"With confidence, you have won before you have started."

'~~~~|~~~~'

I stand in front of the body-length mirror as I place my long, diamond earrings into the piercings of my earlobe.  

My eyes look away from myself in the mirror, and focus on the door opening, along with Titus entering.

I avert my eyes in disinterest. "I don't like that dress," He sighs in exhaustion. "I don't know how many times I have to say it."

I ignore him as I walk over to my makeup desk, taking a seat as I run a manicured finger over my exfoliated lips, "Well, I'm already in it," I murmur. I apply my lip primer and afterward, I pucker my lips at my reflection.

I see him check his phone from my peripheral vision, "We have enough time, change it." He speaks nonchalantly as he takes off his white dress shirt and replaces it with a white one. 

My eyes gaze at the sight of his toned midriff, my dark eyes swiftly running over his chest hair in neither appreciation nor disgust.

Without answering, I shake my head in anguish and grab my lip liner to outline the shape of my lips.

He looks to me again, from what I could see in the reflection. He places a hand low on his hip and bends his knee slightly, pushing said hip to the side, "I take your lack of response as an indicator that you'll do what I say?"

I hum a tune in my head. What was it? I think it was from that movie I watched yesterday or was it from that series...? I couldn't remember. Anyway, it was time for my red, matte lipstick. I applied it with great precision, my eyes roaming over my overall finished makeup look since I had applied my eye and face makeup prior.

I stand and head to my closet, grabbing my black pair of stiletto heels with a red underside. As sit on the bed and strap up, I reply in annoyance, "I'm going over to help Jenny with the kids, so no, there isn't enough time." I keep my voice soft and stoic.

I stick my chin up in the air as I make a move to our bedroom door after giving myself a once over again in the mirror.

A strong pull on my forearm stops me from going any further, my eyes flying to the tight force that is exerted on my arm. I look up at his azure eyes, mischief swirling at the surface. He lets go of me after fully turning me to face him, pleased that his point had gotten across to me, based on the flick of fear that flickered across my features for just a quick second.

I won't break.

"I think now you'll agree that you should change," He spoke with a small smile on his face as he tucked his bowtie beneath his neck snugly.

I refuse to break.

I clear my throat as I try to discreetly rub the spot that his hand held onto, hoping to ease the slight discomfort that lingered even though he removed his grimy hands.

"Jenny is wa—" I begin but he cuts me off.

"What day is tomorrow? Wait, isn't that the due date for your mother's medical treatment? I'm sure of it, but it doesn't hurt to double-check," He looks down at his wrist as he clips his cufflinks shortly, his eyes catching my gaze again.

I won't... break.

He continues, "Next month is important for her, yes? Now again, I'll say—" He steps closer to me as he grips my chin between his fingers. "Get. Changed."

Just like that, my head hangs low to the floor, my make-believe confidence shattering as I head to my side of the closet again— finally breaking.

'~~~~|~~~~'

After calling Jennifer to inform her that I couldn't make it because something really important came up at home, I sit in the limousine and sip my red wine.

My thoughts kept drifting to how hard it must be right now to get three children ready in only a short space of time, but knowing Jenny, hopefully, she'd be able to pull it off.

I straighten the dress on my body as I lap my feet, my eyes focused on nothing as I sip.

Just then, the door opens and Titus steps in, looking in the small mirror in front of him as he ruffles his hair a little. He was a man that often cared about how he looked, more times than others.

And tonight seemed to be one of those nights since he continuously swept his hair about his head and straightened his bowtie. He lowered the partition and spoke to his driver, "Let's go."

We arrived at our destination after about an hour. As usual, the conversation, or rather, lack of conversation was unexistent. He simply told me to pass him the bourbon, and that was it. It didn't bother me at all, since I used to this process after all these years.

The vehicle stopped, and the driver opened the car doors and outstretched a hand to help me.

I'm instantly met with flashing lights of cameras, but my eyes have practically already become immune to them so I just smile brightly, grabbing onto Titus' arm as he walks over to me.

As always, we greet the crowd with million-dollar smiles, all the way into the venue where we're greeted with more people and where our smiles appear larger than before.

Titus straightens his back, albeit already standing tall and stiff like a statue. I look up at him, my gaze shifting to how he looks around his surroundings until his pupils stop searching when they land on a particular crowd.

Oh brother.

There couldn't have been a more snobby, uptight, and incredibly self-centered group of people on the entire planet. I internally roll my eyes as we make our way over to the said group.

Beatrice, the wife of a well-established writer, was the first to notice our presence, or rather, Titus' presence. I knew she adored him, and if it wasn't for the fact that she was 20 years his senior, she certainly would have been more open about her affections toward him.

She gushed as she gave him a kiss, her old, crinkly lips landing right on the corner of his lips. Beatrice smoked charmingly as she swiped her thumb across where she kissed, removing the evidence of her lipstick from the area.

"Titus, dear, you look impeccable as always," She nodded. Her husband ignored her advances as he spoke to another lady next to him. It was clear that she was unfaithful to him, and him her. She turned her attention to me, passing a tight-lipped smile, "And of course, Demiah; stunning. I could just feel you filling the entire room— with your radiance, of course." She looked to her daughter, Lillian, and chuckled elegantly at her subtle joke.

I release an infectious laugh, looking at the floor for a moment before raising my chin, "As do you. I'd even go as far as saying you don't look a day over 70," I join in the laughter as I lightly tap her shoulder.

I grab a champagne glass quickly as a waiter walks by to stop myself from obnoxiously laughing as I see her face turns sour.

Titus squeezes my hand in warning.

I clear my throat as I look behind me in curiosity, just as I see Jenny and Ryan walk into the room. As always, I feel my stomach flutter with jealousy at what they have, and what I would never be able to enjoy.

I look back to the people before me, "Excuse me," I mutter, detaching my hand from Titus' sharply.

I strut away, grabbing another glass of champagne to calm down from another server who passes by with also looks to be caviar on his tray. I didn't need to stress out myself. I walk over to Jennifer casually, leaning over when Jenny initiates a kiss on my cheek.

"Hey, Ryan," I nod to him in greeting. "And hello to you, Caden. Don't you look dapper," I compliment as I bring his blazer closer to his chest.

He places his hands in his pocket and puffs out his chest in manliness, causing his father to chuckle and ruffle his hair, much to Caden's dismay.

Just then, a tall man comes swiftly walking in, his tux in disarray and eyes tired. I take a step back when I see him. I've seen a lot of attractive men at parties and events like these, but this one was very appealing to the eye.

Despite the obvious distress and worry in his eyes, it was obvious that he held himself with poise and grace, and surely dominance.

He stands between Jenny and Ryan, "Oh! D, this is Leviathan Morterez. Forgive him, his wife is stuffed with his son at home so he's having a fit and annoying her every 2 minutes."

It wasn't a surprise to me that he was married or even was expecting a baby for that matter.

Levi rolls his dark-colored eyes in exasperation and holds out his hand, "Nice to meet you, call me Levi," He shakes my soft hand firmly.

"The pleasure's mine," I say softly. "If you don't mind me asking, how far along is she?"

He sighs and rubs a hand down his face, "She was due two days ago and we already have two girls, a twin. Now you know why I'm not exactly calm."

I nod my head in understanding, turning my attention to Jennifer when she speaks, "Her name's Ophelia, she's so sweet."

"Yes, she is," He smiles. He looks down at his phone quickly when a notification comes through. "It's Shalissa," He rushes out, and not even a full second later he's already out of the room and on his phone.

"Who's—" Ryan interrupts me.

"The kids' godmother, she's staying with Ophelia tonight. Levi's getting an award and one of them had to come to accept it," He explains.

"Ah," I mutter. I take a sip of my champagne, looking back to Titus and how he was socializing with Beatrice and Lillian. He said something and I could hear Lillian giggle before placing a slender hand on his shoulder.

I look away.

"D— D?" I hear Jennifer calling me.

"Hmm?" I answer distractingly.

"You okay, honey?" She questions worriedly.

I look away, "Yeah, yeah. Of course," I smile tightly as I look back to Jennifer and Ryan. "What were you saying again?"

'~~~~|~~~~'

~1792 words

Her sister edited this because she be damn lazy.