Smile, Anna. Smile. I kept repeating it in my head so I wouldn't forget. I hated evenings like this, where I had to act so proper and elegant all the time. My real personality was not like that at all. I was an awkward and clumsy girl, sophistication wasn't to be found within me.
But since me and my sister Elsa had to run the business of our deceased parents, I knew I just had to keep up this act. We had to make a good impression, so people would hire our staff to organize their expensive parties. Elsa didn't really have to put much effort into acting so professional and polite, she was like that naturally. Sometimes I wished she was a bit more like me. She was so... perfect. She was gorgeous and her manners were topnotch. There were no flaws to be discovered.
I looked at her. She was talking to some fancy looking guy on the other side of the room. He was quite tall and he had red hair with huge sideburns. He was really good-looking, but there was something about him that I didn't like. I couldn't exactly tell what it was, but he just looked strange to me.
I sighed and grabbed another glass of champagne. I hated alcohol, but I felt like I needed it to survive the rest of the night. My feet were already hurting from the high heels I was wearing and the green gown I was wearing wasn't very comfortable too.
"Anna! Come over here please!" Elsa called for me.
Slowly, I started making my way towards her. The redheaded guy was still standing next to me. He looked at me for a moment and he creepily smiled at me. Yikes, what a weirdo.
"Anna, I want you to meet Hans South. He is one of the sons of Richard South, from the well known South company" Elsa introduced him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss Arendelle" he grinned, while shaking my hand. Ew, keep your hands off me!
"Yes, nice to meet you" I quickly said, pulling back my hand.
"Hans is very interested in letting our company organize a fabulous party for his father's birthday. We have yet to work out the details, but it will be very exclusive. The most expensive champagne, caviar, a real pool, ice sculptures, a chocolate fountain... It's going to be very grand!" Elsa told me excitedly.
I knew this was good news, but I could care less at the moment. I wasn't interested in business at all, I hardly knew anything about it. The company was Elsa's passion, not mine. I would rather go to school again and study something artistic, like music or dance. But that was no option. At least, not for Elsa. I would never make a living out of it, according to her.
"I'm really excited about it!" Hans said. "I'm sure my father will be amazed at the party. He doesn't know yet, it's still a surprise."
He stared at me in a creepy way and I started to feel really uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that it kind of made me sick. I needed to get away from him. Right now.
"Anna, what's wrong?" Elsa saw that I wasn't feeling well.
"I'm sorry, I don't feel really... I think I just need some fresh air" I excused myself, before I walked away.
When I finally was outside, I started breathing in the fresh, cold air. I immediately felt better, but I wasn't sure if it was because I got away from Hans or because of the actual air. Perhaps a bit of both.
"Having a rough night?" I suddenly heard a male voice say.