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.

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?!

All Chapters of Hidden Mate: Chapter -9