"Everybody has a chapter they don't read out loud." 

NINE: BLUE & MAKEOVER. 

Ding Dong! Ding Dong! 

Getting up from the comfortable position on my couch, with television beaming in front of me, I sacrificed my pleasure and ran to the door. 

As soon as my feet made contact with the cold floor, I realized how sour my entire body was, screaming to go to hibernation for a lifetime. I tell you, sitting in the metal backless stool in the hospital the whole day is just tiresome.

 However, Mrs. Watkins, the one who was about to adopt Aria too was with her the entire day, bringing Aria her favorite homemade food. And not to say, Bella and Ron also accompanied her afternoon which finally made Aria believe that everything was finally okay. 

The doorbell rang again and after shouting 'I am here' in a high pitched voice, I opened the door. Stood in front of me, very sophisticated and well-groomed two ladies, one kind of too old maybe around the fifties, and the other one were somewhat of my age.

 Both had plaid grey skirts with chiffon white blouses. Their makeup was done beyond perfection but not overdone; simple and shower. 

"Aurelia Hargrave?" The younger one chirped. 

"Yeah," I nodded but a wave of confusion didn't  leave my features. Please just let me watch TV. I whined internally, stomping my feet. 

"Mr. Raymond has sent us. We are their family's personal beauticians." The older one said politely. 

"Yeah but what for?" I quizzed. Why does he keep surprising me? I hate surprises. 

"Today is the announcement party. He told us that you were informed." She added and instantly I remembered his words. 

"Tomorrow we have to attend the announcement party." 

"Oh," I added unconsciously. After a few seconds of blank expression, my eyes went to the two women in front of me and I asked them to come in. 

"What time does the event start?" I walked to my room, with them right behind me carrying dozens of bags in their hands. 

"8 o'clock- Ma'am." The oldie replied. 

"You can call me Aurellia, what are your names?" I said and motioned them to put the bags on my bed. 

"I am Elizabeth and she's my daughter Madelyn." Said Elizabeth as both mother-daughter started unpacking the bags. 

"Okay, I'll take a quick shower." I pulled out my bathrobe and towels and strode towards the joint en suite bathroom. 

"Ma'am- I mean Aurellia," my feet halted at her words as I turned around, "Please apply this golden peel face mask and keep it for fifteen minutes. It will make your skin glow-" 

"Okay," I took away the tube and locked the door behind me. The word Elizabeth just suited the lady so well as if it was made for her; the creases on her forehead and rich round face, with a prominent chin. 

I started by applying the sticky orange face mask after safely keeping my engagement ring at the corner of the sink. Instead of waiting for fifteen minutes I quickly did my manicure and pedicure. 

After that I cleaned my head with shampoo and put a wholesome amount of conditioner; I am a sucker of this lavender scented conditioner. The entire bath took me an approx thirty minutes and when I stepped out of my bathroom my jaw might have literally hit the ground but my body didn't let a single sign of astonishment. 

I walked casually to the royal blue body con dress sprawled on my bed. It had spaghetti straps and flooded at the floor in a generous amount. Taking it inside my bathroom without a second thought, while the ladies continued to do their work on my dressing table, I just passed knowing looks. 

I stood in front of my full-length wall mirror in my room as the bulb glowed over me and suddenly I felt beautiful. I was always the kind of person who wore shirts and leather jackets with boots. 

However miraculous it was but I couldn't deny that I was loving the change of scenario, way too much. The fitting was perfect, the neck-deep, and backless, just supported by a few silver straps. 

I don't know how long I have been staring at myself, turning and twisting but when I realized that it wasn't me alone in the room, I snapped back to reality. 

"Looks like you like my choice."

"Yes," I replied, making over to Madelyn who was holding the blow dryer. 

"You look absolutely gorgeous. Mr. Raymond is going to be in love with you all over again." I scoffed internally but gave a curt nod. 

After Madelyn had blown dried my hair, she curled them to perfect waves. "Should I leave your hair loose?" Madelyn asked herself. Looking at myself in the mirror I felt it was perfect to leave them open. 

"I think we should make a chignon bun. It will go better with the gown." Her mother suggested rather. I nodded anyway. 

As Elizabeth was working on my hair, Madelyn took care of my facial makeup. I felt like a princess, with beauticians going for my whims and fancies. "Keep the makeup minimal." I murmured to her. 

"Don't worry, your face doesn't need a lot anyway." was her reply.

 I closed my eyes and drifted off to my wonderland of thoughts. How irrelevant of Raymond, who didn't even inform me earlier that we have to attend an event. Who will come, what would they take me to be, what will they think about me, I had no clue. 

Opening my eyes as the sudden light rays made them squint, I asked them, "How long have you guys been working for Raymond's?" 

"Ever since I was twenty-one." Elizabeth quipped.

 "Gloria, Theo's mom was my college friend. But after her death I quitted working for them but then Dalziel, Mr. Raymond remarried and I was obliged to join again."

"What happened to her, I mean his mother..." 

"Breast cancer, dear. She was such a wonderful lady but after her death, everything fell apart. It was really a hard phase for both father and son. But Aislynn, Theo's stepmom is no less than a jewel. She's just as a kind hearted as Theo's real mom if not more."

"They look like great people." involuntarily the words slipped out of my mouth, as my mind was still digging to know more. 

"Of course they are. But why am I even saying these things. You might already know everything." She replied spontaneously, yet her focus didn't divert from my hair. 

"Yeah, I have. Are we done with the hair?" I changed the topic. You need to be more careful Lia. 

"Yeah, almost done. Just the finishing touches." 

My phone beeped as I asked Elizabeth to pass it to me. "Hello." 

"Yeah, the driver is at your place. The party starts in half an hour." Mr. Raymond's voice filled my ears as I stopped breathing for a sec. 

I replied 'okay' and the line went dead. The ladies continued to work on me as I started fidgeting with my fingers out of boredom. 

"Are we done?" I asked lazily for the fourth time, having a feeling to jump into the bed and immerse into a deep slumber. 

"Almost done," Elizabeth replied distractedly the same thing for the fourth time as well, while Madelyn continued to paint my nails with transparent nail paint. 

She asked if I wanted blue or silver which would match my earnings as well but I hated nail paints, for some unknown reasons.

The earnings were an intricately designed piece of jewelry- a peacock shaped body which was made of silver and adorned with diamonds and the feathers of the peacock was depicted by raindrop shaped blue sapphire stones. They looked extremely expensive and actually, the entire make overlooked too costly. But I knew, he was going to cut everything from my salary anyways. 

Waiting for so long, I suddenly had this urge to scratch my head roughly and destroy the hard labor of their ladies. Did you ever have that feeling? 

Maybe just I was weird. 

I heard Elizabeth talking in a hushed voice when my head was uncomfortably hanging in the air and I realized that I almost had a little nap. 

"Ma'am you should get going. Theo has called six times." Elizabeth replied in a panicked voice, though I helped me with my matching blue velvet heels with ankle strap.

"What's the time?" I asked groggily. 

"Already eight."

"Oh shit." Everything would have been ready and everybody would be waiting for me which means that I am going to be the center of attention. Fuck! 

Madelyn quickly sprayed jasmine perfume all over me like crazy and we all hurried out after I locked my house. 

They gave me a silver purse and I put my phone and keys in it. They went separately but not before saying that I looked fantastic. 

The drive to the hotel Millennium was short, I barely even remember it for I was suddenly feeling nervous and uncomfortable in this dress. It was something different from my regular costume and I had to carry myself with style and grace.

 Doing a little meditation for five minutes, even though we had arrived at the destination, I finally made inside the grand- but-too-showy for my taste type of hotel. 

There was a guy in a formal black tux waiting for me and he informed me to get to the fiftieth floor. Making it within the elevator I finally saw my final look in the mirrors which were coming all the four walls, which I had missed in a hurry before. 

The girl who stood in front of me, looking into my eyes, wasn't me. The dress fit my body perfectly, accentuating the curves which I didn't know even existed. The cloth which was flooding in abundance before now curtained beautifully around my legs due to the heels. The royal blue color just shined perfectly contrasting my rose ivory shaded skin. 

There were no trace of makeup but when I stepped closer, I saw that it was a foundation which was exactly of my skin color but it just toned my skin. 

A slight blush, which appears so natural on my skin was applied. The bridge of my nose and my cheeks were highlighted, shining sliver under the light in the elevator, giving a professional and strong look. The earrings were big and shimmering under the light, reflecting their own hues.

And my hair made me feel like an ultimate goddess, a few loose tendrils which were strategically pulled out cascaded till the hollow of my neck in delicate curls, giving it a messy yet beautiful aura. The low neck bun was twisted and pinned so perfectly that if I started jumping like a monkey, it wouldn't bulge. I could even give it written. 

The elevation came to a halt, dragging me out of my trace. Giving a final look to my slender and fragile state I make it to the hall. 

The ceiling was high, too high casting a dome-like structure. The entire hall was kissed in golden, silver, and cream colors. Massive chandeliers were hung and there were beautiful statues placed randomly in the hall. 

I won't say it was flooded with people because I didn't look like it. Either just the close ones were invited or the hall was too big to settle in my head, hence confusing me. You tell which one. 

My eyes roamed around looking at no one in particular as my heart was fluttering deep within me. 

My eyes found a familiar pair of orbs and suddenly we were alone in the room. 

***

How was it?
 

A few ship names which came up were #Theolia #Aureo #Aurelio. If you end up finding another one, do let me know!