Daisy came closer to the table and sat down. Emilio was already seated at the table and was eating. She didn't even acknowledge him before she dived into the food.
"How is the food?" Emilio asked, trying to start a conversation.
"It tastes great, just like freedom," she replied, slicing her meat.
"I'm glad. This was what you would have missed if you refused my offer," he said.
"I didn't refuse your offer. I was trying to know if you were bluffing."
"Really?"
"Yes, there is one thing I don't do again in my life," she began.
"What's that?"
"Trusting people."
Emilio looked at her, studying her. Her face might look the same, but gone was the innocence. She looked strong, raw, and untamed.
"Well, that makes us two. Don't you ever trust anybody, including yourself," he said.
Silence reigned as they continued eating. Emilio suddenly pushed his plate back and took out his phone.
"You're done eating?" Daisy asked, glancing at the food.
He nodded, and she didn't waste time grabbing the plate and eating from it. It wasn't long before she finished the food and then took a glass of cold water.
Emilio kept his phone down and looked at her. "Are you satisfied?"
Daisy nodded.
"Good. You will be escorting me to a party this evening."
"What kind of party?" she asked.
"You will see when we get there," was the reply she got.
"That's great, but I have no clothes. I just came back from prison, remember?"
Emilio felt his mouth twitch, but he hid it immediately. "That has been sorted, so don't worry," he assured.
"The maids will help you prepare," he added.
"Okay, sounds great."
They both then stood up and left the dining room. A maid escorted Daisy back to her room while Emilio went back to his. Daisy got to her room, and the maid took her to the bathroom where a bath was already waiting for her.
The fragrances added to the water filled the bathroom. Daisy closed her eyes and took a deep breath of it. This was on the list of things she wanted to do when she came out of prison.
When she reopened her eyes, she saw that the maid was still standing there.
"What? Do you want to bathe with me?"
The maid flushed, her eyes darting everywhere but at Daisy.
"No, ma. I'm just here to help you bathe," she replied.
"Look at me," Daisy ordered with a calm voice.
The maid looked up at her and subconsciously took a step back. Daisy was staring at her like she had personally offended her.
"Leave. I will call for you if I need help," she said to her.
"Of course, ma. I will just be in the room," she replied and left the bathroom.
Now alone, Daisy undressed and went into the tub.
"Ahhhh," she groaned as she dipped into the water.
It was warm, relaxing, and nice altogether, which was what Daisy wanted. She reached for the scrub at the edge of the tub and began to scrub herself.
Daisy didn't realise she had stayed in the tub for so long before a knock sounded on the bathroom door.
"What!" she yelled.
"Ma, please, it's time for you to come out. The party is about to begin," the maid called out.
"Fuck!" Daisy cursed. She had totally forgotten about the damn party.
She got out of the tub and went into the shower to rinse her body. After that, she wrapped herself with a towel and came out.
When she came out, she saw two other people in her room, but they were dressed like maids.
"And who are you?" she asked them.
"We were asked to get you ready for the party," they chorused.
Daisy nodded and allowed them to guide her toward the bed, where they helped her wear her gown. Next, they began to do her makeup. After a few minutes, they were done, and Daisy looked at herself in the mirror.
Her mouth formed an "O" shape as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She couldn't even recognize herself anymore. The sky-blue gown she was wearing hugged her curves in the right way.
Curves she didn't know she had, and the heavy makeup made her face look very mature and powerful.
"I look good," she muttered, still studying herself in the mirror.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. One of the maids opened it, and one of Emilio's bodyguards came into the room.
"Boss is already waiting," he announced.
"Lead the way," Daisy said as she followed him out of the room.
They got downstairs and headed outside. A car was sitting a few feet from the entrance door.
"Boss is already inside. You can go in," the bodyguard informed her as they walked to the car.
"Noted."
Daisy got to the car, opened the back door, and entered. Emilio was already seated there, his laptop open on his lap. He cast her a quick glance before going back to his laptop.
The car drove away, and Daisy busied herself by watching the scenery as they drove by. Soon, she got tired of that and closed her eyes.
A few minutes later, she felt someone touch her lightly on the shoulder.
She opened her eyes and saw Emilio staring at her.
"What?" she asked.
"We're here," he announced.
"Oh."
They got out of the car and walked towards the entrance door of the party.
The moment the big double doors opened, sound and light hit Daisy like a wave.
The whole place glowed gold, not too bright, not too dull.
Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, throwing tiny rainbows across black marble floors that were so polished Daisy could see her reflection in them.
Everyone looked expensive. Women in silk, diamonds at their throats, men in tuxedos with watches that could buy a car. But their eyes... their eyes were scanning, counting money, counting enemies, assessing weakness.
Bodyguards stood along the walls, arms crossed, earpieces in. They didn't drink.
And at the far end, on a raised platform, was a private section with velvet ropes. Two guards stood there.
That's where Emilio was heading.
He didn't look at Daisy as they walked in. He just put a hand lightly on the small of her back, guiding her. As they walked forward, he owned the air in the room.
People stared and whispered.
Daisy kept her chin up. The sky-blue gown caught the light with every step.
She didn't belong here two weeks ago.
Tonight, she looked like she was born for it, and she looked so good in it.
The chairs in the room were arranged in a crescent form. If Daisy thought that the people outside looked expensive, the people in here looked beyond that.
Emilio led her to the right side of the arrangement, and they settled down.
A waiter came to them immediately, offering wine. They took it and began to sip.
"What are we doing here?" Daisy asked.
"Meeting new people. Smile, Daze. People are looking," Emilio whispered.
Daisy scanned the room. He was right. People were looking. Some were staring blatantly, while others stole glances at them.
"And why do I need to smile?"
Emilio chuckled lightly. "Fine, just do whatever you want," he said.
Soon everyone in the room started to get up and move out until it was only the two of them.
"Aren't we moving out?" she asked.
"We will, just for a second," Emilio replied.
Just then, a man came into the room and went to Emilio. He leaned down and whispered in his ear. After that, he straightened up and left.
Emilio stood up. "Shall we?"
He held his arm out. Daisy stood up, linked her arm with his, and they walked out of the room.
Many people had come to the center of the room and were dancing to slow, boring music that could knock a horse out.
Emilio led Daisy to the food table, where a lot of food was displayed.
"Help yourself to some food. I'll be right back," he said.
"No worries, just take all the time you need," Daisy replied, her eyes feasting on the food.
Emilio walked away, and Daisy got a plate immediately. She started to dish out some food onto the plate.
Afterwards, she turned and bumped into someone. The plate fell to the floor, while some food got stuck on her gown.
She looked up, planning on snapping at the person for not looking.
The words died in her mouth as she stared at a familiar face she never wanted to see in her life.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, ma. Please allow me to help you," the lady apologized, attempting to wipe her dress for her.
Daisy raised her hand, stopping her. "It's fine," she muttered.
"Please forgive my daughter. She might be clumsy sometimes, but she is quite smart," a woman said as she came and stood beside the other lady.
Daisy clenched her fist and cursed. She wanted to give those two women a brain-resetting slap that they would never forget in this lifetime and the next.
It's funny that they didn't recognize her.