The sun was still peaking enough through the clouds so Valen could enjoy the rays from the spot she had claimed as her own. This was where she had learned to thrive at parties, sitting away from the drama basking in the atmosphere. It was such a difference from herself a year or so ago, normally by now sheâd be sneaking into a coat closet with someone or doing body shots. Instead she just kicked her feet in the water, digging the palms of her hands into the ground behind her so she could lean back and observe. Even soaking wet, hair ruined and lounging at the side of the pool, Valen knew she still blew most of the other women at the party out of the water - pun unintended. She ran a manicured hand through her dark mane, shaking out her wet locks when a drink was hovered in front of her.
Dark eyes rolled upwards, and her lips tugged into a satisfactory smirk at the face she found. The hand she had just used to shake out her hair crawled up a muscled limb scrunching up her nose playfully. âMarc, I canât believe you made it!â Valens greeted the handsome model she had seen walk up and down the runway in many fashion shows. She accepted his drink and the man sat down beside her, also submerging his feet, they kissed one another on the cheek - Marc was French, he understood the cultural compulsion.
âI canât believe you did, I thought you had died youâve been M.I.A. for eons at this point. I thought youâd come back with a rib less or a new nose,â She glared at him, ânot that youâd need it!â He added, clinking his drink against hers. The good thing about Marc was that she didnât have to pretend with idle chit chat with him, it was the European part of both of them. They could just sit in silence, sip on their drinks and enjoy the show. Marc leaned over to point out Bella-Rose as she came back onto the lawn. âI witnessed your not so friendly encounter with the Golden twin earlier, it seems sheâs rejoined the masses.â
Valen scoffed.
âWhatever, sheâs hardly a blip on my radar.â She said, sipping the last of her drink. It wasnât worth to stir up conflict, this wasnât her home - she was at a disadvantage here. If she wanted to see tomorrow, she had to play nice. Valen didnât even really dislike Bella, but she was always Bell had always made it clear she didnât enjoy Valenâs presence. âI thrive on the effect I have on others.â Valen winked playfully.
âSpeak of effect on others..â Marco said, gesturing towards the house from the pool where none other than Christopher Rockefeller made an entrance. Valen smirked, cheekily looking away as she finished the rest of her drink. Like his other siblings, Chris received attention just for who he was - his presence was always immediately known by all those attending. Valen couldnât force herself to look at Rose, she knew she wouldnât resist to smirk if she saw the girl looking back. Instead, Valen looked to Marco - pushing her now empty glass into him. âIs that a cue?â he laughed, taking her glass into his hand as he got up to leave.
âHardly, just thirsty.â
Marco disappeared to the bar for refills with Valen left sitting on the edge of the pool. It wasnât along until the inevitable happened. She wasnât surprised when Chris managed to come across her, it was only a matter of time. She chose not to comment on his compliment, trying to suppress a smile. He tossed his shirt onto a lawn chair, asking Valen â"How've ya been, V? I feel like you've been avoiding me with how you always seem to be on the other side of the globe when I come back to town."
Well that wasnât entirely untrue. Most of her recent work had been in Europe, a choice she made because of her need to be out of the States for a while. In most other parts of the world, the modeling and entertaining industry were less intertwined in pop culture than in the states. With her step dad alone, Valen wouldnât be able to avoid the A-listers - and thatâs when you lost the privilege of privacy. Other parts of the world it was easier to disappear into mystery. âCouldnât avoid you if I tried, papĂ - just avoiding the incessant media that flocks all the fun people on this side of the globe.â
As much as it killed her to play nice Valen didnât want to upset Bella any more this early on in the night. She stepped out from the pool, her hair fussing with her hair, loose waves shaking out. There was always that moment where Valen felt the compulsion to ask about his health, how he was doing - but this was a party and Valen was already a few drinks in. Then she had to decide between tempting darkness or walking away, Chris knew things about her - of how far she could go for a thrill, it was addictive when someone knew those parts of you and enjoyed you all the more for it. Usually by now Valen would have pulled one of her sneaking into a coat closet with someone - probably somewhere that you could still hear the party on the other side of the door.
But that was Valen before she had to straighten out, she was too aware of potential consequences. This didnât stop her from closing the distance between her and Chris to speak into his ear, leaning into him. âBut I suggest you to be avoiding me if you want to stay out of trouble,â She whispered, smirking as she glanced over to Bella in good humor. Valen could feel the heat of the glares of anyone who looked their way, it wasnât uncommon when it came to Christopher - or any of his siblings. She took in a sharp breath as if she had something else to say, still leaning in to speak to Chris. Instead she stopped herself, no good could come from her saying what she wanted. Valen leaned in closer, hand resting on his chest as she gently kissed his cheek, but instead of the quick muah she usually delivered along with a greeting, she lingered. âItâs good to see you, Chris.â She said.
Valen gathered her shorts and shoes, glancing over to the bar. Natalia and Brooke were still at the bar, and she could see that Haven was making her way to the food - undoubtedly to soak the alcohol up a little. âNataliaâs at the bar, Iâm sure sheâll want you to come say hi.â She winked to Chris as she walked off, slinking into her shorts as she went.
âUgh, whenâs everyone going to start getting naked?â Valen bitched as she found Nat, reaching behind the bar for a stray cherry, popping it into her mouth with content. Valen had a tendency to claim places were boring her due to lack of nakedness when she just felt uncomfortable and it was easier to pretend she wanted to leave. She ordered a drink and looked to Brooke with a mischievous look, âSorry, I use nudity to deflect my emotions.â She joked.