Chapter 11: Bell of the Ball
There was a distinct air about the girls as they rode the elevator down to the Grand Ballroom. Katrina in her green dress, Danielle in yellow, Yanna in red, and Shea in an ivory white silk number that hugged her body like a second skin. Trish and Paige did a wonderful job picking out their attire for the evening.
From the looks of them they were out to break hearts and capture the minds of every warm blooded male they crossed. The click of their heels echoed across the lobby floor as they made their way to the entrance of the ball room; a sound that trumpeted the arrival of the quartet who would make or break this event tonight. Similar to the night Shea saw the three girls for the first time, when they entered the room a hush fell over the crowd as all eyes were upon them.
A burst of adrenaline pulsed through Shea when she realized she was part of the reason so many heads turned. The excitement caused electrical arcs to cross over synapses at break neck speed bringing every part of her body alive. The constant glares of the men and women did something to her that she had never felt, she wanted to feel everyone and experience all of their lusty thoughts all at once.
It became very obvious at that moment she loved the spot light and wanted all eyes on her. Shea was scanning the audience when Danielle spoke up in a whisper. "Looks like Shea is getting turned on by all of her admirers."
Turning to the girls she saw each of them glance down at her breasts. Looking down she saw that her nipples had become hard and erect straining against the cool silk fabric of her dress. A light brown coloration was noticeable through the dress giving those who stood close enough as small inclination of what she might look like topless.
As they stood in the center of the ball room Wesley came over their ear piece and informed them the locations of some of the more wealth vulnerable candidates in the crowd. Like secret agents each girl confirmed their assignment and parted off in the direction of their targets.
While making her way over in the direction of her mark Shea noticed the usual crowd of media members huddled up next to a bar. She knew they wouldn't recognize her but she wanted to make sure. Crossing in front of them she hesitated long enough to hear one of the men say something about the four hot women that just entered the party. Another claimed to know them and stated that they were high class hookers working the crowd.
Shea moved about the crowd spotting many individuals she use to write about and study. This was the social class of New York that graced the Society pages of most newspapers along with the rag she once worked for. The mark she was heading for was busy conversing with a familiar face, Mr. Stansfield.
Using one of the oldest ploys in the book Shea walked past the group bumping into the man she was there to seduce into spending money. Splashing his drink slightly Shea turned and apologized for the minor accident. Seeing the beauty standing in front of him and noticing her protruding hard nipples he couldn't do anything but apologize back for not being more care full.
"No it was my fault; I should pay more attention to where I hold my drink. Let me introduce myself, my name is Andrew Proctor and yours?" He replied.
Not wanting to use her full name, "You can call me Shea." She answered back.
"Well Shea let me introduce you to Mark Stansfield, Keith Alder, and Thomas Poole." He said with gestures to each of the men in the group. Each man in kind took her hand and politely gave it a light shake in a gentlemanly fashion.
Shea could feel their eyes undressing her there in the crowd as all four of them turned their conversation to her. During the next twenty minutes Shea was the main focus of what ever they discussed commenting on her beauty and remarkable ability to understand and contribute to the topic of finance, market theory, and other business related topics.
As the conversation continued Shea noticed Mrs. Stansfield approaching, Susie as she liked to be called would surely remember her and break the spell Shea had on these men.
As Susie joined the group all of the men helped introduce her to Shea. A quizzical stare preceded Susie's first statement, "You look very familiar. Have we met before at one of the charity event?"
Shea replied, "No, I don't believe we have met. I wouldn't have been able to forget some one as beautiful and stunning as you."
"Oh you're just saying that to be kind. Compared to you I am just another old debutant trying to retain some of her former grace." Susie said with a slight blush of gratitude.
Taking the conversation to a more light tone Susie commented on Andrew's available status. Seeing that a woman of Shea's beauty and refinement had captured his attention she went into matchmaker mode. A shy man by nature Andrew turned red and informed Shea that every time he attend one of these events Susie tries to match him up with a possible companion. He stated that in his line of work he hardly has time for a casual girlfriend much less a relationship.
Shea replied with the proper comment informing him that she wasn't there in search of a husband or any type of long term relationship her self. Relieved Andrew again focused his attention to the vision of beauty before him.
As they continued to make small talk Shea observed Susie casually flirt with a young handsome waiter each time he passed by. Like the last time they met Shea knew that Susie was on the prowl for a young stud to satisfy her lustful needs that she didn't get at home.
Andrew and Shea finally parted from the group and headed off to the other side of the room. As they continued to talk Shea kept a close eye on Susie Stansfield to see when she would make her move. As they approached the items up for auction Shea commented on a few pieces just to see how Andrew would respond.
One painting in particular caught his eye; it was a minor work by Pierre Puget a 17th century French artist famous for painting the Holy Family with Palm Tree. Shea did her best who is that act allowing Andrew to play to his ego and intellect. After a short history lesson Shea asked what the painting was worth. Andrew informed her that the one he had in his collection was worth about $650,000. As the conversation continued she suggested that he bid on the item for no other reason than to drive up the value of the piece he already owned.
As they moved on Shea signaled Yanna across the room that they needed to talk. Excusing her self Shea meet Yanna in the ladies room to relay the information about Andrew and the painting. Working their plan Yanna found her mark and convinced him to also bid on the painting. The individual Yanna was working was a rival of Mr. Proctor in business and on the social scene.
Returning to Andrew, Shea found him in conversation with two new gentlemen Thomas Dale and Felix Newman. In the course of the conversation Shea pointed out some of the more elegant items in the auction and mused about how lovely they would be as a surprise gift to a woman. The men both took mental notes about the pieces and Shea's response to how she would feel if she received such a present. When she commented that if she had received a gift of that nature the returned gratitude would be more than they could handle, the men laughed and told Andrew to watch out for her she was more woman than he could handle.
Shea quickly replied, "I don't know boys I think Andrew here could handle me any way he wished."
A blush came over Andrews face as the tone of the conversation turned to a sexual nature in the blink of an eye. Leaving the two men Shea and Andrew moved about the ballroom meeting small groups here and there. The topics discussed ranged from business to art to social; finally one lady in the latest group commented on how Andrew was such a great catch and how lucky Shea was that had taken an interest in her.