Game Day Part 1

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I'm a nervous wreck. That should be obvious. Right?

I am sitting and staring at my feet as Pandora bustles around me, fixing makeup onto my face. No mask this time, because well, the weird artist dude had seen the real one, plus we have invites so the police will leave us alone if we just have proper IDs. And Blaise always takes care of that problem.

Pandora brings out her trusty curling iron and starts curling my ratty brown hair into ringlets, while whistling the Office theme song. I have been instructed to not talk to her when she is working on me, not because she gets distracted, but because she thinks my voice is annoying. Not that I find it hurtful...right?

I am sitting in a beautiful flowing teal cocktail dress with off shoulder sleeves and delicate, yet very fake, Swarovski crystals woven into the bodice. And I have a teal neck piece made with the same cloth, with swirling crystal designs on it, and it gives a whole Cinderella vibe. And well, Pandora was going to put my hair up, but when she noticed that it might make me a brunette Cinderella, she put my hair down. We don't question Pandora around here.

Next to me, Ariadne is making minor adjustments to Cassandra's dress which is a regal ankle-length, mermaid style dress made with silvery-grey material with cute white cloth flowers stitched into the sides in a swirling pattern. Alby is already done with her makeup, with her choppy hair put up into a bun with a pink headband to match her baby pink skater-dress, which has the cutest ribbon on the waist, making her look much younger than she is. In a good way.

Rey whistles as she walks in, with her makeup and security get-up all done, looking just like one of the security-company's guards. And Dhara follows her.

"Look at you all dolled up," Rey grabs Alby's hand and playfully twirls the girl around, she giggles while her dress flows around her gracefully. I swear to God, Alby can make anything suit her.

"Okay, focus Rey," Minji says, "We're going through the plan once more."

I clear my throat, "Your sole purpose is to be on the path between the stage and the basement room, and make sure other guards are not there. Kai runs by you, you guide the guards in the opposite direction. Cassie," I turn to my grey dressed beauty, "You are going to go to the bathroom and cause distractions if Rey and Dhara get swamped, okay?"

"Yuri!" I call out to my driver who then runs into the room with a Twinkie in one hand and leather gloves in her other hand.

"You got the bike in position?" Minji asks.

She nods with a mouthful of Twinkie.

I smile, "Perfect," I turn to Mon, "Fully functioning silencer fitted into the bike?"

Mon nods, "Yes."

Minji turns to Yuri, "Get Kai out of there as soon as possible, Mon will try to cover up the tunnel, but if it's too risky, she'll get out of there as well."

"You know where to go after that," I tell Yuri.

"That dude was so stupid to just randomly hand out invites," Pandora suddenly remarks.

Minji nods at her, "Yeah, we made a gamble on whether we could stroke his ego enough to get him romantically interested in one of us, and luckily for us, he seemed very into Alicia."

I put on a smirk, "After all, no one can resist my charm."

Dhara smiles, "Well you got all of us into this stupid crew, so I guess not."

Minnie looks offended, "Hey! Some of my charm was involved here as well."

Blaise walks into the living room with her laptop, "Come on now, everyone, test your ear pieces."

Pandora turns to Ariadne, "How do you feel about finishing off that season of Criminal Minds eh?"

⚜️

7:02 pm, February 3nd, 2019
Fortuna Auctions Pvt. Ltd
Chicago, Illinois, United States Of America

I park our Sedan outside the building which I have visited hundreds of times these past two weeks, and yet a part of me is viewing it with a different perspective as I marvel at all the luxury cars scattered around the parking lot, some being driven by ushers, while some being driven by the owner who are too entitled to trust the ushers.

I climb out and wait for Allie to close the backseat door before walking out with the two grifters into the front yard where lights were set up and a man in a crisp black suit stood, examining each invite.

His eyebrows rise as the three approached him, and I take my time to deliberately open up my pearl studded clutch to pull out the invite which the dear artist had provided us with.

The man takes it then nods at us, "Welcome, young ladies. I hope you have a nice night."

I am about to reciprocate the gesture when I feel a sharp pinch.

Ah I forgot that we just coldly nod at them, and not actually talk to the staff.

So I follow the weird rule which Cassandra had told me about and give the man a curt nod before walking in, and I cringe at the noise my heels make when they make contact with the marble floors.

Click, clack, click, clack.

We walk slowly, with our chins up as we enter the hall where dozens of folk all dressed up in gowns and suits ate gathered around, eating hors de vours or drinking champagne.

We attract a few gazes, either insecure women in their mid thirties, or competitive women of the same age, or men who might or might not be married.

I purse my lips into a thin smile as a familiar face walks towards us, in a blue and black tuxedo with a black shirt underneath.

"I knew I made a good choice inviting you," he smiles at the three of us.

"I don't even know your name," he then realises, as he looks at Allie and Cassie.

I smile, "You already know me, Brianna. And well, you have met Rosanna and Marie," I point to Alby and Cassandra respectively.

"Such beautiful names, come on I will get you champagne," Angelo Perucci says in a thick accent. Ah, now it is a gamble on who he will try to seduce first.

I follow him, when a tall figure in a grey tuxedo catches my eye.

I hear Allie's voice beside me, and I turn to see her pointing at him "Hey, isn't that-"

"Shit," I curse as I behold the one person who knows my real name in this crowd.

"Isn't that the security company dude?" Cassandra whispers to me.

"Hm?" Artist guys asks.

Cassie smiles, "I was just admiring the decoration. The organizer must be really talented."

The artist laughs, "Oh, I did most of the planning. But thank you."

"But his company is not hired for today's project," I whisper to the two. 

"Then why is he here?" Allie asks.

"He's turning our way," Cassandra whispers urgently. She shoves me away from her, and I know that I can't be in his sight. I weave through the crowd, far away from him, and spy at Allie and Cassie who are talking to the artist who is looking around, probably for me.

Shit Alicia, what the fuck?

I switch on my earpiece, hopefully Blaise is around right now, "Hey! We've got a problem."

Blaise's voice comes back, "What? The tunnel was discovered? Cassandra tripped on her dress and cracked her head open?"

Colorful speculations indeed.

"No, Lucas is here, and he knows my real identity!"

"I'm sorry, Lucas? Who's Lucas?"

"Leesh stop dreaming about hot security man and focus on the job," I hear Minnie's distant voice.

"No! He's here," I protest. They really need to stop the teasing, we're not a high school study group which doesn't actually study.

"Oh wow, just avoid the dude," Minji sounds unamused.

"Helpful."

I walk around and away from where Lucas is standing with two very attractive women one of which is looking at him like he is a piece of meat.

I can't see his face but I can tell he must be having the time of his life. He doesn't have a girlfriend to make him hold back from single ladies hitting on him.

"Alicia! Get to the painting, it's crowded as hell, I'll mess with the cameras," Blaise's voice comes through the earpiece suddenly, jumpscaring me.

"I can't," I sigh, "Alby has the equipment."

"Okay then, scout around the corridors, get us some footage for Rey and Dharuna," Minnie says on the bluetooth.

I slip on my pair of sunglasses and step out into the corridor outside the hall, which leads to the bathrooms.

Suddenly I'm shoved to the side.

"I'm so sorry, miss," I hear an English accent. Oh no. Oh shit.

Run Alicia, run while you still can.

Then a man comes in front of me. A young sandy haired man in a crisp black tuxedo.

I sigh internally, "It is all good."

"Will! Slow down!" I hear a very familiar voice behind me, probably calling out to this man in front of me.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Run. Run. Run.

I purse my lips and start to walk forward, fast.

I hear the blonde's voice again, "Miss! You dropped your glasses!"

Shit.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I come face to face with-

"Alicia?"

Goddamnit.

⚜️

Hello hello! I hope my descriptions of their dresses were decent because damn it's hard to write.

The next few chapters will be a lot more character centric and there will be a fast pace of the plot so be prepared.

Also, The next few chapters may or may not have different POVs because Alicia can't be present everywhere...