Berlin let out a quiet sigh of relief the moment she stepped away.
As she walked on, she got several stares from both the men and the ladies. Just when she got to the grand table filled with drinks and food atop it in the hall, Three ladies walked up to her and blocked her path.
"Do you need something?"
The girls looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Cindy, look at her. She thinks she can talk to us," the leader of the group, who had on a satin black bodycon dress that hugged her curves, said.
"I wonder myself," Cindy scoffed, she was wearing a designer pearl-encrusted cocktail dress, paired with diamond-studded heels and an extravagant clutch that cost an arm and a leg.
"Can you imagine, just because she is married to Karlos Wayne, she thinks she belongs to our class." The third girl added as she eyed Berlin from top to bottom and then up again.
Upon hearing their statements. She remained undisturbed. She had seen this song before.
'Will these girls ever change and find something useful to do?' Berlin asked in her mind.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Berlin asked.
Like the sound of thunder, the three girls widened their eyes in horror at her words. Does she not know them? Just who in the country did not know them?
Of course, Berlin was familiar with the infamous Trinity actresses. Their names and way of life were frequent on trending news in the city.
Each of their families owned at least one of the largest conglomerates in the city. And in rank, they were among the fifteen richest people.
So hearing Berlin ask that question, was like an insult to their faces.
"Excuse me, I do not have all day for this."
"You think you can walk away, just like that? Who the hell do you think you are anyway?" Rena, the leader of the group asked.
"That's none of your business." Berlin retorted. And just as she was about to walk away and bypass them, a voice spoke, making her stop in her tracks.
"Well, well… look who decided to show up."
Berlin turned around only for her eyes to meet with the last person in the world, she wanted to meet.
"Chloe." She made sure her hatred was laced in her voice for her step-sister to know she was least pleased to see her. This only meant her adopted sister came with someone who was in this class year group.
"Is that how disrespectful and mannerless you have become? Just because you are rich now, wearing fancy clothes and pieces of jewelry. You think you are on top of the world huh? Let's not forget how you got there."
"And how does my way of life affect you?" Berlin spat back.
"It seems Mrs. Wayne has a sharp tongue that needs to be cut off." Rena chipped in.
Berlin shot her a glare before returning her gaze to her step-sister.
"Rena...calm down. Don't lower yourself to her level." Cindy immediately held her friend's hand. She had no idea what Berlin had gone through but she knew she was nothing but bad news now.
"You do not belong in our kind of society. Never have you been and never would you be, Berlin face it. You are only trying to fit in and it's obviously not working."
"I can't believe you are still this full of yourself and delusional. Chloe, when are you going to change?"
"I should be saying that to you. How did you even manage to get in here and afford such an outfit? How did you even get in here? Oh wait—I forgot. You are a leech and a gold digger. Spending their wealth and using their connection is all you know how to do."
"That's Soo true," Brenda said glaring at Berlin.
***
Meanwhile, Karlos had successfully escaped from his business partners and decided to get back to Berlin. He did not want to leave her in the first place.
He did not have to search long as he found her glimmering peach gown at the refreshment stand in the hall. Upon noticing she was with a group of women he frowned.
'Are they bullying her?' Karlos thought to himself.
***
Chloe was happy and willing to rain curses and insults at her and was more than excited to see Berlin disgraced.
Berlin was done tolerating her sister's rubbish. It seemed that she was enjoying it as usual. Perhaps giving her a dirty slap would ring bells that she was no better.
Just when she was about to reply to Chloe, a tall figure walked up to them and stood behind her.
All the other girls immediately gulped at the sight of the majestic person at Berlin's back.
Berlin who had still not noticed who it was, became confused at their sudden change of expressions.
'Now what has gone into these girls.' No sooner had she thought about that than a masculine voice resounded at her back.
"Berlin"
Her heart stopped beating for a second and her mind jolted her at the familiar sound. She knew that voice. There was no mistake to whom that voice belonged.
Slowly she turned her body a bit behind, to see the person. She found herself wishing it wouldn't be him.
Immediately her eyes landed on him, she wondered which side he was going to take.
"What are you doing here?" The man asked, making the other girls chuckle and Berlin's frown deepen "With these ladies," he quickly added to correct his earlier question.
Hearing him ask that, Chloe, Rena and her crew all turned sour at his remark while Berlin's face relaxed.
"I...I was just passing by and they stopped me."
All the girls had their hearts in their mouths when Berlin mentioned they had blocked her path. This was Karlos Wayne, one of the top three richest men in the country and his family's company was among the top ten richest businesses in the city.
No matter how much they may try to deny it. They never wanted to get in his bad books as most of them admired him and wished he would look their way, even if it was just once.
"I see," he averted his gaze from Berlin and took in all the women, one after the others though he was mentally taking note of them. "Are they causing you any distress?"
"It's nothing serious," Berlin said casually. "They just had some questions to ask."
"Okay. Let's go then."
"Sure."
Together, both of them walked away to another part of the hall, leaving Chloe and the others behind.
"Arrghh!" Brenda half yelled.
"Just how can a lowly life like her be mingling with him," Chloe voiced out as her gaze still trailed after them.
Rena glanced at Chloe and her crew, then drugged them to a remote part of the hall. "We can teach her a lesson."
"How?" Chloe asked as she looked at Berlin jealously.
"First, we get the pill. Once we have it, you slip it into Berlin's drink. If Karlos loves her now, he won't after this."
Brenda's eyes lit up. "And then?"
"We make sure she ends up in the worst possible situation."
Brenda caught on. "Which guy are we using?"
Rena scanned the room and pointed at someone.
Cindy immediately recognized that it was the fattest guy in their class. "Richmond?!!"
"Yes, the guy is not only big but also promiscuous. In the past several years, he has slept with quite a few actresses and models. I heard several died in his bed, and the cases were all killed by his father, the director of the police force."
"I have heard that as well. Do you want to?..."
"Yes"
She wasn't the mastermind, but this plan…was perfect.