The Gala II

Elara's POV

Denise, despite all her protests, still helped me pick out a dress. For some reason, she’d gone with the color black, the kind that swallowed light. A single strap of diamonds held the dress up, leaving one shoulder bare. The bodice clung to my ribs waist, and the skirt pooled at my feet, parting just enough to flash the silver blade of my stiletto. 

“You look like a goddess,” she said as she did the last touches of my makeup. “Stun Louis speechless then walk away. He’ll definitely regret letting you go.”

Now that I sat in the car which slowly drove me to the gala, I wanted nothing more than to still be in bed. I didn’t want to attend a gala and I definitely didn’t want to see Louis again. But I didn’t have a choice. 

I needed this. I had made up my mind. Some things simply had to be faced.

I took a deep breath in as the car stopped in front of the venue. A lot of people were already gathered outside, cheering at their favorite celebrities and holding up banners and boards. I grimaced, pushing the door open and stepping out. 

The evening air hit me instantly but other than that, no one paid me any attention. After all, I was nobody here. No one knew my identity and I was glad for that. I started walking for the door, but just as I neared it, I stopped. 

Louis was walking hand in hand with Celia and they were coming towards me. My eyes darted around quickly, looking for any place I could dodge into but it was no use, Celia had already spotted me and she was waving at me. 

Louis stood tall in a way that drew attention without effort. The noise and flashing of cameras around him didn’t touch him. How hair was perfectly in place, his suit smooth and sharp. Like always, he was impeccable, cold and detached. 

Except now, there was a slight frown on his face as he watched me. 

I would like to think that it was because of my small act of defiance of wearing my own dress instead of the one he bought for me, but I was sure little things like that didn’t affect him. 

My eyes strayed to Celia who stood beside him. She looked gorgeous in a velvety dress that screamed opulence. Did he pick that out for her too? Why did I care? She looked fragile, but confident. 

I don’t even know how she managed to pull it off.

Louis slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. I was surprised that I felt nothing at the sight of his affection for her. Maybe it was because I’d spent so long waiting for him that she was getting nothing in return that I no longer cared for it. 

I looked away, and sighed. 

“You’re here, Elara!” Celia said cheerfully, putting on a big smile for the camera. “I didn’t think you’d come, I mean. Louis didn’t invite you, right? You must be here to stake your claims, right? After all, you’re his fiancée.” 

The crowd gasped. They’d heard what Celia said about now, we were the center of attention. The cameras flashed fervently, reporters rushing forward to get the scope of the news. Even though I wanted to keep a low profile in this drama, Celia had inevitably dragged me into the middle of it. 

Suddenly, Celia sobered up and turned to Louis. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Lu.” She said with a tinge of remorse in her voice. “I shouldn’t have done that. I know how you hate being in the spotlight…”

“I’m fine.” Louis replied dismissively. “Let's just go in first.”

Celia allowed a faint smile to cross her face as she side eyed me. The reporters were still taking photos, asking questions which might never be answered, but they’d gotten the story they had come here for.

Celia had made sure of that. 

I watched their backs as they entered inside, hardening my heart and ears against the incessant questions the media rained on me with. 

“Are you really Louis Valmont’s fiancée? Did you come here because of what’s going on online? Are you here to mark your territory?” 

“How do you feel seeing him in the arms of another woman? Is your relationship staggering?” 

“Netizens are asking why…”

I turned them out, walking into the hall after Louis and Celia. I was here to talk to Louis after all and that needed to happen today. If things went any further out of hand, my parents would find out about our fall out before I had the chance to tell them myself. 

And there was his grandfather…

Although I’d been to these events countless times – always as Louis’ plus one – I still felt very anxious and nervous. At least before I used to have the backing of Louis even if he paid me no attention while we were here. Now though, I was completely alone and out of place and felt it really hard. 

“So, what does it feel like to be the one on the bench?” a voice said behind me and my breath immediately caught. Although I just met the woman, I was sure I would recognize that venomous voice anywhere. 

“What do you want, Celia?” I asked without turning to face her. She still appeared in my vision anyway, her annoying smug in place. 

“You must be feeling like shit now. Imagine he invited you here but still can’t give you the attention you so desperately want. I mean, I don’t even know what it feels like to be in your shoes.”

I smiled bitterly. “I wouldn’t know either,” I said softly. “I’m not the one running after a man and aiming to break his relationship. But go on, I’m sure you know very well how to ruin other people’s lives just to please yourself.”

I watched with satisfaction as the smug smile fell off her face and it crumpled into something between bitterness and anger. 

“What did you just say?” she growled, her eyes flashing with whatever horrible feelings she felt. 

“I said –” SLAP!!! The sound echoed through the hall and all eyes turned towards us. My cheek stung from the pain but what hurt most was my pride. I was very well aware that everyone was still looking at us, because besides the prickle I felt in my skin from where their eyes bored into me, I heard their whispers as well. 

“You dare defame me?” Celia shouted at the top of her voice. A sly smile curled up her mouth. “All I wanted was to fight for something – someone I love. You have no right to stop me!” she raised her again and I braced myself for the slap that never came. 

When I opened my eyes again, a man was standing between us. He had his back to me so I couldn’t tell his face, but from how his shoulders were squared, the way he caught Celia’s small hands in his and the way the hall went quiet told me one thing.

This man was powerful. 

And he was protecting me?

“Dad?” Celia called out, an expression of both shock and hurt passing across her face. 

Dad? Was this man her father? A gasp rippled through the hall. Even though all I could see was his back, the man didn’t seem old enough to be her father and just then, he turned around, his eyes met mine and the world seemed to stand still.