The Devil's Sweetheart

The tantalizing rays of the setting sun reminded Leena that Devin had completely lost track of her birthday. Opening her mobile, she googled the latest updates of the WD and found an uploaded video on their site. A smile of happiness never left her face as she watched him standing tall on the podium, addressing the crowd. His attitude reflected in his eyes. His posture spoke of his demeanor. ''He is manly, isn't it, Reese?'' All the way through the video, she was fangirling like a teenager.

''You talk so high about him, yet unwilling to go to the party?'' Reese pouted, poking her friend's arm. ''Leena...It's Time for the evening party. Andrew will soon come to pick me up.'' Reese had been to WD only once but was awed by its architecture at first stance. She is waiting for the big night but doubted with her friend's stubborn personality, she would make it to the entrance of the hall.

''You can go,'' Leena added. ''I am not forcing you to stay here.''

Reese's shoulders sank. She is in no way going to the party, leaving her best friend alone. Reese kicked the table in frustration. All the blame goes to the brain-dead Devin. He claims to love Leena unconditionally but doesn't even remember his beloved's birthday? She would have kicked Andrew's butt if he had forgotten her big day.

Closing the video, Leena opened her laptop to post an update in Holy Banana pants. She had the topic set in her mind already. 

Carrot tugged her dress, bringing the red frilled frock that Leena designed to match her red gown. Stroking Carrot's head, she softly said. ''He is a traitor, Carrot. We are not going to the party. Let's torture him this time.''

Turning her back at Leena, Carrot lay on the floor, spreading her legs, throwing tantrums. It's her way of showing displeasure. Leena sighed but did nothing. Knowing that her anger comes down automatically, Leena went back to the business.

 In the eerie silence, footsteps sounded outside the room. Reese, Leena, and Carrot snapped at once as the office room door pushed open gradually. The gold glittered under the lights when a woman appeared in front of them.

''Aunt Heather!'' Reese shouted in bewilderment.

''Mom!'' Leena's jaw dropped to the floor, seeing the beauty in a stunning long dress, its off shoulder top embroidered with white threads, highlighting her slender neck. A shade of golden skirt attached to it flowed freely. Leena's heart was beating completely out of her chest. What was Francy's reaction? He would have definitely fainted at first sight.

''I know I am beautiful, but no praises, please. I had enough today.'' Francis had been gawking at her like a love-sick teenager from the time they left the house. Rather than feeling happy, Heather has to get afraid of their precious lives. Luckily, he safely brought her here. Keeping the smile to herself, Heather approached the girls. ''Why didn't you get ready, baby?'' Turning to Reese, she winked. ''Off you go. I will take care.''

Giving Heather a flying kiss, Reese sprinted out.

''Devin informed me to bring you to the party,'' Heather said.

Leena clenched her fists under the table. He never called once but ordering people around. Pursing her lips, Leena whispered. ''You guys carry on. I am not coming to the party.''

''Why? Did you fight with Devin?''

Leena sighed. ''I can't explain_''

''Whatever explanation you have, I will listen to it later. We are running late to the party.'' Heather pulled Leena from the chair, pushed her into the leisure room. ''Here is your dress.'' Heather placed the hefty case on the table. 

''Mom, please_''

 ''Francis is waiting for us outside. You have ten minutes to get ready. '' Heather walked out, closing the door behind her shut, not leaving room for discussions.

''Why is everybody on his side.'' Leena cried inside the closed doors.

With Heather's entry, Carrot's hopes soared high. With the help of Heather, she dolled up in a red frock, turning herself into a beautiful princess. She even ordered Heather to put on the matching headband on her head, which Heather forgot after combing the hair. Heather complied with Carrot's wishes with a smile. ''Woah!'' Heather stepped back to look at Carrot's final appearance. ''Turn around, Carrot.'' 

Carrot wheeled around Heather, wagging its tail in happiness. 

''You look lovely!'' A shy smile sneaked across Carrot's face, hearing Heather's praises.

In less than ten minutes, Leena stepped out, bunching her skirt up in her hands. ''How do I look?'' Leena's nervous eyes following from her mother to Carrot. Carrot's eyes twinkled for the second time in a single day. Bewildered, Heather trotted towards her daughter in a daze. If only she could see the precious glowing gem, her daughter is everything Heather wants to think of.

Heather gently led Leena to the chair, careful not to step on the stunning red dress. ''The sun must have made my daughter radiant with its every ray. You look beautiful.'' Kissing her forehead, she said. ''I can't imagine my life without you. You are the bundle of my happiness. Thanks for coming into my life. Happy birthday, dear daughter.''

''I am the lucky one to be your daughter. Thanks again for your wishes, mom.'' She hugged her mother tightly, feeling invigorated. She had been feeling low ever since yesterday night, but her mom's heartfelt words pushed all the negative thoughts aside. What if that brute had not wished? She decided to punish him for a month-long, and the thought of forgetting her birthday should give him nightmares. ''Let's go to the party and rock, mom.'' Leena had always attended parties, either solo or with Francy, and recently she started attending with Devin. This time, she considered it as an opportunity to enjoy being with her mother and father.

...

The amphitheater of WD under the night sky shone like stars split over black cobbles. Celebrities, affluents made their appearance on the red carpet. Security was kept extra tight at every corner on special orders. Friends, family members, no one was spared from entering into the body scanning zone.

As the security was scanning the people, a loud beep echoed, alerting the security. The guards at every nook and canny raced to the red zone territory. 

"Security Alert!" One of the woman shouted.

''What is inside your bag?'' Another commanded.

''Please open it.''

 A woman in ruby red dress looked at the gathered crowd, her eyes filled in innocence. ''You must have mistaken. I don't carry any weapon.'' 

''We will decide that later. Please hand over your bag, madam.'' One of the guards ordered, and upon their command, the woman did as she told. Around three guards thoroughly checked the bag and found nothing but a makeup box and a small Daisy bonsai plant. ''A plant?''

''Yes.'' The woman replied, a twinkle in her eyes. ''It's the Daisy bonsai plant.''

''We cannot allow_''

''The plant brings luck.'' The woman entreated, ''The CEO of WD is my close relative. I want to gift this. I mean no harm to him.''

The guards looked at each other in a known thought which only they understood.

Hearing that the woman brought a gift to the CEO, they didnot want to reject it. After all, it's just a harmless bonsai flower plant. ''Wait a minute, madam.'' The guard called the head of the security, and upon his confirmation, she thoroughly checked the makeup box and bonsai plant for anything suspicious. Upon confirming it's safe, she handed the bag back to the woman. ''Please go inside.''

''Thank you.'' She said. A smirk appeared on her lips, and before any of them noticed, it disappeared on her face. Upon entering inside, the woman scanned the surroundings, slipped past the security to the far end of the buildings. Finding a tree under the faint lights, she went behind it. Once again, she scanned the surroundings for any cameras or security passing here and there. 

Finding no one walking around, the woman dropped to squat. Making a fist with her right hand, she forcefully coughed, hitting the back of her neck at the nodal points

A couple of more hits, a minute metal box made of Zinc dislodged from her mouth, hidden all the time inside her rectum. She opened the box carefully, and upon seeing the tiny ring sitting on it, she smiled. ''Dumb idiots. Keeping a mere body scanner as a security check?'' Knowing that the body scanners will be used as a security check, she did not hid the ring inside the body. She directly swallowed it to be dislodged later.. Putting it inside the bag safely, the woman went back, slipping into the crowd like a normal person.