*SOPHIA'S POV*
There was total silence all through the ride to the party. I don't know why, but a part of me was angry with Bran, and he, on the other hand, did not know how best to explain himself, so we kept quiet all through.
Shortly after, we got to the party location. As Bran showed the bouncer his invitation card, they allowed us in, while Pierre went ahead to park the car and wait for us.
I walked into the hall, right after Bran, as I could not keep my eyes off the theme of the party. Different calibres of people were all in this hall, some gossiping, some talking about business plans, some connecting a friend or friends to another friend, and some had their eyes on me, staring.
I strictly followed Bran as I was certain that I knew no one here at the party. Bran greeted a couple of influencers and business partners he knew and knows while I clutched my dress and smiled most of the time as he introduced me as his wife.
Finally, the birthday celebrant came down to the hall, and a round of applause went off to welcome him. He suddenly sighted Bran as he approached where we stood, with champagne glasses in our hands.
*BRAN'S POV*
"Mr Bran, I am so glad you came," the celebrant said and shook my hands, and I shook his as well.
"Oh, it is nothing, sir, I had to honour the invitation since it was sent," I said, with a smile on my face.
"Thank you so much," he said, but then noticed Sophia, who was standing next to me.
"This is my wife here, Sophia," I quickly introduced her to him.
Sophia quickly stretched forth her hand and shook his hand immediately he did.
"Happy birthday to you, sir," she said with a smile.
"Thank you dear…..you have got quite a beautiful wife here, Mr Bran" he said and looked at me.
"Well, thank you, sir. I guess I am the lucky one."
"Oh yes...please, do hang around and enjoy the party"
"Sure," I responded.
The celebrant said this and exited from where we stood, and allowed us to enjoy the party as he asked.
*SOPHIA'S POV*
Bran now suddenly seemed quite popular amongst the female influencers and business owners as they kept coming to greet him and chat for a while.
I was no longer comfortable standing around while he greeted people he knew.
"Hey," I said in a low voice and tapped him on the shoulder so as not to make it too obvious that I needed to speak to him.
He turned around immediately.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, you seem occupied, so I will be by the poolside side"
I said this, turned and left where he was without letting him say something else. I placed the glass of champagne I was holding on one of the waiter's trays and headed towards the pool to sit.
I sat by the pool for close to five minutes, busy sorting out the pre-launch project of Hems and Halo on my phone, when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder.
I immediately turned around and saw that it was Liam.
"Liam!" I said as I stood and smiled.
"Sophia," he said, and we hugged sideways.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, quite surprised to see him there.
"Well, the same reason you are here," he said jokingly and shrugged his shoulders a bit, and with a smile.
"Forced to come against your will?" I asked and laughed a little.
"Really?"
"It's fine though....how often do you go to events like this?" I changed the topic.
"To be honest, not so much, I am only here because a friend of mine persuaded me to be here."
"Well, I must thank this friend of yours, he sent me someone I could talk to and relate to," I said and smiled.
"Why isn't he here with you?" he asked, not so happy about the fact that I was alone.
"Well, you know how they do, it's from one greeting to another…..but it's fine, not like I'd rather want his company"
"Then I am glad that I gave in to my friend and came today."
The party groove and music suddenly changed, and it was dancing time.
"Wanna dance?" he asked as he gently took my hand into his.
"Hmm, no no, I am not much of a dancer and….. I wouldn't want to involve you in any sort of scandal," I said and pulled my hand away gently with a smile.
Liam then gave me a sad expression.
"I am sure he would also get offers from these ladies to dance, too," he said, still trying to convince me.
"Well, it wouldn't be seen as a scandal when it's one of his business partners," I said.
"Right," he said and pocketed his hands.
*HENNA'S POV*
I successfully got into the party with the invitation card that Jenny got for me, and I was also trying to connect and mingle.
I picked a glass of wine and was sipping and grooving to the music when I spotted Sophia and an unfamiliar man talking. I suddenly felt it was my cue to have her humiliated in a public space like I planned, so I walked up to them where they stood by the pool.
"Sophia, I didn't think you would be able to make a friend at a party like this," I said with a fake smile.
"Henna!, surprised to see you here."
"Surprised? Parties like this are norms for me...who is the new friend or should I say secret lover?"
Sophia looked at me, confused and worried as to why I would mention such a thing.
Liam took the hint immediately.
"I'll let you both talk, I'll be right over there."
"Yeah sure," Sophia said.
Liam said this and withdrew about a couple of steps from where we stood.
"What is wrong with you, Henna?" Sophia lashed out at me, but in a low voice.
"Wrong with me? I think you are the one who something is wrong with, you're here flirting with another man while your husband is somewhere around here, trying to make a face for you," I said with ill intent.
"Flirting? When and where did you see me flirting? Liam is a friend!"
"Oh, please, that is what you will say, but I can read you pretty well, Sophia," I said, still holding the glass of red wine.
"You know what? I am done here, I don't have to keep up with this with you."
Sophia said this and tried to turn and leave, but I quickly followed my instincts and poured the glass of wine on her dress as though it was a mistake.
"Oops, I am sorry, Sophia, I tend to be quite clumsy," I said as I covered my mouth with my hand, under the pretense of being sorry.
*SOPHIA'S POV*
I stood there, my lilac dress and body drenched in a full glass of red wine in front of notable guests and influencers as they looked.
At this point, I didn't know what to do; I didn't know if I should be angry and lash out at Henna or just walk out of there without talking to anyone.
*BRAN'S POV*
I was almost done connecting with new potential business partners and clients when I heard a familiar voice from behind me.
"Ken! I thought you would be getting into town the day after," I said and gave him a brotherly hug.
"Well, plans changed, I came here since I found out you wouldn't be home," he said and laughed.
"I guess Pierre spilled the beans," I said this and we both laughed.
"Where is Sophia? She really refused to come with you?"
"Almost, but I found a way to bring her out. She must be around somewhere," I said and tried to look around for her.
Just then, Ken tapped me on the shoulder and asked.
"Isn't that Sophia over there by the pool?"
"What?" I asked and turned around, only to see Sophia looking quite discomforted.
*SOPHIA'S POV*
I finally came to the conclusion to leave the scene at that point.
"It's fine, I will just clean up in the bathroom," I said
As I turned and was about to leave with the first step, I felt a strong pull, not on my hands but at the edge of my dress, and this made me miss a step.
Immediately, I missed a step, and the next thing I saw was myself deep inside the pool and soaked, hair in a mess.
I missed a step because Henna stepped on the hem of my long dress and restrained me from moving freely.
Every person's eyes were on me at this moment, and I just wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole.