Chapter 317: By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

The group heard a female voice.

"Coming through, coming through…" it said. "Bridesmaid but never the bride for two gorgeous brides is here."

Looking like a literal flower, Rose sauntered towards the two couples. She had her ash brown hair up in a bun. The rouge pink dress she wore hugged her figure and made her seem taller. The tiny sequins sparkled under the lights.

"Rose!" Andie greeted first. She leaped for her friend but Jarrett grabbed her arm. 

"Papa bear is right, baby momma." Rose giggled, giving Andie a hug. "Don't exert yourself over unnecessary things. We'll come to you, okay?"

"But I didn't want you to think I wasn't happy to see you after so long," Andie explained with a sniffle. "Unlike someone who visited town and forgot to contact you."

"Hey!" Eve pouted. She crossed her arms over her chest and said, "We had gone over that already. And why am I being excluded on purpose?"

"Oh, fine. Come here." Rose giggled, raising her arm to let Eve join the hug. The latter beamed and tackled both ladies. 

It had been so long since they had been together in one place. It almost felt like the years between now and their high school days never happened. Their teenage selves would have been over the moon to know that they had managed to stay friends for this long.

Adulthood had given them a lot of obstacles. Their once joint roads split in different directions. The plan was for Rose and Eve to pursue ballet but, at some point, that was no longer an option for Eve. 

Andie's family had decided to move to Maize City right before college. She would have gone with them even if Eve didn't attend university there. The apartment she had now would have been occupied with a different roommate. 

"So…" Andie wiggled her eyebrows at Rose. "I heard you caught the attention of some famous celebrity, a stubborn one who wouldn't reply to messages from strangers but responded to you."

Rose scoffed at her obvious interest for some gossip. "Oh, please. It's nothing like that."

"Not another blossoming romance through messaging? Such a shame." Andie sighed. "That could have been a sequel to the upcoming movie—"

Eve scowled at the floor. Then, she flickered her gaze towards Rose. "Does he know what you look like?"

"Nope," Rose pressed her lips together while shaking her head. A server passed by with fruit snacks. She reached for a handful of grapes. "He doesn't know my name either in case you are wondering."

"Why not?" 

"Because, to him, my name is Nosy Parker."

Ambryan turned his head to one side. "Oh, hello, Mikael. I didn't know you were invited."

"Luna insisted that we attend," Mikael explained, gesturing to himself and Jordan. "Personally, I think she's afraid Jordan would take me to a club and that he'd pass out."

"I'm not that lightweight!"

Rose stiffened on her spot. Her girl friends checked behind her and spotted Mikael David. He had chosen copper for his checkered suit. The silk lapels easily stood out. His brown hair and blonde highlights were gelled backwards, shaping a small hump on the front of his head.

Andie and Eve shifted their attention back on Rose. Their friend hinted at zero intentions of introducing herself to the newcomers. The three of them awkwardly stayed in their positions, unsure of what they wanted to do next.

"Hello, Eve," Mikael greeted when they made eye contact. He frowned at her hands that held Rose's right one. Then, he looked at Andie who did the same thing but on the left. He could get back at his best friend later.

"Hey, Mikael," Eve answered back. Her lips slowly stretched into a smirk. "How is that bet going for you? Have you met your mysterious stranger. Is she here?"

Jordan hollered and grabbed Mikael's shoulder. The latter already wore a bored expression but chose to stay out of politeness.

"You'd never guess what I found out," Jordan started to say. "They were on a call while Mikael took his break for a shoot. On. A. Call. That is rare for him to do. And to think he refused to chat with her in the first place."

"Huh…" Eve fluttered her eyes for a bit and stared at Mikael. "Would you say that you can recognize her just by the sound of her voice?"

"I could," Mikael said, thinking about it more. "It could be possible. Phones sort of distort a person's voice but it's not totally unrecognizable."

"Too bad she couldn't make it," Andie butted in. Then, she grabbed both of Rose's shoulders and forced her friend to turn around. "Have you met Rose? Like you, she's also dateless tonight."

Rose saw Mikael for the first time. The photos and videos of him she'd seen did little to prepare her for this moment. Unlike Ambryan—who was also famous—Mikael had a glow that drew people in. His radiant blue eyes looked like two prisms as dazzling as jewels.

He was even prettier than her.

"Why, hello, Rose," Jordan spoke first, offering his hand for her to shake. "Are you a friend of the ladies?"

"Hm?" Rose blinked out of her daze. She accepted the hand gesture, softening her voice and raising it by an octave. "Yes, I'm a friend of Andie and Eve. We all attended the same high school."

"Sounds like Mikael and I. Except, we also attended the same college. And primary school... and now, we're working together…"

She looked at the two of them. "Are you two a couple?"

"Absolutely not," Mikael shut down. Frown lines creased between his brows. He had nothing against other genders but he preferred not to be misunderstood as something he is not.

"It's okay. There's no need to hide it."

"There is nothing to hide," he voice deepened into a hiss.

Jordan jumped in before things could escalate. He looked up and down at Rose, admiring her elegant posture. "I don't swing that way, lady. I can swing in your direction though."

Mikael dragged him by the collar. "Excuse us. I'll be taking this away."

Rose tapped her fingers over her lips. "Sounds like someone is jealous~"

A blonde head stopped abruptly. 

Then, it spun around to confront her. Jordan blocked his path while Rose giggled at the entire scene. Her initial nerves had evaporated. Teasing Mikael face to face turned out to be more amusing than she thought.

She waved a hand as Jordan pulled Mikael back into the crowd.

"It was lovely to meet you, Mikael." She beamed until he and Jordan disappeared from sight. Sighing in satisfaction, she glanced over at her girls. "That went well, don't you think?"

Eve simply shook her head. She had moved back to Ambryan's side and had wrapped her arm around his waist. A server refilled her glass of champagne. "At least, I know Mikael will figure out that you're the girl he's texting in no time."

Ambryan hid an eye roll.

"Gee, I hope not," Rose reacted. "I have a feeling he'd block me and that would ruin all the fun."

"What exactly are you planning to do?" Andie demanded. "Like what is your goal from this?"

"Meet hot guys."

"And now you've met one."

"Since when is one enough? Hot model friend means he knows more hot models."

Rose clamped her mouth shut,remembering the significant others of her friends. She showed them a sheepish smile and inched away from the group. "That said, the night is still young and there are plenty of fishes. I'll catch you all later."

She sped off before they could say anything back. 

"My, my, my… I see familiar faces." A head of albino hair appeared almost as soon as Rose left. Luminous green eyes crinkled with joy as they took in everyone. "It's like Cornelia Town had taken over Maize City!"

"Madison," Ambryan said. "I presume you're done with the end-of-year reports?"

"I know you're a workaholic, Yan, but this is a party. It is a holiday. Work could wait."

Ambryan ignored him and peeked over his shoulder. "Are they done, Riffle?"

"Yes, Mr. Hathaway," Riffle affirmed with a boy of his head. Then, he noticed Eve smiling at him. "Um, and greetings, Ms. Reed. I mean, Mrs. Hathaway. Wait, no. I mean—"

Madison smacked him at the back of his head. "Easy there, boy. It's just Eve. You've met her plenty of times."

"E-Eve?"

"Ah, right…" Eve gasped softly. She stepped forward and clapped her hands together in front of Riffle. Holding them in place, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Riffle. I wanted to try out modelling and created a stage persona. I didn't expect that I'd one day be in this position."

"Eve?" Riffle blinked. He leaned forward when she looked up. "Is it really you?"

"Of course, it's me." She chuckled. "Who else would be this nice to you?"

"W-Wow…" he breathed out. "I've never seen you more beautiful."

"She's taken." Ambryan yanked Eve backwards and trapped her in his embrace.

"O-Of course, Mr. Hathaway!" Riffle exclaimed. His body shook under intense violet eyes. "I never had such intentions. It only makes sense that someone as dashing and as handsome as you would have an equally beautiful and extremely capable woman by your side."

Madison placed his hand on his secretary's shoulder. "Nice save, kid."

"It's good to see you, Madison," Andie interrupted. "Still single?"

"My heart isn't that easily swayed, dear," he sighed dramatically. "It has a peculiar taste—one that can only be satisfied once in a blue moon and my blue moon has passed. But it is wonderful to see all this love in the air on this special occasion."

Riffle leaned towards Eve. "Here I thought it's because his baby face intimidates women."

"I heard that."

Eve snorted and answered back, bluntly ignoring Madison's presence. "I think that's what mother said when he tried courting her back in the day. They were both in high school and Madison looked like an elementary student."