Chapter 6: The party 2

Sam marveled at the beauty of the dress but eventually voiced her concern, "We can't afford this, Nicky."

Nicky, however, was determined. "Well, I've been saving up for something truly important, and I think this is it. We're definitely getting this one." She turned to Rachel, her resolve evident.

Rachel nodded understandingly. "Alright then, I'll get everything ready for you."

*****

Jeremy settled into the passenger seat of the sleek black Rolls Royce Phantom parked in front of the estate. Dressed in a splendid royal blue suit that perfectly showcased his physique, he was ready for the party.

"How long will this take?" Jeremy asked, his voice tinged with impatience.

"Probably a couple of hours, maybe three," Tony replied.

"Three whole hours? God, that'll be torture," Steve groaned as he opened the other door of the Rolls Royce.

"What are you doing?" Jeremy asked, his tone casual.

"I'm getting in," Steve replied, momentarily puzzled by the question.

"Get out," Jeremy stated matter-of-factly.

Confused, Steve asked, "Wait, what? Why?"

"Because Master Jeremy prefers to ride alone." Lucas, Jeremy's right-hand man, replied from the driver's seat.

Steve tried to lighten the mood with a comical response, saying, "Then why are you here?"

The atmosphere in the car suddenly turned icy, the temperature dropping significantly.

Steve slowly turned his head to meet Jeremy's frosty gaze, feeling small and insignificant. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, he quickly retreated, claiming that he had left his wallet in the estate and needed to retrieve it.

As soon as Steve exited the car, it zoomed off, leaving him standing there.

"Well, that was rude," Steve muttered to himself, brushing off imaginary dust from his suit.

"You should be used to it by now, buddy," Tony chuckled, patting Steve on the shoulder. "Get in. You can ride with me instead. I promise, I won't bite."

"Haha, very funny," Steve replied sarcastically, grateful for Tony's lightheartedness. They both climbed into Tony's car, a stunning blue Bugatti Divo, and drove off.

******

Melissa's eyes widened in awe as she held up the red dress. Its texture was soft, and the intricate patterns adorning it were exquisite. The only concern she had was that it was an off-shoulder dress, revealing her shoulders. Nevertheless, it was undeniably beautiful.

"So... do you like it?" Nicky asked eagerly, observing Melissa's admiring gaze.

Melissa took a moment to compose herself before replying with a smile, "Yes, I love it. It's beautiful. But hold on, how much did it cost? It looks expensive."

Nicky's response was immediate, "The cost of the dress doesn't matter. What matters is that you like it."

Sam chimed in, adding, "And we both think it looks amazing on you."

Melissa's frown turned into a playful pout. "Yeah, I do love it. But it's a bit revealing, don't you think?"

"Oh, come on, you're not revealing anything. Besides, you need to look your best for this party. Many wealthy and influential people will be attending," Nicky encouraged, trying to boost Melissa's confidence. "Maybe you'll find a nice..."

"Please stop, Nicky. I'm not interested in finding anyone." Melissa interrupted her gently, her voice tinged with a touch of sadness.

The memories of her past experiences made her wary of opening her heart again.

Nicky felt a pang of regret upon realizing her friend's sensitivity to the topic. "I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely, reaching out to touch Melissa's arm.

Melissa smiled, appreciating Nicky's understanding. "It's okay. I should go and get dressed. I'm running late."

As Melissa turned to leave, Sam stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.

 "Melissa, we want tonight to be special for you. You deserve to feel beautiful and confident, regardless of whether you're interested in meeting someone or not. This dress enhances your natural beauty, and it's a celebration of who you are."

Melissa's eyes welled up with gratitude, touched by Sam's heartfelt words. "Thank you, Sam."