Chapter 7: the ball: facade
Axiom Academy
Russia
'The Welcoming ball' was a legacy of Axiom Academy to accept talented students across the globe. From the past 60 years this institution stood out not only for it's exemplary education but also for the prestige and privileges it provided to the name of it's students.
Maximus Strom, Alaina's father strengthen it's pillars with time while his brother Reece Strom contributed his life towards the Academy as a teacher and principal.
Although Cally's father also enjoyed his childhood and teenage years as it's scholar, he was never interested in continuing their legacy- Valace Strom didn't wished to be the part of his brother's world, he had plans.....plans which were very different from them.
Students here were children of most influential business tycoons, though the Storms remained the undisputed Kings among them, but this Academy was much more than business for Maximus Strom.
The ballroom which with it's marble flooring of rich black colour was complimenting it's golden embroidered walls which were draped with ebullient red curtains, a set of gold chandeliers adorning the high ceiling of the room. Mahogany wood tables laid across the room, draped with golden covers.
Alcoholic drinks were strictly prohibited,overrated expensive wines from the finest vein yards and most elegant food, beverages and fruits which were deemed as an extravagancy even among the richest were meant to be served.
In all it was a display of the royalty of Storms.
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Storm palace
Russia
Cally's POV
"Cally, you are going to look gorgeous, although you are naturally beautiful."Aunt Sandra was currently doing my hair straight,her dirty blonde hair flowing in waves over her olive skin, with bright blue eyes that displayed nothing but kindness and love, she was the definition of beauty, although Alaina had her features, she had eyes and hair of her father.
"Thank you Aunt Sandra, I don't know what will I do without you"she just kissed my head and passed an affectionate smile.
If only in your position my mother would have been there, I would have really been happy instead of hiding my fury.
"Flower, I and your uncle will arrive later at the ball, you and Alaina can go together. Will you please tell her that she needs to go to office first and talk about the speech to Reece, we are already running late." "Will do aunt, no worries" I stated and took a sigh of relief, Uncle Max kept persisting us to give speeches, either it would be Laina or me and I was in no mood to make the glory of Strom empire rise with my hardwork.
If it can't be mine it won't be her's too.
School was decorated lavishly. After parting my ways with my stubborn cousin who sneered at me after knowing she had to make the speech, I made my way towards the ballroom with two bodyguards following my trance.
Alaina accepted my apology thinking I was trying to be better a fool.
My off shoulder, white, high-low gown with blue enhancement gave me several double takes from various students, yeah, all in all I looked cool, not a clown as stated by my sassy sister to which I replied that she looked like one herself.
To my surprise, different people greeted me and asked me to join them, I guess Alaina isn't so bad after all. She was now down to pretending that everything is fine between us but I can see her guard being high always.
Soon I will gain her trust.
"The arrangements are quite fine, everything is just looking dreamy." a girl Sasha chatted to me as I devoured a honey-lavender cake and took in my surroundings.
"Indeed it is breathtaking."
My words were swallowed as I took in a boy walking through the doors and surprisingly it had gotten quite in the ballroom.
He was the definition of handsome.
His blonde hair seemed to be perfectly swiped to one side, the amber colour shining like honey, a smirk was dancing on his full pink lips. His suit fitted him like a second skin showing off his muscular form, blue eyes winked towards the table of girls who were gawking at him and they seemed to go jello at his acknowledgement while others were swooning with their eyes wide and jaw slacked.
He was hot, like freaking hot I would give him that. But Sasha's comment woke me up. "interesno kak on v posteli" (i wonder how he is in bed).
I didn't looked at him like that, sure I was attracted to him but I wasn't too keen to be intimate with a person I just saw, no matter how gorgeous he was....not now atleast, I would not involve myself in something scandalous.
Now that my senses were regained, I saw two other people following him, surely his friends.
One was blonde with chocolate brown eyes with a rugged body, he was handsome with a friendly aura surrounding him.
Other was not gifted in looks department, he had belly fat and was out of shape, his eyes appeared to be green hidden behind spectacles. He appeared quiet and had a comforting presence. his steps were unhurried, focused.
If only I had known
Before the mightiest of hurricanes the weather remains calm.
By this time the sexy specimen had seated himself at a table infront of me, his eyes were dancing with amusement as he took in the surroundings and all of a sudden his eyes zeroed on me.
Baby blues clashed with my greens. His intense stare was burning me up and my cheekes got flushed to which he chuckled and send me a wink.
I was in a daze but as I heard an uproar of cheering my trance was broken.
"moi pozdravleniya (my greetings) dear friends." her voice commenced the crowd. Laced with elegance and authority, she gave a brief speech about Axiom Academy and it's foundation. Now as she was descending the stairs she truly looked like an angel.
Brown waves held by a silver hairband enhancing the simple red laced gown with a heart neckline.
And as I looked towards the sexy hunk, his eyes were wide taking her in, but as soon as she came closer his gaze left her. He had an undecipherable look on his face, with his eyes intensifying on her. He looked like he couldn't believe what he saw, the expressions screamed of awe. I couldn't blame him though but it spiked a tinge of jelousy in me.
I should have never trusted the seductress in the first place.
"Cally" she stopped infront of me and sat herself down, drowning herself in the various conversation with others. "the boy there, he is watching you, very intensely infact" I stated clenching my teeth.
But before she could see his way, the said person with his friends had made his way towards our table.
"My greetings Strom princesses"
She held gazes with him "And who this might be? "she asked in a curious tone.
"You can call me Ryan, love."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐