Chapter 19: Chapter 19

The driver stopped the car in front of an exquisite building. Jocelyn was so excited when we stepped down from the car. She happily drags me inside the building.

“Surprise!" She hollers with excitement clear in her voice.

“Joce!" a pretty fair lady beams and walks up to us.

“Hi Joce !" other ladies were also waving at her and she also waved back, they all looked busy.

It seems like Jocelyn always comes here since they all know her. Oh! this is her cousin's beauty salon so they will definitely know her… I'm sure she comes here often.

It looks like she's more reacquainted with the pretty fair lady because she's the only one that walked up to her and hugged her with a very radiant smile on her face, Jocelyn warmly accepted the hug.

“You know why we are here Nathalie, I want you to turn me into a goddess tonight because I wanna steal the party!" Jocelyn chirped, a promising grin clearly registered on her lips.

In the few days I've known Jocelyn, I discovered that she's an effervescent girl full of enthusiastic energy. She's someone that can never let you be bored as long as you are with her.

The pretty fair lady I've just learned her name to be Nathalie, chuckles and said; “You know what I can do my dear Jocelyn. Just chill and let me do the magic. I know what you like my sweet little girl," she teases and Jocelyn had a playful frown on her face.

“I'm no longer a baby," Jocelyn protested in a way that made Nathalie chuckle.

“But you will always be my little Joce," Nathalie teases her more, her amusing smile says it all. Jocelyn fakes another frown.

I couldn't help but notice that she's adorable with her fake frown.

Nathalie was about speaking but her eyes caught me.

“Is she the friend you told me about?"

“Yeah, her name is Constance," Jocelyn replied and turned to me. “This is Nathalie, she's like a big sis to me. She means the world to me."

“Awww, that's so sweet. I feel over the moon, I mean a lot to my little Joce."

“Nathie, I'm not little. Stop acting as if you are just learning how important you are to me."

Nathalie let out a fascinating grin. I found these two adorable. I love the way they bicker lovingly.

“Your friend is so beautiful," I heard her whisper to Jocelyn.

“Of course I know, and I'm sure she's going to steal the party with her beauty," Jocelyn cuts in.

Jocelyn had told me that I'm beautiful but I somehow doubted her, and now Nathalie has said the same. Am I really that beautiful that someone would compliment me?

Maybe I am. I didn't have many people compliment my beauty in the past. Well, I hardly socialize with people. I believe this is the reason why I find it hard to believe that I'm beautiful because it's a new compliment to me.

“Let's go girls," Nathalie said, walking ahead as we follow suit.

Gallivanting my eyes round this beauty salon, it's not like your everyday beauty salon. It's damn beguiling and appears so extravagant. It looks like Jocelyn's cousin is not just a minor actress and model or someone who's just famous without the money there. Looking at this vast and extremely ineffable beauty salon… no one needs to tell me that Jocelyn's cousin is a boss lady, she's definitely rich. The excessiveness of this beauty salon says it all because there's no way a minor citizen with little cash in her bank account could owe here. Well, except if it's gifted to her.

Nathalie brought us to a more exquisite room, this looks like the VIP section of the beauty salon.

“I hope you received the dress, there were two of it," Jocelyn said once we were inside the room.

“Of course I did and my little Joce knows how to choose a classical wear for herself. Believe me, those dresses are top notch, they were too beautiful."

“I love it when they stand out," Jocelyn chipped in. Nathalie smiled and faced me.

“Just like Jocelyn said, I'm like a big sis to her and I can also become one for you. So relax and feel free okay," she said with a resplendent smile. I nodded with a smile, she seemed nice.

Two black ladies walked into the room and in no time, Nathalie and the ladies started working on us.

In less than an hour, they were done. The smile on their face says that they feel satisfied with their work.

“Oh! My gosh! You both are so beautiful, this party is yours already!" Nathalie squeaks as she giggles.

I looked at my reflection through the mirror, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was wondering if that's my reflection or someone else. My mouth was wide in awe, I never knew I'm this gorgeous. The sheath emerald green velvet dress hung on my skin revealing all the curves I never knew were there. My hair was stylishly packed, exposing my slender pale neck. Nathalie did magic on me and not just me, Jocelyn too. I couldn't even recognize Jocelyn due to how beautiful she appeared. The bias cut light purple dress perfectly allures her effulgent tan skin making her look so elegant.

Before I knew it, we were already in the car driving to the five star hotel where the party will take place. Nathalie is such a sweet and kind lady, I like her already.

When we arrived at the hotel, we both stepped out of the car and made our way into the event hall. We were not asked for an invitation card since Jocelyn is the celebrant's cousin.

The moment we walked into the spacious and enticing hall with contemporary decorations, meticulously set in a way to draw attention to itself, all eyes were on us, especially from men.

I realized they were staring more at me with what seemed like lustful eyes. Being a shy person, my cheeks turned pink with the way they were staring at me as if they were going to eat me.

I held Jocelyn's arm and stuck so close to her and did my best not to meet any of those eyes staring at me. Jocelyn is overly confident. She cared less, unlike me. I hope I'm confident like her but unfortunately I'm not.

The hall is so vast and Jocelyn took me to a particular table where some group of boys and girls were seated, enjoying themselves.

“Joce!" They all exclaim happily upon seeing Jocelyn. She took her time in hugging the five of them.

They looked gorgeous and handsome, no one needed to tell me that they are not people with low profiles. Well, Jocelyn told me that everyone that will be present at the party are all rich and successful citizens.

It was at this moment that I fully understood why Jocelyn laughed out loud when I talked about coming to the party with our previous dress before we were transformed into something I could never have imagined. I would be soaked in embrassent If I had come dressed that way. But seeing that my dressing rhymes with the dressing of everyone here, I felt a bit confident. I'm glad I didn't appear odd.

“You came late Joce, How could you? I thought I'm your favorite cousin," a beautiful, gorgeous lady dressed in a deep blue silky gown I knew must cost thousands of dollars waltzed towards us. Her charming lime green eyes were the first things that drew me towards her. She's so beautiful with beautiful eyes.

“Oh! My sweet cousin, I'm so sorry. It was Nathalie, she took time with the make-over!" Jocelyn said with a grin as she hugs the beautiful emerald green eyed lady who's sulking like a baby.

“I won't forgive you Joce," She cuts in. Jocelyn coaxed her until she let out a smile I felt she has been hiding.

“Happy birthday my sweet cousin," Jocelyn beam.

Oh, she must be Juliana. Wow! She's so beautiful just like a goddess. No wonder she's a famous actress and model but I think that being a famous actress doesn't lie in beauty, though I can't say the same for being a famous models.

She's such a beautiful model, more beautiful than Annabelle. Gosh! Why will I be thinking about that lady right now. I don't want to remember the painful honeymoon so I quickly threw her out of my mind.

Jocelyn introduced me to her cousin, also to her friends and they won't stop complimenting my beauty and of course I was shy but I tried my best not to blush too hard to avoid my whole face turning pink so as not to embarrass myself.

Jocelyn's friends are so sweet and nice, including Juliana, her cousin. Jocelyn is lucky to have kind and lovely people around her. Juliana letter excused herself to attend to other guests but Jocelyn gave her the gift we got for her before she left. She was so happy with the gift.

Jocelyn's friends all look matured. I never knew the friends she was talking about are adults. At first, I felt uncomfortable sitting with them but they made it comfortable for me with their overly niceness.

The party was going smoothly and everyone was enjoying themselves. A lot of attention kept drawing to me and at some point, I regretted dressing this way. I should have been in my normal simple dress.

One of Jocelyn's male friends kept on stealing glances at me. It made me shy and a little bit uncomfortable.

A waitress came out of nowhere and presented a glass of wine before me.

“I asked her to get some soft drinks for you," Jocelyn said. I actually told her that I can't drink alcoholic drink. My head can't withstand the alcohol, a few sip from it will definitely make me drunk.

“Thanks," I mumble and take the non-alcoholic red wine. I took a sip from it.

“May I have a dance with you?" The guy that was stealing a glance at me asked. I hesitated but Jocelyn urged me to. I'm sure she's looking out for me to get a boyfriend, if only she knew that I have a husband.

I walk with the guy to the dance floor where other couples are dancing. Just like others, we also started dancing. I couldn't maintain an eye contact with the guy but I can feel his eyes on me. No doubts, he's handsome but can't beat my husband in handsomeness.

“You are so beautiful," he said after a few seconds, his voice was cool. I couldn't help but smile shyly.

He tried raising a conversation but suddenly I started feeling weak and sleepy… no, my whole body is burning in something I can't explain.

“Please, I will excuse myself to use the bathroom. I will be back," I said. I didn't wait for him to speak up before I strode towards the restroom.

I was walking through the long and quiet pathway that leads to the restroom and I was feeling so dizzy, sleepy and hot. I just can't explain what's suddenly happening to me.

Before I could reach the restroom I felt weak on my legs, I was about to fall but instead of falling to the floor, I fell into a strong arm.

My view became blurry and I couldn't see the face of the person holding me through my blurry view.

“This will be a long night, beauty. Don't worry I'm going to make you feel good," that was the last voice I heard before darkness engulfed me.