Smiling as she turns around to face Sophia. "By getting a ticket, and then by looking the part. They won't let you in no matter who you are if you don't look good."
"The ticket, how do I get it?"
Smiling more. "My brother can help you secure one, but it will cost you."
"How much?" Sophia asks.
"Five thousand Euros."
"What!" Sophia exclaims. "That is expensive! How am I supposed to -
"Then forget it, Chica. Many can't secure a ticket even with their money in hand. So if you don't want-
"Can I get a discount?" Sophia asks.
"No Chica. No discount."
Sighing, "Fine. I'll make a transfer to you. How do I get the ticket and every other information about the ball I'll need?"
Smiling. "My brother will be here in an hour with everything you need, Chica."
~
Callum sat, staring at the invitation on his table. A mask ball! Two weeks ago, it was the last thing on his mind, but today, it was looking like his only option. He has just three days left to fulfill the clause added by the broker or lose a fine deal worth half the continent.
When he had accepted the clause two weeks ago, he was sure he would find a way around it, but now, every idea he had thought of, was failing. Yes, he's never been the type to allow himself the emotional stress of being in a relationship, but he was no saint, he has had women whom he has spent time with, some a week, some just a day, none ever lasting beyond a month. His grand idea when he had accepted that clause, was to find one of them and offer them the good grace of being his wife by title and name alone, for a year, just until the contract was over. It was an honor he was sure they would all jump at, but when he began to reach out to them, none of them was available.
Something felt off, like they knew exactly why he was reaching out to them, like they knew he was desperate. No, the fact that they all turned him down, even Jane who just a month ago had threatened to kill herself if he didn't get back with her, the fact that even Jane had said no to his offer of a contract marriage, means someone was working against him. A rival? The broker? The broker did look like someone who didn't want him to get the deal. Or perhaps, he had someone else he'd rather give the deal to.
But no. He was not a man known for giving up. He has never lost a deal, he won't lose one now, except he is not Callum Kennington. Their all turning him down didn't mean he wouldn't find a million others who will. After all, he was even willing to stake some billions out there as an extra price for accepting his offer. Callum picks up the invitation in front of him. The Mask ball. The most talked about event of the year in the city of Barcelona. Fine, a new plan was up.
He will go to the ball, and then he will find some lady, one no one knows, and one who will be the perfect chess piece on his board. No, not just any piece this time, one who will become the queen on the board, the most important piece. Now, he didn't just want to find any girl even though the ball would be filled with hundreds of them, every one of them with an agenda of her own, no. He needs to find the one who will be good enough for all he has in mind. For all the plans he has in mind. It will be straight to the point. Arrive at the ball, search around and find his masterpiece.
Callum gets up, the invitation still in his hand. He takes out his phone and dials his chauffeur's number. "Max, we'll be heading for a mask ball in an hour's time. Be ready." He says ending the call just as he walks away to go get ready himself.
He has an important duty tonight, one that gets to decide if he bags a deal worth half the continent or not. One that will get to decide many other deals he has in mind. And tonight, he wasn't just looking for any woman, he was looking for a masterpiece.
*
Sophia sat in front of the mirror in her room, staring at herself. The lady's brother had arrived an hour later just as his sister had promised, with a ticket and every information she needed. He will also be arriving in an hour time to pick her up as her chauffeur. Apparently, the money she had paid covered that much. Now all that was left was getting herself dressed and ready for the ball.
Sophia sighs just as she picks up a face brush. Getting herself ready for a ball was not a problem at all, it never could be, not when she has spent her entire life attending balls and parties, both as a Richmond heiress and as a great actress. She may have had Mira who use to attend to her every need, but that didn't mean she could not get herself ready for a ball. She could, and in an excellent way too.
Tonight, she needed to be even more thorough and excellent at it. She was not just attending a ball, she was going there to find anyone who was careless enough to want an escort for a fee, or who would be willing to spare some few euros her way. No, she was not granting sexual favors no matter how easily that would help her acquire the money, hopefully, she will not have to till the ball was over.
Carefully, Sophia begins to prepare herself for the ball. Her dress had already been chosen by her and was right now being sprawled on her bed, waiting for her to put them on. It was a simple yet classy Victoria D'Carl dress, worth quite some fortune, one she had kept for her next event as an actress before everything had gone to ruins. For some reason, she had been unable to hand it over to the lady earlier that day along with the rest, and the moment she had picked it out as her dress for the night, she understood why she had been unable to.
Just as she glanced at herself in the mirror after she was done and ready for the ball, she heard a car horn outside her house. Her chauffeur was here. Glancing one more time in the mirror and ensuring she was okay with the look she had, Sophia picks up her mask and puts in on, tying the rope just behind her head.
Ton
ight, she was going with the rich heiress look.