Chapter 38
The Christmas Ball
It was when the Trémaux family hosted their Christmas ball; the ball was a charity event that socialites attended to donate gifts and money to the needy. A portly man delivered the invitation to the Donatis. Demetrio looked at it and drew a breath. He knew he would have to attend. This meant buying Radinka yet another astronomically priced gaudy dress. This meant pleading with Blair to leave the house and attend this social event. Demetrio did not want to attend; he wished he could send one of his maids up with a check and the gifts he had purchased for children in need.
He sucked in some air and stood in front of Blair’s bedroom door. He was saving Radinka for last. Blair let him in and Demetrio told him about The Trémaux Christmas Party. Blair lowered his head and reluctantly agreed he would come but was coming to support Ashley. Demetrio breathed out a sigh of relief and braced himself for Radinka.
He stood in front of her suite and knocked on it. He heard her tell him to come in from the other side and he did so. He told her about the event. She sprang from her seat and glared at him with fire in her eyes.
Radinka: “Demetrio, why you not tell me this until now?! Do you know I need a dress?!”
She cried. Demetrio sighed.
Demetrio: “I knew this would come…”
He muttered. Radinka spun on her heels so fast that she lost her balance and fell on her bony ass.
Radinka: “Look what you made me do!”
She shrieked. Demetrio’s look of defeat remained intact. Radinka angrily scrambled to her feet.
Radinka: “I need stylists to come to style my hair, dress me, do my nails, and my make-up! Demetrio, I am glamorous woman! I am not fat woman who come here!”
She bellowed.
~
Demetrio dragged his feet out of her bedroom. He met Sylvia in the corridor standing by her bedroom door. He jumped a bit when he saw her and placed his hand over his chest. He let out a sigh of relief.
Demetrio: “…How long were you standing there?”
He asked her. Sylvia waved her hand dismissively.
Sylvia: “Long enough, Demetrio. Don’t fret; I’m quite used to Radinka reminding the world that I am fat.”
She said dryly. Demetrio had a look of defeat on him again. Sylvia shook her head.
Sylvia: “Demetrio, it doesn’t bother me. I know what I am and I accept it. It’s a shame she cannot.”
Demetrio gave her a half-smile.
~
Percy was sitting at the bar in Dynamite Kitties looking at the newspaper's front page with a picture of Seymour Donovan II and his son, Seymour Donovan III. Both are Irish redheaded men; Seymour Sr. is a stocky elderly man with graying on his muttonchops. Seymour Sr. is the owner of the Pink Flamingo Mall as well as the CEO of the Bank of Palm Tree State as well as the founder of several charities throughout the nation. His son, on the other hand, is not so charitable. He only plays the part so his father will not cut him off his allowance and will continue to buy mail-order, Asian brides, for him. The article was about them donating thousands of dollars to charities and paying for lunches for children in schools across the state.
Cleaning the bar counter was a tall, athletic Asian woman with fluffy, feathered black hair in a ponytail and wore her Dynamite Kitties bartender uniform consisting of a white pleated front tuxedo shirt, black waistcoat, black bowtie, black pencil skirt, and black flats. She has a long face with a pointed chin and large black eyes. She was Natsumi Nishimura, one of the bartenders at Dynamite Kitties, and—in Percy’s humble opinion—makes the best cosmopolitans.
Percy clicked his tongue and sniggered. Natsumi glanced at the photograph in the newspaper and scrunched her nose in disgust.
Natsumi: “Like, I know that dude and shit. He, like, comes here to get some Asian girls and he’s a total pill to everyone who, like, isn’t a ‘hot’ Asian.”
Percy chuckled as he sipped his cosmopolitan.
He raised his glass indicating he wanted another. Natsumi took his glass, got a clean glass, and started to make another.
Percy turned the page. He paused. His ruby eyes grew large, and his jaw dropped. He saw an advertisement for the Trémaux Law Office. There was a picture of Tristrean dressed in a waistcoat, tie, pressed shirt, and dress pants. Half of his body was showing. He smiled and folded his arms across his chest.
Percy remembered witnessing his beauty when he rescued him that night in that haunted house Dr. Nim Rod or “Dr. Beartickles” set up. He tenderly traced his thumb over Tristan’s picture. He shifted his eyes to the article adjacent to the ad. It was about the Trémaux family ball. Percy folded the paper and slid his ass off the barstool. He slipped on his shades.
Percy: “Well, my darling, I best be off. I have to make gallant efforts to prepare for tonight.”
Natsumi raised the glass of cosmopolitan she made.
Natsumi: “Uhhh, what about your drink, dude?”
Percy slid a twenty-dollar banknote on the counter.
Percy: “Give it to a patron of your choosing, my darling. I best be off. Merry Christmas, love.”
He nodded and sauntered out of the bar.
~
Jaclyn was at the salon getting a manicure, and pedicure, and her hair dyed and styled. She sat in a styling chair with her head in the hood dryer. The girls doing her feet were dressed in hazmat suits. She smirked and knew men’s jaws would drop at the sight of her but especially Tristan’s. Goodbye to the green cow, she thought with a smirk.
~
It was the night of the ball. Tristan, Deimos, Ivy, Victor, and Celeste were in the family limousine on the way to the gala.
Tristan wore a black three-piece suit with gold buttons, a gold pocket square, a royal purple pressed shirt, a dark purple silk tie, and black wingtip Oxfords.
Deimos wore a black single-breasted sports coat, a purple leopard print shirt with a few buttons undone to expose his platinum chain, black pants, and black loafers.
Celeste wore a black strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline. Over her neck, she had a platinum necklace with a heart pendant. On her hands, she had black opera gloves with a rhinestone bracelet on her right wrist. She wore black pumps with an ankle strap on her feet and fishnet pantyhose. She had a black hairband in her hair and teardrop earrings.
Victor wore a tan double-breasted suit with wide lapels, bell bottoms, a dark brown turtleneck sweater, and brown platform shoes.
Ivy wore a dark green sequin gown with an asymmetrical neck and an attached choker with a slit going up the left, silver strappy sandals, and peacock earrings.
The limousine stopped; it arrived at a sprawling pale yellow building with white columns. Multicolored lights edged the roof, the porch, and the balcony. Every door had a red-and-green wreath and every window had flickering multicolored lights and fake snow. The chauffeur stepped out and opened the door. Celeste jumped out ahead of them. Deimos stepped out and held his hand out to Tristan, who smiled and took it as he stepped out. Victor climbed out and held his hand out to Ivy. She stepped out and they interlocked their arms.
The host knew them and let them in. It was a large, sprawling ballroom with gold floors, pale yellow walls, and red tapestries framing the windows. In the center of the ballroom was a thirty-foot Christmas tree adorned with gold ornaments, clear lights, a gold garland, and a bright gold star on the top. Several envelopes containing checks made out to the gift drive were on the tree.
Shiny red, gold, and green streamers hung from the ceiling, and wreaths hung from the wall. Plenty of food was catered from some of Pink Top City's best restaurants, and there was a full bar. Neighboring the ballroom was a small room containing the gifts and food people were donating.
Lazaros stood by the buffet dressed in a white chef’s coat, white gloves, a white apron, black pants, and black shoes. His hair was tied back in a ponytail. Ashley wore a white chef’s coat with a red paisley ascot, white apron, red pants, black shoes, and a white toque on their head.
Gustave wore a Santa suit. He had a handbell in his right hand that he rang occasionally. Gustave was always the family’s Santa Claus and this year was no exception.
There were servers dressed in black waistcoats, black pants or skirts, white shirts with puffy sleeves, black ties, and black shoes. They went around the tables with trays of champagne and would bring food from the buffet to your table.
Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, Victor, and Ivy went to a table. Celeste took her coat off, draped it over the chair, and sat down. Deimos pulled out a chair for Tristan and Victor pulled one out for Ivy. They sat down and Deimos and Victor joined them. A server handed them a tray consisting of egg rolls, spring rolls, popcorn chicken, sausage rolls, and flutes of champagne. Another server came with some mendiants and chocolate truffles. Tristan’s eyes lit up at the confectionary.
Victor patted Tristan’s arm and smiled when a server brought him a bûche de Noël. It was a cake that resembled a log. It had chocolate icing, with miniature sculptures of Oliver and Francis with Santa. Tristan’s eyes lit up.
Victor: “I had Ashley make this bûche de Noël for you! They asked what it was and I told them!”
Deimos smiled at the cake and drank in Tristan’s ecstatic expression.
Victor: “It means ‘Yule Log’ in English. It was kind of a thing I did for my boy for Christmas.”
He smiled at Tristan, who took the miniatures off the cake.
Victor: “Do you remember when you were a little boy and I couldn’t find a cat cake at any bakery? All they had were rabbit cakes. So I bought it and you pushed down the ears and made it into a cat.”
He smiled at his son and Tristan nodded. Deimos kissed Tristan’s hand. Tristan gazed at him with a half-lidded stare. Deimos was glad to see his gentlemanly love have his father’s support. A part of him envied him because his parents fixated on his dead sister instead of their living sons. Ivy smiled sweetly at their father-son bond and read Deimos’ thoughts. An absent and neglectful father was something they both shared in common and Victor was nothing like their fathers. She looked at Victor and thought of how he would make a wonderful father to their children someday.
~
Demetrio, Radinka, Vanessa, and Blair were in the limousine on their way to the Trémaux Christmas Ball.
Demetrio wore a dark gray Italian-cut suit, blue tie, and black round-toe shoes. Radinka wore a body-hugging red sleeveless floor-length evening gown with a flared hem, matching opera gloves, and a billowing white scarf.
Blair wore a black American-cut suit, pressed royal blue shirt, satin dark blue tie, and black polished shoes.
Vanessa wore a pink tube gown with rhinestone trims and a mesh midsection. She was also wearing a diamond choker, pink high-heeled sandals with rhinestones, and pink triangle earrings.
When the limousine stopped, the chauffeur stepped out and opened the door for them. Demetrio and Radinka went ahead of Blair and Vanessa, who soon followed.
Demetrio presented their invitations. The host told them to go into the ballroom. He nodded to Vanessa to place the envelope donation on the tree. She rose and put “To: Cats Recover Fr: The Donati Family.”
Celeste glared at Blair and wondered why he was there. She had to get out of there and away from him. She rose from her seat and left the table. Tristan watched her go. Uncanny of her to leave all this food, he thought. He flicked his gaze to the Donatis and nodded. That explains it, he thought.
~
Celeste walked out onto the balcony by herself. A waiter walking by offered her a flute of champagne, which she accepted. She stepped toward the railing and leaned on it gazing at the stars. She saw someone in the corner of her eye. She swung her eyes over to a slender pale-skinned raven-haired man with almond eyes, pronounced cheekbones, and a hooknose. He was dressed in an Italian-cut dark gray suit, a pressed white shirt, a red tie, and patent black shoes. He is Daniel Lancaster—a defense attorney and Tristan’s former co-worker.
Daniel Lancaster is 38-years-old and the best—and most ruthless—defense attorney in the state. He owns Lancaster & Co. Law Firm; he never lost a trial in his life and only the very rich hire him to defend them in court.
He took a sip of his scotch on the rocks and glanced at Celeste.
Daniel: “Wonderful party, is it not?”
He asked her. She was not sure if he was being facetious or not, it was hard to tell. She felt a twinge of agitation around him and could not understand why. She shrugged dismissively.
Celeste: “I dunno, I was forced to come. I like my friends but not my friend’s future whiny step-mommy. And I didn’t want to be around the ungrateful idiot.”
Daniel smiled widely.
Daniel: “A kindred spirit, I see.”
Celeste bowed her head.
Celeste: “Yeah…”
She muttered. Daniel studied her. His eyes narrowed and his lips curled into what should have been a smile but were not.
Daniel: “Well, it is nice to know I am not alone in this.”
He set his drink down and they gazed at each other, not saying anything.
He gave her a speculative look. Celeste could not shake the uneasy feeling he gave her. She could not comprehend why he made her feel this way. His face was blank and unreadable.
Daniel: “Well, enjoy the party or at least pretend to if it means pushing your own agenda.”
He said evenly, before sauntering away disappearing from Celeste’s sight.
Celeste stood there thinking about him. The words, “Well, enjoy the party or at least pretend to if it means pushing your own agenda” rang somewhat true, but she felt anxious around him. Did they meet somewhere before and she simply forgot?
~
A taxi pulled up. A disgruntled older white man stepped out and opened the door. A foot wearing a shiny red heel stuck out and Jaclyn stepped out dressed in a long-sleeved red sequin gown with red mesh shoulders, upper arms, and torso. Over her chest and torso were red sequin brocade patterns. The dress was a mermaid dress that came down to the floor. Her hair was styled in upright pin curls. She had dark blue eyeshadow, black mascara, rouged cheeks, and dark red lipstick. She had a gold torque necklace and gold diamond earrings.
She smirked and posed for the cameras but people walked by.
Jaclyn: “Take as many pictures as you want! They last longer! I don’t take autographs!”
People walking by snickered and ignored her.
Taxi driver: “Lady, are you going to pay me or not?”
He asked gruffly. Jaclyn rolled her eyes and flicked her fingers at him.
Jaclyn: “Put it on the Hunter tab, you moron. I have a tall man who I can wear heels with to catch!”
She held her nose up high and walked away.
Taxi driver: “God, I feel sorry for whoever that poor schlub is.”
He muttered and flipped Jaclyn off before getting into his cab.
~
Jaclyn stepped into the ballroom and looked around for Tristan. She looked at the guests and smirked. I bet they never saw true beauty in their lives, she thought. She sauntered up to the bar. The bartender was an overweight white man in his forties or fifties. He had a mustache and wore his ash-brown hair in a mullet.
Man: “What can I get ya?”
He muttered.
Jaclyn: “A French kiss, because I will be kissing a fine French gentleman.”
She said loftily. The man nodded and made the cocktail for her.
Jaclyn locked her gaze on Tristan and scowled when she saw he was there with Ivy. She took her cocktail and sauntered over to them.
Jaclyn: “Good evening, Tristan! I have arrived with a French kiss!”
She raised her glass and Jaclyn gave Ivy the side-eye. Ivy rolled her eyes at her. Tristan gaped her.
Deimos: “That has to be the stupidest pun you could ever make.”
He said evenly.
Jaclyn: “Oh, and this dress cost me fifteen thousand dollars. It outnumbers your tacky Wool-Mart dress, Ivy. Did you get in the plus size section?”
She cackled.
Ivy: “That’s a lot of money to spend on a dress from your grandmother’s attic.”
She countered. Jaclyn sneered at her. Victor rose to Jaclyn.
Jaclyn: “Who are you? Why are you dressed in clothes from another decade?”
She asked sharply.
Ivy: “That’s rich, coming from you, Jaclyn.”
Victor: “I bought that dress for her and she’s with ME! She and Tristan are no longer!”
He snapped.
Victor: “I don’t appreciate what you’re saying to her and it’s untrue!”
Ivy placed her hand on Victor’s shoulder.
Tristan: “...Are you telling him he dresses in clothes a decade too old? I hate to break it to you, but… so are you?”
He rolled his eyes.
Jaclyn: “Tristan, stop lapping up whatever that cow tells you. I am dressing like a supermodel because I am one! She is too fat to be one!”
She laughed.
Ivy: “You’re not a supermodel. Aren’t your feet too big… and stinky?”
Jaclyn’s face turned red and she bared her teeth.
Someone bumped into her and her drink spilled on her dress.
Celeste: “Oh, I thought that was Big Foot and was taking them down.”
She said dryly.
Jaclyn: “MY DRESS! THAT IS WORTH MORE THAN YOUR LIFE!”
She cried.
Deimos: “Yeah, we heard it all. Go away, please. I don’t recall Tristan’s grandmother inviting you.”
He waved his hand at her. Jaclyn growled and stormed away to use the ladies room.
Deimos smiled at Tristan and took his hand.
Deimos: “Shall we dance?”
Tristan’s green eyes sparkled.
Tristan: “Y-Yes, of course, Deimos.”
He said softly.
~
Fabien was in his room for some time getting ready. Gus sat in the chair dressed in a blue pressed shirt, brown tie, light tan dress pants, and brown derby round-toe shoes. Craig wore his usual ensemble of a Nuklear Intoxikation shirt, denim vest, torn jeans, and work boots.
Fabien stepped out with his hair swept to the left. He wore a three-piece suit consisting of a dark green sports jacket and pants, a light green waistcoat, a white pressed shirt, a dark green tie, and black cap-toe Oxford shoes.
Fabien: “How do I look?”
He spread his arms out. Craig whistled at him, impressed.
Craig: “Sexy as always!”
He grinned.
Craig: “How do I look?”
He flexed his arms.
Fabien: “Sexy…”
He purred and caressed his arms.
Fabien: “You can unwrap your gift later… We have a shitshow to watch.”
He kissed him. Craig kissed him back.
Craig: “Fuck yeah! Let’s get this shit show on the road!”
He grinned.
Gus held up a bag of toys.
Gus: “I got the donation.”
Craig burst out laughing.
Fabien: “Where did you get those?”
Gus: “From the donation box of toys from Jumbo Jones.”
He shoved his finger up his nose and ate it. Fabien rolled his eyes.
Fabien: “Whatever, it’s all going to a good cause. Let’s go, Craig.”
He snapped his fingers. Craig followed him like an eager dog to his green jeep.
~
Tristan and Deimos were dancing on the dance floor with the other couples. They gazed into each other’s eyes and Deimos smiled up at him.
Tristan: “Grandmother went all out for this, didn’t she?”
Deimos nodded and threaded his fingers through his hair.
Deimos: “I guess. You light up the room, though.”
He said earnestly. Tristan laughed and blushed.
Tristan: “Thanks…”
Deimos: “Look…”
He lowered his head.
Deimos: “I’m not one for Christmas but… you love it and I love being with you. This is the best Christmas I ever had. I waited so long for this.”
He said softly. Tristan bowed his head. I would have done it sooner if I knew how I felt, he thought.
Deimos: “I… I wanted you since the day I met you.”
He added. Tristan smiled.
Tristan: “I’m sorry for leaving.”
Deimos shook his head.
Deimos: “It’s history. We’re in the present.”
He held him close.
Deimos: “I’m never letting you go…”
He whispered. Tristan held him back and closed his eyes.
Tristan: “You better not.”
Deimos gazed up at him and Tristan gazed back. He rose up and the two kissed deeply. Someone stood by a column in the shadows watching them.
When the song ended, Tristan caressed Deimos’ chest.
Deimos: “Shall I get us some desserts?”
Tristan smiled and nodded.
Deimos: “Sure.”
He kissed his hand and left to go to the buffet.
Tristan heard footsteps behind him and a bad feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He turned around to face Percy.
Percy was dressed in a three-piece ensemble consisting of a teal blazer, a purple waistcoat with dark teal lapels, a dark teal shirt with a royal blue silk puff tie, teal pants, and gold loafers. The blazer had gold accents on the lapels and the hems of the sleeves, gold buttons on the blazer and waistcoat, and a peacock pin on the right lapel with a large feather covering the right shoulder.
Tristan: “It’s YOU.”
He whispered hoarsely.
Percy: “We meet again, mon chéri.”
He took his hand and kissed it. Tristan pulled away.
Tristan: “Get away from me!”
He snapped and went to run but Percy grabbed his arm and yanked him close. Tristan gasped.
Percy: “Shall we have this dance, my beautiful ice prince?”
He grabbed the back of Tristan’s head and pulled him close. Tristan grunted.
Tristan sneered at him and felt an ice ball form in his hand. Percy snatched it and held it up marveling at it. He smiled at Tristan who glared hatefully at him and tried to yank from his grip.
Tristan: “Let me go.”
He growled.
Percy: “Don’t want to make a spectacle of yourself, my ice prince. It’s your grandmother’s ball!”
Tristan slapped him hard and left a mark on his face.
Tristan: “Don’t… cross me.”
He hissed through clenched teeth. Percy rubbed where Tristan hit him and felt shards of ice. He smirked at him and stuck his forked tongue out at him.
Celeste stood in front of Tristan.
Celeste: “The fuck are you doing here, you cocksucker?”
She rasped. Percy chuckled.
Percy: “Nice to see you, too, my warrior princess. I came to dance with my ice prince!”
Celeste: “Well, he doesn’t want to dance with you! He’s with Deimos!”
Percy’s smile faded and he growled.
Percy: “He’d be better off without that parasite…”
He snarled.
Celeste: “Nah, a parasite would be Blair! He drains everyone around him! That’s why everyone hates him!”
She countered.
Percy: “Darling, I couldn’t care less about whatever fairy boy hurt your feelings.”
He scoffed. Celeste saw red. Her eyes burned with fury. She bared her razor-sharp teeth and her nostrils flared.
Celeste: “HE DIDN’T HURT MY FEELINGS, FUCKHEAD!”
She bellowed and punched him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of Percy. He keeled over and coughed. Tristan gazed at Percy and then at Celeste.
Men in tuxedos approached them.
Man: “Ma’am, this is not a fighting arena! If you persist, we will have to ask you two to leave!”
He said firmly.
Tristan: “We’re finished. Escort him out.”
He said firmly. Percy chuckled and rose.
Percy: “Playing hard to get, are we?”
He chuckled and wiped the blood from his mouth.
Percy: “If I didn’t get a tightening in my pants from you, I could easily make mincemeat out of these men.”
He spread his arms out. Tristan coldly gazed at him.
Celeste: “Uh, ew?”
Percy: “People have sex, darling. May as well look into it.”
He said wryly.
Tristan: “Don’t care. Leave, or you will deal with me and I will make mincemeat out of you as you so eloquently put it.”
He said coolly. Percy wiggled his eyebrows.
Percy: “Kinky, perhaps another time?”
He chortled and stepped back.
Percy: “Adieu, my love.”
He blew a kiss.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at him. Deimos approached them.
Deimos: “Why didn’t you tell me?! It’s my job to protect him!”
He snapped at her.
Celeste: “Percy is fast and you have to act fast. He’s not like going up against Craig.”
She replied. Deimos pouted.
Deimos: “I know that but I have to protect him from Klaus!”
He snapped.
Celeste: “Oh, that loser’s name is Percy.”
She corrected him.
Deimos: “No, he’s not. That’s his alias. He’s Klaus Duerr.”
He embraced himself. Tristan gazed at him. Must be Arnold’s brother, he thought. Tristan noticed how uncomfortable Deimos was and Tristan held him close.
Tristan: “You did protect me, Deimos. I knew you’d be around if it got out of hand.”
He reassured him. Deimos smiled a bit, even if he fibbed a bit to make him feel better.
Celeste: “Then his name is Mr. Poopy Pants.”
She laughed at her quip.
~
Craig, Fabien, and Gus arrived at the ball. Gus dragged the bag of toys to the donation box and made a beeline for the buffet. Fabien looked up at Craig.
Fabien: “Want anything to drink?”
He asked him.
Craig: “Fuck yeah, I need a beer for this!”
He nodded. Fabien went to the bar to order a beer and an apple martini for himself.
He went back to the table where he sat with Gus and Craig.
Honorine walked on the stage and the lights in the ballroom dipped. Honorine wore a dark green sequined surplice bodycon gown with a boat neckline and her hair was done in a French knot. Gustave was by her in his Santa suit ringing his bell. She furrowed her eyebrows and took the bell from his hand. She hissed something to him and turned to the mic.
Honorine: “Good evening, everyone! Thank you for attending and Merry Christmas! I would love to thank every one of you for attending and donating your generous gifts to help the less fortunate families in this city and the state.”
She smiled and everyone gave a round of applause.
Honorine: “I would love to thank the caterers who made the wonderful food for us.”
There was another round of applause.
A light shone on Tristan’s table.
Honorine: “I would love to thank my son, Victor, and my grandson, Tristan, for all their hard work.”
Victor and Tristan smiled. Lazaros wanted so badly to boo Tristan. No, it will come, he thought with a smirk. Ashley looked up at him, noting his sour expression, and placed their hand on his shoulder.
Honorine: “And I would love to thank my wonderful event planner, Lucy Lynes, for organizing this event!”
She smiled. Victor’s smile faded. Tristan cupped his mouth. Ivy’s heart dropped.
Ivy: “...WHAT?!”
Lucy lowered onto the stage with a bungee rope supporting her. She wore a light pink long gown with a top layer of silvery mesh decorated with sparkly star detail and silver trim. The gown had puffed sleeves and she wore a silver butterfly choker and a tall silver crown on her head. On her back were glittery wings. She carried a sparkling silver wand with a star on the end.
Celeste: “What the fuck?”
She laughed. Tristan cleared his throat. Deimos gaped at her.
Fabien cupped his mouth trying hard not to laugh. Craig burst out laughing, cutting through the stunned silence around them.
Lucy’s feet softly landed on the stage and she undid her bungee rope.
Lucy: “I am Lucy Lynes! I want to thank you all for coming! You see, I am not an event planner but a fairy godmother! When a lady is in distress after her heart being toyed with, her fairy godmother came to tell her, it’s all right, child. You see, a prince is waiting for you. He won’t toy with your heart as the other man did!’ ”
She spread her arm out. Tristan glared at her. Honorine’s jaw dropped. What is this foolish woman rambling on about?! She wondered. Ivy gaped at her, stunned and furious beyond disbelief.
Lazaros smirked widely. Oh yeah, this is my Christmas gift, he thought. Ashley scratched their head, confused. Uhh, what’s this got to do with Christmas? They thought.
Lucy: “The lady’s heart was being toyed with by a man she had feelings for but he wanted another man and left her, with a broken heart. But I came to her rescue and told her that her prince is waiting!”
Ivy gaped at her and shot up from her seat..
Ivy: “No, you didn’t!”
She growled through clenched teeth. Tristan scowled at her and Deimos glared. Celeste looked at them and glared, too. I don’t know what I am supposed to be mad at, she thought.
Lucy: “Ivy, the man you’re with loves you. I am glad you came to me for advice and I steered you in the right direction. Victor loves you and won’t toy with your heart. Tristan is his mother’s son.”
She sang. Fabien covered his mouth to stifle his laugh. Blair rolled his eyes. Not surprising of Tristan, he thought.
Tristan angrily rose.
Tristan: “WHAT?!”
He bellowed. Victor started panting.
Ivy: “You’re a LIAR, Lucy LIES!”
She fired back at her.
Honorine marched to her.
Honorine: “Okay, Mrs. Lynes, this is enough!”
She said doggedly. Lucy shoved her away.
Lucy: “Ivy, your cake is here! Victor had it made for you!”
She nodded to Lazaros and Ashley.
Lazaros and Ashley lifted the sheet off the giant cake. It was a lifesize cake in the likeness of Ivy dressed in a pink ball gown with white gloves and a princess crown. Lazaros smiled tightly. Ashley nervously fiddled with their hair. Everyone looked at the cake and clapped. Fabien burst out laughing. Craig rasped with laughter, tumbling over his chair, wheezing and clapping. Ivy’s heart sank and she felt frozen to the floor.
Ivy: “...What… is that?”
She swallowed hard and shrunk down, wanting to run away and hide somewhere away from all these people. She turned to Victor looking hurt and feeling betrayed. I don’t want to be ungrateful, but why would he think I would want this?! Does he think I’m like Jaclyn?! Why would he humiliate me like this?
Victor’s jaw dropped. I didn’t ask them to make this cake, he thought. He looked at Lazaros and Ashley with hurt and betrayal, and more so that Ivy was hurt.
Celeste: “Look, Ivy is dressed like Princess Peach!”
She pointed to the cake. Ivy looked away from it and couldn’t bear to look at it anymore.
Jaclyn marched up to the stage.
Jaclyn: “Get out of my way, you hag! That cake of Princess Moos-A-Lot is nothing! I had a better cake made!”
She said loftily. Lucy glared at her.
Lucy: “This is MY show, Missy!”
Jaclyn: “Go away, old lady! Isn’t it time to take your nap?!”
She snapped. She took the mic from her.
Jaclyn: “What this old hag forgot to mention is Tristan wants ME! He doesn’t want a COW. And my cake is prepared by the best chefs!”
She wagged her head. Tristan glared at Jaclyn. Deimos rolled his eyes. Does she ever stop? He wondered. Ivy had completely shut down and was too distraught to hear a word Jaclyn said. Everything around her sounded muffled and she didn’t care. Ashley looked up at Lazaros confused.
Ashley: “Best chefs? But we didn’t bake her cake?”
Trevor stood by Ashley and Lazaros dressed in a messy chef’s uniform. He blew his nose in his sleeve. Lazaros grimaced at him. Ashley groused at his hygiene habits. Trevor wheeled in something with a cloth over it.
He pulled it off to reveal a lumpy mess of red, pink, and blue splattered onto a plate to resemble Jaclyn. There were two sultanas stuck onto her pink face to resemble her eyes, accompanied by large red lips spreading across it. Two large clumps of pink were attached to the cake to resemble her feet with green stink lines drawn on them in green marker.
Fabien roared with laughter and clapped. Craig screamed with laughter, falling to the ground in hysterical tears.
Craig: “WAAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHHAHAHAHA! HOLY SHIT! I’M GONNA FUCKIN’ DIE!”
He wheezed through short breaths, clutching his chest.
Ashley: “Wow, it looks just like her!”
They snickered and turned to Lazaros.
Lazaros: “Doesn’t it?”
He snickered.
Celeste laughed and pointed.
Celeste: “Look at the big and stinky feet!”
Jaclyn’s jaw dropped at the cake. She was too stunned to speak. That moron, she thought. Her hands curled into tight fists.
Lucy: “I guess Tristan toyed with your heart, too, honey?”
She smirked. Jaclyn turned to her and bared her teeth.
Jaclyn: “LOOK AT THAT CAKE! IT’S HIDEOUS! I HATE IT, I HATE IT! YOU OLD HAG! HOW DARE YOU HELP THAT COW SABOTAGE MY CHANCE TO SHINE?!”
She bellowed and lunged at Lucy wrestling for the mic.
Lucy: “No, you primadonna with dyed hair! This is MY show! I am Ivy’s savior! You’re a bottle redhead witch with cheap makeup!”
She snarled as they tumbled over. Everyone watched the fight on stage. The bartender was in a daze until Jaclyn’s shoes fell off and the stink pervaded the ballroom. His eyes widened and his pupils dilated. That… That glorious STINK, he thought.
Lucy: “GET OFF ME, YOU WITCH! EVER HEAR OF FOOT DEODORIZER?!”
She growled as she pulled on Jaclyn’s hair.
Jaclyn: “EVER HEAR OF ANTI-WRINKLE CREAM, YOU OLD BIDDY?!”
She bellowed and pulled on Lucy’s dress, tearing it.
Honorine turned to the bouncers.
Honorine: “Get these two out of here NOW.”
She ordered. The men nodded and tried to pry Lucy and Jaclyn off each other.
Jaclyn: “You will pay for this! Ivy will pay for ruining my moment!”
She rasped.
Lucy: “Save it, you wannabe starlet! Go back to trying to get old men for your income if they can put up with your stench!”
She flung her claws out at her.
Victor approached Lazaros and Ashley.
Victor: “She’s hurt! You both ruined a special moment for us so you could get even with my son!”
He cried. Ashley knit their eyebrows, taken aback.
Ashley: “Oh no! I’m sorry! Why is she hurt? Didn’t we do a good job?”
They cried, feeling hurt.
Celeste: “I like the cake.”
She drawled. Lazaros smirked. Ashley smiled at her.
Ashley: “Thank you!”
Lazaros: “Not my fault Ivy is ungrateful, Victor. She was like this with my brother and with your own son.”
He said smugly.
Lazaros: “We did a great job, Ashley! Ivy is a spoiled little princess.”
He sighed. Ashley smiled at him.
Ashley: “Thanks, Laz! We worked so hard on this!”
They sighed.
Lazaros: “Nothing is ever good enough for her. Oh well.”
He threw his arms up.
Ivy: “Nothing is ever good enough for YOU, Lazaros!”
She fired back at him as she marched up to them. She then turned to Ashley.
Ivy: “And you did this to appease him. I hate to break it to you, but he didn’t do this to spend time with you. He did this to get even with his stupid feuds! Nothing you will ever do for him will be good enough for him! He doesn’t care about you!”
She said to Ashley. Ashley gaped at her with hurt and betrayal.
Ashley: “...How’s this a feud? We worked really hard on this for you and put our best into this! We were only doing what was asked of us!”
They cried, feeling unappreciated. Ivy frowned and looked over at Victor.
Victor: “I asked you to make a peacock cake.”
He sighed. Ivy gaped at him and wished she could believe that.
Ivy: “Then why isn’t it a peacock cake?”
Victor: “I don’t know!”
He cried.
Blair approached them.
Blair: “I think Ashley did an excellent job on this and they should be praised for their efforts for this thoughtful cake!”
He said to them. Ashley brightened a bit.
Ashley: “Thanks, Blair.”
Lazaros: “Glad to see you have a brain in your head.”
He harrumphed. Ashley frowned. Blair swung his eyes with fury to Lazaros.
Blair: “I am here for Ashley, not you! I won’t let some spoiled princess bully them!”
He snapped. Ivy glared at him.
Ivy: “I’m not bullying them. You don’t know me and don’t understand. Stay out of this.”
Deimos and Tristan approached them.
Deimos: “It’s a nice cake, Ashley. I know what Lazaros is doing but I won’t let your efforts go unnoticed.”
He nodded. Ashley brightened more as more people appreciated their efforts.
Ashley: “Thanks, Deimos!”
Blair glared at them and his look soured more when he saw Celeste.
Celeste: “She looks like Princess Peach! That’s fitting because I think Princess Peach cries to solve her problems, too!”
Tristan sighed. Ivy soured more.
Tristan: “I agree with Deimos. I know your game, Lazaros. You will pay for crossing me.”
He said coolly.
Lazaros: “With what, Tristan? You toy with people’s emotions and you’re using me as a scapegoat. I am not saying I blame you. Ivy is a spoiled rotten brat, so maybe you’re onto something.”
He fielded scathingly. Ivy glared at him hatefully. Tristan narrowed his eyes at him.
Tristan: “I wouldn’t talk about toying with emotions as no one does that better than you and you certainly made an example of that tonight. You knew what you were doing. You took this order because you knew this outcome would happen and you would make me look bad.”
He said icily to Lazaros. Ashley looked confused.
Tristan: “What Lucy said about me ‘toying’ with emotions and being…”
He clenched his fists as he couldn’t complete the sentence. Deimos stood in front of Tristan.
Deimos: “You don’t ever hurt him. Shouldn’t your feud with Tristan be cast aside for Ashley? But it’s not. You’re pathetic.”
He spat and Lazaros shrunk back. Ashley knit their eyebrows at Lazaros. Tristan smirked at Lazaros.
Tristan: “Anyway, excellent job, Ashley.”
He nodded. Ashley smiled a bit.
Ashley: “Thank you!”
They then looked over at Lazaros wondering if he would do such a thing and if Tristan meant more to him than them.
Fabien: “Is everyone going to ignore the TRUE masterpiece?”
He shot his hand out at the Jaclyn cake. Craig burst out laughing. Tristan turned to Fabien and quirked an eyebrow.
Tristan: “Why are you here? Oh, to laugh at this cake of Jaclyn’s. Did you donate anything?”
He asked sharply.
Fabien: “Yeah. Gus dragged a bag of toys to the donation box.”
Tristan: “And where did he get those?”
Fabien: “From the donation box at Jumbo Jones.”
He laughed.
Tristan: “Ah, never change, Fabien.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed a bit. Craig grinned and put his arm around Fabien.
Craig: “Fuckin’ oath! Never change, Fab! Love ya the way you are!”
He kissed him. Fabien kissed him back. Fabien looked at Ashley.
Fabien: “Sorry, Mr. or Mrs. Fatso but your cake isn't the true cakery of art.”
He nodded to the Jaclyn cake.
Ashley: “I guess not…”
They sighed and looked over at Lazaros as their mind swarmed with emotions and thoughts. Lazaros stood there in a state of shock.
Trevor: “Thanks, guys. I think I did a great job!”
He scratched his ass with the spatula. Craig burst out laughing.
Craig: “NOW, THIS IS A FUCKIN’ MASTERPIECE!”
He cackled, gesturing to the cake.
Fabien: “Since Ivy doesn’t like her cake, you can chow down, Porky Pig. Get fatter. Might get Lazaros to notice you more.”
He cackled. Craig joined in on the laughter. Ashley looked hurt.
Ashley: “Maybe if I was Tristan, he would…”
They said bitterly under their breath. Blair glared at Fabien and at Lazaros.
Blair: “It’s okay, Ashley. I’m still here.”
He said reassuringly.
Honorine approached Tristan, Victor, Ivy, Deimos, and Celeste.
Honorine: “The limousine is waiting for you all.”
She nodded.
Tristan: “Of course, nice cake, Ashley. You did a beautiful job. Merry Christmas.”
He smiled. Ashley wordlessly smiled and nodded.
Deimos: “Ditto.”
They left.
Celeste: “Wait up.”
She followed them.
~
Jaclyn marched outside and the bartender caught up to her huffing and puffing.
Jaclyn: “What do you want, you fat moron?!”
She bellowed.
Bartender: “Uh, I think… you should… start a… yoga class!”
He blurted.
Jaclyn: “Why would I start something like that?!”
She rolled her eyes.
Bartender: “Wait! You do yoga! …and we all watch you! And you can sell your shoes for lots of money!”
He nodded with a twinkle in his eyes. Jaclyn paused and scrutinized him.
Jaclyn: “So I do yoga and you and other people watch me?”
The man nodded hungrily.
Jaclyn: “That is… not a bad idea. I always wanted to have people admire my beauty!”
She flipped her hair and smirked. The bartender bit his bottom lip. Oh boy, we’re going to smell that funk, he thought.
Comments