"Just because you know of me doesn't mean you know me," C.T

The day of the gala was always hectic.

Davina ran around the house in her Giuseppe Zanotti daytime heels, trying to get the maids to understand what she wanted to wear, wondering if her earrings were already being shipped out by plane day of, yelling at her personal hairstylist because she couldn't get the curl of her bang right. Sterling always strolled in an hour before the time of the gala and just threw on something Davina picked out for him. He didn't care for it as much as he liked the world to think he did and it was evident since he struggled to give even more than 50 dollars to charities. 

Hmph.

I just spent my time on the phone with Vivi as she got her hair done in her bathroom. If Davina had it her way, I would be at a salon, getting primped and pampered from head to toe, and having someone wax every part of me. If she had it her way, I'd be out in the public, making intimate contacts with the females she had lined up down the block.

"What are you thinking, Chez?" I was brought back to the cold darkness that was reality once I heard my best friend's voice. "Oh, nothing much. Just wondering why my mother keeps screaming downstairs," I rolled my eyes, wishing that I could switch and be someone else for a day. I wouldn't want to be poor though. I'd have to struggle a lot and I didn't think I had ever experienced something like that.

I had Davina and Sterling Thorn to thank for that.

Well, mainly Sterling. Davina mooched off of him just like the rest of us. The only difference was she refused to admit it. I admitted that I use it for my benefit and because I could. 

"Are we still on for tomorrow?" She asked through the camera and I nodded, wondering what it was about this dude that she was pressing me so hard to meet him. If she liked him, as much as I liked the wealth and the class of an individual, I could do nothing to deter her away from this person. As kind as she was, she wouldn't go too low on the social scale.

"Yes, Vivienne," I replied in a casual tone. "Are you going to give me the 411 on this individual, or will I find out tomorrow?" I raised a brow and she sighed, chewing on her bottom lip on the video call. I let out a sigh, sensing her inner turmoil. She seemed to be having some conflict about me meeting this person, and I was a little wary as to why.

"I'll tell you more about him tomorrow," She finally said, pushing her red curls behind her ear. "He's bringing his best friend, so at least you'll have someone to talk to," She offered and I scowled, knowing that I didn't agree to that. "I'm not going just to talk to someone who is irrelevant to this situation. I'm going only to meet this person you're obviously having romantic feelings for," I said and she pouted, not liking my words.

"Yes, you are," She mused and I huffed. "Why's that?" I raised a brow. "Because you love me and you want the best for me," She smiled and I watched as her hairstylist began to curl the rest of her hair. "I can barely tolerate one dude below our social status," I could say that because she wasn't being confident with who he was, which let me know that it was someone who her parents wouldn't approve of. 

"Just how do you think I'm gonna deal with individuals who associate with him?" I scowled, getting hives at the thought. I was going to have to dress like a normal person tomorrow, in case anything happened. "Chez, don't say that!" She snapped and I sighed, nodding in resolution, knowing that I slightly offended her. At least she stood up for this man, so that alone tells me something.

"Fine," I concluded, hearing a knock on the door. "Come in," I grumbled, seeing my personal maid enter, carrying my suit in a garment bag. I looked at her for about three seconds, wondering if she knew the mistake she was making in my presence. I raised a brow as her knees started trembling, asking myself if I should have mercy on this person. I looked at her hands then back at her, gritting my teeth.

"What's your name?" I raised a brow and she gasped as if she didn't expect me to address her. "U-uh, s-sir, it's Tara!" She screeched and I scowled. "Okay, Tara," I wasn't sure if I was gonna remember her name, but it was worth a shot. "When you're carrying a suit worth more than 6 grand in a bag like that," I pointed to it in her hand. "Don't drag it. You'll ruin the material and then I'll have to ruin you," With a seething tone, I narrowed my eyes and the maid nodded vehemently, gulping audibly. She really resembled prey and I just found it quite astonishing that she was hired.

"Thank you. Put the stuff on the table and then you may leave." She did as told and I fought the urge to deeply sigh as I turned back to my video call. "Chez, that was a little mean," Vivi reprimanded and I shrugged. "That's common knowledge. It is what they learn on the first day of servant training," I said, realizing that there was no excuse.

"Whatever," I knew she wasn't happy with it but it didn't matter. "I'll meet you there and then we can walk into the gala together," She offered and I nodded, snatching up the opportunity. Nothing like the grand scheme of rubbing it in Davina's face.

There was just the tastiest bit of satisfaction that soothed my soul whenever something didn't go the way she wanted. That would teach her, hopefully. "I'm going to get myself nice and cute for the gala and I'll text you when we are on the way," Vivi blew me a kiss goodbye and I grudgingly slid off of the bed, heading to my bathroom to shower.

Once I was cleaned and smelling like Armani, I had Tara help me slip into my suit. I figured she was competent enough to help me and she didn't fail at her task. I put on my Cartier watch along with my glasses, feeling good and looking good. My shoes were newly made and I couldn't wait to flaunt them at this gala.

"M-master," Tara spoke from the doorway and I slightly jumped, having forgotten about her existence. "Your mother says it's time to go," I nodded slowly, detesting the moment I stepped out of this room. 

"Let's go," I grumbled lowly, hearing the impatient click of my mother's heel from all the way up here. Pierre was no doubt shitting himself at the thought of having to drive someone as pretentious as my mother around. If he thought I gave him a hard time, he must've had no idea who Davina Thorn was.

I knew the moment that I stepped into the limo, I should've had Tara kill me when I had the chance. Sterling did his usual thing and conducted business on the phone, sat in the farthest corner of the limo just so he didn't have to breathe the same air as us. Unfortunately, Davina wanted me to sit next to her and I just so obliged.

I fought the urge to pull out my phone and surf the internet, or bang my hand into the window, but I just sat there in silence for however long it was, admiring the color of my shoes. I really looked good and full of money. The red suit was a nice touch, I had to say that. "Can I help you?" I spat, getting sick and tired of her staring at me. Her eyes narrowed as her voice came out as a harsh whisper.

"When we get in there," I hissed as her blood-red acrylic nails dug into my wrist and I stared at her in contempt, wanting her to remove her grip or I was gonna do it for her. "You'll do well to be on your best behavior," The threat was there in those crisp eyes of hers and I rolled my eyes with a yawn as a fake smile plastered onto her lips.

I fought the urge to say something back but I kept my mouth shut because she wasn't worth the time or the breath. I was just pleased that we were here and I didn't have to be here longer than needed. I just turned my head to the door of the limo and watched as it opened, taking the hand of the chauffeur. 

The flash of cameras blinded me as I stepped onto the red carpet, my arm being looped around something. "Happy to see me?" I blinked to see Vivi in a ruffled pink Oscar de la Renta ball gown with gold Jimmy Choos on her feet. She had her hair pinned back with curls down her back and I was blown away. "You look beautiful," I offered and she patted my shoulder with a smile, pulling me to walk her down the carpet as all cameras snapped pictures of us.

Beyond the gates of the venue, I could see the poor peeking in, probably wishing that they could come to this. As it was so, it was invite-only and the last time I checked, I was sure none of them donated any sort of monetary value to children who were sick.

Oop. 

"Looks like all of the girls are mad at you," I teased Vivi, seeing all of the hateful glares that she was getting from the women whom Davina wanted to pair me up with. Again, there she went trying to live my life. "If I die, it's your fault," She deadpanned as she grabbed my hand, entering the beautiful establishment.

"Cheyenne, so good to see you!" I saw someone walk over to me and I turned my head in that direction. I felt a genuine smile form on my lips as I looked into the green eyes of a person I trusted. She pulled me into a hug, the style of her brown hair in a bun capturing my eyes. "It's good to see you too."

Cordelia Baudelaire was the wife to Phillippe and the god-awesome mother to my best friend. Cordelia was the vice president of the Briarwood Country Club here in Palo Alto Hills. Like me, she tolerated my mother and her nasty attitude. She was more like a mother to me than my actual biological mother and for that, I greatly respected her despite some of her ways. Always classy and never trashy, Cordelia had a really big heart and it was because of her that I was able to come back for what happened all those years ago.

"How are you, son?" I felt an affectionate pat on my shoulder and my guard was dropped as I turned to smile up at the person. "Could be better, but I'm glad I'm here to support you," I said and the man nodded in gratitude.

Phillippe Baudelaire was the best man ever made. He was the CEO of ABA, a multi-conglomerate holding company here in Palo Alto Hills and he was the founder of Baudelaire Foundation, which funded need and merit-based tuition for college kids, as well as gathered money for children who are ill. He knew he made money, but his attitude didn't reflect it. He was the kindest man I had ever known in all twenty-four years of my life. To this day, I still couldn't understand how he found a best friend in Sterling.

Probably because he himself had no clue just how despicable Sterling really was.

I always forgot that.

"Chez, let's get something to eat and then go find our seats," Vivi said and we walked, listening to the sound of our shoes clacking against the matte marble floor, our eyes looking up to see the diamond chandeliers swinging above us. "Damn, your father really went out with this one," I said, wishing that the chandelier would fall so I could either pawn it or put it in my room. "You think he'll let me keep one?" I asked and she snorted, stopping in front of the food bar. "Just ask him to buy you one."

I was going to.

I took a seat where my placard was and I took a bite of the salmon that was served from the chef, feeling a little content. I was still bummed that I didn't get to finish painting. I had a lot of pent up anger and I had no other to release it. 

I looked down at the silver ring that was on my middle finger and clenched my teeth, mad at myself for still wearing it to this day. Eight years ago, I should've thrown it out or pawned the shit for fuck's sake, but part of me still felt guilty and I hated it. I hated it especially because all the blame could go on on no one but Sterling.

When he had the chance, I wanted him to rot in the darkest and hottest part of Hell.

I let out a deep breath, counting to ten as I avoided the curious stares of Davina. I felt a hand grip mine and I smiled at Vivi, whose father began to take center stage to explain his next project for his foundation. "If we can get through this," Vivi leaned over to whisper in my ear. "We can get through tomorrow," She said and I clicked my tongue in amusement.

Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.