Locking her phone with a sigh, Marzia smoothed out the visible wrinkles on her dress before standing up and headed towards the door. As soon as she pulled the door open, her eyes met with Dante’s own pair of dark brown eyes as he stood just right outside. The man wore a stunning satin oxford blue suit complete with a silver cufflink that was embellished with sapphire — adding a nice touch to his overall look. His outfit is completed with a plain black necktie, tied neatly around his neck.
Marzia gaped at the sight before her, eyes raking in the man that resembled a Greek god in front of her. He looked incredible, like a sculpture came to life.
“Are you ready?” Dante asked her while reaching out a hand for her to hold. The gala is about to start in 5 minutes and he’s been waiting for Marzia in front of her waiting room door as her escort for the evening.
Marzia herself is wrapped around a gorgeous off-shoulder lilac dress, decorated with amethyst gems that filled the entirety of her torso, sleeves, and gradually disappeared down to the skirt of the dress. The tulle material flowed down nicely to the floor, its volume creating a beautiful silhouette that made her look like a princess. On top of that, around the shoulders area were a few pieces of feathers and additional tulle fabric — enhancing her collarbone and shoulders.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Marzia breathed out. It wasn’t a lie when she said she’ll be nothing but a ball of anxiety on the day of the gala, but she found herself surprisingly calmer than what she thought she would’ve been. “I’m sure it’ll pass by like a breeze, anyways.”
A small smile made its way to Dante’s features. “You’re right. This gala will be a huge success, just like your previous ones.”
And with that, the pair made their way into the grand ballroom where the event would be held, hand in hand.
Chatters and light laughter of various invited guests of tonight’s gala resonated through the high walls. People from across the globe have gathered together in the luxurious space, mingling with each other freely. The guests ranged from top class celebrities, famous fashion industry figures, old money families, and a few other talented figures as well. One of them being Emilé, a familiar face among the many unfamiliar faces.
Emilé had approached Marzia first upon her opening speech as the host. He congratulated her with a warm hug, praising her for another yet successful charity gala. The two spent some time talking with each other, Marzia not forgetting to compliment him for showing up in a rather impressive suit. “Lu sepele banget sama gue, mentang-mentang kerjaan gue di dapur seharian.” Is what Emilé said grumpily in return when Marzia giggled.
Though it wasn’t long before Marzia had to excuse herself, having to socialize with the other guests in the ballroom. She was talking to a renowned movie director when the soft sound of piano keys being played made its way to her ears. Marzia’s eyes landed onto where the piano was located — in the far left corner beside the main stage. There she spotted Chester Adams gracefully playing the instrument, his slender fingers moving smoothly across the piano tiles as if they were dancing.
She made a mental note to thank Chester later for accepting her request to perform a few pieces during the gala.
“I’m so sorry! Oh my God, I am terribly sorry,” a male voice shrieked in panic just right behind her. A few heads turned to see the commotion, and Marzia soon realized they were all looking towards her, or to be more specific, somebody behind her.
“Ms. Bonetti, I am so sorry for spilling my drink on your beautiful gown,” the voice continued to ramble on in panic. Marzia could only chuckle as she turned her head to see the owner of the voice. It was Fabian Wolf, one of the seven bachelors. Fabian himself is a famous talented model in the fashion industry, so it wasn’t a surprise to have him invited to the gala.
“It’s fine, Mr. Wolf. I was the one who mindlessly bumped into you, so I’d like to apologize as well.” Marzia smiled gently, waving her hand as if to brush it off. “I have a spare gown for the evening, so do not fret over it.”
Fabian pressed his lips together into a tight line, face contorting into of those of guilt. ‘There goes my first impression,’ he thought to himself. Fabian is a big fan of Marzia and her works, finally getting the chance to meet one of his biggest idols after doing greatly career wise. His achievements as a model was something worth praising for, as he successfully broke through the industry just after two years debuting and became known worldwide.
“Excuse me,” Dante interrupted. His body moved between the two, his back facing Marzia as if shielding her from Fabian. “I believe it’s appropriate if I escort Ms. Bonetti back to her waiting room to change her dress.” Dante stared at Fabian, his eyes boring straight into his soul making Fabian gulp nervously.
“Oh right, of course.” Fabian stepped aside reluctantly. Dante motioned Marzia to follow him, taking one last glance at Fabian that made the model avert his eyes away from his.
“It was nice meeting you,” Marzia mouthed silently at Fabian before walking away, following Dante’s footsteps. Her little gesture put Fabian’s mind at ease for a bit, though he wasn’t completely relieved.
‘I should find a way to apologize properly later.’ Fabian thought in his head as he watched Marzia’s silhouette slowly disappear into the exit door.
