A year later

Lolly’s POV

~ONE YEAR LATER~

“I can’t believe we were invited to the party of the decade!” Cindy cooed excitedly.

She turned over the exclusive invitation.

I saw the invitation clearly from my position on the ladder where I stood dusting the chandelier. It was gold-embossed.

The name ROMAN STONE jumped out to me.

“I’m more surprised he finally opened up that home of his to the public,” my stepmother, Lizzy, said. Lizzy sat on the couch, watching her daughters tussle over the card.

“Give it here!” Mindy said, snatching it from Cindy.

“I’m not done with it!” Cindy retorted. They fought over it, their bodies hitting the ladder in the middle of the living room, and almost throwing me off.

I held onto the shaking ladder as firmly as I could so I wouldn’t fall. My cleaning towel fell to the floor. I climbed down the ladder slowly, avoiding my sisters to pick it up.

“Urgh, you are still here? How long does it take to actually clean a simple chandelier?” Lizzy snapped at me. My stepsisters stopped fighting and turned their attention to me.

“She’s really the laziest maid in this house. She can never get anything done!” Cindy said with a scoff.

Mindy fell into the couch nearby, clutching the invitation that she had finally managed to wrest out of her sister’s hand. “Cindy, what are we going to wear to this ball?”

Lizzy picked up her teacup, taking a short sip. “Don’t worry sweetie, I’ve already sent word to your stylists. You’ll look your absolute best for this ball.”

Cindy drew closer to her mother. “So, it’s true? He’s looking for a wife?”

Mindy let out a loud, exciting screech. “Can you imagine, Cindy? What if he chooses one of us?”

Cindy rolled her eyes. “It’s obviously going to be me!”

Mindy cocked her head to the side, petulantly. “Why you? He’s going to choose me!”

Their mother had to step in before the fight got ugly again. “Girls, girls, I don’t care who he chooses just as long as it’s one of my girls. Come here,” she said.

The girls scooched over to her. Lizzy touched their faces. “Look at you, you are both so pretty. I bet he’ll fall in love as soon as he lays eyes on you two. Now, remember, Roman Stone is the wealthiest man in Empire City. We need to make a good impression. A good impression, girls!”

I lingered in the background, listening to them. The only question on my mind: Who the hell was Roman Stone and why were the girls obsessed with him?

For the past year or so, I’ve only heard them talk about Roman. The elusive, mysterious billionaire.

New to Empire City, but he had already edged out his competitors to become one of the richest men.

His conglomerate, Stone Enterprises, had a giant skyscraper uptown but no one had ever seen him.

I’ve heard people call him a vampire, a stone-cold player. He was ruthless, but people rarely see him in his physical form.

Until tonight.

I hurried away to the kitchen to join the rest of the maids.

Rue, my best friend, was eating a freshly-baked cake when I entered.

“Did you hear them talking about the party?” Rue asked.

The kitchen was abuzz all week with news of the party. They won’t stop talking about it.

Rue was hyped up. “I would sell my left kidney to be in that party!”

I scoffed. “You’d sell your left kidney for anything, Rue.” ‘

Rue rushed over to me. “Do you think your one-night stand will be there?”

I froze. It’d been a year since that mind-blowing night. I still dreamt about him.

I can still smell him.

Sometimes, I really regret slipping out the next morning.

I never saw him again yet I miss him every single day.

“The whole point of a one-night stand is to never see each other again, Rue,” I told my bestie.

“I know, I know, but you’ve been talking about that guy ever since. Always going on about what a wonderful night that was. No one forgets their first time especially if it was good as you say it is,” Rue went on.

“Rue, please, we have to get to work.”

“No, think about it. Everyone’s going to be at this party. I bet a thousand bucks your guy’s going to be there too!”

I thought about it for a second. She might be right. The cream of society was going to be at the party which meant there was a small chance I might run into my stranger again.

“Think about it, Lolly, this is your only chance to infiltrate high society and find Mr. Prince Charming!” Rue pressed on.

Lowering my voice, I snapped. “Lizzy’s going to be there. So will her daughters. What if they see me there?”

“It’s a masquerade ball. Everyone’s going to be on disguise anyway.”

Knowing my best friend, she would not let on until I give in to her plan.

“I’m not saying I’d go but even if I were, how would I do it? I don’t have an invite,” I told Rue now.

Rue rubbed her hands deliciously. “I thought you’d never ask. I know a maid over at the Stone mansion who’ll let us in. And before you ask, I already picked out the perfect dress and mask for you. I was just waiting for you to say yes!”

Rue worked a second job as an assistant for one of the most famous stylists in Empire City.

“You’ve thought about everything,” I said, hugging her.

“All I’m asking is for you to have fun, bring back some cake for me and make sure you come back at midnight so I can return everything I’m lending you for this party, okay? I’m not kidding. You need to be home by midnight or I’m gonna lose my job!”

I was nervous. Could I really find my prince charming in that sea of eligible, powerful men? I don’t know.

“Lolly! Where the hell is that stupid girl? It’s time for my bath!” Lizzy’s annoying voice carried into the kitchen.

Rue and I exchanged glances.

Am I really going to be stuck here, taking care of my stepmother forever? I deserve a little fun and happiness!

“Screw it, I’m going to that party!”