73 Main hall

A charity ball was held annually in the building of the National Gallery. An ancient building with columns and a wide entrance, today was lit and looked more like an old castle than a museum.

Lana was very nervous, going up the stairs, feeling thousands of stares on herself. Only Greg's strong arm around her waist was giving her much needed support, and the feeling of his closeness and calmness. With the second hand, he squeezed her pal and led, as if in dance.

Lana looked up. Greg's face was grave as if mineralized. It was so strange, with her he was completely different, smiling, angry, offended. His face always reflected some kind of emotion. Like this, she saw him only on the covers of a magazine or in a company from afar. It was like Greg wore a mask right now.

But as soon as she began to worry, the man immediately turned his head to her. His eyes quickly changed to the familiar warm, chocolate color, and a smile started to play in the corners of his eyes.

"How are you?" - He whispered in her ear, slightly leaning.

Lana shrugged, not knowing how to explain her feeling. But suddenly her attention was attracted by the wide entrance to the building. She looked around and frowned. Why this place seemed familiar to her? The eyes didn't catch onto something special, but the general feeling was as if she had been here before.

Seeing Lana stopping and looking around, Greg decided that she was still nervous.

"If you want, we won't stay for long. I just need to talk to one person. After that, we will immediately return home. "

At the last words of Greg, Lana's lips spontaneously spread into a smile. Home - Greg said it so naturally as if he didn't understand how much it meant to Lana.

At first, she resisted, but as soon as she entered this villa, her heart skipped a beat. It was so bright and cozy in there, the spacious hall, the living room in which you wanted to invite guests, and most importantly the kitchen, with which Lana immediately fell in love. Only a few weeks passed, and her life turned so abruptly that Lana constantly felt dizzy. Even today, waking up next to Greg in the master bedroom, she was afraid to move and even breathed softly for another half an hour so as not to frighten off this magnificent delusion.

"I'm fine," - she whispered to Greg and smiled to confirm that, - "I'm just not used to walk on the heels yet."

In confirmation of her words, Lana raised the hem of her dress, showing elegant silver sandals on a high stiletto.

"If you want, I can carry you," - Greg readily suggested, and sly sparkles appeared in his eyes. Lana laughed.

"You just want to grope me, stop hiding your motives behind your gentlemanly manners. I know you." - Lana scolded him and, not waiting for an answer, grabbed his hand, confidently moving forward.

" I would say that my intentions are clean for about 70 percent." - Greg spoke with a mock offense, following her.

"Let's talk when they become spotless." - Lana smiled. They had already entered the hall and climbed the central staircase to the main hall.

"Then you have to wait a very long time. I'm quite sure that even in 90 years, looking at you my head would overflow with dirty thoughts." - Greg whispered in her ear, almost touching it with his lips. Lana immediately flushed and was ready to respond with some kind of acuity, as Greg was called out by someone from the crowd.

" Mr. Wells ?!" - To their side, advanced a tall, middle-aged man as if a tank were pushing through the crowd with his aura. A steady, confident stride immediately betrayed the military man in him.

"General Leib." - Greg responded moderately respectfully to the man, nodding in greeting. At the same time attracting Lana close. - "Nice to see you again."

"Me too, me too. Last time, we split up on some strange note. I'm glad you came today. I am sure it was just a misunderstanding." - Right off the bat, the general began, looking intently in Greg's eyes. Gregory didn't even grimace, returning the general's gaze.

"Mr. Leib. I frankly expressed my opinion. And if you continue to respect it, I see no reason to return to this topic again." - Greg stated in a business tone. The general was silent for a moment, picking up words. Then his gaze went to Lana. In it flashed an unkind spark.

"It must be the girlfriend you mentioned before." - said Mr. Leyb with a strained smile, carefully examining the girl.

"That's right, this is my girlfriend - Ruslana Benne. Although don't strain yourself remembering the surname, it may change very soon, " - Greg said with pressure. The general frowned and wanted to say something as a girl in a long white dress jumped up behind him.

" Dad! I was looking for you everywhere." - She said, in a little breathless voice. At the same time, her chest puffed so that the spacious neckline was about to expose what it should not.

"Sweety, I was just talking to Mr. Wells, and I lost track of time."- Said the man with a grin.

"Oh!! Mr. Wells! You are here too?" - Angela turned around and with feigned surprise looked at Greg.

"Honey, I think we should go say hello to the Minister of Education and his wife." - Father tried to lead her away, apparently worrying about a possible conflict. But Angela wasn't considering leaving at that.

"Dad, wait! If you are doing this because of what happened last time, then Gregory and I have already figured out everything. Things happen, we are adults, and we won't start a fight because of some nonsense. Time will tell anyway". - She expressed with a sigh and a sad smile, patting her father's hand. The general shook his head and said nothing. And Angela, meanwhile, turned back to Greg and Lana. Carefully examining her opponent.

"A wonderful dress, Ruslana. Can I call you that? "- She said with the fakest smile, Lana ever saw.

"Thank you. Then if you don't mind, I will call you Angela." - Lana retorted, pinning her most charming smile on too. The other girl barely held out so as not to grimace. The situation was definitely tense, and Greg decided to enter into dialogue.

"Miss Leib, General Leib, we just got in with Lana. I hope you will not mind if we go say hello to other guests. We will definitely find you during the evening." - He said courteously and already wanted to move aside as the voice of the general stopped him.

"Gregory, wait! Angela is right. I am sure that this incident has been settled and I would like, as a sign of our reconciliation, to inform you of some information. If you do not mind? "

Greg quickly stifled a desire to raise his eyebrows in surprise. The general made an inviting gesture. Hinting that Greg should follow him, alone. Greg did not like this turn on events at all, but at that moment Lana pressed against his side, tugging at his sleeve to attract attention.

"Go," - she whispered in his ear,- "You know that I can handle it."

Greg stared into her eyes for a second to understand if she was telling the truth or just tried to be brave. Then he exhaled and kissed her on the cheek, followed the general, throwing over his shoulder.

"Don't go anywhere, I'll be back for you in fifteen minutes."

As soon as his back was out of sight in the crowd, Angela's fake smile turned into a twisted smirk.

"You are quite brave, as I see." - She sang as she turned to Lana. - "Coming here, all dressed up. Do you already think that you turned from an ugly duckling into a swan, don't you?"

Lana frowned, this girl definitely did not waste time on small talk. Well, that's even better.

"I don't quite understand, Miss Leib, what gives you the right to humiliate me in this way. Can you explain to me a reason for such a vulgar behavior?" - Lana responded with a cold tone with the emphasis looking at the girl who was pale from anger.

"Wow, what words do you know! Maybe you also graduated from some cheap college? Oh no, it's clearly stated in your resume that you hardly graduated from school with difficulty. By the way, I heard about your children, I suppose you had a huge belly on your graduation. Such a disgrace!" - Angela continued to splash poison all over. Her hiss grew louder with every word, so even people standing nearby began to pay attention to it. At the same time, Lana did not react at all to the insults, as if listening with interest to gossip about someone else, even the smile was still there. This infuriated Angela even more.

"You think since one man threw you away. You can now go and steal other men. Only here you miscalculated. Tried to bit a pease to hard to chew for such a simpleton."

Lana sighed, the whole situation began to bore her. Angela hasn't said anything interesting yet, so it was worthwhile to call it a day. Lana quickly took a step forward, approaching the dispersed girl at arm's length and spoke in a threatening whisper, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Now listen to me. I don't care about your wounded ego. Since you were so stupid that you overestimated your own capabilities and charisma, then do not blame others for this. I already warned you once. But you did not listen. And by the way, the question here is not at all how good I am for Greg, but that you are not good enough for him to even consider for the second date. Try next time choose a suitable pair." - Meaning every word, quietly said Lana. Angela started to shake, she opened her mouth to say something, but then clenching her teeth and splashed out a glass of red wine on Lana, which all this time was held in her hand. Lana calmly wiped a few drops on her face with her hand and shook her head.

"That proves it. Look at yourself. No manners at all."

Angela gritted her teeth and turned on her heels, walking away.

Lana looked at the spoiled dress with sadness. The spot spread across the front of the silver lace, irrevocably spoiling this beautiful creation. Mentally adding another fad to her plan for revenge, Lana went in search of a restroom.

One of the workers pointed out the restroom for the ladies on the second floor. It was only the beginning of the evening, so the majority of the people gathered in the main hall. On the stairs, Lana met almost no one. The restroom was a small, but very beautifully furnished room in a classic style.

Lana went to a wide mirror on the next wall and carefully looked at the whole scale of the tragedy. The lace could no longer be saved, but under it was a blue corset, perhaps the wine did not have time to soak into it. Focused on staring at her reflection, Lana did not notice how the lock in the door clicked. And only when a strange barely discernible chemical smell appeared in the room did Lana twitch and freeze.

Her wolf side told her about the presence of gas when the concentration was minimal. And of course, the door was locked. Knock the door or climb out the window? Lana didn't feel like making more noise. Besides, someone could watch the door and see a fragile girl kicking a two-meter-high oak door out, this person might have some suspicions...

So this only left a window. It seems the story was repeated. Well, at least today there is no blizzard outside, Lana thought jerking the shutters open. There was a downpour on the street.

" Heck! " - mumbled Lana climbing out.