designed for her but now she watched Melissa smile boastfully.
Mark walked beside her welcoming the guest but his attention to Melissa was unwavering. He kept looking at her smiling from time to time not paying attention to the people around him. When they stopped at their table joined by his friends Sasha excused herself.
"Don't get so complacent Melissa, I'll take everything back. Let the game begin." With a smug smile on her face, Sasha spoke looking in the mirror.
The chairman or business association in attendance was impressed by the hotel design asked to speak to the designer. A few moments later the manager walked back with Melissa by his side. Stretching her hard to greet the man, Melissa tripped falling forward but Mark was quick. He held her by the waist preventing her from falling on the chairman causing a stare to everyone around.
Sasha took a glass of wine from one of the waiter's, took a sip. When Melissa regained her balance she turned to look at the person behind her. Moving back Sasha bumped on the waiter behind her pouring all her glass content socking Melissa's face and the dress.
"I'm so sorry, oh my what a mess." Sasha used her handkerchief to wipe the red wine apologizing.
"It's okay, it's just an accident. Excuse me I'll go clean it up." Melissa said trying to stop her from ruining her dress more.
"Are you okay?" Mark asked when he saw her winch as she moved.
"It's okay honey, I'll take care of her." Sasha told Mark guiding Melissa to the powder room.
"I can take care of myself ma'am." Melissa told her moving away.
She walked majestically enduring the pain in her ankle and shame of walking out drenched. She took off her shoe's massaging her swelling ankle.
"Melissa!" Lisa, Nancy and Jenifer found her in the washroom.
"Are you okay? I feel like punching that Sasha. How could she do this?" Biting her lower lip, Nancy said clenching her fists.
"It's was an accident, don't think too much about it, ouch!" She winched when Lisa touched her foot.
"You have a sprain." Lisa said examining her foot.
"You also need a change of clothes. I have a dress in my car though it not this elegant it's better than walking around in that stain." Jenifer told her.
"That won't be necessary." Mark walked in with his assistant beside him carrying a dress and shoe's for her. They stepped back giving them privacy. "Are you hurt?" He asked kissing her lips. He touched her foot, blowing air on it he got a bottle from his pocket applied the cold cream on her ankle relieving the pain. "Is it better." He asked massaging her ankle.
"Mhm!" She shock her head.
"Get changed then we can leave." He helped her walk to one of the cubicle.
"The party is not over yet and you have to make a speech." She said taking the dress off.
"James will take care of that." Just then his secretary came to inform him that the chairman and some board members needed to talk to him.
Expecting Melissa to be so embarrassed to get back, Sasha was surprised to see her shaking hands with Mark's associates smiling like nothing had happened.