The Elite's

Chapter 4 | Too basic of that type of Fun

The guests were soon ushered toward an expansive dining area, where a table that seemed to stretch on endlessly awaited. The setup was immaculate-crystal glasses glimmered under the soft glow of the chandelier, silver cutlery lay perfectly aligned, and centerpieces of fresh roses adorned the length of the table. The hum of polite conversation filled the air as everyone found their assigned seats.

Jake gave me a quick smile before he moved to sit with his parents, leaving me to join my dad. I felt slightly out of place, surrounded by such wealth and formality. My dad seemed completely at ease, though, chatting with one of the neighbors as if he'd known them for years.

Once everyone was settled, Mrs. Hills stood at the head of the table, gently tapping her glass to draw attention. The room fell silent, all eyes on her as she began her toast. She was the epitome of grace and elegance, her posture perfect and her smile warm yet commanding.

"Good evening, everyone," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the room. "Tonight, we gather to officially welcome our newest neighbors, Mr. Walton and his lovely daughter, Amy."

Polite applause followed, and I tried not to shrink under the attention. Mrs. Hills smiled in my direction, lifting her glass slightly before continuing.

"We're thrilled to have you both join our community," she said. "It's not every day we get to welcome such delightful additions to our little corner of the world. Let's raise our glasses to new friendships and new beginnings."

The guests echoed her sentiment, raising their glasses in unison. I followed suit, smiling awkwardly as I took a sip.

Mrs. Hills then began introducing her family. "As most of you know, I'm married to the wonderful Mr. Hills," she said, gesturing to a tall, distinguished man seated beside her. He gave a courteous nod, looking every bit the accomplished businessman.

"And of course," she continued, her smile widening, "our daughter, Bianca. She's not just the light of our lives but also the future of Hills Enterprises."

My stomach dropped as Bianca rose gracefully from her seat to acknowledge the room. Her blonde hair gleamed under the chandelier's light, and her smile was as poised as her mother's. It was her-the blonde judge from the cheerleading audition, the girl Ciara was talking about and the girls in the bathroom I overheard.

Bianca's gaze swept the room, pausing briefly when it landed on me. Her smile didn't falter, but there was something in her eyes-a flicker of recognition, maybe even challenge. My chest tightened as I forced a polite smile back.

Mrs. Hills continued, introducing the other families seated around the table. "We're also joined by the Baker's, the Taylor's, and the Anderson's," she said, gesturing to each family in turn. "And of course, we have the Smith's, whose son is Ryan and the Walt's whose daughter is Mia are already such bright stars in our community."

I glanced at Mia and Ryan, who both offered polite waves. Jake's family was introduced next, and I caught his eye as he gave a small, almost teasing grin.

Mrs. Hills didn't stop there. "And let's not forget the Stone's family-Nate, always charming us all with his humor." Nate gave a mock bow from his seat, earning a few chuckles.

When the toasts ended, the atmosphere around the long dining table shifted. The clinking of glasses and quiet murmur of polite conversation gave way to something more intense-business talk. It started subtly, with a comment here and there about the stock market, but soon it grew into a full-blown discussion.

Words like "mergers," "equity stakes," and "real estate portfolios" floated across the table, making me feel like I'd accidentally wandered into a finance seminar. The parents were fully engrossed, their voices growing louder as they swapped opinions and shared anecdotes about their latest ventures.