~ Tiffany ~

My hands lazily reached for the alarm clock as it blared loudly, momentarily disturbing my sleep, I turned it off, went ahead to bury myself under the covers again. It's supposed to be a free day for me, since I spent the last five days of the week in the hospital, attending to patients. Whatever Mr. Christain had done to tame the doctor after my complain was still unsure to me but one thing was certain, it worked.

My eyelids fluttered closed and I started to drift off to sleep. A cuss word escaped my mouth when another buzz from my phone deprived me, yet again. As I reached for the phone, I quietly hoped it's not from the hospital. I don't think I can get my ass worked up today again.

Without confirming the caller ID, I answered and spoke into the phone.

'Tiffany Palmer. How can I help you?'

'Good Morning, Miss. I'm Roger. The chairman has asked to inform you about his birthday party, taking place at the resort today. He said it'd be of great honor if you acknowledge it'.

I lifted myself into a sitting position. 'The chairman is specially inviting me for his birthday party?'

'Yes ma'am. A car will be outside to pick you to the venue once it's time.'

'I'll be waiting' I said into the phone. Following few more dialogues, the call came to an end.

'He should be present at the party. Right?' I asked myself, fondling the tip of my hair coyly, a shy smile making it's way to my lips.

'Oh no, Tiffany. Don't tell me you're in love with the chairman's son....' my subconscious mind yelped

'Wanting him to be present at the party doesn't mean I'm in love with him, I only want to use that medium to thank him for having talked to the doctor for me...' I whispered like there was someone eavesdropping on our conversation.

'What if something comes up and he doesn't make it?' my subconscious mind responded.

'It doesn't matter, I'm going there to have fun. Not for him' I shrugged my shoulders, contradicting my previous statement.

'We both know that's a lieee' it mentioned one last time before going silent.

I found it hard to go back to sleep, instead, my mind was preoccupied with what to wear to the party. I searched through my wardrobe, seeking the perfect dress for the occasion. 

"This is too short, it will have me looking like I am there to get the men's attention" I said and threw the cloth south

I brought out a black cape gown, long to the angles and slit to the knee. This was the fifth dress and none is yet to get my attention. I picked out another dress, dropped it almost immediately as it was too colorful.

Not too long after, I found one. A purple dress I was gifted by my dad last year on my birthday. I moved close to the mirror, placed the dress on my self and a satisfactory smile curled up my lips. 'This will do just fine'

******

The birthday party was held in a resort Christian Forbes recently bought. 

There were dark-colored balloons hanging midair from various angles of the hall, a huge banner bearing the Chairman's ever-smiling face, centerpieces, confetti, and wall decorations/cutouts. You didn't have to be told, it was going to be star-studded. A slow, country side music probably sang in the 90s. Soon enough, more guests started to come in and the place was filled with guests. They all seemed expensive, smelled expensive that I almost felt intimidated.

The sudden eruption of the birthday song coming from guests was enough hint to prove that the Chairman already surfaced. A smile lit up my face and I turned towards the door to see him, simultaneously joining in on the song.

He had come in alone, making me wonder where his son and wife were.

With encouraging cheers and claps, the Chairman thanked all the guests that were able to make it to his birthday party and made it known he wasn't expecting a turnout like this. I made a little snarl at his words, inwardly. He was a wealthy, renowned business man. Who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to attend his party. 

My breath hitched momentarily when he passed by me but didn't notice me. However, a strange lady from no where clung to his side, engaging him in a convo.

"I wonder what she wants with the chairman" 

The lady beside me said, she had ginger hair that fall in waves over her shoulders.

"I doubt that for the chairman is rarely seen around women and laughing like that, He must like her" 

She continued.

I kept mute, making sure not to interfere. I wasn't concerned with the Chairman, I was curious to see his son, Christain, who as well, was nowhere to be found. I guess that's what happens when you're to host the party. 

"Who is she anyways?" 

A lady I shared the table with asked the one from earlier.

"Who?" The ginger haired lady asked.

"The one with Chairman Forbes?" 

"Oh, if it isn't that gold digger, Lauren Palmer. She is Christain's ex. Chairman Forbes lost son." She answered.

I suddenly got interested in the conversation, my eyes roaming around the crowd to find a trace of the lady and chairman.

"What is she doing here?" I asked 

"One can only wonder, probably she has gone broke. I heard she cheated on Christian with his former boss"

"Such a terrible thing to do" 

Another lady had chipped in 

"And how quickly karma had to pay her. Hopefully, the chairman is just playing along" 

Another had said. 

'She prolly doesn't want the chairman's son back. Right?' I asked, scared that I've got a rival.

'Even if she wants him back, he should never agree to that. He's got so much more dignity that'.

"Ladies and gentlemen' the chairman proceeded forward, the girl from earlier no where to be seen now. The guests had all their attention on him, everyone waiting for the Chairman's speech. 

' allow me to introduce my long-lost son, Christian Forbes' he spilled.

Almost immediately, a relief breath escaped my lips. Finally. I get to see him.

There were murmurs, indistinct chatters and the atmosphere got tense. Everyone was waiting for the moment he would step in.

To their complete disappointment, the least unexpected person showed up rather than Christain.