30. YOU'RE PUTTING HER IN DANGER
1530 Words
"I don't even know if I can seen well with those lights."
"I am here, no need to worry."
We started walking to the bottom of the red carpet where we need to stand in front of the cameras.
The moment we started walking, camera started flashing on our faces and I was blinded in an instant.
"Mr. Daniel Rowder!"
"Look here please!"
"Who are you with right now?"
"There is the son!"
"Smile here!"
He can feel my nervousness, I've been shaking since he opened the car door for me earlier.
"Just smile... Like this."
Daniel turned to face me and I did the same. I can fully see his lips curving upwards then his teeth showing. He then turned to face the cameras in front as he gently squeezed my waist so I would do the same.
He stared at me again with his teeth still shining so bright from the camera flashes.
"See? It's easy."
"Yeah." I chuckled and he did too. For a while I forgot they were taking photos of us.
"You look good tonight." I said to him in between flashes.
"Well, I wasn't expecting you will say that." He grinned. "But yeah, thanks."
For the last time, we waved our hands in the air then started walking inside the hall.
"That was crazy." I squinted my eyes. "My eyes are already tired. My vision is blurry, I cannot see well."
"Come here." He grabbed me by my hand. We made our way past the tables and reached the one with the "Sinclair's Corporation" reservation.
"Sit here." He pulled my chair gently and grabbed my bag. He placed it on the table. Fixing his suit, he roamed his eyes around. "Rest here for a while, I'll just go there and say hi. They are our business partners."
When he was about to turn his back at me, I immediately grabbed his arm. "You're going to leave me here?"
His eyes changed. Giving me a light smile, he held me at my back and moved closer to my ear so I could here him over the sound inside the hall. "Just give me five minutes."
I nodded.
The hall was slowly being filled by people as the staff went to the stage one last time to check if everything is okay.
Roaming my eyes around, people have been greeting each other. I can see Daniel at the corner shaking hands with an asian businessman. I looked around to check the names on the table.
"Mitchell's Corp." I whispered to myself.
Is he here?
"Addilyn Holdings" Of course, as I was told, there's not a party here in Grant that they are not invited.
"Sinclair's Corporation. Wow." I heard a familiar voice talking from behind. "You finally made your way to be inside our society, huh?"
"I'm not here for this Andrea." I told her. I can't make a scene here.
"Then why are you here? Obviously, you know your place, right?"
"What's wrong with me being here?"
My eyes roamed around, waiting for Daniel but he's nowhere to be found... Again.
Your five minutes is up, where are you?
"Please, I am not here to make a scene." I added.
I can see some of the people looking in our direction.
I was mad at myself. This is a wrong idea. She's right, I should not be in here.
"You push yourself to Daniel so you can be part of the circle." Andrea hisses. She leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "Shame on you, social climber."
Just when she turned her back at me, I finally spoke up.
"I like him."
"You what?" I can feel her getting mad every inch she gets close to me.
"I'm not going to repeat myself." I stood up from my seat. I don't want to create more scenes here.
It's a good thing the music is kind of loud that's why even though people are seeing us, they don't know what's happening.
"You're kidding me. You really think he's going to like you? Someone like you?" She laughed sarcastically. "You don't even have your name on the list of reservations. What family did you came from?" She moved closer to me, her breath was touching my face. "Oh, I am sorry. I forgot you don't have a family anymore."
"That's enough." Daniel pulled me closer to him. "She's with me, Andrea."
"So you rejected to be with me because you're with her." She scanned me from head to toe. "I thought you were just joking. I didn't know you need a maid here."
"Hey, what's going on there?" Grey entered the scene. He was surprised to see me. "Alyanna? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was just greeting your poor little classmate, Grey." She then walked away from us.
"Let's talk later, okay?" Confused, he gave me one last glance before he moved away.
"Are you okay?" Daniel turned my body in his direction to face him. "I'm sorry. I thought you needed a drink so I went to the dining to get you something."
"I am okay." I breathe heavily, trying to regain my composure, I went back in my seat.
"The event is about to start, may we all please be seated." The host on the stage stated.
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"It's an auction." He explained.
"Oh, so that's why you have a number on your hand, too."
"Yeah." He smiled at me.
An hour has passed since Andrea stormed on me and I still wonder if Daniel heard what I said to Andrea.
He sensed that I was thinking about something so he kept on asking me if I was okay, and he was getting the same response.
I hope he did not hear me.
I don't want him to know.
Because that would just be another problem.
Those kind of things, I am not meant for that. I have more things to finish, and I cannot break my focus.
"There it is." Daniel's eyes shifted immediately to the next item.
"A car?"
Daniel smiled at me. "Yes, a car."
"Let's start with 10 chips.'' The host said and everyone started raising their numbers. Instead of biding using the actual money, they are converted into chips instead.
"15 chips."
"15 chips for Mr. Sylvester of Stallion Corp."
"25 chips."
"I heard 25 chips from Ms. Antoinne of The Color Cosmetics."
"35 chips!"
The bid for this 1960 vintage car has been going for a while now but I still haven't heard him bid once.
"I thought you want the car?" I asked him.
"I do." Daniel was just focused on the car.
"100 chips!"
"We got a hundred chips from Mr. David!"
"130 chips!"
"150 chips!"
Just how much this car would cost?
I am dying to now how much is a single chip.
"200 chips." I heard the familiar voice again. It was Grey.
"200 chips from The Mitchell's!" Everyone looked at his way. "A very young kid, bidding 200 chips!" I saw the other bidders sigh. "Anyone who could go higher?"
The crowd was silent.
"I don't think anyone could go--"
"300 chips." Daniel's deep voice occupied the hall.
I heard some people gasped in surprise.
"That's a great leap! 300 chips from The Sinclair's!"
"400 chips."
"We're having a real battle here! 400 chips for The Mitchell's!"
"500"
"800"
"1000 chips." Daniel raised his number again.
I looked at Grey to see that he was furious at Daniel. I thought he was about to bid more but he already stopped.
"Going once, going twice" The host stopped for a second to roam his eyes around and check if there's still anyone trying to bid. "1960 Phantom Vintage Car, Sold to The Sinclair's!"
I heard everyone clapping for him.
He stood up, buttoned his suit and bowed is head a little to the crowd.
"Thank you." I saw his lips, forming that word.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"I can't believe you threw a thousand chips just to tease Grey."
He laughed at me as we made our way outside the halls. "I know he's been eyeing that for months now."
"Why do you guys have a bad blood anyway?" I tilted my head in his direction.
He pushed the car lock from his car key. He assisted me to the passenger's seat. "That's for you to find out.''
Once he was inside, he continued "But it's not like it was a secret."
"Then if it's not, why can't you tell me?"
"No reasons why." He started the engine and when we were about to leave, I saw Grey blocking out way out.
When Daniel stopped the car, Grey went to my window side.
"Can we talk?"
"She can't" Daniel answered for me.
"I'll take her home if you can't wait." Grey's eyes went hard.
"We're going to eat somewhere and I am going to take her home." Daniel said, his voice were firm.
"You don't know what you're doing Daniel. You're putting her in danger."
"What? What danger?" I asked. I turned to face Daniel but were eyes were fixed on Grey.
"Move, Grey."
After Grey pulled away from the car, he roared the engine immediately.
- Writer
