About 2 hours later, the party had drifted into the large mansion gardens. Jade was in the middle of a business talk with one of the high ranking members of her company.
"We should really invite the Spencer Brothers here next year, it would be a good way to build up a reputation in the fashion world." He said to Jade.
"Those guys think pocket protectors are fashion, besides I have Cat who covers all that anyway." Jade replied.
"All I know is that they have a very large social following, a presence we needs desperately."
"Well I try not to operate from desperation." Jade said back.
"Yeah, well think about it because what's more important: your pride or the company?"
"Oh shit." Jade rolled her eyes. "The Vegas' are heading over. Save yourself." And with that man left, knowing the formidable fights the two had shared in the past.
"Jade." Tori greeted, "I've been trying to talk to you all night."
"And I've been avoiding you." Jade shot back. "Why do you even come anyway?"
"For the food and the connections darling." Trina pointed out.
"Don't call me darling." Jade said coldly. "So how's Aaron?" She asked, knowing full well that the two had recently broken up.
"He's doing well." Tori replied, trying to hide the sudden rush of hatred which filled her mind.
"'Cause me and Beck are doing great." Jade replied, knowing full well that neither of the Vega's had asked.
"Every year you outdo yourself Jade." Trina cut in, trying to defuse the tension. "This party is amazing."
"Why thank you." Jade smirked, taking another sip of her champagne.
"You might wanna slow down." Tori said.
"Not unless I speed up on something stronger." Jade replied. "So any plans for the future?" She asked, trying to at civil for appearance sake.
"Well my wedding is fast approaching." Trina said, making Jade once again wonder how on earth it was possible that she had found a guys that actually wanted to marry her. "So I am looking forward to my honeymoon in Italy, it'd be nice to get away from the work." She smiled.
"Nice to know." Jade replied, "But I meant about the company."
"Oh." Trina said. "We're always looking to sign up more singers and musicians. Speaking of which, have you seen Caterina anywhere?"
"Yes, but I'm sure she made it clear last year that she was happy with the company she was at." Jade rolled her eyes.
"Always worth a shot, I'll just look for the red hair."
"Silver." Jade corrected, Cat's hair had been silver for months now, maybe even over a year, meaning that the Vega's would have seen it at the last gathering.
"Oh yes, silver."
"So, you never told me why there was no Aaron." Jade smirked, looping back to the previous topical point.
"We, had a disagreement." Tori said sternly, clearly not liking what Jade had just done.
"Don't be bitter, you must have known it wouldn't last long with him. I doubt he even recognised you if you weren't down on all fours." Jade smirked, bringing out some of Tori's past rumours.
"Look who's talking, Little Miss THOT-a -lot." Tori snapped back, her anger levels rising. "Remember our Sophomore year when you and Beck were on that little 'break'."
"You know normally I'd like to get the last word, but tonight not about personal baggage. It's about business, plus it's fun watching you get all riled up."Jade sneered. "Now if you excuse me, I have a speech to make." She walked away from the girls and towards a small platform on the patio, over looking the large garden. "Hello everybody." She started. "Welcome. I would like to be the first to thank you all for attending this gathering in remembrance of my late father. "She faked sadness, pausing for a moment. "Now lets make one thing clear, this is not my daddy's company anymore, we are now focused on expanding our horizons to invest in the regular old stuff, but to the social world of the future." The crowd applauded. "We are here for you- and the next generation, and every future business deals our companies may have in the future." Jade raised her glass to he crowd and they did it back. "I believe that someone has an announcement to make. Caterina, Alex please many you come up here."
Doing as they were told, Alex and Cat walked onto the platform while Jade stepped off. "What's-" Cat asked before being cut off by her boyfriend.
"Caterina Valentine." Alex started. "I love you more than life itself." He got down onto one knee. "Will you marry me?" He asked.
"Yes! Yes! Double yes!" She squealed, jumping up and down in joy as Alex put the ring on her finger and pulled her into a kiss.
The crowd applauded loudly for the couple. So loudly in fact, that no one heard Tori violently thrown her glass to the ground and walk away. Everyone knew that Tori was jealous of Cat, she was living the life Tori wanted, a world famous singer with a strong business to fall back on once she was older. And now Cat was engaged to Tori's ex. Admittedly they never dated, but Tori was the one to introduce them to each other all those years ago when they met up at at a club.
Flashback - 2016 Spring Break - Tori was second year of college and Cat had just released her first song, which was already an international hit.
"Tori!" Cat beamed, pulling her friend into a hug. "It's been too long."
"I know Cat. " Tori smiled back." Or is it Caterina now? -As that's what you put on your song."
"Oh, that's only because my manager told me it was so I had a 'stage name' as he put it. It took a while to get used to, but now I like it." Cat said nonchalant, Tori felt a pang of jealousy over the redhead. "So where is this man you told me about? Your boyfriend?"
"Alex?" Tori asked. "Oh he's not my boyfriend,we just share our music major at Juilliard and it turned out we both had family in LA so we decided to meet up." She emphasised the school name, trying to remind Cat that she had something good going for her too.
"Ah yes, Juilliard. "Cat said, reminding herself. "How is it there?"
"Amazing, the music program is the best." Tori smiled.
"Good." Cat grinned back.
"Tori!" Said a male voice from behind them.
"Alex." Tori replied to the man. "Alex this is Cat. Cat this is Alex."
"Hi." Alex shook Cat's hand. "You look fam- Oh my god." He gasped. "You're Caterina Valentine."
"The one and only." Cat blushed.
"Don't get too star-struck." Tori cut in, once again getting jealous that Cat had already managed to swoon the boy she'd been trying to get attention from for over a year.
"Sorry, that was uncool." Alex shook his head at himself. "Let's get drinks." Obviously, they were all still too young to drink anything alcoholic, so they all opted for a soda.
To put it bluntly, the pair more than hit it off. Meeting up twice more during the break and texting each other almost every night until they eventually started dating in the summer when Alex came back to LA to see his family. Tori had never quite gotten over her crush on Alex, which was shown at Jade's last party where Tori got a little too drunk and tried to seduce him. Cat and Tori hadn't spoken since.