At Sterling mansion dinner is like a whole new Universe on it own.
Emma sat next to christy at a long glass dinning table across Daniel facing him directly. The table reflect the shining and glowing crystal chandelier like stars. Polished silver cutlery, fine crystal glasses and and plates elegantly arranged in an artistic precision.
She is used to dining at her family small plastic table for as long as she remembered.
She was terrified to make any noise holding her breath to avoid making loud noise.
Across from her was Daniel Sterling who was silently scrolling through his phone with out sparing her a glance and chewing his food. At the far end of the table was Christy's Dad sat at the head of the table. Mr. Sterling maintaining a composed and impassive demeanor.
Christy sat beside Emma chatting smoothly.
" Dad meet Emma Hart." Christy said cheerfully.
" Top student, the girl who put Sophie Lane in her place today."
Mr. Sterling took a glance at Emma for the first time. "I heard."
Emma straightened. "It was not any of my intention to embarrass anybody."
Daniel gigled. "That's exactly the classic all dangerous people use."
Emma met his eyes. "I'm not a dangerous person."
Daniel leaned in his chair. "So far."
Silence covered the entire room.
Christy quickly laughed. "Daniel likes joking alot. Don't take it to heart."
Emma smiled sweetly, but her heart was pounding so hard in her chest.
This family is exceptional, very strategic, vigilant and calculative.
She needed to be very careful with her moves.
After dinner, Christy dragged Emma upstairs to her bedroom.
They took off their shoes and crashed on the big soft bed.
"You did so well Emma," Christy said. "My Dad hardly talks to strangers and I think he likes you."
Emma breath out deeply. "You have no idea how scared I was."
Christy grin from ear to ear. "You pretended so well."
Emma turned her head took a very good look at Christy. Her perfect glowing skin, glossy silk hair and her beautiful laughters.
A question slipped out before she could stop it.
"Does it get exhausting… being you?"
Christy blinked. "Me?"
"Yes you" Emma said effortlessly. "Having everything at your finger tips. Always being loved by everyone."
Christy thought for some couples of seconds before answering.
"Sometimes people only love you just so they can use you, but not the authentic you" she calmly stated.
Emma studied her closely trying to understand something.
For the first time, Christy Sterling lack the perfection of a princess that made her untouchable but rather looked very lonely.
Emma smiled softly. "Then i love the real you, for who you really are."
Christy smiled warmly . "You are such a sweet soul."
But Emma's smile faded immediately Christy turned her back away from her.
I don't just admire your life from the out side, Christy.
I want to experience every single bit of it and leave no crumbs.
The next morning, Christy arrived at school with Emma in her Dad's car.
Students stopped and stared agape and flabbergasted.
Immediately Sterling High school stumble upon it's first rumor of the day.
Emma Hart stepped out the luxury car with her head so high and majestically making her way to the school entrance without giving a shit.
In the school corridor, Sophia Lane stared at Emma from a distance, her nails digging into her palm leaving some painfully red marks.
"So it's true all this while she is now living in the Sterling mansion now?" one girl whispered.
Sophia's lips smugged.
"She won't stay there for long."
During classes Christy leaned toward Emma and whispered.
"There is this event that is happening this coming weekend. It's a charity gala night that my family attends every year."
" please I want you to come with me as my plus one." Chrisy whispered
Emma stopped dead in her track. "Sorry to disappoint you but i can't come with you."
"But why?" Christy asked.
"I don't belong at events like that. I will feel so out of place at those gatherings."
Christy lightly stroked her arm. "You belong exactly where you should be."
Emma's breath caught.
No one had ever said something that moved her in a way no one ever had before.
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
Lunch break.
This time, Emma didn't walk to the cafeteria alone by herself, Christy wall down with her.
Christy sat right beside her at the main table, the table that commanded the whole room.
Sophia and her friends group angrily watched like a hawk.
And suddenly a talk and handsome figure grace the room with his presence.
James Carter.
Towering figure,handsome,composed and unwavering self assurance. He is unarguable on of wealthiest heir in the city.
He walked straight to Christy and kissed her cheek.
"Hey, baby girl."
Christy smiled. "Oh my God! James."
Emma looked closely.
James averted his gazed towards her.
"And who is she?"
Christy encircled her arm through Emma's. "This is my new best friend , Miss Emma Hart."
James extended his hand for a shake. "Pleasure to meet you beautiful lady."
Emma hesitated at first, then took his hand and shook it.
His grip was longer than necessary and his eyes were too intense.
"Nice to meet you" he said.
Emma felt something spark inside of her.
Mindfulness.
Leverage.
Authority.
Scalability.
Later on in the day, Emma when to the bathroom and splashed water all over her face to wake up from this day dream, unfortunately it's a reality.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
"Christy has everything she wanted at the blink of an ear. She has the money, beauty, fame and prestige all to herself." She thought
Even high value men like James look at her like she is the first morning light that chases his shadow away.
Her lips drifted slightly apart.
But he glanced at me too.
The thought excite her so much and nervous at the same time.
That evening after school hours Emma went back to the Sterling mansion together with Christy again, upon arriving Daniel was already waiting by the door waiting for them.
"I need to speak with you for few minutes Emma," he said.
Christy looked at Emma then back to Daniel . "Let me go upstairs and change."
Once they were alone, Daniel studied Emma.
"I heard you are coming to the Gala," he said.
It was a statement not a question.
Emma nodded slowly avoiding his intense gaze.
"Christy cordially invited me as her plus one."
Daniel took a step forward.
"One thing you need to understand here Miss Hart is that, the Sterling world is not as glamorous as you think it is. It's indeed very beautiful and brutal at the same time. Hope you are prepared for what to come next."
Emma looked right back into his eyes holding his gaze.
" All my life is brutal. There is nothing glamorous or beautiful about it, just survival."
Daniel curled his lips slightly.
Daniel's lips curved slightly.
"You will fit right in then."
He turned around about to leave, the he stopped and turned around.
"Lastly before I go, James Carter is a monster so you better watch out "
Emma's lifted up her brows in an interrogative manner. "In which manner?"
Daniel look back at her.
"He always gets what he want and ensure it never slips out of his grip."
Then Daniel walked away.
Leaving Emma standing alone in empty silent corridor.
That night Emma kept tossing in bed unable to sleep, while Daniel's word kept ringing in her head.
"Was does he mean by those earlier words of his?" She thought to herself. "Is he suspecting me or there is something he knows that am not aware of?"
Suddenly her phone buzzed of notification.
Unknown Number:
You were spotted with James Carter earlier today.
Emma immediately sat up.
Emma:
Who are you and what the hell do you want from me?
Three dots appeared.
Unknown:
Someone who warned you before and still warning you now before commotion happen.
Emma swallowed.
Emma:
Why do you choose to warn me?
A long pause.
Then:
Unknown:
Because I love to warn before striking, be extremely care not to play with fire because you don't know what's coming for you.
Emma locked her phone and threw it under the pillow.
Her heart pounding hard and racing.
The Sterling world, the intense ringing warning Daniel gave me, the Gala night event, dangerous James Carter and anonymous stalker that is watching and on alert on every of my moves
This is too much for me to handle, everything is moving way too farward and Emma Hary is no longer on survival mode.
She is quickly setting her foot into a war zone made so glamorous and covered with some dirty secrets for her to know quickly until it's too late
At the Charity gala event, Emma borrowed Christy's beautiful gown worthy of events like gala night where everyone showed up and show off...
And her beauty caught the eye of that single man she was not supposed to go near.