NICOLE

"Good evening, miss."

"Good evening."

"Your name, please?"

"Nicole Bennett" I answer by handing the guy in the blue suit a gilded invitation to the charity party that took place tonight.

I was invited to this evening a few months ago, although I did not like events like this, I had to come because it was maintained by a very important man for my job. A man to whom it is almost impossible to say no, and also my former boss.

The boy at the entrance returned my invitation and wished me a pleasant evening, I thanked him briefly and went forward where two guards opened the door of the great hall for me.

I enter slowly placing an invitation in a small black purse I "stole" from Stephanie. A young blonde approached me, which reminded me of my sister.

"Can I take your coat?"

"Of course, thank you." I answer and smile at her.

I am wearing a long elegant red dress, with a V neckline, no back and a large neckline chosen by Stephanie. With my bare back and a half-thigh cut, I attract the eyes of men nearby. Like any woman, I enjoyed the desired looks of men who could only have me in their imagination. Otherwise men didn't interest me, I turned my life on to a career and my sister. Men in my life had neither time nor space.

The hall was huge, large stairs covered with red carpet descending to the podium where the round tables were arranged randomly. On the sides, right next to the wall, there were long tables full of all kinds of food and drinks, something for everyone's taste. So much food, so much unnecessary decorations including huge ice sculptures were the biggest irony of such events. Charity dinners that cost the entire fortune of the person who organized them. If that money had been donated to charity, it would have been almost equal to and perhaps even higher than the amount they will raise tonight. In other words, charity dinners like this were anything but charity. No one here was interested in helping anyone, since they were there because they wanted to be seen at events like this and in posh society.

At the end of the hall was a large dance floor and behind it a huge balcony overlooking the beautiful garden. I immediately headed to the first bar, took a drink, and then headed for the balcony. Although the autumn nights in New York were very cold, I preferred to enjoy the fresh breeze rather than the false kindness of those present. Along the way, I greeted people I knew and received greetings from many I didn't even remember where I knew from. I was trying not to get involved in long conversations and skillfully avoiding certain topics as well as certain people.

The hall was full of elegantly dressed men who took with them even more elegant and expensively dressed women. Some of them are there with their wives hiding behind a fake smile and skillfully pretending to be a happy marriage, even though it was clear to everyone that they were far from it. Many of them are here looking for the rich daughter of a great man in order to secure a future for themselves, and individuals have opted for the most painless variant, an escort lady.

I read people very well and I enjoyed events like this because here I would have a unique opportunity to stand aside and observe those present. Read what lies behind their fake smiles and those fake touches of tenderness. I watched them and learned what life should not look like. I felt sorry for them and admired them on the one hand. Millions of people would like to be here tonight, right in this hall, right in their place. Many girls dreamed of expensive dresses and posh dinners, so many of them were there tonight as ladies for a miserable night. They were not happy and never will be. The "happier" ones are accompanied by a husband who is everything but what they have been dreaming about for years. A false relationship, a false happiness, a false marriage and a void in the soul that no dress and no aesthetic surgeon in this world can fill. People would be surprised if they could realize how miserable and miserable the lives of elite people in this and any other city are. Happier than them tonight are the homeless who roam New York looking for shelter and a bite of food to survive the night.

After almost two hours spent fighting to get to the balcony, I succeeded and congratulated myself by toasting the moon which was full tonight and made an effort to illuminate the entire garden, providing a divine view.

I stared at the empty benches, flowers, and long paths of the beautifully landscaped garden and wandered away from these people. The sound of a message pulled me out of my mind, I quickly took the phone from my purse and called my sister.

"Hello." I heard her sleepy voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello, is everything okay, Stephanie?"

"Yes, why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, you texted me when I got back, so I was worried something had happened."

"It's not sis, don't worry. I'm just bored so I wanted to see if you are having fun."

"And what do you think?"

"I know you don't like nights like that."

"Trust me, I'd rather work three days without a break than be in this fake world of glamour for an hour. I just smiled at strangers for almost two hours and talked nonsense so I wouldn't look rude. My jaw hurt, so I ran to the balcony to rest a little. "

"You're at a party, Nicole. Have a little fun, dance, flirt. Relax!"

"Stephanie this is not a club, what dance and fun? You know I'm here for work and because I have to."

"I bet the men fell to their knees when they saw you in that dress."

"You've outdone yourself this time, I can tell you that."

"I told you a red dress looks divine on everyone, especially your brown hair and that skin colour of yours."

"At least twenty women asked me tonight about the dress designer, and the others just watched me jealousy." I laughed and heard her smile, which was a rarity these days.

"Have fun, dear sister."

"And you love, sleep well. Good night."

"Have a nice evening and have fun. You have pizza in the kitchen in case you're hungry when you get back."

She hung up, and I was looking at our picture on the background of my phone. Stephanie was not the most important person in my life, she was my life. If it's good for her, it's good for me, if it's not good for her, it's not good for me either. These days she has suffered, though she would not admit it I was right. The handsome blonde toyed with her feelings and disappeared from her life without a trace or a message. Even today, it is not clear to me how she managed to become so attached to this guy in such a short period of time and why it was so difficult for her to get him out of her head. Stephanie has always been a girl who easily falls in love, and I am the voice of reality even though this time I prayed to God that I was wrong. I hadn't been.

The phone rings and I answer immediately.

"Hello, Dr Bennett."

"Good evening Ana, are you still working?" I greet my head dental nurse.

"I'm calling to make a schedule for tomorrow."

"I've already made it, it's on my desk."

"I know that's why I am calling you. I saw it a few minutes ago."

"Is there a mistake?"

"I don't know myself either, but it says here that you have a patient at eight in the morning."

"It's not a mistake." I answer her with a smile because I see what this is leading to.

"You're at a party, planning to get up in the morning and get to work."

"Don't worry, you know I can do it. I don't plan on staying long after all." I say proudly.

"Are you sure you don't want me to put this off?"

"I'm sure, relax."

"Hmm well, then enjoy and watch out for alcohol."

"I will, good night. And go home, you have a husband and children waiting for you at home."

"Yes, you know I will." She tells me cheerfully and hangs up.

It is clear to everyone why she is my right-hand at work and not some doctor or senior nurse. The woman is a workaholic almost like me, just not aware of it. I adored her and admired her. How she managed to find a balance between family, husband, children and work.

"Watch out for alcohol." I remember her words and look into the empty glass. I don't normally enjoy much alcohol, but I had some unknown need for it tonight. I turn to go for a fourth glass of some blue drink. I don't even know exactly what I drank, but I know it's very tasty.

I turn around and meet the most beautiful male eyes I have ever seen.

"Good evening, Dr. Bennett." I don't know if it's from the cold wind or the depth of his voice, but I shivered.

"Good evening, Mr. Karringen. What brings you here?"

"A friendly invitation, you?

"Work."

"Of course, you're a businesswoman." He tells me while handing me a glass of the drink I just went for. "Would you like a drink?" I took it without a word, I especially needed alcohol now.

"It's a beautiful evening."

"Yes." I say, taking a short step away from him, which encouraged him to take a step forward.

"I can say that you are the most beautiful woman tonight." He tells me, looking me straight in the eye, and from that look, my legs weaken.

I've received a lot of nice compliments in my life from a lot of men, but never in my life has someone's compliment and look made me feel as vulnerable as him.

"A great compliment given to a number of women tonight, and each of them is known for their beauty and opulence." I answer him trying to sound collected.

"I'm serious, I've heard a few men comment on you just now and I absolutely agree with them."

"Maybe because of the dress."

"The dress is challenging, but it only emphasizes your beauty."

"You and your brother are very flattering."

"Leo?"

"Yes."

"Sounds like you're mad at him. What did that guy do again?"

"Ohh nothing, just broke my sister's heart. And I'm not angry but I'd break his jaw if I saw him" I think to myself, and I answer, "Nothing, that's the problem." And I take a sip of an unknown blue drink.

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

"It doesn't matter now."

"Can I call you by your name?"

"I'm cold, I should come in. Thanks for the drink." I answer ignoring his question and trying to escape those eyes, but it's not that easy.

"I'll walk you off."

"No need, don't bother."

"It's not bothering me at all. I want it. Here you go." He says and points to the hall.

As we walk across the hall his hand caresses the lower part of my bare back and I think from that touch I get the color in my cheeks. People greet him and shake hands with us, and he doesn't move his hand from my back holding me close.

"Mr. Maximillian, I see you've already met our pearl, Miss Nicole." The host of the evening approached us and greeted us warmly, especially me.

"Nice to see you here tonight, darling." He tells me, kissing my hand.

"It's my pleasure, Mr. Meclernes, you know I couldn't refuse your invitation."

"Do you like the party, darling?"

"It's beautiful, very elegant and delicious right at your level."

"Thank you, dear. It means a lot to me from you. And to you, Mr. Maximillian?"

"Beautiful evening, Marcus. I didn't expect anything less from you." Maximillian answered him, then continued. "Lots of beautiful women are here tonight." He added, looking at me with those eyes that do not give me peace.

"You will agree that Miss Nicole is certainly the most beautiful and elegant young lady tonight." Mr Meclernes praised me.

"Sure it is." Max answered and smiled proudly without taking his eyes off me.

"You flatter me." I answer humbly.

"A blend of natural beauty, intelligence and ability. In addition, very valuable, you would not believe what this girl can do. A real rare pearl." Continued Mr. Meclernes.

"Pearl, you say?" Maximilian asked.

"Yes, unfortunately, a lost pearl. Do you remember five years ago when I told you about a brilliant young resident, a dentist? Which I tried my best to keep in our clinic."

"I remember a little, through the fog. Why?"

"Well, that young lady is Miss Nicole. We tried our best to keep her in our hospital, but we didn't succeed. In the end, she escaped."

"Don't do that. I'm very grateful to you for everything you've done for me, but I had to move on."

"I understand, a great pity for us."

At that moment, a small orchestra of elegantly trained people appeared and invited everyone present to dance. Mrs. Meclernes offered her husband a dance which he gladly accepted.

"I'm glad I saw you two, have fun." He said and headed to the dance floor with his wife.

"I didn't know you worked at a private hospital with Marcus Meclernes?" Maximilian looked at me when we were alone.

"Yes, when I finished my studies they were looking for an intern. I applied and the first one accepted me because of the high grades. I started doing an internship there and after a few months they accepted me into a permanent job and offered me a residency."

"They liked you. No wonder Marcus is a respected and remarkable doctor. The fact that you get compliments like this from him says a lot about your skill in the business."

"Looks like. I worked there for a couple of years, after that I decided to open my own office."

"I see, it's today's Polyclinic Bennett dental."

"Yes. Can I ask you something?" I ask curiously.

"Of course."

"What have you got to do with that hospital?"

"I'm the owner." He laughed out loud as if I had told a joke.

"But I thought the owner was Mr. Meclernes."

"He's the director and co-owner, I'm the main owner." He continued through a smile.

"Stop laughing, I feel stupid." I said ashamed.

What kind of fool am I, how did I not know that? I worked for them for years.

"May I ask you for this dance?" He asked me, still mocking my ignorance.

"Of course." I say more out of politeness than out of desire.

He took my hand and led me towards the end of the hall and the large dance floor where now many elegant couples danced to the rhythm of romantic music.

As we passed people we heard comments of delight, they didn't flatter us when they said we were definitely the most elegant couple tonight. His sleek black suit and my red pure silk dress alongside our build were a hit this evening. A lot of jealous looks were directed at us, and I still couldn't reconcile myself to working for this man for years.

However, all that disappears the second Max turns to me, takes me by the waist and brings him closer to himself, moving to the beat of the music. From the very beginning of the dance he kept me close to him and for the first time in my life I did not complain. His hands on me, his gaze and that beautiful face just a few millimeters away from mine made me forget about everything for a few moments. To work, to the jealous looks and all the people present tonight around us. To everything, absolutely everything even to herself.

There was only that moment, him and me. Elegant clothes with elegant music and court dance. Nothing mattered anymore, nothing existed anymore. The gleam in his eyes mesmerized my heart and ruled my body. Music seemed to unite our souls and neither of us resisted it.

He turned me around, then grabbed me in his arms again. In ecstasy his lips touched my nose. Coincidentally or intentionally, I didn't know anymore, and it didn't matter to me.

The rapid beats of my heart like drums in my ears alerted me to the danger of the proximity of his lips, a heavy heart, and with the last atom of strength in my legs I moved away from him.

He looked at me sadly and unconsciously, as if I had woken him from sleep, and my heart was screaming for me to return to his embrace. I couldn't say anything, I didn't have the strength for it. I just turned around and left making my way through the curious crowd.

As I almost ran across the parking lot my chest pain got bigger with each step I took away from that building and from himself.

Why was this so difficult? What's going on with me?

I wondered incessantly as a warm tear slid down my face unsuccessfully in an attempt to extinguish the volcano of emotions it had awakened in me.

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Chapter edited by @sweetfirecarmelle