CHAPTER 5:
Harlem's POV
I look at myself in the mirror smiling. This has to be the most beautiful dress I've worn in a while and for what, an event that has nothing to do with me. I chuckle at the irony.
"Fire. Just absolutely fire. Girl, have I said how beautiful you are?" I turn to Lexi sticking out her head while doing her makeup in the bathroom. "Stop, you flatter me" I say doing 360. Its moments like these that I crave with Lexi. She's really the best. And God, I'm not sure I want to know how much this dress cost. It's a red sleeveless corset-like top attached to a fitted skirt with a slit and I have on Lexi's YSL heels.
"Red is so good on you. Accentuates your pale skin and you really might be better at makeup than me because I absolutely cannot see the handprint anymore" she says while applying her eye liner.
"Thank God. I had to use an unholy amount of makeup that would make a hooker blush" I say carrying my purse. Lexi laughs and steps out.
"So, are we getting an Uber?" I ask. Lexi looks at me shocked. Did I say something wrong? "An Uber? Please don't make me laugh Har. That might be the most embarrassing thing to do at a Briggs event. I rented a nice Cadillac with a driver; he's on his way even. Sincerely, It hurt to see the bill but it will be worth it when we go there and we actually get out of the car and people will start taking pictures us" Well, I guess we're all attention seekers in some way.
"What? "Lexi asks laughing. "Nothing, it's just people don't know me, so its not like they WANT to take pictures of some woman in a red dress"
"Are you kidding? The press eats up things like this for breakfast. I'm literally providing new bait for them that they're dying for"
"Oh, thanks for throwing me to the sharks "I say sarcastically.
"Don't worry, you're going to be thanking me for real by the time this is all over "She says smiling creepily. Popular people are so weird.
"All right, lets head out he's here". I grab my phone and we walk out the door.
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The driver stops behind a Lamborghini. I can see the flashing lights from my side of the window. Have I mentioned these things make me nervous? Wait, no. I straighten my back subconsciously and take a deep breath. This is the life I want to be living. Like Lexi always says, 'I have to fake it till I make it'. The queue keeps getting shorter and we're almost at the entrance. I turn to look at Lexi to see her taking selfies, she drags me to take one with her and I'm too nervous to smile. She notices.
"Girl, you have to chill. It's literally written on your face how nervous you are. Look, by the time we go in, there will be a lot of people, we'll barely be noticed. So, you just have to chin up when we reach the entrance and your good to go. Because they're going to take pictures of us and I'm sure you want to look like you've done this a hundred times. It speaks for you. So, you want to do this?"
Curse Lexi and her motivational speeches. I swallow and squeeze her palm, giving her a reassuring nod. Yeah, she's right. It's no big deal. People do this all the time, so I can and I will.
We stop at the entrance and the driver comes down to open the doors. There has to be at least 50 members of press out here, all from different operations. I take a deep breath and wait for the doors to open, when they open, one leg at a time I gracefully come out, Lexi following behind me. I keep a small smile on my face like I see models doing all the time and I take Lexis hand and we walk.
Most of the press pause for a moment, but the moment I and Lexi start walking, they start taking pictures. Wow, those lights are blinding. Lexi squeezes my palm and we keep moving towards the door. I didn't think there would be that much pictures taken of us. Guess Content creators are a big hit nowadays.
Lexi shows the lady at the door her invite and I'm identified as a plus one. Then, were moved to the side where they do a full body check by a female security. They give us cool cards with our name on it and we enter inside.
Dammit, the rich are really getting richer. The hall was decorated so beautifully with artificial flowers decorating the four corners of the hall which looked so huge I almost couldn't see the other end. There were chandeliers on the ceiling. Glass flower podiums diving the room into segments and a stage that was decorated with love. Whoever was in charge of the decorating did quite a good job.
"Beautiful" I turn to Lexi to agree but she was too busy making videos and I was also too busy admiring the place. We stood at a corner at the far end and were offered cocktails by a waitress. Seeing the waitress made me realize if I hadn't been slapped, I probably wouldn't have asked for a leave which means I might not have agreed to go with Lexi which would mean missing out on all the fun. I need to start taking Lexi's side quests, no matter how damning, more serious.
"Omg, I literally just made eye contact with Calvin Galiantro right now" Lexi says to me. I just made eye contact with some pigs in a blanket I just saw on some waiter's tray.
"Who the hell is that?" I say absentmindedly, wondering where the waiter went.
"Um excuse me. You don't know who that is? He's like my Hollywood celebrity crush "She whispers.
"One of them "I mutter. Maybe they're not serving the pigs in a blanket over this corner. Should we move?
"Haha, very funny. Girl, are you even listening to me?" I snap out of my food search trance.
"Uhm, yeah?" I reply. Lexi is unconvinced. "Where exactly could your mind be right now at a moment like this?"
"I just want to know, if they're going to serve us food at these things. "I shrug innocently.
"Literally the whole world could be on fire and you'd try to use the fire to eat something. Thank God for your high metabolism" she says amused.
"I know sweetheart. I thank God everyday" I laugh.
"You know what? I'm going to go and talk to him. That's what these events are made for. Fuck it. Will you wait here" Lexi asks
"Actually, I'm going to go look for food or whatever rich people eat. I wish you all the best and let's meet back here if we don't get lost. Deal?"
"You have yourself a deal "Lexi says smiling and walks towards, what was his name?
So far, I've only seen people who look rich but I'm yet to see any famous female models or actresses. That's what I'm expecting. But until I come across any, if I do, considering the amount of people in this hall, I'd be grateful. And I'll summon courage to walk up to them like Lexi did. I have to utilize this event.
I start moving toward where I saw that waiter headed. I mean, I deserve a pig in a blanket right? I didn't have the opportunity to have dinner before coming. I was too busy trying to fit into this dress that's like a second skin. I mean I'm not fat at all but I'm also not bone skinny.
I sight the waiter and walk up to him; I take a pig in a blanket and another cocktail. Christ, when did I finish the last?
I walk up to the only bar in this hall which happens to be closer to me and sit on a chair slowly munching my snack. How long will this even be for anyway?
I'm tapped on the back and I turn around to see who it was just to come face to face with a man I've never met. He smiles sweetly at me and extends his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lucas. I saw you from across the room and I thought that it would be nice getting to know you. I haven't seen you around this event before, Miss Harlem." Wait, how did he know my name? Oh, it's my card.
I finish chewing and offer him my hand as well. "It's a pleasure. I'm actually a plus one, but can I ask how you know that I've never been to this event before?"
He leans forward to reply me and it's a miracle that I can hear him with how noisy this place is with music and conversations.
"I'm actually one of the organizers. What do you think though? Do you think it was organized pleasantly? Would you be up for attending again?" He smiles genuinely. Who the hell was this man asking for my review and why the hell wouldn't I want to come again? The net worth in this room was worth a country's budget.
"It's actually a pretty impressive event. The décor seems professional and yes, I would think about coming again." I smile at him respectfully, at least he wasn't trying to hopelessly flirt.
"That's good to hear from a gorgeous woman like yourself" he says smiling.
"Thank you that's very nice of you." I reciprocate the smile. I notice he's actually very handsome and looks like he's above your average rich bachelor in Berlin. He has blue eyes and blonde hair with a tuxedo that looks like it can fund my rent for a year. Is that a Cartier? He also doesn't look too far from my age. I notice he's also still staring at me. Does this dress have a spell on it?
"So, what do you do?" he asks getting comfortable in the chair beside me. Uh oh, here we go. This is the part I'm not much of a fan of. When people ask me what I do and I have to tell them I'm a bartender and they either look like at me like I'm lying or with pitying eyes or worse, look down on me. Well, if he's going to leave, he might as well do it now.
"I'm a bartender actually" I say with pride because I love what I do, till I get something better anyway. And as far as I'm concerned, I could be stripping but I chose not to do that so why should I feel ashamed?
"Cool. Where?" he says looking intrigued. Okay, that's progress. At least, he's not screaming to everyone that I'm a fraud.
"At the Beatdown Bar, in the outskirts of town" I say having more courage to speak. "This has to be the first time someone hasn't given me a negative reaction when I mention my workplace" I add taking a sip of my drink.
"Really? Why?" he asks like he's genuinely curious. Wait, why am I talking to this stranger? And why am I having fun? Especially with someone of the opposite gender. That's suspicious.
"I guess people expect me to be a millionaire because I don't look like I work at a bar, but beauty isn't everything" I say twirling my glass.
He sits back and relaxes his chair, still looking very intently at me, "It looks like everything from where I'm sitting" he says calmly like it's a fact. Okay, I'm going to give this guy a 9/10 in flirting. Wow, would you look at us two strangers having a descent conversation in a room filled with almost 200 people.
"Wow, okay thanks. BUT, its really not. People lie about that. In fact, it can deter you because people might start to think that's all you can offer" I say more to myself than him. Which leads me to think that maybe I should have just stayed in Poland with my parents where I could've gotten a better job with my degree but I needed to leave because I felt I would have a purpose in Germany. I still have faith that I will make it so I'm not discouraged.
I look to see this handsome stranger still staring at me. I feel a little uneasy so I excuse myself and head to the bathroom, wherever that is. A waiter points me toward the place and I make my way there.
Inside, I breathe, redo my makeup, and steady myself. When I step out—bam. I slam straight into a wall. A wall with a heartbeat. I look up into a striking pair of green eyes. Eyes I'll never forget.
I have to be dreaming.