Chapter 5. Bianca DeVille.

Dozens of press people flood the entrance of the event. It seemed more like a gala than a mere welcome party to me, to think I was the centre of attraction to something like this. "Chloe Anderson, Chloe Anderson please look this way." The paparazzi would often chant. The ladies who made an appearance would often stand next to me, I could tell they wanted the spotlight to get on them as well. 

       Suddenly there were murmurings from the crowd. "It's Bianca. Look, it's Bianca." They yelled, everyone turned towards her in unison almost as if it was planned. Bianca DeVille. I was her nemesis. Not because I wanted to but she made me into her nemesis, she was my husband's ex lover. 

With thick red lipstick, pale white skin, really dark ebony hair and a well designed body, Bianca in her heels matching her lipstick walked up to me, she was wearing a black sivon gown with a v-cut at the neck, exposing her half covered breast. The gown extended to her heel level and had golden polka dots around the gown. She was a really stunning beauty. "Ah. Chloe…" She said with glee in her voice as she ran to embrace me. "How are you?"

        "I'm good, and you?" 

       "Doing great, just started my life all over, it's good to move forward after all." She looked to the camera and smiled, waving and posing, taking as many shots as possible. "I hear you're a jinx, on your first night your husband was taken away, what an unfortunate event." She said with a laugh. 

        "Well it's true he is in jail, but what happens has nothing to do with you. Jinx or not, Joe still chose me." I watched how pissed off and infuriated she was, she stormed and walked away, making poses as she did. It's as tiring as I thought.  

The event hall was as mighty as could be, make and female celebrities were buzzing around, making themselves known to others and forming a connection. As I walked through the door separating me from the main hall where everyone gathered I took a deep breath. "Isn't that her…" 

       "Oh yes it is…" The moment I stepped foot inside, the murmurs and irrelevant chattering grew from the ladies present, the men were minding their business as always but as expected of my gender. 

       "It's the jinx…" I would be a liar if I said none of their words got into my head. I felt horrible hearing those words but I couldn't show it. In the social world weakness is a sin and an opportunity to be used and trampled on by others. 

With boldness I walked inside wearing a smile as if completely oblivious to whatever it is that they just said. "Mrs Anderson." An elderly woman walked over to me with a warm greeting. I recognize her as, 'Vena' . She was a director at a popular news channel other than Air TV, called Channel News and was a living legend in her youth. She was introduced to me by Joe. 

        "Mrs Vena, it's so good to see you again." She beamed with happiness and even after that warm greeting, embraced me. 

       I felt her rub my back and she whispered into my ears, "stay strong, you'll both get through this soon enough. They're people out there who support you no matter what, you're not alone my dear. Now don't you give those girls a chance to speak bad about you and even if they do, always remember to raise your head up."

        "Thank you Mrs V." I say to her using the name I was more familiar and comfortable with. The woman laughs, pulling me by the hand as she makes her way through the crowd, waving her hand to whomever was in her path. 

"Move." She would often say, and no one could pick an offence, regardless of her age and the fact that she was a news director, Vena was also very influential, sometimes others thought she was still with the news because it was a hobby. "

        "Um, where are we going Mrs V?" I asked in confusion. 

        Vena stopped, turned around and looked at me. She took a deep breath, raised a finger and pointed at me, flicking her finger as she spoke. "To be regarded as someone with Importance, you would need to know people with Importance. You would need to be associated with people who have a mark in the social world and I just happened to know just the right people for you. Now let's go." 

With that being said, she took me by the hand once again and we walked past the crowd to a small group gathered at a corner, sipping wine and laughing. A man on sighting Vena didn't wait for us to reach them and walked towards us. "Oh there you are, we were wondering where you rushed off to?" The man seemed around Vena's age if not older. Behind him were five more people, two women and three men. 

        Vena turned to me and pointed at them one after the other. "This is Chloe, I'm sure you already know her. Chloe this is Howard, the lady on the left is Agnes, the one on the right is Jamie, the other three men are Ivan, Victor and Matthew."

        "Hello Chloe, it's a pleasure to meet you, Chloe Anderson, the surprise love of Joe Anderson. Seriously though, your engagement shook the whole world in an unbelievable way, let me tell you a secret." Howard drew near and whispered to me. "Most of the ladies here, thought they had a chance. You should know about your husband's previous nature yourself. But, I have never seen him as happy as he was when he announced that he was getting married when I met him at a hotel that day, I could see him glow with happiness, and you were that happiness, be strong for the both of you, don't let those witches get to you."

         "Hehe." I laugh. "Thank you very much and I'll take your advice very seriously." As per the reason I was here, I spent my time speaking with one guest or another, being passed around by someone who knows someone who knows someone, and also being ambushed by so many business card, not associating with people that doesn't matter I only focused on meeting potential business clients and partners, overall, it was a splendid meeting for me, now I regret not doing this sooner. 

        "Tell me Mrs V, why are you helping me. I mean we've only met thrice and that was when I had Joe by my side." I questioned. 

         She laughed. "You shouldn't be thanking me, but Joe. He called from the prison today and asked me to take care of you, you're in my hands going forward and I'll make sure to guide and assist you in any way possible." I paused for a minute. A small smile grows on my lips. Even in jail he's still helping me out when I should be the one to offer my assistance. Now there's no reason for me to hold back, I'll do whatever it takes to help this family. 

        "It's getting late, I should get going now." I tell them.

  

        About to leave, the crowd starts to raise their voices. "Anderson…." Hmm. Why the uproar? 

       "Impossible, why is he here?"

      "The other Anderson?" I hear the crowd murmur. The path towards us divides and ahead of me, I spot him walking towards us. 

       Mark walks towards us, dressed in a luxurious golden tuxedo, he looked like he was here for a fashion event, stealing the show from various celebrities that were already present. "Hello everyone, I'm here to take my sister in law home." He said to us with a smile leaving us all in utter confusion.