105. High-Heels Syndrome

*Oh my Aunties-in-Panties!*

My foot catches on my dress and suddenly time runs slowly as I start to tumble. But Dakota’s reflexes are swift and his arm wraps securely around me, preventing a dramatic entrance.

“Always falling for me, aren’t you?” Dakota whispers in my ear, holding me in his grip.

A nervous smile tugs my lips as I murmur, standing on my towering heels. “It must be the High-Heels syndrome.” 

I notice that we both are wearing black, like a couple.

“In that case.. I’ll have to keep you close.” He says, pulling me towards his body with a possessive air. “Can’t let you fall for anyone else.” And breathes softly in my ear. 

A chill runs down my spine, a strange mix of emotions stirred by his warm words and protective actions.

Dakota notices my shiver too. “Cold? Let’s head inside.” He suggests, guiding me towards the entrance of the abstract dome.

I gaze up at the architecture of futuristic world and a silent scream escapes my throat as I read it’s huge glowing sign, *‘Tesla Cybertruck Event.’*

“You brought me to a Tesla event?” I gasp at him. The same company he lost his job to, because of me.

“Hmm.. Didn’t I tell you before?” Dakota states casually, offering smiles at other people. 

“NO! You didn’t.” I whisper scream at him. 

“Oh, my bad! Here, let’s go talk to some important people.” His hand presses on my back as he leads me through the sophisticated crowd. 

“James! What a delight to run into you.” Dakota extends his hand to a man, who appears to be in his mid-sixties, probably having multiple companies under his name, while his wife and children show off his wealth on Tik-Tok. 

“Dakota, fantastic time to see you!” He excitedly greets us, well just the man beside me while I quietly follow up their conversation.

“What are your views on Cybertruck, can you make one better?” The man asks eagerly. 

“For the starters, I can design one better.” Dakota replies, causing little laughs from everyone. 

I observe how every prominent man has a pretty woman by his side, who is smiling and laughing along. So, I do the same.

“Wasn’t your firm among the groups selected to test drive the electric truck?” Another man inquires, genuinely interested. 

Dakota nods, sipping from his glass before saying, “You are correct, Robert. Our team actually had the chance to test the prototype with the triple motor setup.”

“Tell us more about it.” He exclaims excitedly.

“Well, for the starters we had Lamborghini drag raced against the Cybertruck and let me tell you, it legit destroyed the Lambo, hitting 0 to 60 miles in just 2.6 seconds.” Dakota says, capturing interest of everyone around.

It’s fascinating to see how he blends in like a perfect human who is infinitely close to perfection. And it is so strange, because paradoxically, he might be the most twisted man here with utmost issues.

Yet, he covered his biggest flaw, his savage personality under the thick lining of his black suit, that makes him stand out among this elite crowd. 

“To see something so big moving so fast is just insane. For reference, it weighs nearly 3,000 pounds more than Model 3 Performance. Yet, it’s quicker to 60 and a quarter mile, and the M3P isn’t a slouch either.” He speaks fluently.

I bet, even if he talks gibberish, it would sound profoundly intelligent from his mouth. 

“It’s got some serious horsepower under the hood. 845 HP, making it quicker than Urus. A magnificent workhorse of a vehicle.” He says, drawing every eye to him.

Though, I have seen Dakota in a suit before, yet today something is different about him as I couldn’t stop staring, admiring him. 

I figure out, he is wearing his charismatic confidence today, which seems to be his most attractive quality.

The way he is standing tall, confident in his skin, letting his mind speak, he effortlessly takes up all the air and attention in the room. 

“Oh no.. What has the world come to, a Lamborghini Urus losing a race to a polygon!” Someone comments.

Laughter bubbles up around me and I quickly divert my gaze from him, feeling like a creep for staring too long.  

“Yeah! Even we couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer audacity of Elon.” Dakota chimes in, his humour sharp as always. 

But then I notice how gazes of other people are filled with the same astonishment as they stare at him like he is a shooting star.

“Overall, I believe he did an unprecedented work in durability as a consumer vehicle.”

Dakota got this intense fire in his personality that you can sense while he talks with it. There is so much passion in his eyes that seems to warm up people around him. 

And this is what they love about him.

“It is no more a truck, but a revolutionary technology. The future is exciting for sure.”

A man with vision and sheer willpower to alter other’s mind with his intelligence. A true leader. 

I never thought I’ll agree, but this man is truly.. Amazing.

“And who might this pretty lady be?” The senior most member in the group asks me with a gentle gaze.

Suddenly, all the eyes shift to me and my mind goes absolute blank. “I-um.” I stutter as words stuck in my throat, unable to even utter my name.

Dakota gazes at me, along with everyone else’s and I feel this intense pressure running down my veins, urging me to speak something mind blowing, to be worthy of their time. 

“I’m.. Emara.” I whisper, feeling anxiety choking my throat. 

I gulp hard, looking down, unable to meet the gaze of these accomplished individuals, while their degrees and achievements making me question my own worth.

“She is an old acquaintance from my college.” Dakota speaks for me, and with a nod of acknowledgement they all shift to another tech-topic. 

My heart sinks as a profound sense of insignificance washes over me. 

Just standing beside him, having no knowledge or skill, makes me feel like a decorative item hanging on his arm. 

A pretty face he can look at when he gets bored.

*Is this what I am?* 

A plus one, he would just probably shrug off his arm after the event ends.

My anxiety spirals out of control and I feel that same tightening feeling in my chest, which makes me want to cry.

“Excuse me.” I whisper lowly, before picking myself and walking away silently.