Chapter 2

QUIVA’S POV

I took a deep breath and steeped into the grand hall, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The room was already filled with people dressed in designer gowns and tuxedos, sipping wine and nibbling on different chops watering snacks.

I glanced around the hall, searching for a spot to seat and my gaze landed on an empty table at the far end of the hall. I stylishly made my way to the table and took a sit on one of the decorated stool that surrounded the table. I called out to a server as soon as I settled down and she walked up to me in no time. She handed me a glass of drink with a smile on her face.

“Thank you,” I flashed out a nervous smile to the server who wouldn't stop eyeing my hair, I understand that my red curls stood out among the crowd but did she need to make it seems obvious? “Is there something on my head?” I scoffed, obviously getting irritated by her gaze.

The server shook her head negatively with an annoying smile on her face. I dismissed her with a wave of my hand and she scurried away from my sight.

“Now that I am here, it's time to hunt.” I took a light sip from the drink before dropping the glass back to the table. I picked up at my purse, ready to dive into the crowd when my fingers brushed against a smooth object.

I hastily settled back down on the stool and took out the object from my purse, alas, the object was no other thing than the phone my victim dropped on the floor, earlier at the second gate.

•••

AN HOUR AGO (1:52)

Getting to the event ground with my heart threatening to rip off my chest, I pushed past the first gate without a problem. I knew I didn't belong to a place like this but I needed to do this to extort money from the guest; if not here, I didn't know any other places I could hunt in hope of catching big fishes.

With numerous thoughts running through my core of reasoning, I bumped into a stranger I never knew was coming my way. The person I bumped into also seemed to be in a hurry, judging by the way her fingers was shivering. The person staggered backwards and I was quick to pulled her back to her feet, I was startled at first when I felt how warm she was just by brushing my thumb against her wrist.

If she was that warm why then was she shivering? That was a question that flashed through my mind but I had a problem of my own to solve rather than getting all worked up over someone else issue.

I cleared my throat, was about to apologise to the person when I spotted a shiny—looking object on the floor. It was an expensive phone and I swiped it sharply. Standing up, and arranging my dress, I spotted the person I just hit looking down, as if searching for something too and that was when I knew I had to get the hell out of there before I get caught even before my hunt.

Not saying another word, I dashed into the crowd, and a smirk appeared on my face when I heard a voice that sounded like my own from the spot I was standing, seconds ago. I looked back and thestranger was no longer there. I turn around and flee the spot before I cause a scene I never planned for.

•••

BACK TO PRESENT

Starring at the phone with a smile on my face, I stared keenly at the Samsung phone for a while, guessing how much it would cost.

“This phone would definitely cost an arm and leg.” I gasped in shock, surely the best decision I've ever made in my life is coming to this event. If not at an event like this, I didn't know where else I could get this kind of ‘Godsent’ gifts.

“Today is indeed a lucky day for me” I screamed inwardly, not paying attention to the people at the hall. At that moment, it felt as though I was the only one present at the hall, nothing matters to me than the phone in my hand.

I tapped on the screen, the phone was surprisingly not locked which made me wonder if the person was stupid or probably crazy. Who the hell left a costly phone unlock? Even my outdated phone has a lengthy password.

I rolled my eyes at the phone. I was about to slide the phone back to my purse when a thought flashed through my mind and I was already checking the bank app on the phone before I could realised what just happened.

“For the love of Christ!” I screamed so loudly before pressing my palm to my mouth, but the deed has been done anyways because half of the guests at the hall darted their gaze at me.

I slipped my palm off my mouth and removed an imaginary strands of hair off my face. The guest was still staring awkwardly at me and I had to put on a plastic smile.

“I’m sorry, I'm so sorry,” I bowed a little and I watched them moved their gaze away from me.

Before I know what was going on, I had once again picked up the phone from the floor and continue checking the bank app. If not for my environment, I would have scream a little louder than before. The bank accounts in the phone was stocked with hard currencies. Looking at the phone and waving it blindly I continued to muse within myself that today is indeed my best day ever.

“How could someone be this rich?” I marvelled at the amount that was displayed on the phone screen.

I was still engrossed in the phone when suddenly I started hearing some murmurs and whispers. I didn't know hundreds of eyes were on me until I suddenly lifted up my gaze to met unfamiliar eyes darted at me with some women pointing at me and gossiping which made a chill ran down my spine.

“Am I being caught?” I mumbled to myself, gulping down nothing as I felt their gazes leaving holes on my skin.

I suddenly found the floor interesting as I left my gaze glued to the floor. The tiled floor was sparkling clean and I wonder why I was just realising that. It was starting to got hot and I was already feeling suffocated by being the central of attention.

“It’s best I leave here before things get funny” I sighed and grabbed my purse from the table, not without sliding the phone into my purse.

Even though I just got here some minutes ago and the charity event was not yet over, I decides to leave because I was suddenly feeling uneasy from all the stares. Also, I have not even stolen what I came here to steal but I decided to leave it behind because I have a phone worth millions and it’d help me so much. In fact, I was a millionaire already, and that realization got me smiling.

I stood up from the stool and wrapped my fingers around my purse, I took a deep breath before wearing that plastic smile on my face once again. I glanced towards the exit and I did a quick calculation of how to get to the exit in few seconds.

I raised my head up high and quickening strode towards the exit, ready to make my way out when I felt a warm holds tugging at my arm, stopping me from stepping outside the hall.

I slowly turned around to meet a woman whose face was adorned with a lot of makeup that would be use for twenty people. I traced my gaze from her overdone makeup and to her palm that was still tugging on my arm. I was already boiling from the inside and I might lose my remaining temper at any moment.

“For the love of Christ! What the hell did you want from me?” I fired at the woman who would not get her hand off my arm.

The woman stared at me with hate and disgust and I was surprised as to why she was giving me such stare when she was the one that came to me first, stopping my movement.

“Where the hell did you think you're going?” That was the first thing she said to me, and I taken aback by her questions.

“Sorry?” I looked from left to right, hoping the question was not for me, but I arched my brows when I realised we were the only ones at the entrance.

The woman sighed before removing her hold from my arm. She took a deep breath, obviously trying hard to control her temper.

“What,” I gritted her teeth and opened the purse I never knew she was holding. She took out a receipt and threw it at me, I was too curious about the receipt that I caught it midair. I was about to check the content of the receipt when she hollered at me.

“I’ve warned you to stop doing things without letting me know first,” she fired at me, “why would you took part in the fund raising without my consent?”

I hastily went through the receipt to check out what the old hag was saying. I took a step back in shock, my palm on my chest to stop my heart from ripping off its cage at the amount of money that was inscribed on the receipt.

“Who the fuck donate this sum of money for a stupid event?” I flared at the woman, showing her the amount that someone wasted all in the name of doing charity.

The old hag snatched the receipt from me and ripped it into tiny pieces. “That’s because you're very stupid, aren't you?” she howled at me, and I scoffed angrily.

“What?” I chuckled dryly, “do you think I would ever waste this such amount on stupid things like this? C’mon I'm more economically more than you think.” I smirked at her.

“Then, who donated this?” she inquired, pointing at the ripped receipt in her palm. “Who gave out this money in your name, Julianne?” She asked calmly, eyeing me with her eyebrows that we're almost touching each other.

“Why would I donate this when I don't even have the… Wait, did you just called me Julianne?” I asked instead, the old hag seemed to be interested in my hair and I wondered if my hair was more important than the question I just asked.

“This thing wouldn't have happened if you never left the mansion before anyone and why the hell did you dyed your hair red, Julianne?” She hissed so loudly, fanning her face with her purse.

“Hold on, who's Julianne and why is she accusing me of what the so called Julianne did?” I mumbled to myself, wondering where things could have gone wrong. Suddenly everything clicked and I realised that she must have mistaken me for someone else. Maybe that was why those women back then were even gossiping about me.

Realizing that I has to deal with this strange woman as fast as I could and flee, because I wasn't interested in whatsoever anger the old hag was trying to depict from me.

“Listen,” I face the woman, trying to call her to notice. “There must be a mistake somewhere. I am not who you think and…” Before I could say ‘jack’, the old hag suddenly snatched my purse and brought out the stolen phone from the purse and started gawking at it.

“Shit!” I cursed under my breath seeing that the mini scuffle had attracted a commotion and crowd. I moved my gaze from the people that were gazing at us and tried to take the phone away from the old hag, but the elderly lady wasn't letting go.

“I need to get out of here” I snatched the phone from the old hag and made to walk away when a lady stepped in from the crowd.

“Mrs Crawford,” The lady who was clothed in a fine suit bowed to the old hag before turning to face me. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, madam Julianne.” she bowed to me before proceeded to stand beside me with her hand crossed behind her back.

“What…” I gulped hard, not understanding everything that has been going on in the past few minutes. Who are these people? Why was the old hag flaring at me? Why was the lady referring to me as ‘madam Julianne’? And why was everyone staring at us without interfering?

“What is going on?” I had a lot of questions to ask but that was the only thing that came out of my mouth. “Who’s Julianne?” I asked the lady that stood beside me and she glared at me like I’d suddenly grown an extra head.