They knew all about my plot for revenge against the cousins, and they were excited to watch it go down. Elaina had already dipped her toes in the waters of the affluent circles of landowners and swore that the introduction from her Perez brothers would only make the cousins squirm even more under the light of our newly acquired place in their world.
As we made our way over to the party, my heart was pounding with joy but I also had a nervous pang in the pit of my stomach about seeing the cousins again. The Perez brothers were hosting, and it was an especially prominent affair since they had spent the last few years being highly unsocial. Things changed when they met Elaina, and everyone was bustling to enjoy themselves at the lavish bash being thrown on their ranch.
We were escorted across the garden to the tables and tents, and I couldn’t believe that just months ago I was toiling away inside the Valencia estate watching events just like this one take place from afar. All those nights I spent missing home, watching the laughing guests out the window, I never once dreamed I would be attending one in my life...much less so soon, and under the perfect circumstances to throw it right in Leonardo’s face.
I stopped my sisters and nodded my head towards the cousins seated at their table, waiting for everything to begin. I intentionally wanted to stay out of sight until we were introduced. Elaina and Jada took note of who they were and shot me devilish grins. I glared at them from hiding and felt my body flush with renewed anger. Everything in me squirmed with the need for revenge, only now I finally had the means to carry it out. I was no longer powerless and at their mercy, and I intended to make good use of it.
“Right this way,” Marco directed us. He took us to the side of the stage and prepared for our introduction.
I loved seeing the way Elaina lit up around them. Both Marco and Felix were tall, strong, and impossibly handsome. My heart panged with a longing to find love for myself, but if I couldn’t find romance in my placement through the auction...the happiness I would get from my revenge would have to suffice. I imagined myself lighting up just like Elaina as my plans were carried out.
Marco and Felix took turns making a speech to the audience of rich landowners while we waited on the sidelines. Elaina and Jada locked their hands tightly with mine in anticipation. My heart was pounding with excitement as I stayed hidden behind them, keeping a close watch on Leonardo, Jorge, and Dario.
Elaina took the stage first, being introduced as Marco’s new wife. Then finally, the moment came when Marco announced my name. I was filled to the brim with pride and satisfaction as the wave of shock crashed over the cousins’ faces. Felix held out a hand to Jada, then to me, and paraded us across the stage while everyone applauded. The cousins did not clap. They were too paralyzed from my big reveal.
Leo’s expression was particularly entertaining. He looked like he had seen a ghost with his gaping mouth and wide eyes. Even from the stage, I felt like I could see the sweat pooling on his hands that he kept clasped and wringing together in his lap. His usual cocky, open stance had been sucked right out of him, and he couldn’t seem to look anywhere but at me.
I held my head high and smiled ear to ear. I had never felt so beautiful and confident as I did at that moment. I never would have dreamed my sisters and I would have come so far, much less that I’d have the pleasure of knowing how it tore the cousins up inside to see me intrude their beloved world of the wealthy that they used to think I had no place in.
After the introduction, Elaina and Marco led everyone out onto the dance floor. Jada and I were handed off to two very rich and handsome guests for the first dance. The man I was paired off with was almost as gorgeous as Marco, and he was an excellent dancer. Every so often I would cut my eyes over to Leonardo just long enough to delight in the way he squirmed and sulked in his seat. He didn’t bother getting up to join in on the dancing.
After a few