Double Dare Me

This year starts with another bang.

If I said this to my besties, Brit and Sarah, they would think I was referring to a bang that involved dicks and pussies. But this time, I’m talking about an extravagant year-end party with huge fireworks my company is hosting. The girls would probably be so proud of what I had become, though I doubt Sarah would like a new version of me. If only I’d never disappeared on them three years ago, I wouldn’t have been standing here, wondering what they would think of me.

The last batch of fireworks shoots into the air, prompting everyone to hold their breath with anticipation. After a few seconds of a pitch-black sky, the bright streaks form gigantic balls of colorful sparks, swallowing the darkness with their dancing lights, and showing the silhouette of the mountains that surround our valley. They’re breathtaking and hypnotizing.

Bang. Bang. Bang, bang, bang, bang.

After a while, I roam my eyes over the ballroom windows, where some people choose a warm room to watch the fireworks from. I can’t blame them because the temperature is no joke, and the wind is horrendous. But to me, the fireworks are not something to enjoy from behind the walls. I need to hear it, to see it explode above me, and to inhale its distinctive smokey scent.

The last part of the streaks shows off a golden writing ‘Happy New Year’ before the sky turns black and quiet again. Then the applauses from the local residents permeate the air as everyone shouts “Happy New Year” once again despite the countdown that took place fifteen minutes ago.

“Happy New Year! Such a lovely party!” says a tall blond man beside me, a glass of champagne in his hand. I don’t even know if he has been standing next to me for some time. “You did an excellent job, Ms. Scott.”

“Happy New Year.” Adjusting my glasses, I flash him a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Kingston. I refuse to take all the credit because, without my team, this party wouldn’t have succeeded. And it’s an honor to have you here with us.”

The man brushes his hair backward with his fingers as he smirks, which is supposed to be charming, but my churning stomach says otherwise. “I wouldn’t miss this party for the world. Northern Pearls is the best place to celebrate the year-end and to welcome new hope, especially when we don’t have a family to share this purposeful moment.” He glances down at me. “I’ve noticed that this is the second time you dedicated your time and effort to make this party happen. Don’t your family prefer to have you with them, Ms. Scott?”

I bite my inner cheek. He’s starting to touch the dangerous area of my life. “I’m lucky I don’t have to worry about them anymore.” I hug my coat tighter into my torso. It’s not the designer clothes I used to wear in the past, but it’s surprisingly warm and fashionable. The camel shade fits my strawberry-blond hair perfectly. I look elegant, but not too attractive, except maybe to this very man who has been following me throughout the party. I need to shake him off my tail.

“Oh, my apologies for bringing up the sour topic,” he says after he reads my expression. “The good thing is you have this place to move on with life. A big city is nice, but at the end of the day, small towns always win.”

So this man has looked up my background - my partially fake background. I need to be careful. “You can say that. Even though to me, the best place is where our heart is, big cities or not. People in this town are friendly and genuine, and this Resort has given me a new home. It’s impossible not to fall in love with this place.”

“I can see that.” He takes a swig of his champagne. “So, are you planning to stay here for good?”

He’s too nosey to my liking, but I keep a polite smile on my face. “That’s a million-dollar question. If I say yes today, it might change next year. So, I don’t know.” I shrug and sweep the resort’s south yard with my eyes, looking for a reason to escape this dangerous human hawk. And there is my savior, sauntering in our direction in her white coat as her dark hair dances in the air.

Ashley Darcy is the daughter of the owner of Northern Pearls Resort and the youngest of three siblings. Unlike her big brother and sister, she’s decided to stay back because she wants to take over her father’s throne as the CEO, but she’s not yet fully in charge of the business. Ashley can be annoying as fuck, yet she’s also the only person I can talk to because her sass draws me to her. In truth, she reminds me of Sarah, but Ashley acts more like a princess from a royal family.

“How dare you two exclude me from your little party,” she says before positioning herself between me and Adam Kingston.

“What party? Mr. Kingston and I just accidentally bumped into each other a minute ago. He wanted to express his appreciation to our year-end party.”

Ashley looks up at Adam with a flirtatious smile. “Hosting a party is one of the two things we’re good at.”

“Pray tell, what would be the other thing?”

Ashley tosses her hair and puckers her lips, making me wince inwardly. She should have learned from me how to seduce a man. “Entertaining our guests, of course.”

“Ah!” Adam raises an eyebrow. “I would like to hear more about it since I’m planning to stay for a couple more weeks.”

“I knew you would be back this year for a longer stay.” Ashley beams, shifting her position so that her back is on me as she gives Adam her full attention.

I know the girl is interested in that creepy dude, but since he’s only appeared a few times last year to meet her dad for a business talk, she hasn’t got a real chance to make a move. Apparently, her chance has arrived.

Slowly, I walk backward, careful not to attract Adam’s attention and keeping my sight blocked by Ashley’s figure. When I bump into a group of young people from the town, I mingle with them uninvitedly.

“Perry! Happy New Year!” says Nathan, the curly-haired guy. His cute, chubby face grins at me. “Another awesome party!”

“Happy New Year. Still not drunk yet? Wow.”

The boys laugh. “We’re going to Bill’s after this. Are you going to see him, too?”

“No, not today. I do need my bed after the party is wrapped up. I’ll bug him tomorrow,” I say. “I mean tonight.”

“Uncle Bill would love to,” a blond guy in his early twenties replies.

“Alright, gentlemen. Enjoy the rest of your party. I will need to make another stroll before calling it a day.”

“Okay. Good night, Perry.”

Glancing back at Ashley, I can see Adam listening to her blabber while his eyes are on me, causing my skin to crawl. I really don’t feel comfortable with his guts; he gives off bad vibes. Parker would tell his face off without bathing her eyelashes. She wouldn’t care about the price that could follow if she crossed with someone important. Parker just doesn’t give a fuck, but now I’m Perry Scott, the sweet and considerate girl who never gets herself into trouble because she needs to stay under the radar of her mental father.

I let out a sigh of relief when I finally enter my office. My job is done for tonight. Being the assistant of the future CEO of Northern Pearls Resort, I practically do most of the job. Ashley is not dumb, but she just doesn’t understand the extent of responsibilities she’ll carry when she takes over her father’s throne. That’s probably the reason Benjamin Darcy has been postponing his retirement.

“Thank God you’re here!” Liza Darcy storms into my office. “I thought you had left. I need a little favor.”

I frown at Ashley’s mother as I lock my drawers. “Sure. What favor?”

“The thing is, don’t tell Ashley.” She glances back at the door before quickly closing it.

“Uh, okay?” My reply sounds more like a question. Puzzled, I watch her walk toward me with a phone in her hand.

“It’s about Patricia. She’s coming home earlier than planned to surprise her dad,” she says, her voice thrilled to contain her excitement. “I want someone to plan for a homecoming party, especially since she’s going to bring her friends from Europe to spend a week in our resort for skiing. You know I can’t ask Ashley because” - she sighs - “you know how they are, don’t you?”

“But Ashley will be mad at me when she finds out.”

She waves her hand in dismissal. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to her, but until the homecoming party arrives, it’s going to be just between you and me. Please, Perry, you’re the only one I can count on. Everyone else is useless.”

I have so many objections to her request, especially that it has nothing to do with my job. But seeing Liza’s puppy eyes and considering how welcoming she was when I first joined her resort business, taking me in when I was hurt and confused, I can’t say no. Well, this is not something Perry would say no to.

I sigh and nod. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

Liza squeals. “I know you’re a savior sent from above.” She takes a few steps closer until she stands next to me, her floral perfume invading my nostrils. “Here, you might want to see the guests we’re going to expect. Patrice doesn’t list their names because, to her, it’s not important, but look, from their appearance, you should be able to predict what sort of people they are and their tastes. You’re always so good at it.”

Having her phone shoved to my face, I have to pull backward to take a distance from the screen to see properly. I recognize Patricia’s face in the picture right away, even though I only met her once in my first year in this resort. As expected, she’s surrounded by people from her social class, but I must say, they’re not the shallow kind. I just hope none of them recognize me.

“And she’s seeing someone now. He’s very handsome. Wait.” She takes the phone from my hand and slides her finger on the screen. “Here, look at him. He looks so charming and dangerous at the same time. A little older than I expected, but Patrice has always been showing interest in mature men. She met him in Paris, at a masquerade party...”

Liza’s delighted voice falters in my ears as my vigor leaves my body. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. It’s not him. It can’t be him.