𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐘 | 𝟏𝟖+

33

"Well, of course. Money can buy the best things. Why settle for less?"

The only negative feeling I have toward my mother is my annoyance for her ability to steer clear from remaining humble. Whenever she got the chance to brag about what she had, she did. And whenever she got the chance to shit on someone she didn't like, she did.

"I'll go find Theo, I'll see you later on." Enzo tells my mother, and walks toward me. "I'll find you in a few, Lovebug," he kissed my cheek, and headed into the direction of the bar.

"I agree with Lorenzo, Mami. It looks really beautiful. Are these new chandeliers you got installed? The last time I was here, it didn't look like this,"

"Yes. It was paid for by my organization,"

"Which one?"

"Take your pick," she giggled, "let me introduce you to some of my friends,"

The next hour was pure agony. Putting on fake smiles and giving fake laughs to people I couldn't care less about.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. The drinks at the bar were one of two things keeping me going. The second was feeling Lorenzo's eyes on me all night.

The fire in his eyes were giving me some kind of fuel as weird as it sounds.

"So, Love, my daughter would love to get into modeling," a friend of my mother's said, sipping a glass of champagne, "any advice for her?"

"Tell her to set her sights on something else, as glamorized as it seems, it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. The constant body shaming can really bring a girl down, especially one who's going into it blind,"

The woman's face dropped as if I said something wrong, but it's true. The amount of times I've been told I need to eat less or exercise more have really tainted my self image. You can never win when it comes to modeling.

Kudos to the women and men who genuinely enjoy it, because if I knew what I know now, I would've steered clear.

I sent her an awkward smile before walking away, and joining Lorenzo at the bar.

My gaze met his as I approached him.

"God, you look good tonight,"

"So, what? Every other night I look meh?" I said to him.

"Can I get a Martini, please?" I asked the bartender, "extra olives," he nodded, and began making my drink.

"Is that a trick question?" Lorenzo asked, and I smiled.

"It's whatever you want it to be,"

"Is that a trick...statement?" He tilted his head in confusion.

"Has Christian and Blair arrived yet?" The bartender placed my drink in front of me, and I gave him a faint smile. I brought the glass to my lips to take a sip.

"I saw them a while ago, but only for a second," he told me, and my eyebrows raised as I glanced across the room to see someone I didn't dare think I'd see here. "What?"

I averted my eyes, and brought them back to Lorenzo. "Nothing,"

"You're lying," he pointed out, then looked around the room for himself.

"I'm not," I shrugged, "dance with me." I grabbed his hand, and brought him into the ballroom where people were dressed in long, sparkly gowns and dark, plain tuxedos.

One of Lorenzo's hands were on the nape of my back, while the other was on my waist, sending chills down my spine.

As music played, we danced and talked in between.