DRESSED TO IMPRESS

"Owe, Gracie. " I screamed as Gracie pulled on my hair to hard.

"Oh hush Vici, stop being such a baby." Gracie scowled at me.

We were all in my room for the last four hours. After school Leila and Gracie came home with me to help me get ready for tonight's ball. Gracie was busy curling my hair. And Leila was sprawled out on my bed reading a magazine.

Time was running out and I was getting more excited by the minute.

"I still can't believe you were invited." Leila said.

"Me neither, I thought it would just be for the rich and famous." I replied.

"Well your father is well-known, so it isn't that surprising." Gracie replied, "all done, now let's go put on that dress."

I took my dress that was laying on my bed and went to the bathroom to get dressed.

As soon as the door opened Gracie and Leila's mouths were hanging on the floor.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"Oh....my.....soul! " Gracie and Leila said simultaneously.

"You look like a million dollars, Victoria." Gracie said stunned.

"It is quite beautiful." I said as I admired my dress in my full length mirror behind my door.

"Quite? It is not quite it is absolutely." Leila exclaimed as she came closer.

"Now it is time for the accessories." Gracie said as she handed me a beautiful diamond necklace. I studied myself in the mirror, thanks to my best friends I looked quite lovely, or rather beautiful.

"Thanks guys for helping me for tonight, I really appreciate it."

"No problem dol." Leila said as she came over to hug me. Gracie joined her and we had a group hug. After our little group hug I walked them down stairs.

"Now you go and have fun, remember we want all the details tomorrow and don't you dare leave out anything."

"Alright don't worry you'll get all your information." I promise them.

"We should better go... see you tomorrow." They greet as they both hug me. I open up the front door for them. After making me promise again they finally leave.

"Wow Vici don't you just look lovely." My father says as he climbs down the stairs.

"Thanks dad." I say as I hug him, "Where's mom?"

"She is still busy, you know how long she can take." My father says with a sigh.

"That we know all to well." I agree with him.

"I am done, I am done!" my mother yells as she comes down the stairs.

"Finally, that took you long enough." My dad says.

"Oh I didn't take that long." My mother defends helplessly.

"Alright it wasn't that long, are you guys ready to leave?" my dad asks.

After we both nodded my father took out his keys, after locking the house we climbed in the car and rode of to the ball.

The ball was held at the Stewart's mansion, it was at the edge of town. It stood two stories high, and was surrounded with a big iron fence. After we rode through the gate my father immediately parked the car.

As we walked towards the mansion I could see the finer detail that was imprinted on the walls. It was a gorgeous Victorian house but I was still mesmerized by it.We were led to the grant ball room by the butler.a

The grant ball room was decorated with a big white chandelier that hang from the middle of the room. As I walked I bumbed into someone, not again I thought to myself before looking who it was, to my surprise it was Alec. Again.

"Oh Victoria I didn't see you there." he said.

"It was my fault, I didn't really look where I was going. Fancy seeing you here." I reply.

"Yes, can you believe we were invited, oh there's my mother I have to go, enjoy the rest of your evening." He said with a small nod before walking to his mother. I can't help but get the feeling that he has been avoiding me for the last few days.

I scanned the room for my parents, they were standing at the hostess, Mrs Stewart herself.

"Victoria there you are, I would like to introduce you to Mrs Stewart, Mrs Stewart this is my daughter Victoria." My mother says as soon as she sees me nearing them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Stewart. " I say as I shake her hand.

"The pleasure is all mine Victoria, and please call me Amelia. I've heard so much about you." She says with a smile.

"Only good things I hope. " I say, Mrs Stewart is much more nicer than I've imagined.

"Always, I would like to introduce you to my son.....if only I could find him.... Oh there he is, Jaydan darling." She calls out and a tall handsome young man walks our way.

The rumours hardly did him justice. He had dark hair with amazing blue eyes.

"Oh darling this is Victoria, captain Wills' daughter." Mrs Stewart introduces us.

"Victoria that is quite a lovely name, I am pleased to meet you." He says as he shakes my hand.

"It is nice to meet you too." I reply.

The music started playing and Jaydan offers me a hand and asks, "May I have this dance?"

"Of course." I say as I put my hand in his.

He then leads me to the middle of the dance floor and we begin to waltz. Thank goodness for the dance lessons I had when I was younger otherwise poor Jayden's feet would have been blue by the time we were done.

"This place is absolutely beautiful." I say as Jaydan leads the dance.

"It sure is, would you like to have a private tour later?" He asks.

"I would love to have a tour, only if it isn't a bother." I say trying to keep in my excitement.

"No bother at all!" He says with a grin.

After another dance and a lot of talking Jaydan took me on a private tour around the house. It was even more magnificent than I thought. He showed me every room, from the kitchen to the basement. He even showed me a few old secret passages throughout the house. And as the tour went along he told me more about the house's history. After he showed me most the house he took me outside to the gardens to a small pavilion.

The pavilion was lighted up by a few lanterns and small lights. There was a small table like chair and I didn't hesitate to sit down. All this walking made my feet hurt.

"Did you like your tour milady?" Jaydan asks as he sits next to me.

"Yes I did, good sir, but please remind me to bring hiking boots next time." I say with an out of breath sigh, and Jaydan couldn't help but laugh.

"It isn't that bad."

"Maybe not for you, but your probably use to it by now." I say as I look at the stars.

"Yeah maybe..."

"So you're the new CEO, how does it feel?" I ask.

"Nerve wrecking, I don't think I am quite ready for such a big responsibility, I mean I am only 20." He says with doubt clear in his voice.

"I can't imagine having so much responsibility but I am sure you would make a wonderful CEO ." I say looking him in the eyes.

"I do hope so, so what is your plans for next year?"

"I am not sure yet, I want to become a detective but my father won't allow it."

"Why not?"

"He says it is a risky job and he doesn't want me to get hurt. "

"That makes sense, he is just being a protective father. "

" I know but I wish they would realize I am not going to be little forever, I need to start making my own decisions. I want to do my own thing if you know what I mean?" I say, looking up at the stars again.

"I do. " he said so quietly I almost didn't hear it and at that moment I realised that becoming a CEO wasn't really what he wanted to do.

"So if you didn't become the CEO what would you have done?" I ask curiously.

"Law enforcement."

"You too?"

"Yup, since I was little I dreamed about making a difference in other people's life's, fighting crime but I guess everything doesn't always work out the way we want it to. " he says with a far off look in his eyes. We stared at each other in silence before I heard my mother calling my name.

"Victoria, there you are we've been searching everywhere for you." My mother said, "oh hello Jaydan, you won't mind if I steal my daughter."

"Of course not, is everything alright? " he asks as be both stand.

"No, we have to leave, there was a bank robbery. " my mom replies.

"Alright then, I guess we must go now, thanks for the tour and the lovely evening I really enjoyed it, I guess I'll see you around. " I greet Jaydan.

"Yes sure, here's my number, call me.... I mean if you want to...meet up again..." he says nervously as he hands me a card.

"That will be nice, once again thanks for the lovely evening."

"Glad you enjoyed it." after smiling at him my mother pulled at my arm, indicating that we have to leave immediately. I left with my mother reluctantly, why did there have to be a robbery? I was having such a great time.

That stupid Shadow why did he have to rob the bank this very same evening. If I ever get my hands on the Shadow I was going to kill him!

After saying our goodbyes to a few people, we left. I was quite shocked about Jaydan, I thought he was going to be another rich player but on the contrary he was a kind, amazing guy and I was completely wrong about him.

My father dropped me and my mother off before heading towards the bank. After giving my mother a goodnight kiss, I went to my room and dressed in my pjs.

Processing the events of the night, while playing with Jayden's card. I took my phone, entered and saved his number before typing:

Victoria: 'Thanks for a fun evening'

Jaydan : 'Pleasure I had fun too, are you free this weekend?'

Victoria: ' I may be'

Jaydan: ' How about sunday, Starbucks? '

Victoria: ' Sounds great, what time? '

Jaydan: '4o'clock, should I pick you up? '

Victoria: ' Yes that will be great, I live at 50 Chestnut Street'

Jaydan: 'Okay see you then, goodnight'

Victoria: 'Goodnight'

I was actually excited to meet him Sunday, I couldn't believe I had him all wrong, it feels like I've known him for ever, we talked like two old friends.

He was just easy to talk to and I couldn't wait to get to know him better. I guess you should never judge someone until you get to know them better, and once again I learn the lesson that not everything is always as it seems.

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The Shadow's POV

The bank was robbed and guess who, once again, was the prime suspect? That's right ,me.

These people just love to blame everything on me, if the weather is to hot it's my fault if it is to cold it is my fault. Everything thing that went wrong in this city was my fault.

But I promise you that I didn't rob any bank. So who did? I scanned through my security cameras I had installed near the bank that was robbed the most and spotted the wanted thief. He wasn't even wearing a mask, that was his first mistake.

Now all I had to do was find him and return the money, easy as pie. Without being seen of course.
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