Chapter 30
Ariel
The hall in which the party was held was brightly lit with chandeliers and incandescent bulbs producing enough illumination.
The platform was intricately designed with dark linens forming drapes over the floral patterned gold-colored wallpaper. Each table had a bouquet that matched the decoration of the hall and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Tonight, it was just Dmitri and I. Fedor should have been around, lurking in the background, but Liora refused to stay back at Seattle the moment she knew that we weren’t going to be around for the night so he had to stay back at the hotel and watch over her.
It felt weird being alone with him, especially after the confrontation earlier this morning, but I was determined to enjoy the party even if it involved grating on his nerves.
“Do you want to drink anything?” He asked and I observed that it was a buffet party, though I could see some waiters walking around with trays holding drinks in their hands.
“No, I don’t. Why do you care anyway?”
“Suit yourself then,” He replied flatly. “Come with me, I have some people to introduce you to,”
Before I could argue, he had already entwined his arm with mine and led me to a table close to the platform where a group of old men sat.
“Good evening, Mr Thomas,” Dmitri greeted and I did the same.
I didn’t understand why we suddenly had to attend an associate’s party, and I became uncomfortable with the way his eyes skimmed through my dress.
Admittedly, I was looking beautiful in my strapless bodycon black sequin dress, but he was old enough to be my father and I was very sure he had a wife. Besides, he also knew that Dmitri and I were married.
“Is she your wife? She’s beautiful,” He commented and I forced out a smile so I wouldn’t seem rude.
“Yes, she is. I only go for the best,” Dmitri agreed with a cocky tone while I tried to hold back a hiss.
Even his attempt at being friendly felt like a show-off.
Soon they began to talk about their work and it made me miss Guilia. I’d pleaded with him incessantly to allow her to come with us, but he was still mad about what happened last night.
A waiter passed by with some drinks and I stopped him, taking a glass of champagne. Then I headed to the buffet stand to stuff myself with some cake since there was no one to talk to.
Fortunately, I found one of my favorite cakes which had the chocolate flavor and cut a piece of it for myself. I’d barely dug in when I heard someone clear his throat behind me.
I turned around and found a lanky young man with a handsome face to go with it, staring at me with a look somewhat akin to admiration.
“Hi…” He began nervously and gulped, his throat bobbing in an upward-downward motion.
I didn’t expect shyness from someone who could get the attention of almost all the women here just by snapping his fingers, but I kept my opinion to myself as I didn’t want to heighten his anxiety.
“Good evening,” I greeted, tucking my hair behind my ear and scanning his attire.
The suit looked expensive and the design was unique. Who knows? He could be a Capo’s son or a politician’s.
He nodded and pressed his lips, his eyes blaring with nervousness. I lowered my lashes, still wondering how a man of his status could be lost for words while talking to me.
I doubted I was that beautiful.
“Is there any problem?” I asked when the silence became awkward.
He shook his head and sucked in some air. “No… There isn’t. The thing is, I saw you across the room and decided to come over here to talk to you. Do you mind?” His question came out as a whisper.
“No, I don’t, Mr…”
“My bad, It’s Darrell. You don’t have to be formal with me,”
“Alright, Darrell. I’m Ariel,” We shook hands and trotted away from the stand to join the main hall. “Are you related to the celebrant?” I interrogated him.
His gaze darted to a gorgeous red-haired woman who was laughing vivaciously with her friends and he smiled. “She’s my younger sister,”
“Shit!” I muttered under my breath and fixed him a quizzical look.
“What’s the problem?” His voice was so tender and if not for my decision to quit absconding, I’d have attempted it again with him.
My response didn’t have the chance to leave my mouth because a waiter came to me, whispered some words into my ear and handed a folded piece of paper to me then left.
Immediately, I unfolded the paper and searched for Dmitri whose eyes were pinned on me. At that moment, I was almost moved to marching over to his table and causing a scene, but at a second thought, I decided against it.
“Are you alright?” He asked again and I nodded.
Goddamn you, Dmitri.
“I’m good. Just give me a moment, I’ll be right back,”
Once again, I was reminded of my fate. Dmitri had warned me in his note that he’d murder Darrell if I kept talking to him and I’d never wanted to commit murder so badly.
What kind of psychopath was he? Why did he think that killing every man who came close to me would solve our issue?
More and more questions continued to pop into my head as I neared the rest room which I hoped would be empty. I just wanted to lock myself in and cry till there were no tears left.
Unfortunately, my mission was aborted because of the voice I heard within. I sighed and made to turn around since I had no other reason to be there, but at the mention of Liora’s name, my legs refused to keep moving.
My curiosity was roused and I was torn between waiting to be sure that the person was referring to someone else or returning to the party and mourning the loss of what would have been a blooming friendship.
I chose the former with a strong sense of protection for Liora welling up within me, and I placed my ear against the door, intently listening to the conversation. And then I discovered it was a female voice.
“Yes, she’s at the hotel,” I heard. “It’s just the boss and his wife here at the party, and I don’t think Liora has a lot of people watching over her. He relaxed security because he thought that the tension had died down,”
My ears tingled and my heart slammed hard against my ribcage as adrenaline surged through me.
I didn’t need to hear the rest of the conversation before I dashed off on my heels. No matter what it would cost me, Liora had to be protected.