Rihanna was dressed in a fancy black suit. Dress pants, an ivory colored satin blouse and a black dress jacket that hugged her waist.

The huge ball room inside the Academy was prepared for the event, classical music, round tables, a stage, flowers, waiters, wine, food, it was all there. The crowds of well known national and international leaders, both men and women, elders and youth roamed around in grace, talking and laughing under enormous chandeliers, dressed in black and white, and sipping on wine glasses.

Rihanna made her way through the crowds of people, heading toward a familiar person. Vincent glanced back at her, she looked down at her shoes and smiled. While walking away, she turned back to look at him. He was talking to a person in front of him, though she knew clearly well who he was smiling back to.

She made her way toward the chocolate truffles, as she put one inside her mouth, her body shivered as breathing tickled the back of her neck.

She looked behind her...

And...

No.

No no no no NO!

She turned back around, grasping the table, suffocated with shock. There was no way. No way that he was here. Out of everyone that could possibly be behind her today, how was it remotely possible that he was.

"I almost didn't recognize you." He said, taking a truffle and popping it in his mouth as well. "We still have the same interests though, don't we?"

Rihanna turned around, facing him. "Charles."

He tipped his black round hat. "My pleasure."

"What are you doing here?" Rihanna demanded.

"There she is. The girl I know. Not the smiley nauseating one. This girl."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really, do you not? Should I make a toast then? For everyone here to know what is it exactly I'm talking about."

Rihanna grabbed the cup he was holding and placed it on the table, then snatched his hand in hers and made her way to a vacant side in the room.

She whirled around in anger, her eyes blazing into his. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"Oh nothing. I just wanted to say hello. You know, wanted to bring our old friendship back."

"I don't want our old friendship." She looked around nervously.

He had never seen her in such an intimidated state before. And he liked it, a lot.

"Why not, did that shit head Vincent tell you to stay away from me?"

"I have control over my own life. No one tells me what to do and where to go. Therefore, this decision is mine. Mine."

"Oh, please! Attending this hell hole would be the last thing you'll ever do." He said, rubbing Dawn Academy's pin on Rihanna's dress jacket between his thumb and forefinger. "Or is that your decision too, you two faced hypocrite."

With the corner of her eyes, Rihanna noticed Katerina and Alvin make their way towards them.

"Leave." Rihanna hissed at him under her breath.

"Hey Rihanna!" Katerina greeted her. "I still haven't seen your parents. When will they come?"

Rihanna smiled. "Oh, it seems like they won't make it after all." Was it okay to say this and get away with it? Rihanna really hoped so.

"Who's this?" Katerina asked, smiling shyly.

"Him?" Rihanna asked. "He was just leaving." She glared at Charles.

Charles didn't budge. Instead he eyed Rihanna with unsaid confusion, then looked back at Katerina. With a smirk in his voice, he said. "Oh, why are you so mean Rihanna, let me meet your so called friends."

He took ahold of Katerina's hand and kissed the back of it. "Hello my lady, thank you for letting me see such fine beauty this good evening."

Alvin stuck the back of his hand for Charles too, expecting him to kiss it. "What about me?"

Charles blinked at him, caught off guard with confusion. "You're friends with this douche?" He whispered in Rihanna's ear.

She shrugged.

"Well, we're leaving. Have a food-ful event Rihanna, I know I will." Alvin said, walking away with Katerina, who looked back and smiled at Charles one last time.

Rihanna rolled her eyes.

"So many questions..." Charles remarked as he stared after them.

"I don't want to hear it."

The speakers above turned on.

"Ladies and gentleman, thank you so much for joining us. May I say how exceedingly lovely and handsome you all look tonight. I do hope each and every one of you will be satisfied with the items we have here. They are one of the most rare and most prepossessing items ever given to Dawn Academy, so much that they are museum worthy. If you do win an item, please make sure you take great care of it. They are as precious to us as they will be to you."

By the time the headmistress was done, everyone had taken their seats on the white round tables, getting their number ready in their hands.

The first was a painting, which went for four million in U.S. dollars.

And as more and more items were presented on the stage, Rihanna became more uncomfortable with the room's atmosphere, and decided to breathe outside instead.

A moment later, Vincent stood behind her, hugging her closely to him and resting his chin on the top of her head. "My little baby feeling okay?" He asked.

"I think so."

They both stared at the star filled sky in silence. "Why did you leave there?" Rihanna asked.

"They had a five minute break." He said.

"Oh."

"What about you?"

"In all honesty?"

"Yes."

"I didn't like looking at all those rich parents."

He sighed.

She turned around and smiled. "Did you like the little heart I put on the invitation card?"

He blinked in confusion. "You sent one?"

"What do you mean I sent one?! Didn't you send a driver to retrieve it so it doesn't go to the address I wrote?"

"Yes, but the driver was told that nothing was to be sent back. So I thought you didn't listen to my text messages."

Rihanna covered her face. "Vincent, I wrote the card. It had the names and the new address and everything."

"Calm down. Let's figure this out." He looked around and pulled her to the back of the school, deciding to discuss this in private.

An hour later, Rihanna was making her way inside the doors when suddenly they were shut in her face. One of Dawn's Angel's pulled her by the arm until she was standing by the water fountain, in between dressed up angry girls.

"You disgusting low class filth of a human." Summer sneered.

Rihanna glanced at the stairway, where Charles sat down smoking a cigarette, eyeing them with squinted eyes.

"What do you think you're doing at an event like this? Are you trying to muddy it with your disgusting family name?"

Rihanna's face wrinkled with confusion. What is she talking about now?

"We found your invitation card. Turns out we didn't get enough information on you the last time. Now I'm insisting on what kind of connection your father has!"

"You're misunderstanding! I didn't write that card!" Rihanna quickly lied, feeling nervous.

"Really, you'd think we'd hire some idiot to do the background check? We saw your files under the family registry. We dug deeper into your family's history. One parent unemployed. The other a dirty bastard. Who went to jail multiple times for burglary. A dirty money dog."

Rihanna clenched her hands into fists and tried to make her way out of the circle.

One of the girls pushed her back. "Where do you think you're going? We're not done with you."

"This is all going to Lexis. He'll know how to deal with you." Another one said.

No!

Not him!

"Girls girls girls!" Charles mocked, walking over with his hands in his pockets. "What are you bothering Rihanna for?"

Summer turned and looked at him. "You know her Charles?"

"Of course." He said, smirking while staring at Rihanna knowingly. "How would I not know the person who now owes everything to me."

Again, rereaders, lets tone down the hints on characters in this books. 

Thanks :)