9 Am I your nemesis?

Jenna's POV

Soon after my encounter with Henry, I changed my clothes as he instructed and put my hair into a pony tail, running upstairs and into the garden to meet the girls in charge of serving the guests. Chromatically, I loved the ambiance as it was a combination of dark blue and silver but I wasn't very fond of classical music. The small orchestra sited on a wooden stage began playing while I was searching for the drinks stand. I spotted 2 girls preparing the glasses and arranging them on multiple silver trays. They were both my age, slim and good looking, one of them with long red hair and blue eyes while the other was ebony with short curly hair and brown eyes. They noticed me approaching the stand and gave me a friendly smile.

"Hi! I'm Sara, nice to meet you." the red head said stretching her hand.

"And I'm Trisha" the other one followed with the same gesture. I shook both their hands and replied:

"I'm Jenna, nice to meet you too." After the introductions were made, Sara explained to me the protocol for serving the drinks after which each of us took a platter full of glasses and began moving around the crowd, waiting for the guests to decide if they would like champagne. I noticed Mark coming into the garden accompanied by 4 girls who were giggling and pulling the poor bastard's hands in different directions. He looked like he was crucified at a certain point and his eyes were begging for a time off.

After two hours have past, I notice Henry walking in alongside a blonde woman that was wearing the dress I tried on two days ago." So, this is the woman he was talking about..." I thought, analysing her features as she stopped to talk with Henry's mother. The woman was absolutely gorgeous and exactly the type any man would fall for. She wasn't skinny, instead she had beautiful curves, generous breasts and a perfect doll face. Her green eyes were absorbing Henry and paid attention to everything that he was saying and I remained stuck, watching them both smiling at each other as if they were meant to be together. I don't know why but for a brief moment I felt like my heart skipped a beat while imagining Henry's lips on hers. Out of the blue, my thoughts were interrupted by someone.

"Beautiful Jenna, what's up with you here?" I turned around to see Mark smirking at me, eyes red and hair ruffled.

"I'm working Mark. What about you?" I asked politely.

"I'm having fun. Or at least I'm trying but I can't understand anything from this fucking party when I listen to Mozart." we both chuckled at his words and he continued. "Why are you here? Are you with the catering company?"

"No, I'm actually Mr. Strauss's employee." I stated with a faded smile.

"What? When did that happen?" he asked throwing his head back laughing and I was taken aback by his attitude. I remained serious because only I knew what working for Henry meant. He noticed my grim face and the smile immediately faded. His eyes looked to the floor, averting his gaze from me while I pursed my lips and answered:

"You should ask him. I need to work now!" I said with attitude, walking away from him. After a couple of minutes, I see Phill standing at a table alone, observing the entire party.

"Would you like something to drink?" I inquired smiling. He goggled his eyes excited as if seeing an old friend and gave me a big hug, holding me by the shoulders, analysing what I was wearing.

"Jenna, it's so good to see a friendly face." he said giggling and measuring me with his eyes." What are you wearing? Are you a worker here?" he asked frowning his eyebrows. I felt awkward since two men already asked me the same question in one night and he noticed my hesitation. He released my shoulders and leaned his body against the table next to him. I found him genuine and loved the fact that he was considerate to my emotions, even when I didn't want to show them.

"I'm working for Mr. Strauss. Tonight, I'm a waitress as you can clearly see..." I said blushing, moving my free hand up and down as if presenting my attire. Being a waitress was not something to be ashamed off, the problem was when people didn't know you and had premature expectations from you. He smiled at me and stretched his hand , taking one of the glasses of champagne.

"You look gorgeous!" he whispered into my ear while doing it, keeping his other hand gently on my waist. "I believe you're the most beautiful girl from this party by far..." he continued after which he took a sip. I didn't know what to respond since I wasn't used to being complimented, especially by men, so I just smiled politely, avoiding his eyes. Unfortunately, my eyes met Henry's and I saw the hate residing in them. He didn't pay attention to any of the women standing next to him and chatting happily, instead he watched me with a flushed face which I immediately took as a sign that I have to end the conversation with Phill.

"It was nice seeing you, Phill..." I told him respectfully," ...but I have to go and serve the other guests as well."

"No worries, Jenna. Here..." he said taking out of his pocket a business card and handing it to me. "This is my number in case you would like to go get coffee sometime, get rid of Strauss for a couple of hours..." he said smiling. I grabbed the business card and nodded. I left his table and went through the crowd, asking people if they would like to serve the delicious liquid but stumbled across four men in their early 30's debating a subject alongside Mark who was gesticulating vigorously." This man is everywhere" I said to myself walking to where they were sitting. One of them stopped me, pulling me by the hand lightly and grinning at me.

"Hello gorgeous!" he said seductively which made my stomach turn. He had black wavy hair and high cheekbones which made him look like a professional model. His light green eyes made a beautiful contrast with his tan skin and his trimmed beard gave him an air of pure masculinity. I stopped, thinking they want a drink.

"Would you like a glass of champagne?" I inquired.

"No!" he said shaking his head" ...but I would like you to answer a question for me." he continued with an amused look. Without waiting for my confirmation, he asked: "Which one of us would you want to go out with?" and saying that, he pointed to the other three men sitting at the table. They all seemed entertained by the other man's question and were waiting for my answer, piercing me with their eyes. As I was analysing the four men in front of me, making an abstraction from Mark as he resembled a professional version of "Bo-Rai-Cho" (a drunkard from Mortal Kombat that farts on the faces of his enemies among others), I felt a hand on my back and a powerful smell of cinnamon and musk invading my nostrils.

"Miss Mills, may I ask why are you standing here instead of working?" Henry asked me and I turned my face to see him watching me with narrowed eyes while his jaw was clenched. I felt he was making efforts to abstain himself from creating a scene. I was tired of him watching my every move, trying to find excuses for making my life miserable and following me around wherever I went when in fact his entire attention should have been focused on the blonde woman who was now coming towards him visibly irritated. I smiled at the thought that in a couple of seconds I will be free from him. The man who stopped me tuned to him puzzled and stepped in to clear the air.

"Strauss, leave the girl alone. I stopped her because I wished a woman's opinion about something." he said firmly.

"And I object!" I heard Mark saying and we all turned our faces to him.

"What are you objecting?" one of the men next to him asked.

"I object this fucking music." he shrugged irritated, emptying the entire glass. I stretched my hand holding the tray for him to take another one but he took two, quickly emptying each one of them. The other three men were amused by Mark's reaction but Henry clenched his fists, letting out a sigh.

"Henry, there you are!" the blonde woman stated, grabbing his arm with a warm smile. Henry, who was now fuming because of Mark didn't even glare to her direction, instead he was watching his friend furiously as the man looked disoriented. In that moment I wished I could be able to evaporate and leave the table but I felt Henry's hand pulling me away from the others, making abstraction of the woman who was standing bewildered by his behaviour.

"No matter what Mark says, I don't want you or the other girls to serve him any more drinks except for water and juice, do you understand?" he said on a serious tone.

"I don't think it's up to me to make sure he's alcohol free. Even if the other girls and I don't serve him alcohol, do you think he's not resourceful enough to find some on his own?" I asked, trying to make him understand that I won't be liable for Mark's deranged behaviour later on. He panted and took a glimpse at Mark who was now ogling at the blonde girl waiting for Henry to come back to her.

"I know..." he said reluctantly, "...but let the other waitresses know, just in case." he added and went back to the table where now everybody was laughing and having fun, mostly on Mark's expense as he was in the centre of attention. As soon as Henry was back, the blondie kissed him passionately to the joy of his mother and her friend who were watching them from the distance drinking champagne, pleased by the view. For some reason, I couldn't comprehend why Henry would let her even get out of his sight. Somehow, his mind was somewhere else as he seemed lost in his thoughts, throwing me a last glance before going into the house. The blonde woman noticed it and came to my direction looking thirsty and nervous, thinking that her perfect smile will cover it. She picked up a glass and smelled the content inside without leaving my sight, pretending to be unimpressed as she watched the orchestra. I was about to leave when I heard her voice.

"It's not wise to lust for someone else's man." she said softly, turning her head to me and lifting her chin, savouring the drink. Is this woman serious? I watched her expression clueless and I had no idea what to respond.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Don't play dumb with me. I know a whore when I see one so listen to me and listen carefully! If I see a slight gesture, a glare or anything that would prove me you have a thing for him, I will make sure to rip your eyes out myself." she said smiling sadistically.

"Listen, I don't know..."

"Miss Coulton! My name is Mila Coulton but you will address me with miss Coulton." she said coldly interrupting me.

"Miss Coulton..." I followed, "I don't know what you've seen, but I can assure you there's nothing between me and Mr. Strauss and will never be." I told her firmly. She closed the gap between us who was already too small and whispered into my ear:

��For your sake, it better be!"

Like she sensed the devil himself, her eyes moved to the entrance where a stunning read head with voluptuous lips, long curly hair waving down her back and legs for days was making her way to Henry's mother accompanied by a middle-aged pair which I guessed was her parents since the resemblance was striking.

"Christine..." she mumbled to herself in spite. Desperation was written all over her face while my mouth dropped at the hearing of the woman's name.