[Nicole]
I sat on a round table, sipping a glass of wine, and wondering when this whole boring party would be over. One look towards Clara's direction as she typed disinterestedly on her phone showed that she was feeling the same way or even worse.
She must have felt my gaze because she looked from her phone just then, and our eyes locked.
"This is no party at all." Clara mumbled just loud enough for my hearing.
"More wine?" She asked me, just as a waiter walked past our table with a tray which contained glasses of wine.
I shook my head slightly, I was barely halfway through the glass I was sipping from. Clara's gaze followed the waiter, even after he had walked past our table.
"Hello," I called out to her. What is going on? I asked with my eyes.
"I'm pretty sure I saw that waiter by the house this morning." Clara explained. Her gaze was fixed on the waiter still.
I wasn't sure what to make of her discovery, or if it meant anything. As long as Clara is concerned, the smallest form of abnormality is enough for anyone to earn the tag of a prime suspect.
"He probably lives close by." I said in a bid to dismiss the worries which were beginning to show in her face. "You worry too much." I added when she glanced over her shoulder once more to catch a glimpse of him.
Had she not said the same thing about the doormen when we arrived? She's overreacting I'm sure.
I followed her gaze, and allowed mine to rest on the waiter for a brief moment as he stopped by a table to distribute glasses of wine.
He was tall, I observed and powerfully built. His large defined muscle could not be entirely contained in the long sleeved uniform he wore.
I laughed in my head at the thought that someone with such body build is serving as a waiter.
He suddenly looked towards my direction, and I looked away very quickly. His eyes were hard. It was as if he read my thoughts.
"I'm sure it's nothing." I said in an assuring voice to Clara, who had resumed typing on her phone. If she noticed the panting in my voice, she did not show it.
"Let's hope it is." Clara added.
[Clara]
I resumed typing on my phone while wishing my fears were nothing but mere assumptions. At intervals, I would steal Nicole a glance, and each time, she appeared unbothered as she sipped from her unending glass of wine.
I too resumed sipping on my glass. It seemed like sipping wine was the only fun we'll have in this party, and of course, a little chit chat with a few colleagues.
Aside from the waiter and the doormen, there were a few other men whose faces were familiar even though I don't remember seeing them anywhere but I did not tell Nichole about them. She already does not believe me.
One trait peculiar to them all was their body build so that when I did not see the waiter anymore, I paid attention to everyone else with the same body build, taking note of their movements and body languages.
A part of me could bet they were in secret communication with each other while the other part of me, like Nicole, doubted.
After watching them secretly for over an hour, I could no longer suppress the urge to use the restroom, so I stood up, made a signal to Nicole, and headed towards the direction where I believed the restroom was located.
"Don't stay too long." Nicole called from behind me, and I nodded without looking back at her.
I wouldn't think of staying for long, and leaving her all by herself. The party was far too boring, and another part of me thinks it could be dangerous.
I pushed open the restroom door marked 'Ladies' and I was taken aback by the number of people that greeted me. It was as though the actual party was going on in the restroom.
Some of the ladies were colleagues, but most of them were total strangers to me.
I was still looking from one lady to another when a colleague walked up to me from behind.
"Hey Clara, it's so good to finally meet someone I know." She said excitedly, and I could tell from her voice that she meant every word.
"Hey Bella, it's nice to see you too. I didn't know you got invited." I squealed, matching her energy.
"What's the situation here?" She asked, making a gesticulation with her hands.
"I'm not sure but I sincerely hope we are not all waiting to go in there." I joked, and we shared a laugh.
"Did you come alone?" She asked.
"No, Nicole is here as well. She too got invited." I informed her.
"You're lucky. None of my friends got the invitation, and I have been stuck all by myself in this boring party." Bella complained, and I felt bubbles of laughter threatening to bust out of me.
"We are lucky indeed." I managed to say after fighting back the urge to laugh.
"Speaking of Nicole, I had better tell her what the situation is, so she doesn't get worried that I'm taking too long." I said. It suddenly dawned on me that I have taken quite a lot of time already.
I moved towards the exit, with Bella beside me. She too wanted to say hi to Nicole.
Soon we were back in the party arena, and at the table I shared with Nicole but Nicole was not at the table, and so was her purse. Only a half-emptied glass remained on her side of the table. I looked around but there was no sign of her and I felt my temperature rising.
She probably went to the restroom too, or she was called on by her boss. I thought in a bid to calm myself down but a huge part of me just did not believe it.
"I'm sure she is fine." Bella added as though she read my mind. She must have seen the worried look on my face.
"I'm sure she is." I agreed. I needed to hold on to something positive to keep calm at this point.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the PA systems in the hall boomed as the announcer sought everyone's attention.
"With a standing ovation let us acknowledge the presence of the new CEO of Litt's int'l, Mr Leonard Richardson Litt." The announcer announced, and the hall went agog with excitement, even though most of them had no idea who he is, or what he looks like.
He walked to the podium, Mr Leonard Richardson Litt, with so much grace that one would think he was an angel. His well tailored black suit hung perfectly on him, adding swagger to his aura.
I knew the rumours were wrong just then, he really was a brother to Mr Louis Johnson Litt. The striking resemblance was enough proof.
While he made a brief speech, I stared at him with so much admiration that I heard nothing of what he said.
"Thank you." He concluded after some time, and handed the mic to the announcer while the hall resumed their clapping and screaming. I got hold of myself just then, and my worries of Nicole's whereabouts returned.
"He is such a handsome man." Bella said from beside me, and I jerked in surprise. I had totally forgotten about her.
"Yeah," I said, trying to sound as indifferent as I could. The announcer made an announcement just then but I did not pay attention to what she said. While I looked on, trying to figure it out, Mr Louis walked up to the podium, and was handed the mic.
"Working with you all has been a great pleasure," he said, and I sneered within me. It was no pleasure working with or for him, and I'm sure I am not the only one with this point of view. I just hope Mr Leonard's attitude towards his subordinates is as good as or half as good as he looks.
"Thank you." He ended his speech after some time, and we all clapped. I lost focus again, and I did not hear anything more that he said, other than the introductory part of his speech.
Now that Mr Louis is here, where is Nicole?