Like a Leech

Downtown New York was alive with people. Vendors were going about their business and people were enjoying their Saturday evening in this nice atmosphere. I should've been doing the same if not for this stupid business party Helios has given. And as the Assistant of Steve, I had to tag along too.

Ugh, Did I mention I hate parties?

I was sitting on the backseat of Steve's car. The hotel was still 20 minutes away.

All the important, intimidating people are going to be there. It was my first time going to a business party. Steve usually takes Sophia with him but, to this party I was especially invited.

What the heck!

I was wearing a maroon dress with a V- neckline and quarter sleeves. It was a plain dress without any extravagance. It ended just above my knees. I had golden heels on and a simple golden bracelet and golden teardrop earrings for jewelry. I had done my hair in a ponytail and just applied mascara and nude lipstick.

I was probably going to stick out among those rich ladies in their designer clothes.

Can't wait for this night to end already.

The car stopped outside a lavish hotel. The building was bathed in golden lights. The valet stepped out to move the car and we walked towards the entrance.

The interior was more eye-catching than the exterior. Whole lobby was designed in a brown and gold theme. Huge Chandeliers were hung, flickering golden light and the shiny tiles were reflecting the lights. Scattering it everywhere. Everything was bathed in a yellowish glamour.

Steve smoothly walked towards the ballroom where the party was probably held. I followed suit.

The ballroom was literally taken out from a fairytale. I tried to imagine myself as Belle entering the ballroom of the castle, only my dress wasn't golden and there was no beast.

Alas!

I shook my head and followed Steve. Helios was standing there, talking to a guy. He was wearing a black suit with crisp white button up and a maroon tie. He was looking majestic. His hairs were styled in a messy kind of way with a few curls falling on his forehead giving him a boyish look.

As always, ladies were ogling him from around the ballroom. His eyes flickered to us as we entered, nodding to the man he was previously talking to, he stepped towards us and shook hands with Steve.

I raised my hand for a handshake too as we had done during business meetings but instead of shaking my hand, he took my palm in his big one and raised it to his mouth and pecked the back of my palm.

I was hyperventilating. My eyes probably resembled saucers. He looked at me from under his lashes, my hand still in his and smirked.

He actually smirked. It was not the flirty smirk Caleb threw to everyone. It was a devilish smirk. Like he was up to something.

Seconds ticked by but he kept looking at me with that damn smirk. I was frozen in place, like the time when people sort of turned to stone in Harry Potter.

I felt like fainting at this point. I shook my head to clear the haze and softly pulled my hand out of his and smiled tightly, hoping my face wasn't the colour of beetroot.

"Enjoy" , he said to Steve with a nod and while I was passing him, he leaned forward and murmured in my ear,"Maroon suits you ", his hot breath caressing my right cheek. A shiver trailed my spine.

Can he not say it from an appropriate distance?

I rushed toward Steve, eager to be away from him,all the while hiding my beet-root coloured cheeks.

**********

I was sulkily walking behind Steve. He'd spot a business partner and start bickering and introduce me too. By now my cheeks were hurting from all the fake professional smiles.

I was so bored by now, so when Steve stopped again, I nearly screamed. But on just that moment my eyes landed on the buffet.

Ooh, joy!

I can swear it was beckoning me towards itself so I obeyed and trudged towards the food table.

It was stacked with all kind of evening snacks.

I was just going to pick up the delicious looking nugget when Caleb exclaimed my name.

I rotated my neck to see him. He was making his way towards me through the crowd. He was wearing black pants and black button up with a polka dot tie. His hair was styled back. He was a good looking man.

He was holding a wine glass with one hand and waving at me with the other.

"Hey Liana! What's up?" ,he said enthusiastically.

Well!Someone is enjoying this godforsaken boring Party.

"I'm bored", I whiningly said while nibbling on the nugget.

He looked shocked as if nobody could get bored at this party.

We started talking about random things, when I saw Helios coming from the corner of my eyes. I turned to look at him. Our eyes met. He's bluer than ever.

At just that moment the orchestra struck and a sweet melody poured out.

He came to stand just a few feet away,all the while looking me in the eyes.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a pretty blonde in a very revealing red dress came to us. Our eye contact broke.

"Helios, come on,let's dance", she said while practically hanging on his right arm. Helios begin to say something but Caleb cut him and said instead,

" Hey Natasha, I see you look just as slutty as ever", he finished with a smirk. The glare she sent towards him was so murderous.

If looks could kill, Caleb would be six feet under.

"Nat, maybe later", Helios said, a little unsuringly,trying to free his arm from her leech-like grasp.

Ooh,he has a pet name for her.

"Nonsense", she nonchalantly said and dragged Helios towards the dancing area. He casted a backwards glance at me but I averted my eyes.

Was he going to ask me for a dance?

No,probably not.

"Who was that?", I asked Caleb, trying to keep my tone light.

He glanced towards me then back at the dancing couple, " She's a clingy bitch who'd love to be an Eaton someday", he thoughtfully said and I nearly choked on my 6th nugget.

Marriage?

I shouldn't care.

I tried to clear my head but my eyes wandered to the dancing couple. They were dangerously close. And they do look good together.

She was no doubt beautiful in that plastic kinda way.

The music ended and their dance came to a halt. She leaned forward and kissed his cheeks. Several men around the hall hooted.

Helios pried off her hands around his neck and started walking away but the orchestra struck again for the next dance and she again snaked her arms around his neck and started swaying.

I so badly wanted to rip her away from him, to rip her fake lashes and perfect curls.

I was by no means a violent person so these thoughts of mine horrified me to no end.

I couldn't see his expression from here. His face was blank. But once in a while our eyes would meet.

I shouldn't be looking at him.

This is wrong.

I shouldn't be feeling all this.

This is all wrong.

"Liana,Would you like to dance", I was brought out of my reverie by Caleb, who was looking at me hopefully.

I panicked. What can I say? I cannot dance. It suffocates me to be in close proximity with someone.

He was still looking at me, "I... Umm...no..I.. I'm not feeling very well", I said with an apologetic smile.

"It's alright, Lia, are you fine? Do you need anything?", his voice brimmed with concern and I felt ashamed for lying.

I just shook my head. A few hours later ,a girl asked him to dance. He looked at me, I gave him an assuring smile and a thumbs up so off he went to the dance area.

I was left alone and they were still dancing. She was practically attached to him. A wave of disgust and something else erupt inside me.

Is this jealousy?

No,it can't be,right?

I was feeling suffocated. I felt like I couldn't draw the next breath. I needed fresh air.

I looked around the ballroom, there were big doors on the far left side which led to the balcony, so with one last glance towards him, I made my way towards the door.

It was a circular style balcony made of marble. Huge statues were perched on either side of me. I walked towards the railing and breathed the fresh night air. It calmed me and my whirling mind. Beneath me was a beautiful garden. The smell of roses was thick in the air. This side of the hotel was dark so the star filled midnight sky looked breathtaking.

I started tracing idle constellations, making stupid stories about them.

It was a habit. This always soothed my thoughts and cleared my head.

I wouldn't let this feeling rule me.

Whatever it is I'm feeling, it needs to stop