Chapter 32: Chapter 32

The doorbell rings and Maya checks her wristwatch, confused.

It was just some minutes past 7, So it wasn't Xavier and as far as she knew, none of the girls were expecting anybody.

"Coming." Jasmine hollered, heading for the door.

She turned back to the mirror as she pondered on what to do with her hair. She was tempted to pin her hair up, going for classic chic since the gathering was not a family event but was also open to the public and the well public was just a good way of saying vain obnoxious, rich individuals.

Melissa had explained to her, that it was mandatory to send an invite to them no matter how toxic, bitter and annoying they could get.

Though Maya didn't get it, like why invite someone she couldn't stand to her party, like it's my birthday party bitch, she understood that things were a bit different for them with expectations and invisible rules.

She sighed knowing at the end of the day, she won't pin her hair up and as much as she tries to deny it, she knew it had everything to do with Xavier admitting he loved her hair down.

She knew he just might have forgotten saying anything like that or worst, was getting into character but she couldn't fight the urge to let it fall caressing her back.

"Guess who just got a package," Jasmine announced, a wrapped package in her hand as she entered inside.

Jessica rushed out, reaching for the gift. She sighed, looking almost disappointed as she handed it to Maya.

She stares at them in confusion and then at the parcel surprised since it had her name on it. She couldn't think of anyone who will play Santa with her especially when it was nothing near December.

Curious and wanting to know what was inside the parcel, she grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer and ripped the wrapping open to discover a pale box with a "Yours Truly" Signature on it

Jessica squealed in delight hurriedly opening the box to reveal a red designer gown nestled inside the box.

"This is fucking expensive! There should be like only 2 in the country or maybe 1," Jessica said, her mouth slacked open as Maya lifted the backless gown, admiring the intricate pattern stressfully she bet, handcrafted into its hem.

A note falls from it and Jasmine hurriedly picks it up.

"Saw this being advertised in a fashion magazine, Don't even ask me what I was doing with one of those lol! But I couldn't help but visualize you on it so I bought it even though I know you will make every man at the party breathless, me inclusive." Jasmine read aloud and then turn towards Maya, even more, shocked to see that she couldn't meet her stare.

"Spill." Jasmine urged her, convinced there was more to this package without the name of its giver.

She shook her head, admiring the feel of the soft fabric against her hand.

"I don't know who this is from." She lied.

"You mean to tell me that a random person you have no idea who, bought you a designer gown worth thousands of dollars if not a million and somehow also knows you are going for a party?" Jessica asked, refusing to let it go.

"Tyler. That was Tyler, Xavier's brother. He knows I will be attending the party and he is an unapologetic flirt."

"Nothing serious." She added noticing the growing grins on both their faces.

"I knew there was more to just being an escort to Xavier to balls and parties. Someone is getting loved up." Jasmine teases while Maya rolled her eyes sighing inwardly relieved that she was able to get herself out of such a tough spot.

"That is why I didn't want to say a word to you both. We are just friends." She said switching to the truth. She didn't feel any sexual attraction or anything relatively romantic for Tyler but the owner of the bold beautifully curved handwriting on the piece of paper Jasmine had read, now that was another case she wasn't ready to think about.

She felt any and everything for Xavier, from intense lust to mild annoyance but nothing close to just friendship. Just hearing a friend's note doesn't make moisture flood your pants, dampening it as a secret thrill ran down her spine at the thought of actually making him want her.

Jasmine grabbed the clothes from her while Jessica brought out her makeup kit.

"Tonight we will be dressing you up. So much that Tyler.." Maya turned to look at her, about to interrupt her. "... Your friend" Jessica added, a goofy grin on her face.

"Won't know what hit him." Jasmine completed.

She wanted to decline their offer knowing they will prep her up to look like some doll but knowing she was already behind time and arguing with the two of them when they had such looks on their faces; The hyped excited ones. Won't do her any good.

She sighed accepting defeat and consequently the help of two scheming matchmakers.

***

Xavier gawked at Maya speechlessly, the air being knocked out of his lungs as how depressingly beautiful she looked, he could cry.

Most of the time he had taken her out or even at the office, she was the powder, mascara, and tinted lip balm or chapstick type and she had still managed to dazzle him but today it seem she was pulling all the stop.

She had gone with a smoky eye and shimmery blush that contours her cheekbones. She wears dark glossy lipstick and the gown he had bought for her, had looked better on her than he had visualized, hugging all of her curves and effortlessly Making her look like the goddess she was.

Maya mistook his silence for his attempt at trying so hard not to laugh or say something hurtful to her.

"Is this too much?" She asked him, worried that they probably had done too much on her face and she just looked ridiculous.

"Should I go and change?" She asked, turning to go back since they were still at the garage.

He held her hand.

"A selfish part of me who is a possessive bastard and mind you the bigger part of me wants that so much, but the part of me that wants to flaunt you, torture every man with you as my priceless art piece they can only look at but not touch.." he made to hold her hand, but decided against that dropping his hand to his side.

"And then there is also a part of me that just wants to fantasize about taking this gown of yours off you and baring your naked skin to my gaze, this thought I can never act on an endless torture is still in here." He added, making her even more confused.

They both entered the car.

"So it is okay?" She asked biting her lower lip, wanting to hear the words from his mouth, plain and simple.

"Please don't torture me anymore." He pleaded.

She frowned, confused.

"Please stop looking so clueless and fucking innocent like you don't know what I am talking about if you don't want me to take you inside this car, right here and now. With the driver hearing your loud moans as you whisper my name, like a mantra, a prayer." He threatened.

And then grabbing her hand he made her palm his painful erection so she gets the message.

Her eyes widened and then she looked out of the mirror, a traitorous part of her body wanting everything he had threatened to do to her and then another part of her, felt guilty of even allowing herself to want something so sinful, so beautifully filthy.