Selina arrived home to prepare for the party. After refreshing herself, she changed into a short-sleeved, white dress with a squared neckline that revealed a hint of cleavage. This dress was one of her recent creations.
Seated on a wooden chair before her dressing table, she brushed her sleek, long brown hair while listening to the worried voice on the other end of the line.
"I know this matters to you, but I don't feel right. We don't know anything about him," the voice fretted.
It was her best friend, Annabelle.
"I don't feel right about it either… but it would be rude to reject him. And my father might be there too," Selina replied softly.
"Selina… A year ago he was just a name in some erased article and had no public persona. Now he's inviting you like you're important to him? It feels off," Annabelle insisted, her tone laced with concern.
Selina finished brushing her hair and lowered the brush onto the table. Annabelle's words lingered in the air, unsettling her as she pondered them.
She let out a quiet sigh. "He might be mysterious, but I don't think he's the bad kind. He said he wanted us to get along."
Annabelle's sarcastic laugh cut through Selina's conviction. "Lover girl. Men with secrets are scary and unpredictable."
Selina nodded, acknowledging her best friend's concern. The thought of his secretive life made her chest tighten with nervousness, yet the eagerness to see what kind of man he had become sliced through her unease. Was he still the cold customer she once served, or had time softened him?
Annabelle sighed in resignation. "Don't forget to take the pepper spray from my bag, just in case he turns out to be a nasty scumbag," she added, sensing Selina's determination in the brief silence.
Selina snickered at Annabelle's comment. The Mr. Zane she knew seemed gentle and aloof, far from such imaginations. Still, her safety mattered too.
Selina's gaze shifted across the table to Annabelle's bag, left behind from a weekend visit.
"I'll take it with me. Just in case," Selina reassured her.
"Remember, you have a terrible habit of drinking. You're not allowed to consume anything. And when you see him, don't lose yourself in fantasy. He must not touch you until we know his intentions," Annabelle warned sternly, well aware of how often Selina had fantasized about being Zane's romantic partner.
Selina smiled softly. "Yes, ma'am. He won't."
"See you later. I have a delivery to finish before the day ends," Annabelle said.
"Okay, see you."
"Have fun. And be careful."
The call ended, leaving Selina to take a deep breath in an attempt to calm the nervous flutter in her chest. She reminded herself that this was just a welcome party. She was only going because he wanted to meet her, and her father would be there too.
She adjusted the short bob wig and grey contacts that dulled her cinnamon eyes, hiding behind thick frames and a dusting of freckles. She wished she could show her true self, hoping he would appreciate her for who she was, since men are typically drawn to beauty.
Unfortunately, she couldn't afford to be selfish by dragging him into the mess tied to her true identity.
Seeing her appearance was modest and not too fancy, but presentable enough not to embarrass him in a room full of elites—she was satisfied.
Selina stood from the chair and walked over to Annabelle's bag, retrieving the pepper spray. She glanced down at it, hoping evening would go smoothly—and that she wouldn't have to use it.
*****
It took a forty-minute drive from home to reach the venue. The cab braked gently on the spacious grounds of the Cassius Hotel as Selina stepped out after paying her fare. The towering building looked even more impressive in person than it had online, with a grand fountain flowing at the centre of the courtyard.
Luxurious cars pulled up, dropping off their owners before driving away, confirming the presence of high-profile guests.
Just as Selina prepared to move, her gaze caught a sleek black Dongfeng M Hero 917 accompanied by a BMW XM (Label Red Edition) pulling up and stopping at a safe distance. She froze, captivated by the flashy cars, and noticed the driver hurriedly stepping out.
Selina blinked, recognizing the driver as Damien. Quietly, she watched him open the back door. The person inside first extended his long legs before stepping out—and Selina was rooted to the spot, dumbstruck.
His dark, lengthy hair was slicked back neatly. He wore a black tailored-sleeve T-shirt tucked into black pants, revealing a muscular frame. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, and everything about him amplified his striking charm, despite the cold aura that clung to him.
Lost in his presence, Selina found her eyes locked onto his steely gaze as she flashed him a warm smile. But, he just looked away without a delay.
What was that? He stared at her as if they were strangers. How could he? Shouldn't he at least offer her a warm smile since she was his guest?
She scoffed.
The BMW's driver stepped out and broke the silence, his voice low.
"Is that Hudson's second daughter? How could she look unattractive when her sister and stepmother are alluring." commented Noah, following beside Zane into the hotel.
As usual, Zane said nothing.
Noah turned to him and asked, "Do you think she'd be entertaining if she were my girlfriend? She might not be beautiful, but sometimes people like her have the most beautiful hearts."
Zane remained silent, suppressing a snort at Noah's compliment.
Beautiful at heart?
He didn't believe she had any beauty within, especially with that man's blood running through her veins. Besides, her appearance hadn't improved in the past three years. She was still an ugly swan.
As Zane and Noah entered the hotel, Selina followed with her heels clicked softly on the tilted floor. Her steps falling in quiet sync with his.
Approaching a nearby room where Zane and Noah entered, Selina stepped inside the velvety ambience, mingled with rich laughter and animated conversations, creating a glitzy, sophisticated atmosphere.
She spotted musicians performing soothing classical notes under a spotlight on a raised platform. With her pulse beating nervously, she moved into a secluded corner, trying to avoid the elites' dubious glances.
Trying to blend in despite the sharp stares occasionally falling on her, she picked up a glass of wine from a table laden with stacked glasses and desserts.
Raising it to her lips, her hand trembled slightly. She narrowed her brows at the nervousness betraying her, which might cause her to embarrass herself.
Determined not to let the unfamiliar atmosphere overwhelm her, she drank the wine in one smooth gulp.
"Stay calm, Selina. They're not monsters," She muttered, her lips curling into a relaxed yet nervous smile.
Drifting her gaze, she noticed a small group approaching Zane.
Selina scanned the group, recognising the members of the Everett family: a woman in her mid-forties with a short black hair styled in a bob, a young lady in her early twenties with long dark hair, and a man in his early fifties, all dressed in their finest attire.
"Welcome home, Zane," came the voice drawing closer. The woman, Leah Everett held a smile of expectation and a touch of admiration for his return.
"We're glad you're back. It'll be easier to work together now, with you here," added the man, Hudson Everett, in a polite tone.
Zane offered a brief nod, his expression unreadable, as if formality was second nature to him. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation." His crisp voice was deep yet detached.
"I hope our collaboration continues to yield outstanding achievements as we've aimed for," Leah uttered, recognizing Zane as the new CEO of the Cassius Conglomerate.
"Sure, it will go just as we expect, as long as we work together. I won't let your trust down," Zane responded, taking another leisurely sip of champagne.
Leah and her husband, Hudson, chuckled at Zane's bold assurance.
"We have no doubts about it," Leah's voice carried a genuine compliment.
Recalling a relevant matter, Hudson said, "I heard there's a recent project at hand in your company, and my team is looking forward to collaborating. I await your feedback."
Zane adjusted his classic rectangular-framed glasses on his sharp, aquiline nose. "I've been so busy lately that I missed it. Currently, my company is working on crucial affairs, and we can't make rash decisions by accepting a new collaboration."
"I hope it doesn't take long to get your feedback," Hudson chimed in softly.
"Probably," Zane muttered flatly, making Leah and Hudson exchange unsatisfied glances.
Hudson wore a slight smile before saying, "You wouldn't find it disappointing. It would be a pleasure to be part of this new project." He stretched out his hand for a handshake, and Zane met the hand hanging in the air.