CHAPTER 26: ATTENDING THE GALA

Alisha saw Katherine right from opposite her, a bright smile on her lips, probably happy with the way fans were dragging Alisha on social media.

For once, Alisha was glad she hasn’t created an official social media account yet. So, apart from Katherine’s fans typing death threats to her, cussing at her even in foreign languages, they couldn’t bring it to her DMs.

Once Katherine made eye contact with Alisha, her smile brightened even further just for a split second before it turned into something like worry as she walked towards her.

"Alisha, I saw the post that had just been leaked from here. I still don’t know who posted it but what the fans are saying about you isn’t right at all," Katherine said with such a soft voice that the other girls probably thought she was actually seeking for her well-being. "I’m actually sorry that had to happen to you."

"Honestly, it’s crazy that your fans are that wild," Hex started, gaining Katherine’s attention. "But if you truly feel bad for her, then just make a video warning your fans to stop saying such things about her. You’re a celebrity, you have the power to do such."

For once, Katherine wanted to scold Bethany for not actually killing Hex instead of just making sick a little.

"Even if I did that, I doubt they would take me seriously. I think you should sue them, Alisha," Katherine said.

’I already did,’ Alisha thought to herself but didn’t say it out loud.

"You can if you really wanted to, unless you want them to keep saying bad things to Alisha," Hex said once again, an innocent smile on her lips.

She had dyed ginger hair that touched her shoulders. Her features were so feminine anyone would fall for her at a first glance.

Alisha glanced between Hex and Katherine, wondering if something had brewed between them in the past before, or she was just overthinking things. But Hex seemed to intentionally be giving Katherine a hard time.

"I’ll keep that in mind, but I’ll do it later," Katherine replied with a tight smile before looking down at Alisha. "We need to get ready for the gala."

The gala was an influential event, inviting all A-lists celebrities across Lexora and beyond. Both Katherine and Alisha had been informed beforehand that the both of them would be going on behalf of Veila even though there was nothing for them to do, except to look pretty and pretend they liked each other.

Alisha had already been looking forward to the gala.

If she could, she would leave alone instead of tagging along with Katherine, walking in her shadow.

After the video had been leaked, she’d gotten hate which probably fed into Katherine’s ego, but Alisha was sure she would be planning something by now.

For all she knew, Katherine might have been the person to leak the video in the first place.

Together, they both got ready in the Veila building and left for the gala. By the time they’d arrived, it was already 7pm.

"Stay with me so you don’t get lost," Katherine said, a smile on her lips. If she thought it would calm Alisha down, it did the exact opposite—sending chills down her spine.

They stepped out of the car and the camera shutters almost blinded them both.

Alisha took a deep breath before posing.

One after the other, pictures clicked.

"Mrs. Cross, this is your first gala. Are you excited for what is about to unfold?" A reporter asked.

Katherine smiled into the camera. "I’m always ready for anything. Tonight is going to be a wonderful night for both me and Alisha De Rossi," she said.

Alisha suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

If Katherine had planned for something to happen exactly in the gala—which she hadn’t prepared for because she’d thought Katherine would try to hurt her when there was no one looking—then she wasn’t prepared enough.

Just being simply careful might not help her out tonight.

"Mrs. De Rossi, it has just been revealed that you’re married to the business tycoon, Dante De Rossi who has been rumored gay for a while already. How do you feel about that?"

Alisha frowned at the reporter.

How else was she supposed to feel?

"I feel wonderful being married to Dante, and the gay rumors aren’t true, obviously," she replied, her tone suddenly cold.

The reporter was about to ask another question but Alisha had already pushed forward, now it was Katherine who was walking right behind her with clenched fists and dolled up face so she doesn’t appear angry in the photos.

The hall was ginormous, bigger than anything Alisha had ever seen.

Big chandeliers hung up from the roof, emanating soft golden lights. The people were well dressed, all with a glass of champagne as they clicked it gently, introducing themselves.

A soft smile appeared on Alisha’s lips when she saw her parents—they’d been invited. Jace and Adrian, her brothers were there too.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t go to them to give them a hug else she wanted Katherine to bombard her with questions on how she knew the Montclair family. And if she wasn’t careful, Katherine would figure out her true identity before she was able to make the latter pay for what she’d done to her in the past.

However, that smile on Alisha’s lips faltered when she saw the family body frame. It was none other than Dante, standing next to a guy a lot shorter than him with pink curly hair

’What is he doing here?’ She wondered.

Dante met her gaze and walked towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and pecked her on the cheeks.

Her body went stiff. This was the first time they were appearing as a couple to the public so she was caught off guard.

"My love..." Two words with no actual meaning.

Alisha saw a figure walking towards her from the corners of her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat at that face.

It was Nathan.