9 The Party

Pegasus Hotel

The hotel was located in the heart of the city in an extremely characteristic, quiet and lively area within short walk distance to all sites and is surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of churches, buildings, shops, and monuments. The Hotel design looked like a part of a lovingly restored 1800 palace.

On entering this charming hotel in the C-city you will immediately sense its special intimate atmosphere that makes you feel like being in your own home. Each detail had been passionately chosen and the hall was particularly inviting with the doubling art-lights which was one of the reasons the hotel earned its 5-star rating. Pegasus Hotel style mixes valuable antiques and original artworks with an unexpected eclectic contemporary twist.

The special charm and the cozy mood of Pegasus will make you feel like a true resident of the hotel. There were lily and rose flowers arranged in exquisitely designed flower vases at the center of each small tables in the hall.

"A, over here" Rose waved to Annabelle as Annabelle made her way into the hall holding a beautifully wrapped gift. Rose was quite stunned seeing Annabelle because she knew that the dress Annabelle wore was not the one she had given to her the day before. Annabelle even got her a gift after she specifically told her she didn't need to. Rose was very happy and quite impressed surprise apparent in her eyes, she did not notice the expression Elisa was giving was very off.

Annabelle was not exactly beautiful but she had a clean refreshing look which made her look attractive, now dressed in the exquisite gown with her beautifully done makeup and wavy hairdo, she looked so breathtakingly beautiful that people could not help but do a double take when looking at her. some of the guests present were from the same university as the girls and could not help but discuss Annabelle

"Are you seeing this, who knew Annabelle could be so beautiful?" a girl said with jealousy apparent in her eyes as she dragged her partner eagerly to a corner of the hall to get a better view of Annabelle without being too visible. "Oh my God! who is she wearing?" another chimed in, her eyes shining brightly seeing the evening dress.

"I have not seen that design before, who do you think designed it," a fashion student asked one of her course mates. "Maybe her friends got the dress for her," another one said reasonably this time. another one snorted "Hey, why don't you think before you talk" "What! Did I say something wrong". "Apparently, that type of dress can not even be afforded by any of her friends" "Yes, that is true, even Elisa cannot hold a candle to her this night in that dress" the discussion continued as Annabelle made her way over to her friends, Elisa heard some of the discussions and was even more displeased with Annabelle.

Annabelle could not help but blame the old woman in her heart, the old woman had called her some days ago asking about her address. She did not know why the old woman asked but she gave her the address anyway. The day before while Annabelle was working on her project, her doorbell rang. it was almost time for her lunch when the old woman came and hence Annabelle entered into the kitchen to cook for herself and the old woman.

Annabelle was still cooking in her kitchen when she heard her doorbell followed by a knock on the door, she was stepping out of the kitchen when the old woman shouted at her. "Do you want to burn the food, how useless" "I just want to get the door, could you help me with that then?. It is not like you are doing anything anyway" she replied helplessly 'You are not even my grandmother', she mumbled under her breath.

"I could help you but I won't," the old woman said resting on the couch with her legs on Annabelle's coffee table. "Go on, I am very hungry or do you want me to starve to death because I came to your place, nonsense" as she heard this Annabelle had no choice but to turn back into the kitchen mumbling to herself incoherently. She had long forgotten Rose had promised to send her the dress today.

The old woman was satisfied seeing her enter the kitchen Annabelle looked like an adorable kitten. the old woman stood up and went to answer the door. Annabelle had gotten a package. After the old woman had signed for it, she tore the package immediately without waiting for the owner. In the package was a rose-colored invitation card, alongside a beautiful chiffon evening gown.

After grandma Adrian saw this, she was perplexed, she read the invitation card in astonishment before she noticed the small note pinned to the dress. The note read:

'Dear A, I believe this dress is perfect for you to wear to my birthday party and seeing the party is grand this year I bought this for you; I hope you like it. The directions and other details of the party are embedded in the invitation card' Love, Rose

Annabelle came out of the kitchen and saw the old woman focused on something when she moved closer and discovered what it was, she frowned. "Grandma Adrian, you know it is wrong to open someone else's mail" Grandma Adrian sneered before replying "I did not know you liked this kind of gifts. At first, I was wondering why your wardrobe was filled with so many new clothes and then bam! I found my answer" she said exaggeratedly as she hit her walking cane on the dress she laid on the coffee table making Annabelle scrunch up her face.

Standing up she went into Annabelle's bedroom. Annabelle was no longer surprised at her actions when the old woman had arrived earlier, she had given herself a tour of the whole apartment yelling things like 'Not bad', 'Throw it away' 'Burn it' 'Too old' and the likes. Treating herself like the owner of the apartment. At first, Annabelle was annoyed but she got used to it later on.

Seeing the old woman go into her room again, she could only shake her head helplessly. turning around to walk back to the kitchen, she heard the old woman scream out loud. Annabelle was shocked and ran into her bedroom her heart in the mouth. looking at the old woman and seeing she was fine, she calmed down but seeing as grandma Adrian was staring intently at something in her wardrobe, she followed her gaze.

A look of horror and surprise flitted through her eyes. 'Why was she looking at it and how exactly did she find it' Ever since she moved into this apartment her three friends had visited but not once had they found it.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Grandma Adrian broke into a smile as she ran her hands through the fabric. The fabric was so beautiful and delicate to the touch, the small gems that were encrusted at the chest of the dress shone brightly as she took out the dress from the wardrobe. It was simple but stunning.

Grandma Adrian could not hold her curiosity any longer, she turned to Annabelle with questions in her eyes. Seeing as Annabelle was intentionally avoiding her gaze, she decided to ask her straight. "Belle, dear tell this beautiful sister how this wonderful creation came to be," she said this while running her hands longingly on the dress. Annabelle humped 'She has turned into a sister again'

Annabelle had no reason to keep the truth from her and looking at the old woman's smiling face she melted forgetting her earlier annoyance. "I made it myself" "Hmm" the old woman nodded her head before registering Annabelle's words "What!" her eyes grew bigger in disbelief. She stood up straight and looked directly into Annabelle's eyes. Noticing that she was telling the truth she was quite impressed.

"That is wonderful dear," she said "Now guess what you will be wearing for that party tomorrow she said excitedly. "No, No, No" Annabelle shook her head vigorously. Remembering everything that transpired and how Grandma Adrian came to her place to painstakingly do her makeup she had to give in to her requests and surprisingly she was good at what she did. There was definitely a lot of mysteries surrounding grandma Adrian she thought.