"Jenine... Jenine... Jenine "
"Mhhmm", I murmured trying to ignore the voice calling me. Suddenly I jolted awake my eyes snapped open and dashed out of my bed towards the bathroom. I heard the click of my door opening, fully aware of the only person allowed to enter my room without knocking which is none other than my aunt.
Silence followed and I assumed she heared the shower running and realized I was already up. In no time I was done, I stepped out of the steam and jerked to a sudden halt. My aunt stood there like an elegant, frozen statue.
"Heyy!!, You scared the soul out of me". I breathed out.
"The hairstylist and make up artist on their way here" she said sternly ignoring my complaint and left my room.
"You better behave and be ready before they arrive" She turned on her heel and left.
Soon after another knock sounded, I hurriedly went ahead to open the door ready to tell her I was almost done, but I stopped short. An older woman stood there instead.
"Ohh!", I breathed,my eyes widening.
"They are here ma'am". She said, bowing slightly which I noticed as a gesture of respect I wasn't really used to.
"Oh" I repeated,not knowing what else to say. I noticed two ladies behind her and stepped aside, opening the door wider for them to come in.
*********************
"We are done ma'am" The make-up artist finally announced. I opened my eyes and stared at the reflection before me, breathless for a moment. Before I could process the transformation, the older woman from earlier returned, bowing again like she did earlier. And it made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
"Miss Grace, can you atleast please refrain from bowing down to me?, Atleast maybe when we are alone?"I asjed politely.
"I'm fine, Jennie" she said with her beautiful smile.
"You are a good child and I know this makes you uncomfortable, but that's the rule that your aunt has set which I can't avoid or stop".
She gestured toward the door. "Madam is waiting for you outside" she began to bow again but this time I rushed over and caught her by the shoulders, offering a smile.
As I descended down the stairs, stepping carefully terrified to strip and fall, Naturally, luck wasn't on my side. My heel missed a step, and I stumbled forward. But just before I hit the floor, a strong arm wrapped around my waist hauling me back.
I looked up into a pair of turquoise blue eyes cold yet strangely intoxicating. He was tall, with a powerful muscle build. His jet-black hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, highlighting a sharp, masculine jawline. I found myself drawn to his chiseled features, momentarily forgetting how intimidating he looks.
"Are you done gawking at me?" His deep voice jerked me back to reality. I had realized that I have been staring entirely too long.
"Uh....I - I'm sorry, I wasn't aware...uhm...thank you" I stammered trying to regain my composure.
'Shit! , I'm stammering again', I chided myself, pulling away from his arm. I immediately felt a chill in absence of his warmth, I couldn't deny the fact that I liked the way he held me.
"Do you enjoy staring at people? Especially men?" My eyes widened not at the depth of his voice but at his sheer rudeness.
"Excuse me?!, I believed you heard me when I said I was sorry" I scoffed.
"Besides it's not my fault you weren't watching where you are going either."
I turned and walked away before I could say I anything worse or worst, start gawking again. I could feel his burning gaze on my back, making my skin prickle with heat.
************************
Vincenzo couldn't tear his gaze away from her figure. He felt an unusual, magnetic attraction to her, despite her sharp tongue. She was so captivating, with a flawless grace he hadn't expect to find here. He actually enjoyed her staring at him, though he had forced himself to remain composed and masking his inner desire.
'How the hell could a stranger at the ball affect me so much?!'
"Mr. Ruggiero?"
"Hmm" He hummed, his eyes still fixed on her. His brow furrowed the moment he saw her talking to another woman and even more irritatingly smiling at the man beside her. He felt a sudden, irritational urge to punch the man just for being near to her.
"It's a pleasure to finally see you here " A business associate said, grinning as he approached.
" Ricardo," Vincenzo responded, pinching the bridge of his nose. He found it difficult to focus.
Who was that mysterious, rude woman.
It was well known that the Almighty Vicenzo Vincentê Ruggiero would not attend to any ballroom unless he had a hidden agenda.
"Mr Ruggiero, It has been a while and--"
"Hey....Vicenzo " a voice purred, cutting Ricardo off. A blonde woman moved towards them with practiced, seductive elegance. Her red mini dress reveal her cleavages and plenty of her skin, her perfume was cloying . Vincenzo expression remained unreadable, a faint dark smirk touching his lips.
"You finally came" she said excitedly.
"Pardon my daughter's manner, I hope you still remember my daughter. Patri--"
" I remembered. Patricia, right?" Vincenzo interrupted, dipping one hand into his pocket while taking a glass of whiskey from a passing server with the other. Patricia blushed, thrilled that her long-time crush remembered her name after all these years.
But Vincenzo's mind was elsewhere. It was back on the stairs with the woman who had dared to snap at him.
"Excuse me". He said abruptly, leaving Ricardo and Patricia bewildered. Of course it was the classic Vincenzo, arrogant, rude, and entirely uninterested in pleasantries.
**************
IN THE BALCONY.......
"Jacopo"
Vincenzo's voice was low with and commanding. He stared out at the night view as a shadow emerged from the darkness behind him.
Jacopo bowed deeply, even though his boss couldn't see him from the back. Vincenzo lit up a cigarettes he took out of the carton, ember glowing in the dark.
"I want to know every single damn thing about that woman I stumbled on earlier" he said firmly.
Jacopo nodded and disappeared into the night, leaving Vincenzo alone with his own thoughts.