7. Do I Know You?

Fueled by a twisted sense of amusement and veiled malice, Valentina, Olivia, and Beatrice navigated the throng of well-heeled guests, their designer heels clicking a haughty rhythm against the polished marble floor.

Their laughter, once light and carefree, now carried a sharper edge, a hint of their predatory intentions. As they neared Aurora, the air around them crackled with a palpable disdain.

They stopped abruptly, a formidable trio towering over the lone figure in red. Aurora, oblivious to their approach, remained lost in conversation with a guest, her face alight with an intellectual spark.

When she finally turned towards them, her eyes held a lazy indifference, a stark contrast to the calculating gleam in Valentina's emerald gaze.

The disdain that had simmered beneath the surface for minutes finally boiled over. Valentina's perfectly arched brows dipped into a condescending frown, her lips pursed in a thin line.

Olivia, ever the instigator, took center stage, her voice dripping with a saccharine sweetness that masked the venom beneath.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her gaze sweeping over Aurora with a theatrical flourish. "What do we have here? Lost, little scholarship girl?"

Beatrice, never one to miss an opportunity to pile on, chimed in with a sneer. "This isn't exactly the local library, darling," she added, her voice laced with a cruel amusement.

"Perhaps you wandered into the wrong exhibit?"

The air hung heavy with their words, a deliberate assault on Aurora's sense of belonging. Their eyes, once fixated on her captivating beauty, now scanned her outfit with a disdainful scrutiny, searching for any sign of her supposed lower class standing.

Unfazed by their hostility, Aurora arched an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes.

Beatrice, ever the social climber, stated, "You of all people don't belong here. This isn't some charity event for the underprivileged. Quickly get out before the guards throw you out for trespassing." She punctuated her threat with a pointed glance towards a pair of security guards stationed near the entrance.

Valentina, however, seemed to relish these moments. A throaty chuckle escaped her lips, the sound devoid of genuine amusement.

With a tilt of her head, she regarded Aurora with an arrogant amusement. "Now, now, Beatrice," she drawled, feigning a reprimand, "don't be so harsh. We are all Petrova University students, aren't we, Aurora?" She spoke the last part with a forced emphasis on Aurora's name, a subtle reminder of the vast difference in their social standing.

"Perhaps," Valentina continued, a predatory glint in her emerald eyes, "we can reach an understanding. You see, darling, these events are not just about champagne and caviar. They're about connections. And with the Petrova name behind you, well, the possibilities are endless."

She held out a hand adorned with a massive diamond ring, the unspoken message clear - fall in line with me, and I can elevate you.

It wasn't a question, but a thinly veiled threat disguised as an offer.

Aurora, however, remained unfazed. A faint smile played on her lips, the amusement evident in her cool gaze. She took a measured sip of her champagne flute, the clink of crystal the only sound amidst the stunned silence that followed Valentina's proposition.

"Do I know you?" she finally countered, her voice a sweet melody laced with a hint of indifference. "Perhaps we haven't been formally introduced. But in all seriousness, have you considered seeking professional help? A good therapist could do wonders for that superiority complex you seem to be battling."

The air crackled with tension. Olivia, speechless at Aurora's boldness, could only gape. Beatrice, her face flushed with fury, looked like she might lunge.

Valentina, however, remained surprisingly composed. A dangerous glint flickered in her emerald eyes, replaced by a steely resolve. This wasn't the intimidated scholarship student she'd expected.

This was a game, and Valentina, for the first time that evening, felt a thrill of genuine challenge. The room held its breath, caught between amusement and outrage.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across her face, the emerald fire in her dress seeming to intensify.

The room held its breath, caught between amusement and outrage.

"My, my, Aurora," she purred, her voice laced with a deceptive sweetness, "such a sharp tongue for someone who relies on scholarships. Perhaps you haven't grasped the concept of these events. It's not just about intellectual pursuits, darling. It's about knowing the right people, making the right connections. And let's face it, someone like you wouldn't know where to begin."

Olivia, emboldened by Valentina's lead, chimed in, her voice dripping with faux concern. "Exactly, Aurora. This world runs on a certain...etiquette. One wouldn't want to make a fool of themselves, would they?" Her eyes flickered towards the other guests, silently inviting them into the spectacle.

Beatrice, never one to miss an opportunity to humiliate, joined the fray. "Speaking of fools," she drawled, her voice dripping with condescension, "perhaps you should stick to your textbooks, darling. Leave the high society soirees to those who were born for it."

The air thrummed with their combined malice, a calculated effort to break Aurora's spirit. But Aurora, far from being intimidated, simply raised an eyebrow, a hint of steel flashing in her eyes.