Today is my old friend’s engagement party.
As I stepped inside the venue, faint chatters of the guest reached my ears. I stopped under the chandelier and looked around as my anxiousness grew inside me.
‘This isn’t a surrounding I am used to.'
Jazz music plays softly and servants served drinks to the guest. Almost everyone wears designers dresses and suits as they hold their wine glasses in very refined way.
I caressed my arm as the unfamiliarity engulfed my confidence.
Many says I am beauty. In fact, I caught some pair of eyes glancing at me from time to time. But being in the center of attraction is one of my weaknesses, and my visual did not help to gain the confidence I need during this time.
‘I suddenly wanted to leave.’
“Maxine!”
Anxiousness vanished as soon as I heard my friend’s voice. When I turned around, I saw Sasha, the bride-to-be.
“Sasha!”
We welcomed each other with a warm hug and slight kiss on cheeks. It feels like forever since the last time I saw her!
“I am so happy you came here!” Sasha exclaimed.
“Of course! I wanted to congratulate you to your engagement party. So I had to come.”
She tightened her grip around my hands and spoke with giggles. “Thank you so much. I wanted to introduce you to my fiance but he’s with his friends.”
“Oh, that’s okay. We have plenty of time.”
“Great. Ah! Did you see our friends? I invited them too.”
Soon, my smiling face crumpled in confusion.
‘Our friends?’
Exactly at that moment, we heard someone called us from great distance.
“Maxine?”
We looked at the group of girls who are staring at our way with glass of champagne and wine on their hand.
‘Those are Sasha’s friends during our college days.’
When I was in college, there was an incident when Sasha’s friends made a rumor about me, saying that I am gold digging Sasha. I didn’t have good memories with these rich girls. Even if we reconciled before graduation, seeing them don’t make me feel good at all.
“There they are!” Sasha exclaimed. She wrapped her hand around my hand and pulled me towards the girls’ side.
‘Oh my god. I hate this situation. I shouldn’t come here if only I knew I will meet these hoodlums.’
“Maxine! It’s so nice to see you again,” one of them greeted me as soon as Sasha and I have approached their table.
As if pulling a kid behind her back, Sasha forced me to come out from hiding.
“Right. The last time I saw her is during our graduation. Am I correct?”
“You’re wrong, girl. Maxine came to our farewell party after graduation. Did you forget it?”
“Ahh! I remembered. Was it the night she was rejected by Jake and… oops~”
When I lifted my eyes to look at their faces, I saw them gaping at me. They make it seem they did not bring the past story up in purpose, but I know they did.
"Omg! Sorry, Maxine. I did not mean to bring that up.”
‘As if~’
I suppressed my anger and forced myself to laid a smile on my lips.
“It’s okay. Past is past,” I replied. “Anyway, I think I need to fix my lipstick.” I tended to Sasha, pretending to be busy. “I should go to the toilet first.”
About to flee, one of the girls held my wrist.
“Oh come on~ I know Maxine is just trying to escape.”
“Do you still bad for all the things we did to you during college? We were just so immature at that time.”
‘Sh*t. I just wanted to go and avoid these b*tches. What should I do know? I can’t cause ruckus in Sasha’s engagement.’
“Guys,” Sasha spoke. She, then, pulled my hand away from them. “I am sorry. Maybe Maxine is still uncomfortable with…”
Sasha could not finish her words because a staff of the hotel approached us and whispered something on her ear.
“My fiance is looking for me?” Sasha gasped to the staff. She sighed and sent us an apologetic look. “Look, I think I need to go for a moment. But I’ll be right back.”
She stared at me, as if giving me an energy to hold on while she’s out, and I replied her with a nod and faint smile.
But deep inside, I wanted to complain to her and say, ‘Why did you even bring me here if you are going to leave!?’
And so, Sasha left me alone with these girls.
“I am really surprise to see you here,” Britney started the conversation.
“Me too. I didn’t know Sasha would invite Maxine because…. y’know, this party is exclusive for well-off people,” Jenny added.
“Are you guys saying that Maxine is still the loser Maxine? Hey~ It’s been seven years already. I am sure Maxine is living a good life now,” said Candice.
Slowly, their judgemental eyes gawked at me from head to toe, as if peeling me alive.
These are the same gazes I received seven years ago. The gaze of contempt, jealousy and hatred. Just because I was born far from the elites life, I was ousted. They didn’t know how much their bullying affected my beliefs and my self-confidence that I was trying to build ever since I was young. Yet, words like ‘sorry’ and ‘let’s forget that’ came easily to their mouths.
‘Funny.’
They said they have changed already. But no. I don’t believe such lies.
“So, how are you Maxine?” Candice asked.
Followed by Britney’s, “What is your work? Did you get marry? Or do you have a boyfriend?”
“If you have, who is he? What is his job?”
I knew they asked these not because they are really curious about my life and that they care. They wanted to drag me down because they probably knew that a poor woman like me won’t be as successful as people like them who were born with golden spoon in their mouths.
‘I am working as part timer in coffee shop. And I am still single,’ these are the truth that I should answer.
However, using the excuse that we won’t be able to see each other again in the future, I thought of a lie.
“I am working in Gregorio Corporation,” I lied.
Gregorio is one of the largest finance corporation. There are thousands of employees in their companies so I think they won’t find out that I am lying.
‘Right?’
“Really? Wow! I heard it is not easy to get a job in Gregorio,” Britney commented.
“Congratulations, Maxine,” Candice said, raising her glass.
“Then how about love life? Do you have a partner.”
I chuckled at them and uttered, “Of course. My boyfriend is the owner of WayHoRix group.”
‘Of course. That is also a lie.’
“WayHoRix? That’s the first time I heard about that,” Jenny said.
“Is there a company like that?” Britney inquired.
With a dog smile, I said, “There is.”
No. There is none.
WayHoRix is a non-existing company but also not a made-up word that flashed inside my mind.
“What is his name?” Candice interrogated. “Your boyfriend.”
“Huh?” I stuttered, tucking my hair behind my ears.
Name.
Name.
What name should I say?
Since I used the word WayHoRix, I think it is okay to use….
“Chandler Wayne. His name is Chandler Wayne.”
“Chandler Wayne? His name sounds sexy,” Britney said with a chuckle. “When will you introduce him to us?”
“Huh?” I uttered while blinking my eyes swiftly. “I-Introduce? I…”
What should I do?
How will I introduce a guy who is not even existing at all?!
Well, it’s not like I am so close with these b*tches. And we won’t probably meet again in the future. So…
“Ahmmm, if there’s a chance,” I answered, “then I will introduce my…”
“Why don’t you do it now?” a voice of a man came behind me.
I turned around to see who the hell interfered our conversation, then found a handsome man standing behind my back.
He has hazelnut hair, beige skin, slanted cat like eyes which look cheerful yet gentle. He's wearing v-shape white shit underneath his gray suit and a silver piercing on his left ear.
This guy is…
‘Damn hot.’
I shook these weird thoughts and just stared at the man who looks like a prince from the books I’ve read when I was young.
“Maxine,” he called my name.
Yes. He called my name.
Wait a minute.
Why did he call my name?
How did he know me?
“You left me alone and now you did not make time to introduce me to your friends. I’ll be sulky,” he added while staring at me.
What is he saying?
I didn’t know him!
The weird handsome men looked at the three girls who cannot take their eyes off him. Then he said, “Good evening, beautiful ladies. I am Chandler Wayne.”
He put his arm around my shoulder before he continued.
“Maxine’s boyfriend, yes, that’s me.”
HUH?!
Since I was a kid, I never dreamed of meeting the guy that I will marry someday. All because I knew I am different.Thus, when they asked me who I am dating with, I murmured a name of a person whom I thought will never be a part of my life. However…“Maxine’s boyfriend, yes, that’s me.”A guy suddenly came and proclaimed that he is my man.Holding my shoulder, his fresh mint scent penetrated to my nose. He has an addictive smell which made me off guard for a moment. Before I could notice, I’ve been standing beside him without saying anything.“He is Chandler?” Britney asked.I snapped up and woke up in realization that there is no Chandler Wayne in my life, and everything I said before was a lie.“Oh my god!” Candice gasped. “Your boyfriend is f*cking h…”Jenny covered Candice’ mouth before she could utter her admiration towards the guy beside me. I once saw his handsome face before so I can understand what made them gape.However, I could not bring myself to look back at him again as
When I opened my eyes, I found myself laying down on a king size bed inside an unfamiliar room.“W-Where am I?”Shallow breaths escaped from my quivering lips as I looked around the space.‘This isn’t my room.’ I shut my eyes and tried to remember what happened last night.‘Well, last night, I went to my friend’s engagement party and then…’“Chandler Wayne,” I murmured as I opened my eyes widely.Last night, a man named Chandler Wayne brought me inside the comfort room and kissed me. After that, he said…[“Your eyes. It changed color.”]‘He saw my eyes changed color!’ “Impossible. Impossible!” I gasped while putting my hands on my head.When I checked the calendar, there is no full moon yesterday. So why? Why did my eyes changed their color last night?Barely gulping my saliva, I looked around the luxurious place and wondered how they hell did I get here. Next, I checked my body and found out that I am still clothed.“R-Right. It w-was weird that I kissed that guy last night but I w
Luna.I first heard that word when I was talking with my co-worker in the coffee shop.“An alpha's mate is called a Luna and is the female equal to the alpha,” Madelline said while we were cleaning inside the empty shop early in the morning. She’s been talking about werewolves since long minutes since I told her that I don’t know anything about werewolves which only lives in fictional world and myths. As a result, Madelline insisted to explain all things about werewolves including their rankings and so on. Truthfully, I could not remember the exact details except the words Alphas, Beta and Delta. Madelline loves reading a fictional werewolves stories and so, she believes they actually exist, which made me laugh. “So they are like this some kind of mafia where there is a leader in the pack, right?” I asked while mopping the floor. Madelline burst out of laughing. “What mafia are you talking about? You should not compare werewolves to human.” “But you said that werewolves are half
Third Person’s POV Brett, the alpha wolf from Holmes clan pack, brought Maxine inside the spacious luxury bathroom filled with gold.Maxine had no time to appreciate the surroundings as the first thing that she heard from Brett was dumbfounded her.“Strip.”Maxine had assumed that this guy is crazy, and yet, dealing him alone brought her an unprepared shock. She was not mere surprised, she was startled.She forced herself into sort of resignation, as if thinking that she might have heard him wrong. However…“Strip now.”As he repeated his command, Maxine knew she had not got over the sickening shock and the flurry of her misfortune.Her blood ran cold as she stepped back. She dragged her wobbling feet backward from him as the chill haze of suspicion began to crystallize.‘This man is mad. Not only I was kidnapped by beasts but they are also telling me to strip?!’ inwardly, she screeched in terror with a pounding heart.“Oh?” Brett murmured, crossing his arms and tilting his head. “I
Adam and Chandler stayed on the living room, drinking tea together as they wait for Brett, They kept silent for long minute until Adam came up with a question. “How did you find her?” Slowly and elegantly, far from his ferocious form as wolf, Chandler placed the teacup on the table. He held Adam’s gaze which a smile that somehow reassuring. And then, he answered. “Will you believe me if I say that I saw her by coincidence?” Adam placed his cup on the table. He rested his elbows on his knees and lifted gaze to his friend. “I don’t think you would lie about that.” Chandler grinned and chuckled. “But I have doubts if she’s really the Luna that we’ve been looking for,” Adam continued while wearing a perturbed expression. “I can understand you,” Chandler agreed. “Although I clearly saw the changing of her eyes, it is hard to detect her presence as wolf. She seemed really like a human. And based on her question, she hasn’t no idea about us.” “Which means, she hasn’t learned to trans
Maxine’s POV I never had a boyfriend. Instead of using my time to date in spring or to find a partner whom I can exchange with countless ‘I love you’, I focused on my study and finding part-time job while waiting for opportunity to come in my way. However, the bachelorette like me dared to lie to my college classmates, saying that I have a rich boyfriend named Chandler Wayne. ‘Pride is the trap of ego pleasure.’ I read that line in a book of Kevin Everett FitzMaurice. And I thin he is right. The pride which made me lie became a trap. It is like a spider web, making it had for me to move which thereby might lead to my death and eaten by. Lying that I am in relationship with Chandler Wayne has trapped me, and as of now, I am unable to do anything according to my will. I regretted a lot. The first thing that came to me when I woke up in an unfamiliar place is repent. ‘I will never lie about my relationship,’ I vowed this. However… “He will be so shocked that I brought my gir
Maxine’s POV There’s a lot of take over in my life that started with a lie. I met the real Chandler Wayne, got kidnapped, met werewolves and now… “This one and this one. And here too.” A handsome man named Brett brought me inside a luxury boutique. I am still a captive but there’s a twist. The kidnapper and the hostage are shopping together. And why? ‘Because from today onwards, I am Brett’s girlfriend. A beast’s girlfriend.’ This is insane. “Here.” “Ahh!” I winced as I was snapped out after he threw me bunch of branded clothes onto my palms that I can barely hold them all. I looked at the clothes in my arms and had my eyes wide opened. ‘All of these looks expensive!’ For a moment, I was blinded and thought that maybe, there’s benefit on staying by this rich men. It did not take me long to get back to the reality that my life is at stake and I shouldn’t be taken by my greed. ‘No matter how pretty and expensive these are, it don’t change the fact that my life is at risk.’
Adler Blaine. 27 years old man working as detective in Major crime unit division for almost 4 years. As a dedicated detective, he works hard to maintain law and order. As his work is full of risks, he occasionally has to act firmly, tactfully and impartially.Adler is ever watchful and sees to it that people go about their work in perfect safety, security and peace, by arresting those who try to break the law, enforcement agents to make sure that justice is done in the cases he handles.However, even though Adler appeared to be a dedicated law enforcer, he has a secret which he’s trying to hide even from his childhood friend, Maxine.“What happened to that brat?” Adler murmuring as he tried to call Maxine’s number during his investigation.Yersterday’s afternoon, Maxine brought Adler’s lunch box to the station and then, she said that she’ll be attending a college friend’s engagement party.Adler was so busy last night as he was working with a major case and he slept in the station. Th