"So your mom is skipping the ball?" Amyra asks with a clearly confused face.

"Shocker right?" I mumble as I slip my heels on. I take a look at the mirror, admiring my dress. The off-white dress, flowed down my body stopping at my ankle, the spaghetti straps lay over my shoulders, I pass my hand over the gold, leaf-like patterns that flowed through the dress.

"Can we go shopping tomorrow? I have a date with Liam," she mumbles and I quickly turn to her.

"Oh My God. Myra, we haven't stalked the shit out the guy and you wanna go on a date with him?" I smack her arm.

"Shut up. We're not stalking this one!" I pout with disappointment.

"Remember the French model?" she points out the worst case of our stalking series.

"Yuck. Don't bring that up." I scowl.

"Can we leave now?" she asks, she always enjoyed these events, unlike me.

"Yeah, let's hope we don't run into any French models." I sigh.

She rolls her eyes.

I walk around my apartment, taking the lights off and locking my doors.

"Let's go." We walk into the empty elevator.

"Let's take a picture, my public says I'm not as active on my socials as I used to be." she rolls her eyes, Myra loves rolling her eyes.

She pulls out her phone, taking a quick video of us, then posts it on her Instagram story, tagging.

The elevator stops and we exit into the crowded lobby. Flashes of light and chattering fills the air, the paparazzi.

Oh God.

"Should I throw my shoe at them again?" Myra mumbles as we walk to the doors. I laugh giving her the 'Don't you dare' look. She actually threw her shoe at the paparazzi once, in two days, Jace bought it off eBay.

The glass doors are pushed open, as we step out into the chilly, night air, the city lights lighting up the streets, the cars passing on almost everystreet. God, I loved this city.

Flashes of light, almost blind us as we walk towards the limo.

"Who are you wearing tonight Sophia?"

"Amyra, are you dating anyone at the moment?"

"Sophia, you were spotted with Axton today? Are you two together?" My mind immediately goes back to Axton and I at lunch today, I spent the rest of the day with the memory in my mind, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

"Are you two happy for Axton?"

"We're very happy for him and Piper, can't wait for the wedding!" I say as Amyra grabs my hand, pulling me closer to her. I don't get why they don't answer them, after all this is their job, they probably get less money for every unanswered question.

The lights flash with every step we take.

The limo's doors are opened for us and we quickly get in, losing the paparazzi.

"So, what did you and Axton talk about today?" she asks and I look at her as if she's my mom forcing me to go to the dentist.

"Just normal talk, reminiscing, remember that time Jace jumped out Axton's window?" I giggle at the memory.

"Oh My God! Yes!" she burst out laughing, I swear she's crying.

"My make-up! Crap, Sophia this is your fault!" she pulls out a make-up wipe from her clutch and attempts to fix her mascara. While I'm still laughing.

My phone rings and I see it's my mom calling.

"Hi mom!"

"Hey honey, are you on your way yet?" Shit. I forgot to tell her I'm going to the ball.

I look at Amyra and she looks at me.

"Sophia! Thank you so much for going to the ball with me! I- I just can't go alone!" Amyra starts fake crying and I hold in my laugh.

"Oh dear, Amyra sounds really upset Soph, it's okay, you're a good friend for sticking with her." my mom says with such kindness. As if her first performance didn't sell to my mom, Amyra starts venting and crying,

"Everything is so stressful!" I place my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

"Oh my, Sophia, take good care of her, I'm going now."

"I'm sorry for ditching mom, have fun!" she hangs up and Amyra starts laughing as I message my sister that I won't be coming.

"Why didn't you go though?" Myra asks.

"Well, dad came by my office telling me to skip because everyone at home is skipping since he wasn't gonna go."

"Huh?" she asks.

"Exactly, it's strange, I think he'll be here tonight, I just know it." I sigh.

"Well, guess we'll find out tonight."

I hum in response as the limo stops.

The doors are opened and we step out.

The steps leading into the hall are somewhat like a castle, I always loved reading out here.

The paparazzi run up to us as well as fans that risk their lives to get autographs and pictures.

"Sophia, why aren't you attending with your parents?"

"Will the Rivera family be attending this year?"

"Amyra your older brother is in the city, will he be here?" She doesn't answer as we climb the concrete stairs, leading into the hall.

The crowded hall comes into view, a lot, and I mean a lot of people are in the hall, champagne in hand, smiles on their face, some overly priced clothing on them, and 'casual' talk coming out their mouths.

"Sophia, Amyra!" Mrs. Wesley greets us.

"Hi Mrs. Wesley," we say in unison.

"So sad your mom couldn't make it tonight!" she frowns at me.

"I know she never missed this ball in years!" I

"At least your dad is here. Well to the public he isn't, he requested his name be taken off the list and access to the back door. Discreet man." she jokes, but now I'm even more confused. Why did he lie to us?

Amyra grabs my hand,

"We're going to find Jace now," Amyra smiles at Jace's mom.

She laughs, " Have fun girls!" With that we walk away, into the crowd.

"Sophia! Where is the Lovely Mrs. Rivera?" one of my models, James asks me.

"She skipped." I gave him a small smile as he nodded.

We walk through the hall, making small talk with everyone.

"Amyra Singh and Sophia Rivera spotted walking out Rivera's apartment building," Jace speaks walking up to us, behind him is a very good-looking Axton, grey suit, perfectly styled hair, million dollar smile on his face as he talks to who I'm guessing are business partners. Our eyes meet and he looks me up and down, is it just me, or is it really hot in here?

"I thought you were gonna wear that black suit forever," I tell him.

"I won't mind if you wore that dress forever." his fingertips brush over the spaghetti straps of my dress. I suck in a breath.

"Soph! There's your dad." We all turn around, there he was, two champagne glasses in hand.

"I thought Mr. Rivera was in-" Before Jace can finish Amyra slaps his hand.

"Ouch." he pouts.

"We all thought so Jace." I sigh and my eyes meet Axton's. His face is filled with anger.

"What?" I ask him.

"Come with me." he grabs my hand and drags me towards my dad.

"What are you doing Axton?" I ask him as he pulls me across the room.

"Sophia!"

"Hi Mrs. Rhodes!" I merely finish as Axton drags me towards my dad.

As we reach closer to him, his eyes meet mine, but the familiar feeling of betrayal sinks into my stomach. There he is, arms wrapped around another woman.

"Dad?" My voice breaks.