Chapter 227

Tessa’s POV

I was unprepared for all Joseph had done to make sure this party was a huge hit. Moments after he left, a few people arrived with an entire DJ set and my mouth nearly hit the ground.

“You’re Michael Allister,” I said with a gaping mouth.

It wasn’t a question, but his smile grew, and he nodded.

Michael Allister was one of the best DJs in the city. Everybody who was everybody was able to book him for their parties. I was never able to get him personally, but Brian has in the past. I never spoke to him though and I was starstruck seeing him standing before me.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that Joseph was able to book him so easily.

“Where should I set up my equipment?” He asked, looking around the huge house.

“The back patio,” I said without hesitation. “I’m assuming most will spend their time outside.”

It was around 90 degrees outside, and it was only getting hotter by the second. I did not doubt in my mind that most would be utilizing the pool and hot tub. That seemed to be the perfect spot for music.

He motioned for his helpers to follow him with the equipment, and they went toward the back door. Excitement boiled inside of me. This was going to be an incredible party. The entire house smelled like delicious food. The pool cleaners and the maid just left so the pool and the entire house were spotless. Joseph even hired a couple of bartenders for the outside bar and the inside bar.

There really wasn’t much for me to do besides wait for guests to arrive. I just hoped people actually showed up so none of this was for nothing.

It didn’t take long for Ruby to appear at the doorway. She gave me a large smile and I ran to her, wrapping my arms around her.

“Were you able to get a hold of your parents?” I asked.

“My father,” she said, rolling her eyes. “He said he’s sending me money as a graduation present. But he didn’t say he was proud of me or anything. I wasn’t really expecting that he would so it’s fine.”

I furrowed my brows as I stared at her. I hated that she settled for the bare minimum when it came to her parents. But I guess I can’t be the one to talk. Joseph was speaking to my father right now and my heart was pounding heavily in my chest. I was so scared that my father would try something terrible.

I’m not sure when this distrust of him started, but I wasn’t liking it.

“Well, at least you get money,” I said with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood.

She laughed.

“Once my career takes off, I won’t need his money,” she said, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.

I laughed as well and wrapped my arm through hers, pulling her inside the house.

“On the bright side, Joseph managed to get Michael Allister to DJ the party,” I told her.

She shrieked, just as I predicted she would.

“What?!” She gasped. “Are you serious? THE Michael Allister? Everybody is going to fucking flip Tess,” she squealed.

“I must take a picture for social media. You should too for your blog,” she told me.

She was right; I should be taking pictures for my blog. I needed to relax and enjoy myself. I needed to focus on myself and my career and not my father and the stresses he brings me. I grabbed my phone off the coffee table before following her to the back patio.

I was astonished by how beautiful everything looked. The patio had overlaying lights that cascaded across the pool yard and made everything glisten. The poolside bar was lit up and the bartender was hard at work making premade beverages. The hot tub was actively bubbling and steaming.

Michael and his crew managed to set everything up in record time and were going over their playlist for the evening when Ruby and I approached.

“We are huge fans,” I heard Ruby saying to him eagerly. “Can we take pictures with you?”

“Yeah, of course,” Michael said, laughing as Ruby took out her phone and brought up the camera.

“Thanks!” she cooed. “This is for my social media account.”

After a few pictures, she motioned for me to step closer.

“Tessa has a blog she’d like to take pictures for,” Ruby explained to Michael who just nodded along with her.

I could tell he wasn’t interested in hearing about my blog, so I didn’t bother telling him about it. I took a few pictures of him and everything around him. Then Ruby snapped a photo of me and him.

Then she went on to say, “You should totally look up her blog. Just search Tessa Campbell and you’ll find it. It’s very popular lately.”

Recognition flashed through Michael’s eyes and then his attention turned to me.

“Oh! That’s why your name was so familiar when I spoke to Mr. Evergreen. I’ve seen your blog. I’m obsessed with it!”

My entire world stopped moving around me.

“Wait, seriously?” I asked breathlessly.

Michael nodded.

“Your fantasy writing is amazing, and I love that you started to write personal stuff too. I’ve been a strong follower from the beginning,” he said a bit sheepishly.

It was almost like he was starstruck and I wasn’t sure what to do with this besides laughing nervously.

“I’m honored,” I breathed. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“I’m the one who’s honored,” he said with a broad smile. “Think you can take a picture with my phone?”

I was surprised by the request, but I nodded. Ruby happily took the phone and snapped a photo of the two of us before handing the phone back to him.

“Sweet,” he said with a broad smile.

When we finished, we went into the living room and that’s when the first guest knocked on the door.

“This is it,” Ruby said with a bright smile. “Party time!”

I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady my nervous and rapid beating heart. I wished Joseph was here right now and I couldn’t help but wonder how things were going with my father. I wondered if they were still talking or if Joseph was on his way back.

I wondered if something terrible had happened. It’s already been an hour and I didn’t far that far away. That sick and nervous feeling attacked my stomach and I felt like I was going to throw up.

“Hey, Tessa!” Kenzi said, running toward me with Margot on her tail after Ruby opened the door for them. “This is a great place for a party.”

“I thought so too,” I said in return. “Make yourself comfortable. I have everything set up in the backyard.”

The girls went toward the back, and I heard them shrieking when they spotted Michael at the DJ booth.

Upon seeing them, Michael decided to start his first set and music soon filled the house. While the girls made themselves comfortable and Ruby grabbed her first of many drinks, I snuck upstairs and into Joseph’s room so I could change into my bathing suit.

I wore a blue bikini that showed off my figure perfectly. I wore it mainly to drive Joseph crazy and possibly even seduce him later. I grabbed a pair of shorts as well and threw them over my bikini bottoms. I put my hair in a messy bun and walked back downstairs in time for my guest to arrive.

It didn’t take long for the villa to be flooded with students. Some of which I wasn’t convinced actually went to our school.

The music was loud and almost everybody was dancing on the patio while stuffing their faces with the amazing food and guzzling down the drinks, which was apparently all free. I couldn’t believe Joseph got an open bar for tonight’s party.

There were some in the hot tub and some dudes were cannonballing in the pool to impress the girls.

As the night went on, the more worry I felt for Joseph. It’s been about 3 hours, and he still hasn’t returned from my apartment. He was supposed to just speak to my father, maybe even use his abilities to mind manipulate him.

It shouldn’t be taking him this long.

“You need a drink,” Ruby said drunkenly as she draped an arm around me.

“Oh yeah?” I chuckled.

“Yes,” she said, holding up a tequila shot.

Maybe I did need a drink. I needed to chill and stop thinking about Joseph and my father.

I grabbed the shot from her and lifted it in the air.

“Happy graduation,” I said, which made those around me whoop and cheer as I downed the shot.

It started to work its magic immediately and I was feeling lightheaded. But I was also feeling incredibly good, and I wanted to dance.

I grabbed another shot from the mini-bar and downed it before joining Ruby on the patio. We danced and as the tequila started to take more of an effect, I grew more wilder, and I didn’t care who was watching me.

Everybody was drunk and having a great time anyway. It didn’t really matter that I was getting drunker by the minute.

I hadn’t even noticed Joseph had returned home and was watching me from the doorway. Ruby turned me around, so I was facing him, and my eyes narrowed on him. Or at least I think it was him; I was seeing double of everything, so it could have been his double.

He didn’t look pleased with me, and I felt my face reddening the more he stared at me.

I went to him, still dancing and trying to remain happy and positive. ‘

“You’re drunk.”

It wasn’t a question.

I grabbed his arm and pulled myself close to him.

“Dance with me,” I whispered to him.

He narrowed his eyes at me; his expression hard to read.

I was so wrapped up in Joseph being here and with me, that I wasn’t thinking about others around us. That is until I heard Margot and Kenzi drunkenly snickering. Up until this point, they were busy flirting with guys in the hot tub, now we had their full attention.

“Is that Tessa and Professor Evergreen?”

“Are they together??”