A character overhears something at a black-tie event that puts the night in jeopardy.

Posted in Mystery on May 10, 2024

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✍️ 46 stories

“Lion's Share” by Niamh O'Dea

Submitted to Contest #250

Jen placed a beaded crown on her head and stepped back to take herself in. The gemstones draped haphazardly down her forehead and flowed like a waterfall down the back of her gently waved hair. Her diaphanous dress spiderwebbed across her curvy body showing off her thick, strong legs, rounded tummy and perky nipples. A pair of skimpy shorts that just about covered her bottom show through the gauzy fabric. She rubbed her hands over the waves of her body and smiled. She used to hate this very same body. He made her hate it. He’d point ou...

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“A Night They'll Never Forget ” by Pen Bragan

Submitted to Contest #250

A Night They’ll Never ForgetA Short Story I took a steadying breath as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I slid my hands down my sides, feeling the rough texture of the sequins on my gown. My palms were sweaty, my face flushed and it took a conscious effort to slow my heart rate. Later that night, I left my LA hotel room to be chauffeured downtown in a luxurious car and spent the evening schmoozing with A-list celebrities. I certainly looked the part, with my done up hair and makeup, a fresh manicure and six-figure dress. Playin...

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“The Web of Noise” by Artur Kondratyev

Submitted to Contest #250

Noises. Aaron listened to the voices of dozens around him, a blur of conversations from inside the great chamber mixed with the distant chatter from the garden outside. The unified sounds of clicking tongues, smacking lips, and sporadic bursts of laughter created a wave of sound to tantalizing to piece apart.There was nothing here for him, surrounded by the cream of the crop, dressed in the finest wear of society, while he sat alone by the punch bowl, pondering his circumstance. The manor's beauty, enhanced by its luxurious furnishings, intr...

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“Cindy Fay” by Jessica Hughes

Submitted to Contest #250

I’d been stood in the bathroom for thirty minutes already – perhaps even longer. My suit tie felt too tight, my collar was scratching at my neck, and my palms were sweaty. Why couldn’t I get them to stop sweating? I’d already used over a dozen paper towels to dry them off, and the bathroom was starting to look a mess with all of the discarded balls I’d scrunched up. I couldn’t figure out why the trash can was so small, or why the place was so pristine. None of the men’s rooms that I had been in before had ever looked like this. Then again, t...

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“My Plus One” by Kristy Schnabel

Submitted to Contest #250

As I steered into the wedding venue parking lot, I hoped the picturesque setting would impress Nadine. I didn't want her to regret the deal she made with me to be my plus one."What a view, Zack," said Nadine. Her looks alone put her outta my league.The Columbia River Gorge had that effect on people. The sun hadn't yet set, and the Hood River portrait was complete: blue sky, sheer rock cliffs, and emerald green river populated by windsurfers. The only thing missing were the bald eagles. I grinned. My focus wasn't on the landscape. My mis...

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“Artificial Selection” by Braelyn Robinson

Submitted to Contest #250

REC [O]----------------------------------------------------------------"Hello viewers, and welcome back to the Darwin Dome, where only the greatest survive! Tonight is our finale, and the Viewing Gala is about to start. In case you forgot, that's where the lucky few of you get to see me- and the contestants-live! Let's look at our lottery winners here- dressed in their finest. Fashion and fascism go hand in hand here, and we love it! But I know you're not here for the fancy clothes. You're here for carnage! I'll pass you to the Dome now. Rem...

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“Ride or Die” by Louise Tawfik

Submitted to Contest #250

It was a sweltering day in the small regional town, the sun glaring down somewhere in the middle of Australia. But inside the local church, the cool smell of stone mixed with the sickly-sweet jasmine and carnations festooned at the end of each pew. People sidled along the wooden benches to take their seats. Ladies fanned themselves with the Order of Service pamphlets and the men dripped sweat into their suits and boots, bald spots becoming shinier with every passing minute. Rob was standing at the altar, his polyester pale blue suit sticking...

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“It Was A James Blonde Moment” by Paige Turner

Submitted to Contest #250

The string orchestra plays softly in the background as I stand listening to the diplomat in front of me.I’ve already embarrassed myself twice tonight by stating that North Korea “doesn’t have the guts to bomb us” and telling the prime minister of Canada that “poverty is a conspiracy”. I’m what my cousin Luke calls an “embarrassment of Biblical proportions” and what normal people call uncivilized. I’m not even supposed to be here tonight, but Luke couldn’t get anyone else to go with him. You’d think as the Attorney General of the United State...

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“The Anniversary ” by Renee Yancey

Submitted to Contest #250

You never thought they would make it to this anniversary. Fifty years is a long time considering. They have fought all your childhood. “That is how we show love. There must be some passion in the relationship.” Your dad said, to your extreme embarrassment. You were fifteen at the time. Now forty and married fifteen years yourself, you understand more. You and your wife are holding this black tie event for them. She holds onto your arm as you look over the elegant room. “You did well, my love.” She accepts your praise and a ...

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“Ghost Protocol” by Angela Larson

Submitted to Contest #250

The brightly lit ballroom glittered with sweeping gowns and tuxedos. A parade of guests shuffled along the red carpet to flashes of cameras. Jacque, the maître ‘d, scrutinized his underlings as they burst from the kitchen doors to serve champagne and hors d’oeuvres to the chittering nobility. Noel, glanced at her watch, then tied her apron before hoisting the large silver tray onto her shoulder. “Five minutes down, five hours to go,” she sighed. She would only make a measly fifty dollars this evening, while cutting into her precious study ti...

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“Revenge is sweet” by Jennifer Sieber

Submitted to Contest #250

Tess was so nervous she could even put her earrings in, her dress was spectacular jewel encrusted body hugging shaded in a deep burgundy shade that matched well with her beautiful ebony hair. This was the evening she had waited all her life for and the path hadn’t been easy complete with frustrations and tears along the way. Tonight she would be in the spotlight this was her time to shine she had to keep it all together. Checking herself one last time in the mirror Tess knew she was ready. The black tie gala tonight was to honour all the New...

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“ Secrets in Silk: A Black-Tie Affair” by Patsy Deppe

Submitted to Contest #250

Chapter 1: The InvitationThe grand ballroom of the historic Oakwood Manor was ablaze with shimmering chandeliers and the murmur of elegant conversations. Mae Chandler, a budding novelist with a keen eye for intrigue, adjusted her pearl necklace nervously as she navigated the sea of black-tie guests. She had received an invitation to the exclusive gala, promising an evening of opulence and mystery, but little did she know that the night would take an unexpected turn.Chapter 2: Overheard WhispersAs Mae mingled among the guests, she caught snip...

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“Poise and Rationality” by Imogen Bird

Submitted to Contest #250

Clara clicked the heavy wooden door closed behind her as quietly as she possibly could before realising her stupid floaty dress was caught in it. Cursing silently, she unlatched the creaky catch and freed herself. She had re-routed herself halfway around the stately home in an attempt to avoid Simon. There was a definite inevitability to their meeting today but she wanted to put that encounter off as long as possible. Preferably until after she'd had the chance to down at least four proseccos. Wedding traditions had been playing on her mind ...

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“Wild Nights” by Kourtney Kay

Submitted to Contest #250

The thing I love about Texas is that you can’t strip the wild from the taste of the air. I stand on the front steps of my home, the colonial columns meticulously polished and gleaming in the bright light of the moon. The darkened porch, shaded from the prying white eye of the moon yawns into the sticky night. My satin black dress begins at my low back and drapes down the two porch stairs like a tongue slithering from the maw of a beast. The thick air quickly forms droplets on my back and pricks under the nest of braids nestled at the b...

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“Prat and Prejudice ” by Felicia Dobson

Submitted to Contest #250

My eyes roll heavenward as my mother prattles on endlessly about tonight’s charity event from the next room. I ponder strangling myself, but instead fight the silky material into submission between my fingers knotting a perfect Eldridge. Standing in front a full length looking glass I secure the collar. There. The downstairs door can be heard slamming shut, it can only be one person. Does he have to be so bloody loud? I roll my eyes once more, at this rate I may just eyeball the ceiling all night. Some call it childish, I call it ...

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A character overhears something at a black-tie event that puts the night in jeopardy.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 46 stories

“Lion's Share” by Niamh O'Dea

“A Night They'll Never Forget ” by Pen Bragan

“The Web of Noise” by Artur Kondratyev

“Cindy Fay” by Jessica Hughes

“My Plus One” by Kristy Schnabel

“Artificial Selection” by Braelyn Robinson

“Ride or Die” by Louise Tawfik

“It Was A James Blonde Moment” by Paige Turner

“The Anniversary ” by Renee Yancey

“Ghost Protocol” by Angela Larson

“Revenge is sweet” by Jennifer Sieber

“ Secrets in Silk: A Black-Tie Affair” by Patsy Deppe

“Poise and Rationality” by Imogen Bird

“Wild Nights” by Kourtney Kay

“Prat and Prejudice ” by Felicia Dobson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which someone is afraid of being overheard.

Write a story about a child overhearing something they don’t understand.

Write a story in which someone can only hear one side of a conversation and must piece together the meaning of what they’ve heard.

Your teacher tasks you with writing a story based on an eavesdropped conversation. When the story is published, your subject isn’t happy.

Contest #250

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: