Chapter 6 – The Party I Couldn't Escape
The mansion looked different tonight.
Loud music played from big speakers near the pool. Bright lights flashed, making the backyard feel like a club. People laughed and danced everywhere. The Ravenwood brothers had thrown a huge party. They called it a “welcome back” party, but it wasn’t for everyone. It wasn’t for me.
It was for their rich, wild friends—mostly girls in tight dresses and guys who acted like they owned the world.
I stood near the pool, holding a tray filled with colorful drinks. My uniform was tighter than usual. They had made me wear something else—a short black skirt and a tight white top that barely fit. It wasn’t made for work. It was made to show skin.
Ronan had tossed it at me earlier with a smirk. “You’re the drink girl tonight. Make sure the cups stay full.”
So, here I was. In the middle of a party I didn’t belong to. Girls screamed and danced. The guys popped bottles. And I poured drinks, pretending I didn’t hear what they were saying.
“Darius!” A blonde girl with long legs laughed as she sat on his lap. She wore a red bikini top and nothing else but heels. Her skin glowed under the pool lights. “You didn’t tell me your housekeeper was this cute.”
Darius didn’t look at me. He was too busy running his hands up her thighs.
“She’s not mine,” he said, sipping his drink. “She’s nobody.”
My chest tightened, but I stayed quiet. I poured another drink into his glass.
“She doesn’t even talk,” the girl said, twirling her fingers in his hair.
“She knows her place,” Elias added from across the pool. He was shirtless, water dripping from his chest as two girls pressed against him, giggling.
Kael sat in the corner, legs in the water, staring at the stars like he didn’t want to be there. He barely touched his drink.
Ronan was dancing with two girls. One had bright green hair and piercings everywhere. The other one kept laughing, even though he wasn’t saying anything funny. Ronan spun them both and dipped them backward. They screamed.
“Aria,” Elias called.
I turned.
“Bring the shots.”
I rushed to the table, grabbed the tray, and brought it over. The shots were small and strong, filled with a burning red liquid that made my nose sting. I handed them out one by one.
“To being legends,” Darius said.
They all raised their glasses and cheered.
“To never being bored,” Ronan added.
“To wild nights,” Elias laughed.
They drank. I watched.
Then the games started.
“Truth or Dare!” one of the girls screamed, jumping into the pool and splashing everyone. “Let’s do it! Right here!”
“No rules,” Ronan said.
“Especially not for us,” Darius smirked.
They all sat near the edge of the pool, still drinking, still laughing. I stood at the side with the tray, watching.
“You too, drink girl,” someone shouted. “You’re playing.”
I froze.
“She’s not a guest,” Kael finally spoke, eyes still staring into the night. “Let her be.”
But Darius waved a hand. “She can stand and watch. That’s her job anyway.”
They started with each other. Dares turned crazy fast.
“Make out with her.”
“Strip and jump in.”
“Lick the tequila off her stomach.”
“Let him tie your hands.”
The girls didn’t hesitate. They laughed, screamed, did what they were dared. No shame. No rules.
I kept refilling glasses, trying not to look, trying not to feel. But it was hard. One girl straddled Elias while another kissed Ronan behind her. Darius let the blonde feed him strawberries. Kael stayed quiet.
My feet ached. My arms were sore. But I didn’t stop.
Then someone shouted, “Let the maid do a dare!”
Laughter erupted.
“No,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
Ronan grinned. “Scared?”
“She’s shaking,” the green-haired girl mocked.
“Let her strip,” someone yelled.
“No,” Kael said firmly.
Elias laughed. “Fine. No touching the maid tonight. Boring.”
They moved on. I let out a breath.
But the night only got crazier.
Someone brought out the pills. Small blue and pink ones in a bowl.
“Party candy,” Elias said, handing them out.
“I’m good,” Kael refused.
Darius took two and popped them like candy. The blonde kissed him again.
Soon, the pool turned into something wild. Girls were topless. Guys were drunk. People were making out in every corner.
I stood by the bar, frozen. Watching. Serving.
Then Darius got up, the blonde still on him. They came over to me.
“More vodka,” he ordered.
I handed him the bottle.
He grabbed it, then grabbed my wrist.
“Don’t look so stiff,” he said. “It’s a party.”
The blonde laughed. “You’re scaring her, babe.”
“She’s always scared,” he said, letting go.
They walked off. I let out another breath.
Then came the music—louder, faster. People danced, grinded, lost their minds. I saw a girl jump into the pool completely naked. Two guys followed her. More laughter.
More chaos.
By midnight, half the guests were high or drunk. Some lay on the grass, others danced like they had no bones. The drinks ran low. I kept serving.
That’s when Ronan called me again.
“Aria!” he slurred. “More drinks. Please.”
His shirt was gone. His hair wet. A girl was kissing his neck.
I brought more.
And just when I thought I couldn’t take more of it, I heard the blonde laugh again.
“She’s still watching us,” she said to Darius.
“So?” he replied, pulling her closer.
“She wants to be me.”
I looked away.
“You’re wrong,” he said, voice sharp.
“She could never be you. She could never be anything.”
The blonde giggled and kissed him harder.
I blinked fast, trying to hide the sting in my eyes.
The night went on.
And I didn’t break.
Not once.