"That's eggshell white. I specifically ordered for ivory white. Is that too much for you dumbheads?"
The annoying voice of Hailey Connor echoed in the lounge once again and I controlled myself from dumping my cup of coffee on her head.
"And these are tulips. I told you I want Irises. Get out from here and don't come back unless you have the flowers I want." She screamed at someone.
I was currently in the kitchen, spending time with Jason and drinking coffee when I saw Hailey enter. She then started throwing tantrums, finding faults in everything, all the while sipping on her mimosa. The kitchen was adjacent to the lounge so I could easily watch everything, no matter how much I tried to block the view.
It was Saturday today, which means tomorrow was their engagement ceremony that was going to be held here. An interior designer had taken over the lounge for the last two days, decorating everything according to Hailey's wishes. I haven't seen Sean participate in any of the arrangements or give his opinion. He had left everything in his fiance's hands, not that I cared what he did.
"Penny?" Jason called my name, pulling me out of my chain of thoughts.
"Huh?" I looked at him.
"I was asking you when all this is over, would you like to go to dinner with me?" He asked shyly.
"Um...." I didn't expect him to say something like that all of sudden so it caught me off guard. I tried to think of an appropriate response without sounding too rash. "Umm... I..."
"Sorry, you don't have to reply just yet." He said and I took a sigh.
I liked Jason but I didn't know if I liked him romantically. He was handsome, kind and a good friend to me so logically, I shouldn't have any problem becoming more than his friends. Then why were I hesitating?
"Well, that was awkward." I chuckled nervously.
"Doesn't have to be." He smiled at me. "Relax. I'll wait for your answer."
"Sure." I smiled. "It's just that, I don't know what the future holds for me so I can't made any commitment right now. But I'll think about it."
"I get it." He said.
Jason went back to making lunch while I hopped off the counter and walked out of the kitchen. On my way to the stairs, my eyes were towards the floor when I bumped against someone. Lifting my head, I found the man I had been avoiding for the last few days standing in front of me. He also lifted his eyes from his mobile and stared back at me.
"Blind much?" He said, narrowing his eyes.
"Annoying much?" I tried to pass but he blocked my path with his massive body.
"Why are you coming from the kitchen?" He asked, drawing his eyebrows closer.
"Why are you...." I took a brief pause. "Wait, that was the whole question actually. Why are you?"
"Stop being a smart ass. Have you forgotten that's it's my house?" He said, staring down at me.
"Then throw me out." I crossed my arms.
"Soon." He replied in an irked voice.
"Babe, you are here." A feminine voice interrupted. I found Hailey walking towards us swaying her hips and I prepared myself for her lame remarks aiming at me.
"Yeah." Sean said briefly.
"Do you like the preparations? Do you want to change something?" She asked him, linking her arm with his. She ignored me subtly, running her other hand along her diamond necklace.
Hailey made sure to let me know she didn't like me and honestly, the feeling was mutual. The reason had nothing to do with Sean, as my inner voice taunted, and more to do with her shitty attitude.
"I'm fine with whatever you choose." Sean told her.
Not wanting to see them any longer, I tried to walk away when She-Devil called me. "Hey, are you coming to our engagement?" She said, resting her head on Sean's shoulder.
I exchanged a look with Sean, who had no expression whatsoever on his hardened face.
"I'll have to check my calendar." I replied and pretended to look at my phone. "Oh, I think I have a meeting with the Obamas."
"Very funny." She rolled her eyes and added. "We would have invited you but I don't think you would have clothes for that kind of gathering."
"Yeah, I'm devastated that I won't be able to join the auspicious ceremony." I pouted, pretending to be sad.
"Or, I can have my maid send you some of my old clothes." She said in her annoyed chirpy voice and my nostrils flared. "I'm not sure they would fit you though. You are built like a man, no offence."
"None taken. I know that's just your insecurities talking." I said and her eyes bulged out of the orbits in anger.
Before she could retort, Sean intervened, "Let's go, Hailey. The caterer is here." He said to her.
As they walked away, I gritted my teeth in annoyance and made my way upstairs where I won't have to watch their shenanigans. I'd rather bury my head in a book than witness their nauseous PDA.
******
That vile woman actually had the nerve to send me her dress. The rose gold colored slip dress was sprawled over my sofa, mocking me every minute, as much as I wanted to avoid it. I wanted to tear it in half and throw it down the hall but it was two pretty to be destroyed.
The party was going to start in few hours and there I was, sulking in my room. I didn't want to give an impression that I was too sad on his engagement that I couldn't leave the room. But it wasn't my fault I didn't have any clothes and I was stuck here.
The material of the dress was satin, that felt like feathers against my hands. It had a delicate neckline that would settle nicely against my decolletage. The hem had a huge slit running up the legs that would surely look seductive and scandalous.
It can't hurt to try once, can it?
I stripped off my clothes and then slipped into the dress. Despite the size difference between Hailey and me, it fit me like a glove. The color contrasted well with my fiery red hair. The dress made a hobo like me look sexy and my legs appeared longer and more toned in it.
I was in desperate need of a full body shave but other than that, I loved how it looked on me. If only it didn't belong to that woman.
"I see you like my gift." A voice said from the door and I jumped in my position. It was Jason, leaned against the wooden door, his blonde locks spread all over his forehead.
"Your gift? I thought Hailey sent this." My brows furrowed in confusion.
"Didn't you check the bag? I left my card in it." He said, walking into the room.
"Oh." I said and looked into the mirror again. I was so angry at Hailey and Sean when this dress was delivered to my room that I didn't even bother to confirm.i just figured it was another way of her to look down at me. But now that I knew this dress didn't belong to her, it appeared even more breathtaking. I said to Jason, "That's... That's so pretty. But I can't..."
"You can. If you refuse to wear it, it will break my heart." He made his cute puppy dog eyes.
"But...."
"Please." He pouted and my heart melted at his cuteness.
"Okay, fine. I'll wear it. But I wasn't planning on going to the party." I said.
"Why won't you? I'm invited so we can go together. Well, I'll be looking over the food for the most time but still..." He trailed off.
"I don't think..."
"Hailey is a jerk to you, right. Imagine showing up at her engagement party and stealing the show with your beauty." He winked.
"But..." I sighed, pondering over it for a moment. I wanted to go, not to ruin the night for Hailey but to make Sean miserable. I wanted to hurt him the way he hurt me, which wasn't possible considering he wasn't a human. But it was worth a try. "Fine. Go away then. I need to take a shower first." I said.
Once he left, I walked back to my closet and began searching for an appropriate footwear to go with it.
Two hours later, I was standing in front of my mirror fully dressed. I had borrowed a straightener from Jennie that made my curly hair silky jet straight. I kept the makeup almost natural and completed my look with a dangling silver earrings along that went well with my everyday heart necklace.
There were very few times in my life when I looked in the mirror and saw a sexy woman in it. Today was one of those times.
"Here goes nothing." I sighed and turned around to go downstairs.
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