CHAPTER NINE- THE RED DRESS

Faith brought out some candles.

“Here, take this and you will be fine” she assured her.

Lydia eyes were to red “ can I at least see your face or know your name”

“Don't worry I'm always here by this time everyday, you will get to see me one day”

“Okay, your name than”

Faith thought for a while before responding. “I'm Deborah”

“Nice name you got”

“Thanks, I will get going see you other time”

Lydia waved at her.

That evening faith stood in her room, preparing for the charity gala her parents hosted every year for the orphanage children.

Her mom had already laid down her dress on the bed.

They were still applying makeup, before a knock Interrupted.

“Miss, this is for you”

Faith collected it, she opened the box and Warren's name showed on a written note “Hope you love the dress”

Faith smiled, she picked up her phone.

“I already have a dress, but don't worry I will wear yours, and I told you to keep your distance away from me” she texted.

His reply came almost immediately “ you know I can't my queen, hurry up I'm waiting for you downstairs”

Faith moved to her window. He was there standing beside the car, hands in his pocket, looking up like he knew faith would check.

She wore a red dress, she looked at the mirror.

She looked like someone unrecognized from the girl who begged for food.

She stepped out.

Warren saw her, and stood still. All his eyes were on her.

He forgot, for a moment, what he was about to say.

“You look dangerous tonight”

Faith smiled.

“We're  going to cause trouble tonight”

Faith's straighten her shoulder “ that's the plan”

They slipped into the backseat in silence. Faith turned toward the window, watching the city blur past, her jaw tight.

Warren settled beside her  close, too close  but said nothing.

The silence between them wasn't empty. It was full.

Faith could feel the warmth radiating off him. She swore she could hear her own heartbeat over the low hum of the engine.

She kept her eyes fixed on the glass, but her reflection betrayed the slight part of her lips, the flush creeping up her neck.

Then the car hit a pothole.

She lurched sideways.

His hand caught her arm. Their faces stopped an inch apart then less than that and somewhere, soft music drifted from the radio like the world had been waiting for this moment.

His eyes didn't move from hers.

Neither did hers.

Until the driver quietly cleared his throat.

They arrived at the venue.

Soft lightning fell across the room, the table was wrapped in deep red. The floor was polished to a quiet gleam.

Guests move between tables, conversation low and elegant.

The door opened, Warren and Faith held hands.

All necks turned to them.

“Isn't that faith sartini?”

“She looks completely different tonight”

“Are you seeing where they are holding themselves?”

“They are perfect together”

Cassius was already inside with Lydia in his arms.

He saw faith and he stopped talking to the people.

Lydia noticed how Cassius was staring at faith, and she became pissed.

“Stop staring”

He did not answer her.

Faith did not even glance at his way.

She was laughing with some guests, with her right hand entangled in Warren 's arms.

That unbothered look from faith was eating Cassius more than a mere confrontation.

“she did not even noticed that I'm in the room” the thought of that broke his heart completely

“Am I falling for her?”

Lydia watched as faith stole the spotlight, her confidence, the way she dresses, even though she won't be looking so stunning.

She looked at how she was holding Warren, how her voice echoed through the room.

She thinks about the girl who usually brings her lunch, carries her bag, does her assignment and makes her live like a princess.

Now faith no longer looked her way .

“She is not the faith I know, something must be wrong somewhere”

She reached for her glass of wine, and she drank it once.

Just as the room settled, the door swung open again.

Victoria made her entrance. She wore a black dress, packed her hair with a pink diamond ring on her finger.

She walked like the place was arranged for her.

Warren turned.

“Who is she?”

“She is beautiful”

“Why is she wearing a black dress”

“This Is not a funeral, they this kind of dress”

Victoria passed them, and she took a glass of wine.

Faith feels it before she sees it. That specific shift in energy that means someone dangerous had just entered.

She turned slowly.

Their eyes met across the room.

Victoria smiles, that kind of smile that doesn't reach the eyes. She raised her glass and tost to faith.

“Why is she everywhere, did Lydia bring her,” she filled the question away without letting it show on her face.

Faith raises her glass back.

Neither of them moved close to each other, they were standing far away.

𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑.

Cassius sees Victoria and Straitened immediately. “She is the lady from the beach, how come she is here”

Lydia sees Cassius, sees Victoria and her jaw tightens.

Mrs Devon was sitting quietly, she saw how Victoria was looking at her son and how Lydia was glaring at Victoria.

Her eyes drifted to where faith was standing. She felt something uneasy.

“This is not same girl”

She sips from her wine. She watched how Warren was playing on faith back.

We moved too slowly.

She brought out her phone and texted someone.

Across the room the faith phone buzzed quietly.

She glances at it under the table.

One message, unknown number.

“𝐸𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑖, 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔”

She read it once, then twice.

Then she locked her phone and slid it in her clutch.

She picked up  her champagne and took a slow sip.

Her hands did not tremble

But her eyes swapped around the room. Calm, quiet and calculating landing on each face one by one.

Mrs Devon, Victoria, Cassius, uncle Marcus and Lydia.

Someone just showed their hands.

“Perfect”

She smiles into the glass.

Let the real game begin.