Chapter 6: Masquerade Ball

Rakiza's friends were ecstatic about the masquerade ball they were going to. Muriel rummaged through her closet for an outfit for Rakiza, but nothing fit her.
Chin brought her Chinese gowns to give Muriel more options, but she detested them.
"Rakiza isn’t Chinese like you, Chin," she said.
Rakiza was staring at the white lotus flower vase and the scarlet invitation card Nikolas had sent to her.
"Is it a coincidence that I dreamed about a lotus flower and then found one on my bed when I woke up?" Rakiza blurted it out absentmindedly.
All three girls turned to look at her, wondering what was wrong with her.
Muriel muttered, "Hello, we're in pandemonium here trying to find a dress for you, and you didn't even show a smidgeon of interest."
"You know, I don't have the talent for costumes and clothes, so put me on anything," Rakiza said with a smile.
Susan cried, "You should be wearing a gown."
Rakiza said, "I can wear that curtain," and pointed to the red satin curtain that hung on one side of their room's wall, adding, "Or I'll settle for the crimson dress you wrecked, Muriel."
Muriel's eyebrows raised, "And you wanted to look like a rag doll." She added, "You should get a new gown for that ball, Raki," Muriel said, emphasizing, "It's a ball; everyone was expected to wear a gown, not just a regular dress. We should stand out from the crowd tonight," Muriel pleaded. "I think we should rent a gown for you, Raki." She took her cell phone to call someone when they heard a knock on the door.
Ambrosia was standing at the door when Chin opened it. "This is for you, Raki." She was carrying a large box.
Rakiza, like the other girls, was taken aback. "Are you certain it's for me, Ambrosia?"
"The man in the limousine dropped it off for you, and said to be back at 7 p.m. tonight."
Muriel took the box and gently dismissed Ambrosia before placing it on Rakiza's bed. And they all gathered around the box.
Chin was ecstatic as she begged Rakiza to open the box, "Can I open that box for you, Raki?"
"No, Chin, it's not for you," Muriel said, and stepped back. "Raki, open it."
Rakiza moved to open the package. Everyone's eyes widened as they gazed at the content of the box.
"Rakiza, that's an expensive black gown," Muriel said.
"Can I fit it, Rakiza?" Susan asked with a smile.
"Why would you?" Muriel said flatly. "It doesn't fit your size, Susan."
Rakiza took the black gown into the bathroom.
"Why can't you change clothes in front of us?" Susan pouted. "Do you have marks on your body?"
Rakiza entered the restroom. "I just don't enjoy being seen naked."
After a few moments, Rakiza reappeared from inside the room, wearing the beaded black gown.
"Wow, it fits you great, Raki," Chin replied. "It emphasized your hourglass body."
"We can go on to our other concerns, her shoes," Susan added.
"Wow!" Chin cried as she lifted a pair of shoes from the box. "This is a lovely and expensive three-inch red shoe. Who would expect Rakiza to wear Louis Vuitton shoes? Can I try it on first? "
Muriel said, "That's not meant for you." Then she clapped her hands and said, "Okay Rakiza, put on your shoes."
Rakiza did, "I can't walk properly with these shoes. It's too lengthy for me. "
"No pain, no gain, that's what they said," Susan said.
"You still have time to practice Rakiza. Okay, walk like a princess girl. Consider yourself to be the real Cinderella. "
Rakiza spent almost an hour walking and ramping.
Time flies fast. It was already six o'clock in the evening. And the four females were in shambles as they prepared for the ball. Muriel was dressed in a silver ruffled silk turtleneck gown. Chin was dressed in a long-sleeved gown with lace at the back, imitating Susan's style. Susan looked stunning in her sleeveless blue straight-cut gown.
Rakiza, on the other hand, still struggled in her three-inch shoes. "What if I trip and fall in the center of the crowd?"
"If you do so, simply get up and smile the most beautiful grin you can generate," Muriel replied promptly.
"Just be positive. Think of not falling, and you’ll not fall," Chin suggested, laughing.
"Chin was correct; all you have to do now is look around for your prince charming, Nikolas Augustus," she said, quietly adding, "Oh, how I wish to have a prince charming as wealthy as he is."
"Well, I am ready," Rakiza announced.
"Oh no," all three females shouted as they turned to face her.
"We forgot to put some make-up on your face," Muriel cried, pulling Rakiza onto the chair. When they heard a knock on the door, Muriel started working on Rakiza's face.
Ambrosia was at the door saying, "Your lift is here."
"Just tell him to wait; I'm almost done with Rakiza's face."
They were on their way at exactly seven o'clock in the evening, and Rakiza was in the back of the driver's seat of the limousine. All three girls were ecstatic to be traveling in such an expensive car.
"You know what, this is my first ride in a limousine," Chin remarked.
"Me too," Susan admitted.
"Girls, listen," Muriel said.
"Yes, boss," Susan and Chin responded.
"This is a masquerade ball, and we have to act elegantly and mysteriously." Muriel said, "Here's your mask. Keep it ready. "
Rakiza remained quiet. She couldn't envision herself walking around a ballroom in three-inch heels. She was terrified of the shoes, and she kept looking down.
Muriel took notice and commented, "Why are you in such a solemn mood? This is your night; keep on smiling. "
Rakiza saw Chin's two-inch shoes and asked, "Chin, can we exchange shoes?"
"How would Nikolas feel if you refused to wear his gifts? That's a warm way of saying "thank you." Muriel announced.
Susan exclaimed, as she saw the outside street, "Wow, we're in the middle of the town."
Rakiza asked the chauffeur, "Where’s that A Tower, sir?"
The chauffeur smiled at Rakiza and said, "Look up ahead and you’ll see."
All four girls looked up and gasped at what they saw.
Rakiza whispered with surprise as she read the glowing light of the tallest modern building in town, "A tower."
All three girls exclaimed, "It's truly a tower."
Muriel couldn't believe what she was seeing. "A tower like the Augustus Tower?"
"Yes, Miss," the chauffeur respectfully said. "A stand for Augustus."
"Oh my God! Rakiza is a large fish! You just caught a big fish! How I wish it could be me! " Susan said.
Rakiza, too, was taken aback. She couldn't believe what was going on around her. It was too good to be true. And she was afraid.
"Cinderella was alive tonight, and it was you, Rakiza," Chin laughed.
"Girls, keep calm and be decent. We have to act like it's normal for us to walk in that kind of place. Don't be too noisy, Susan, "Muriel advised again.
"Yes, boss," Susan laughed.
The limousine stopped in front of the glowing ground floor. And the crowds of visitors in masks were flowing inside, and lined up as they went to be checked by the front door guard. Everybody was wearing a variety of masks. Some were medieval and some were modern masks. But there was a group of younger visitors wearing vampire costumes with fangs.
"I despise vampirism," Chin said in response to the group.
"Chin, would you respect other people?" Muriel said.
Chin dropped her voice. "OK, boss."
Rakiza was the last of the females to exit the car as the chauffeur opened the door for them. Rakiza's heart began to race as they merged with the mob and made their way to the ground floor. The structure was more of a glass wall with artificial lovely flowers as ornamentation that might be mistaken for real flowers.
As they waited in line, the gathering became thicker, and more people arrived. Rakiza was left behind with her companions. And then, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed hers.
When she turned to see who was holding her, she was even more surprised by what she saw. It was Theo, staring at her with ferocious eyes.
"Don't go inside," Theo stated emphatically.
Rakiza's blood began to boil as soon as she noticed Theo's face. And with his tightened grip on her, she became even more distraught and furious. "Who are you acting like my father?"
Theo didn't even detach a single strand. He just stared at her.
"Let go of my hand, Mr. Monsanto," she yelled and struggled to free her wrist from Theo’s grip. "What’s wrong with you?"
Then Muriel’s loud voice was calling out, "Rakiza, where are you?"
Slowly, Theo let go of Rakiza's hand, and he was swallowed by the swarm of excited visitors flowing in. Rakiza stood like a lost child in a crowd.
"What happened to you?" Muriel went back for her and grabbed her arms and led her to the entrance.
Rakiza could feel the urgency in Theo’s gaze. *He was worried. Worried about what?*