The water was so cold, I could feel my body freezing. I staggered a bit and saw the masked man trying to leave the fountain, but he kept slipping back in.
I won't lie; it was a funny scene, but I dared not laugh as I was the serpent behind it. I was really embarrassed, people kept on staring. I was soaked and my gown became transparent. I could see my black bra, surprising me with its appearance.
I quickly held onto my dress and covered my chest, but Adrian had already seen the whole view. I was struggling not to laugh and at the same time trying to leave the water. I saw my stepmother running towards me, her face etched with worry.
"Roseline," she called, signaling to some men to get me a towel.
"Mum," I replied, with flushed cheeks.She gave me her jacket to hide my dignity. A man ran to Adrian with a towel and dried him off while I was waiting patiently for my towel. It finally came.
I was taken to the dressing room, and I had to change my soaked dress. I stared at the makeup, it was ruined under the mask. I decided to go natural since the award show was almost over, by the time I was done dressing, the guests should have left, hopefully. I checked through the wardrobes for a beautiful gown, and I finally found one that truly described my personality.
Lilac, where I come from, the color symbolizes the start of a new beginning. I loved it. I walked out hurriedly when my phone beeped, a message notification from my stepmom reminding me to hurry back downstairs.
I ran out hurriedly and tripped on the stairs; I was about to fall, probably roll down the stairs, but a hand held my waist in place, preventing me from having one of the worst experiences of my life.
I am sure I would have broken some bones. I stared into the eyes of my helper; it was the masked man.
This time, he was shirtless but still in his mask. How can he be outside shirtless? I thought. My hands were placed on his chest, and I unconsciously gripped his nipple tightly. I heard him flinch a little, only for me to see where my hands were. I screamed and tried to push him aside, but his grip was really tight.
"You can let go now," I surrendered and whispered with flushed cheeks. Suddenly, he let go without a warning, and I fell down the stairs anyway.
"You fool," I screamed out in anger.
I finally landed at the bottom of the stairs. He smirked and walked away. I noticed when he let go, he let go softly, like he was making sure I wouldn't get hurt, just trying to teach me a lesson. But still, that's wrong. I really hate him.
The award show came to an end. I really wanted to go back home; I was exhausted, but I had to support my stepmom. She was busy having some unnecessary convos with Adrian's grandpa, Chairman Liam. They spoke and laughed, but all I ever felt was disgust. I walked over to the bar stand to get a cocktail.
"Cocktail," I said.
"Normal?" the hot barman blurted out.
"Normal," I replied. I saw him mixing some stuff, within a minute it was ready. He gave it to me, and I gulped it down my throat.
"One more," I said quickly. My gaze still landed on my stepmom and the grandpa she was talking to; they seemed so immersed in the conversation, I kept wondering how adults can spend hours talking this much; it's quite alarming.
"Another, please," I said again until I heard a voice speak from behind.
"Come!" Adrian whispered. I turned around and saw him. I was just pissed off; his presence makes me nauseous. First, he insulted me, made me trip and fall into the fountain, pushed me down the stairs, and here he is being rude again.
"Why are you so rude?" I asked.
"Why must you always ask questions?" He said with his hands glued to his pocket.
I've heard enough of his annoying attitude towards me, and some words were about to fly out of my big mouth, but I swallowed them forcefully when I saw my stepmom walking towards me.
"You two can join us for dinner," I heard her say.
"I'm good." Adrian replied quickly, as if he didn't want to get involved with us.
"Adrian, you will join us." His grandpa spoke with authority from behind before he walked away with his stick or rod or whatever; who cares? I just can't believe I'm having dinner with this rude thing. Our faces were still masked. A part of me wanted him to take it off so I get to see his face.
He would probably be an ugly-looking man with a beard. I can't refuse mother's words. I agreed to join them for dinner. It's just dinner; it's harmless, or what could go wrong?
I walked into one of the biggest restaurants in the hotel; a waiter directed me to a secluded room. I opened the door, and what I saw shocked me. Adrian was sitting elegantly at the table.
I was pissed, I wanted to walk out. I am not spending any time alone with that thing.
"Grandpa spent so much on the food; you don't want to ruin it for yourself and Mother," Adrian said casually with his legs crossed.
"How dare you speak about my mother? Who gave you such rights?" I screamed back at him in anger.
"Do you ever listen? You always answer a proper statement with a question. Sit the hell down!" he yelled, and I had a jump scare like those ones you have when you watch a classic horror movie. I obeyed like a loyal dog and sat down opposite him gently.
I didn't make a sound.
"Make your order; I don't want grandpa to think I'm mean or I'm not taking care of the guest." He smirked.
I held onto the menu, about to make an order, but a loud sound from the next room got my attention; it was like something was being broken. I dropped the menu.
"You shouldn't interfere; it's just adult play." I didn't reply and just wanted to order again. Not my business.
"Please!!!" I heard a familiar voice, my stepmother. The loud sound and the word please echoed loudly in my head. There is something wrong, I thought. I rushed out of the place, and I realized Adrian followed.
The door to the next room after ours was left a bit open. We could see what was going on. My eyes widened in shock when I saw my stepmom on her knees, about to kiss a man's bare foot. You may think that's okay, nothing bad, but wait till you notice and see that the man's foot had a big, decaying wound on it.
I couldn't think straight or get a hold of what was happening at that moment. I was about to burst the door open like some cop when a big hand held my wrist. It was him again. Give me a break please.
It was at that moment I prayed killing someone wasn't a crime because I was so sure I would have done something to him.
He shook his head, indicating to me not to interfere, but I shook off his hands and ran inside anyways.
"Mum, what's going on?" I asked, my eyes scanning the whole room. All eyes were on me. I got their attention just like how I commanded it before, but this was a small room with a lesser crowd.
My stepmom was shocked and embarrassed. "What are you doing here? she whispered softly, burying her head in her knees. I ran to her and was about to pull her up when I saw the man's decaying feet. I felt nauseous instantly.
Seeing someone so known and wealthy bowing and about to kiss someone's wounded feet shows some level of superiority and misuse of power. I thought she had it all, could command thousands, and they would listen.
But what I saw now just proved she was a weakling.
"Were you going to kiss his feet?" I asked softly.
"It's a game; she won't do it," a man said, and they all laughed.
"Rose, please leave!" My stepmother pleaded for my disappearance. I had never disobeyed her since she adopted me, but right now, I just did.
"A game? Is this a game to you all? I screamed out and watched as their laughter disappeared immediately.
"What game allows you to kneel before another man and kiss his ugly, wounded, rotten feet?"
It was those last words that had everyone murmuring. I could hear whispers around; I forcefully pulled my mom up.
"What's going on?" I heard Chairman Liam speak from behind. He walked towards the scene. "Take her away." He spoke to Adrian, and he pulled me out.
I tried to break free, but his grip was too strong. I was furious, and due to my intense desire to break free, I slapped him in reflex; he didn't budge. I covered my mouth in shock.
My anger vanished at that moment. Damn, he deserves it anyway.
"Who do you think you are, walking into their midst?" He spoke calmly.
"I am the daughter of Stacy Monroe, one of the most famous and successful businesswomen in the world—top five, I said boldly.
"I hate women who never know their place; I hate women who think too highly of themselves and think they can just change anything," he replied.
I was really lost and trying to understand what he was saying or how it related to the issue on ground. I was confused the more "Do you know your mother's real rank? Who groomed her to be who she is and where she is now?" he added quickly.
Things are finally starting to add up. How did she actually get this far?
"Do you know how she got this far? You think kissing someone's feet is a huge deal breaker? She has done worse with those men, even if the public says otherwise about her. In secret, she serves them like a dog."
I slapped him hard, he smirked in response.
"Don't you ever talk about my mother that way; there are some boundaries that should never be crossed, Adrian." I screamed out, defending my stepmother.
He moved closer to me; I moved back. He is doing this again. He stopped and finally said,
"You are stupid."