Susan DeMinio I: Part I

-December 21st, 2017-

An old and weathered voice with the classic British elegance that I have heard so many times over the years called out from the driver's seat of the Rolls Royce. "Miss Buffet, we've arrived."

I shifted in my seat, turning my gaze to the rear driver's side seat. There sat my best friend, Jamie.

The bright red dress she wore contrasted beautifully with the amber leather seats of the car. Her blond hair and blue eyes that I was so jealous of sparkled even in the darkest of nights. It should be illegal to be that gorgeous.

In the spirit of the holidays, she had the fabric of her dress shaped into a bow on her left shoulder. Every penny I spent on that dress was absolutely worth it. I'll never forget the look in her eyes when she first saw it. It was priceless.

I smiled as she looked at me. "Are you ready?"

Jamie nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

I turned towards my driver. "Rory, we'll be going now."

Rory nodded and then shifted his hand slightly. The doors unlocked with a click. "Do enjoy yourselves. I'll remain nearby so please give me a ring when you are ready to depart."

The doors clicked once again as a pair of valets pulled both doors open.

A cacophony of noises immediately flooded the car. The flashes of the paparazzi's cameras, the incoherent yelling from the crowd, I hated all of it. The path to the entrance was laid by a red carpet that tightly clung to the grand staircase.

I took a deep breath and shook my head slightly. The daze was gone. I turned to my right, Jamie was already there. I could see a slight look of hesitation in her eyes.

Smiling, I spoke to her. "Relax. Just smile, pose with me, and walk confidently."

Jamie nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I know the drill."

We both laughed briefly before braving the battlefield before us. Before long, we made it to the top of the stairs, not a hair out of place.

At the door, there were nearly a dozen attendants with tablets and trays with champagne glasses. A tall male attendant with caramel skin stepped forward and gestured towards a waitress holding a tray of glasses. "Miss Buffet, welcome to the Forest Group Christmas Benefit. I hope your travels went smoothly."

I sighed internally, knowing exactly what was happening. "Indeed they did. Thankfully our journey went without a hitch."

He smiled and nodded. "Wonderful. Would you like a glass of champagne?"

I nodded. "Of course, we'd both like a glass, thank you."

The waitress quickly stepped forwards and handed a glass to Jamie and myself. She then stepped back, standing at attention.

I noticed a slight twitch in his expression before he spoke to us again. "Very good. Allow me to show you to the reception venue for the cocktail hour."

With champagne in hand, we followed the attendant through the halls. Jamie and I engaged in conversation that was merely fluff to conceal our true meanings. We knew coming to this event would involve plenty of underhanded actions by the heir to the Forest Group towards us.

Despite this, we still came. This had the potential to be fun. Besides, such a gorgeous venue deserved a cameo at the least.

The décor was very tasteful. The carpet contrasted against while also blending with the marble floor beneath. The walls were also made of stone brick. The furniture was dark stained wood with accents of gold. Everything was nothing if not extravagant.

As we approached the venue, plenty of noise leaked into the hallway. It became louder and loud. Live jazz music, hundreds of talking people, and the clinking of glassware. Every one of those few hundred people was wealthier and more influential than the last.

Before we entered, I turned to the attendant. "Excuse me. Might you know where we will be seated this evening?"

The attendant stopped at the doors to the cocktail venue and turned around. "Miss Buffet, you are to be seated with Mr. Sullivan along with the other promising members of the new generation. We wish to promote good relations among the future titans of our respective industries."

My eyes narrowed slightly as I stared down the attendant. "I presume that we have two seats at that table, yes?"

I closely watched as a bead of sweat rolled down his head. He swallowed nervously before speaking. "Yes, of course, Miss Buffet. How could we possibly forget?"

I then smiled and nodded before turning to Jamie. "Let's head inside. I'm sure that there are a few decent people here that we can talk to."

Not even five seconds after entering the hall, we were intercepted by three young men with pompous looks on their faces. One was in the front while two followed behind.

The man in the front was very tall and lean. A hint of his muscles snuck through his tuxedo. Mid-length brown hair was neatly combed over his head with a slight sheen. His dark brown eyes and sharp features complemented the sly smile he wore on his face.

He nodded towards me. "Susan, it warms my heart that you would attend my event."

I put a fake smile on my face and raised my head slightly to look down at him. "How could I miss it? As you always say, Eric, I'm just so charitable."

Eric Sullivan was a first-class asshole. He was the young scion of the Forest Group. Over the years, he has relentlessly pursued me. Fortunately, I had Jamie by my side to help fend him off. Unfortunately, this resulted in him developing a hatred towards her. His goons make things difficult for her at every opportunity. He sees her as a wall between him and me and has even referred to her as my charity case, hence the jab in my response.

Eric doesn't even miss a beat before responding with a nod. "But of course. It's just one of the many reasons you are so beautiful. Would you care to join me for a drink?"