Chapter 2

I looked at myself in the big mirror in my room. I just finished fixing it in the dressing room here at home but I went back to my room so I could see myself better. I'm wearing a silver silky dress and it's backless. My three-inch heels are also silver and I only put a little jewelry on my body. I don't want others to think that I prepared too much to attend the party that my Mom was talking about. I also don't want to look bad in front of many people, especially since my Mom will receive an award for our company.

My friends called me a few times earlier, but as time went on, they didn't bother me anymore. Maybe they were too busy with the arrangements and maybe they thought that I wouldn't be there. 

"Sister, Eli! Is it true that Josiah will attend that party too?" Stella asked me when she suddenly entered my room.

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow at her. When she saw my raised eyebrows, she sighed and did nothing but go out of my room again to knock. I grinned and shook my head before I finally speak.

"Come in," I said. 

She didn't speak again and did not repeat the question.

"Of course, he will come. He won't agree to not be there, especially at a party like this," I answered her question earlier then shrugged my shoulders. 

"My gosh! I thought he wouldn't come! If only I had known, I would have insisted to Mom not to take me," she complained to me. 

"And why? Jos isn't bothering you. Another thing is that I like him more for you, so I won't stop shipping you two," I replied to her then rolled my eyes at her.

"What?! I'm too young for that, Eli! Why can't you two just do it, after all, you're the same age," she kept saying to me, causing me to laugh. 

"What?! Disgusting!" I complained while laughing.

What happened to me and Stella inside my room was just teasing and teasing until Allison knocked on the door because our car was ready to go to the hotel where the gathering would be held. 

As usual, I'm still nervous because I know that the people there are not random and even if my other friends and schoolmates are still there, we still can't avoid interacting with professionals.

"I will introduce you to my other friends and the rest, you can enjoy the party all night," Mom said before we got out of the car. 

Right in front of the hotel, there are already many photographers and media. 

"My friends are here too, Mom. So if I get lost later, they'll be with me," Stella said when we finally got out of the car.

I just went down and immediately wandered my eyes outside the venue. This is in the resort world, that's why there are already many people outside. 

"Sure. Just limit what you do all night. I don't want to be embarrassed," Mommy reminded us.

I just shrugged my shoulders because even though I'm not as confident as my two sisters, I still can't do something stupid. None of the three of us said anything until the reporter approached us there, but someone immediately blocked us so we couldn't get too close. My two sisters were all smiles for every camera that was facing them, while I kept a fierce face. That's why I'm often mistaken for a slob because I don't smile at cameras like this. I knew it was going to be released publicly, so I wasn't happy. They're posting pictures without our permission and consent! I'll understand it if we were in another country and the celebrities there were like us, but we're not.

As soon as we entered inside, I was immediately met by a waiter serving wine there. Mom and my two sisters refused it but I stopped there to get one and immediately drank it. 

"My gosh, Scarlet! The party hasn't started yet but you started drinking," Mom said as she shook her head at me.

I grinned for a moment and shook my head because I was suddenly thirsty there. I also enjoyed the wine right away and it looks like I just tasted it so I want more. It's just that I didn't get it again because two old women about Mommy's age came right up to us. 

"Celeste! Are these your and Adie's children? They are girls and in fairness, they are beautiful!" Praise of an old woman. 

"Oh yes! This is Allison, Scarlet, and Stella," Mommy introduced us. 

"Girls, this is Alicia and Jen. They are one of the company's investors and my friends," Mom added.

I smiled when Mommy introduced me to them. Allison was the first to shake hands with them and introduce herself formally so I followed her. 

"Eliana, but you can call me Eli," I introduced myself because Mommy mentioned my second name again. 

After I introduced myself to them, Stella and I followed. I kept my small smile on them and I opened my eyes again to look for my friends. I have my phone with me but I don't want to use it in front of these professionals just to look for those two. 

Mommy introduced us again to her other friends there and when I saw a man, I was a little nervous about what my Mom could do again. I just looked at Stella and shook my head because Mommy might introduce me to them again. 

"Your daughters are really like you Celeste. So much elegant!" A woman said thereafter introducing us. 

"Yeah but your second child has a resemblance to their father," said a woman there who looked almost the same age as my Mom. 

I smiled because I was being referred to there. I indeed look like my father because I got narrow eyes as well as whites from him, so many people say that I'm the girl version of my Dad.

"By the way, this is my son. I almost forgot to introduce him," The woman added.

I looked at the man behind it. Our eyes met and I saw him smiling at me, so I immediately looked away and then frowned. 

"This is my son, Stefan. I'm pretty sure you guys already met each other because you both went to the same school," said the old woman then laughed a bit. 

"Yeah, I know him. Who wouldn't know your son," Allison said, then immediately introduced herself. 

"Really? My son is famous!" the old woman laughed. "

"His name is well-known by my classmates and even my friends like him. By the way, I'm Stella," Stella introduces herself.

I pouted because why do they know this man? I don't know him, but his handsome face seems familiar to me. 

"Eli, for sure you know each other because you two are batch mates," Allison said causing me to shake my head.

I don't know him and I don't remember seeing him even though we were batch mates. Fortunately, our parents were already busy because the party was about to start, so we said goodbye to find our friends. I have not formally introduced myself to the man we were in front of earlier and it is not important to introduce myself. 

"Eli, why do I have to go with you? I've already seen my friends," Stella asked me. 

I've been dragging her since I couldn't see Clara and Josiah. She saw Josiah's Mom but he wasn't by her side. I'm sure he and Clara are together as well as our other friends at school.

"Stop asking, Stella. When I'm with you, I can easily find my friends," I answered. 

I'm sure that Josiah is also looking for my sister now so that when he finds her, I will see them too. My sister didn't do anything but obey me because she had no choice. I'm the older of the two of us so I have the right to demand.

"Eli!"

"Stella!"

Stella and I turned to our left and I saw Clara and Josiah there who called us. Just like I predicted earlier, they were with our other friends from our school and I also saw some of our schoolmates there.

"There. You saw them. Can I go now and find my friends too?" Stella asked then frowned at me. 

I grinned and shook my head then I pulled her closer to our group.

"Just say hello to them and you can leave," I told her.

Josiah was very happy when I brought my sister closer to them and he even talked to her but it didn't take long because she left.

"I can't keep my sister here, Jos. She also has friends and lastly, she can't get along and keep up with our group," I said when Josiah complained because I let my sister leave.

"My gosh! Don't mind Josiah. The important thing is that you are here. I thought you weren't coming here!" Clara said happily.

I just grinned and joined their conversation. They even introduced me to someone who was with our other friends and just a few minutes later another group approached us. 

I was laughing because of Josiah's story when I looked at the new group that had arrived. My smile disappeared when I saw a man there. Stefan was one of the men there and I just realized that they were there for a basketball team. 

"Clara is so happy again because she saw Elijah," Josiah whispered to me. 

I looked at Clara who was slowly drinking her wine and when I heard Josiah's laugh, I bit my lip to prevent myself from laughing. 

"Stop teasing her, Jos. Maybe later she will tease you too Stella," I said to him.

Because I'm sure Clara won't allow that she won't tease Josiah back. Josiah finally kept quiet and looked scared by what I said. He just gave me a glass of wine and started talking to the other guys we were there with. 

The party started so we ate there first. I can't even move there because every time I look at Stefan's side, I always catch him looking at me even though he's with a girl. My gosh! What is his problem? I also ask Clara if I have dirt or something on my face. 

"Look, Jackson. He's with his new girl. She's not even pretty," Clara whispered to me. 

I looked at their side especially when they passed by our table. It felt like my heart was pinched again when I saw that he was really with someone else. When our eyes met, I saw the pity in his eyes so I immediately looked away and shook my head.

"Are you all right?" Clara asked me. 

"How can that be okay if you showed her worthless ex-boyfriend again?" Josiah replied.

I just laughed at the pain I felt, and like before, I showed them that I was fine. I'm fine. I don't want to see him and talk about him because I feel like all the pain I felt the first time he broke up with me will come back.