For all the faithful readers following along this story, I promise I have BIG plans for it! The cogs are only beginning to turn my friends! Elisia has many tricks up her sleeve! So PLEASE read and review! I will be going back to edit previous chapters and cut some boring blah blah out. Anyways huge thank you to anyone that's reading!

Elisia was just finishing the last touches to her hair when someone knocked on the door. She set the last bobby pin in place and bustled over, taking care not to trip over her enormous skirt. Kitty was standing at the doorway wearing a dark blue dress of sweetheart neckline and a slim fitted skirt. Her hair was done in a high bun and it complimented her profile in a regal manner.

"Elisia-my goodness." Elisia couldn't help a devious smile tug the corners of her lips. She had spent a while admiring the way the black gown fit perfectly to her body before flaring out at her knees in an enormous blossom of dark satin. The back dipped down a little, but not enough to make elisia feel indecent. The dress did cling so tightly to her that she had been a little worried kitty might not approve.

"Thank-you. I'm glad I got the gloves to match-the ballroom can be quite drafty at times." She ushered Kitty in.

"I know what you mean; I hardly know what I'm going to do without a shawl. Ha, drink probably. Good thing all these ambassadors of good will don't mind getting funky with me. I tell you, fundraising galas are a drag. You'd think rich people have nothing better to do, but these politicians always surprise me by marching in and taking shots together at the bar. Who would've guessed, huh?"

Elisia laughed at this. "Kitty, I actually think it's you. You host such wonderful events and somehow manage to make everyone feel perfectly comfortable. I suppose we are a long ways away from London as well. I doubt any press will be making the trip all the way out here merely to snap pictures of your political acquaintances having aa round too many."

Kitty blushed. "Why elisia, are you accusing me of being rambunctious?"

"Oh not yet. I'll wait till you're a couple glasses in." Kitty laughed.

"You're such a tease sometime. Speaking of which, are you ready just yet to come downstairs? I've a few people arriving already; hopefully Mr. Harrison should be here."

"Oh?"

"Oh you're so damned polite. He's not fat and his first name is Gregory, but I suppose you should find that out for yourself, eh?"

Elisia smiled sweetly. "Yes, I suppose that would be nice. Thank-you for arranging that kitty, it truly is kind. I hate to be crude, but I'm not going to get any younger, richer, or prominent. The hunt for compatible partner is tedious to be sure." Kitty frowned slightly at this.

"Well, when you marry dear it ought to be for love. I'm certainly not one to lecture but-oh jeez. I'm lecturing. You're a very intelligent girl, I'm sure you know what you're doing." Elisia bowed her head in gratitude to Kitty for this realization.

"Kitty, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a minute before I come down."

"Of course! Well, if you'll excuse me I'm going to make sure no one's waiting expectantly for entertainment down there."

"Seeing as you're up here I'm almost certain that is the case." Kitty scoffed and waltzed out the door. Elesia shut the door behind her. She sighed, leaning against the door before crossing her room to sit at her vanity. She opened up the very bottom drawer to find her cigarettes and whiskey. She lit her cigarette off a candle and took a quick swig of whiskey before looking hard at her reflection. She hardly recognized the perfect girl before her. Her dark hair fell in sultry waves down to her shoulders.

"well." She spoke to the reflection, "we've come a long fucking ways." She pulled another drag from her cigarette. "Ha, still not too good for cigarettes and whiskey. Can't break some habits." She sighed and put the whiskey away, already feeling warm from it. After putting out the cigarette she smiled at herself. "Now let's just pray this Mr. Harrison aint ugly as all hell." She laughed in spite of herself and spritzed on perfume to cover the smell of smoke. As she walked languidly towards the ballroom she couldn't help feeling like she owned the world.