Chapter 3: The Party

This time, it was a message from Rachel. 

“Hey, Olivia, I saw the posts. Are you okay? Do you want to talk?” 

She shook her head as she replied to Rachel's message, “I’m not okay, babe.”

After reading Rachel's message, Olivia felt relieved and loved again; friends like Rachel still cared about her and would support her through this trying time.

“Thanks, Rachel, I'm trying to get through it,” she replied and dropped her phone. 

Rachel and Olivia have been best friends ever since their first year in college; despite coming from different backgrounds and being brought up differently they got to be close friends inside and outside class. 

Olivia heard someone knock at the door, she dropped her phone and made her way to the door.

She was shocked to see Rachel when she opened her door. 

As soon as Rachel saw Matt's photos posted on the school's platforms, she texted Olivia, knowing that this was a serious betrayal. Rachel then quickly dashed over to Olivia's house.

“I was just replying to your text; I didn't think you could come this quickly," Olivia said, as she tried to hide her swollen face from crying and the slap from her father.

“Rachel I can't believe it, how could he do this to me?” Olivia's voice trembled as she stepped aside for Rachel to enter. 

Rachel hugged Olivia, she wrapped her hand around Olivia and held her tightly. 

“I'm so sorry Olivia, he's a jerk. You deserve so much better.”

Olivia sobbed into Rachel's shoulder. "I have been calling him for days without answers, and now I see this…..flaunting her like she’s some kind of trophy. I thought we were happy.”

“He’s an asshole. You don’t deserve this.”

Rachel gently pulled back, she wiped Olivia's tears with her thumb. "Listen, I understand how terrible this is, but you must not allow it to destroy you. You're stronger than this.” 

Olivia shook her head, her voice weak.

"I feel weak, Rachel; I am losing everything. My scholarship is on the line, and on top of Matt's betrayal, my father is pressuring me to marry Richard.”

Rachel's eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean your dad is forcing you to marry Richard.”

Olivia's voice broke as she explained all that had happened to Rachel.

“You are not marrying anyone you don't want to marry. No, you won't marry him. I have an idea, Olivia.”

“There's a party at my house today. Not only will it help you relax, but it will also be fun, you'll be able to network and meet people for your artwork and I won't take no for an answer.”

"Come with me just for tonight, Olivia; you need this."

Olivia hesitated, “I don't know Rachel, I have a lot to deal with.”

Rachel smirks and grabs Olivia's hands and squeezes them reassuringly. 

"Exactly, that's why you need a break. Please, Olivia. Come to the party. It'll be good for you.”

Olivia took a deep breath and thought about what Rachel said. Finally, she nodded. “Okay, I'll go, but just for a little while.”

“Okayyyy, that's the spirit,” Rachel grinned widely. “Now let's get ready.”

                         *********

When Rachel and Olivia arrived, the party was already in full swing, people were mingling in the luxurious surroundings as the grand estate was illuminated and filled with music. 

“Wow, Rachel, this is.…..something else”. Olivia said, looking around in awe.

Rachel laughed. “Just relax and enjoy yourself. Here, let's grab a drink.”

They made their way to the bar, where Rachel ordered two cups of cocktails. She handed one to Olivia, while she raised her glass and made a toast.

“To forget about jerks and having fun.”

Olivia managed a smile and clicked her glass with Rachel's. “To fun.”

They slipped their drinks, and then Rachel held Olivia's hands and Introduced her to some guests. 

Olivia tried to engage in conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to Matt's betrayal and her father's harsh demands.

“Come on, Olivia, come dance with me.” Rachel pulled her to the dance floor, twirling her around. Okay,” she answered and reluctantly followed her.

She requested a very hot drink from one of the waiters and drank it, she took another glass, then another, before she followed Rachel to the dance floor.

Olivia laughed out loud that she drew people's attention to her and started twirling and wobbling her beautiful body around. She took a while before she left the dance floor because she was tired and drunk, she then headed to a corner to sit. 

She took more than normal due to the intense pain in her heart, because she just wanted some kind of relief from her problems, if only for a little while, and the music and giggles from the alcohol she drank helped her forget about them.

She raised her head and looked to the other side of the room and noticed a tall, handsome man with blonde hair and a kind of mysterious aura around him looking at her.  

She couldn't stop staring at him because she was absorbed in his looks. 

The guy also looked back at her as though he were trying to penetrate through her soul. 

Her heart started racing, she had a feeling that he must have been watching her for some time.

Rachel noticed her, followed her gaze, and smirked. “That's my brother, Felix, he's harmless, I promise.” 

Olivia blushed. “He’s been looking over here for quite some time now.”

Rachel nudged her playfully. “He's my brother, Felix. Go say hi. He's really nice.”

She looked in Felix's direction again, he was still staring at her even though he was talking to his friends, he was smiling slightly, which made her heart flutter.

Felix noticed the girls were looking over, so he excused himself from his buddies and headed over to Rachel and Olivia's place. 

“Hi, I'm Felix,” he said, smilingly. 

"Hello, Felix," Olivia answered, trying not to show how anxious she was. “I'm Olivia.”

Felix nodded, “I've heard a lot about you. Rachel speaks highly of you.”

Olivia giggled, feeling a bit light-headed. “Well, she's my best friend.”

Rachel excused herself and went to talk to other guests.

“Beautiful night, isn't it,” Felix said, his gaze fixed on the stars above.

Olivia grinned and said, "Yes, it's...breathtaking."

“So what do you do?” Felix asked Olivia.

“I'm an art student.”

Olivia found herself enjoying Felix's company as they spoke, and as their conversations deepened, she began to flirt with him; she was drunk.

Felix tried to keep the conversation light-hearted, he spoke softly, and listened carefully to what she had to say. However, Olivia's emotions were all over the place, she was hurt and angry, and the alcohol she had boosted her confidence.

Olivia whispered to him, "You look really good.” 

“Thank you, Olivia, you look gorgeous too.”

"Do you want to dance with me?" Olivia swayed back and forth as she moved closer and whispered into Felix's ears.

He hesitated a moment before nodding and answering, "Yes," knowing she was drunk.