Shadows of desires

Chapter one Izzy POV “Let’s welcome Ms. Isabella De Luca.” The MC announced, and I stood up immediately after. And the shattering of glass on the floor followed after. Bringing my attention and the rest of the audience's attention to it. My cheeks reddened, as tendrils went through my body. My glass of champagne had spilled on the floor, and the entire people in the ballroom had their eyes on me. I swallowed hard. Trying hard not to act amiss. Since my name had been called I couldn’t bend down to clean the mess. And so I just straightened my hands over my dress and walked to the stage with my head held high. Everyone’s rapt attention was still on me. I smiled at the MC. And he adjusted the mic a bit before walking away. Leaving me to the eyes of thousands of artists. Ready to judge and chew at me. I rubbed my palm by the sides of my dress. My smile was still plastered to my face. “Good evening. I apologize about the glass. They can be so hard to stick to our hands.” I meant it as a joke. But no one was laughing. And my anxiety level went high. I knew I shouldn’t have… The sound of my best friend's clap echoed in the quiet halls. She was the only one clapping. And she had a bright proud smile as she clapped. It elevated my confidence a bit. However, the next person that clapped took me by surprise. Adrian Blackwood. The renowned billionaire and Owner of the Blackwood company, he worth over 800 billion dollars, and that was in exclusion to his properties and lands. And if he claps. Everyone also claps. And that was exactly what had happened. I made a mental note to thank him after the curation. And to also thank him for giving me a chance to be a curator of great artists and renowned personalities. I started the show. And soon everyone got lost in the auction. They were busy bidding and trying to show off who had the highest money. At the end of the auction. Adrian had bought the most art out of everyone. He was that loaded. And aside from being loaded. Adrian Blackwood. Was a man with an exceeding look. His broad shoulders spread over the expanse of his suit. His grey eyes held so much authority and mystery. And his black hair was styled perfectly with no spot undone. I knew all these things cause I had spent the last two weeks researching on him, and checking out his pictures longer than I should. His invitation had caught me by surprise. Especially given the fact that I never knew him on a personal level. Only on girls' magazines and hot celebrity gossip shows. And so the reason he knew me and could even choose me remained unknown to me. After the auction ended. We were all asked to move to the party hall. For the little celebration put together by Adrian. I didn’t wish to stay behind as my work had already been done. But I had to see him. To thank him. And also asked him how he got to know about me. And so as I stood by the champagne table with my best friend Naomi. I watched out for him. For the perfect time to walk up to him, except I had been standing for almost an hour and there hadn’t been a perfect time. The reason was that people were around him. And they didn’t seem like they wanted to leave. Most especially the ladies. “You know if you keep waiting here. You’re just not going to meet him.” Naomi chipped in as she gulped down her glass of champagne. While I had been twirling mine. And gawking at Adrian as though I was expecting him to come meet me. “I can’t disturb his talks with other people.” “The other people don’t look like they wish to leave. Besides it’s just to show your gratitude. It’s not like you’re asking him out or any shit.” Naomi tugged on, she was a black girl with a slim waist and the right type of body and confidence. I sometimes caught myself wishing to have her confidence. But it seemed the confidence only came alive in the walls of my bathroom. “I…” I didn’t know what to say. I slumped my shoulders in frustration and anger at my attitude. And just when I thought I had lost hope, Adrian had turned and his eyes had locked with mine. My breath almost caught in my throat as I stared at him. He was breathtaking. In a way that screamed he wouldn’t ever want someone like me. And yet it didn’t hurt to dream I would be… He smiled at me, before saying something to the ladies in his midst. And then walking towards me. I almost froze in my spot. And mommy instinct remained to walk away. But I held my grounds. The faster this was. The faster I get home and end the night. “Miss Isabella.” He called as he approached me. Took my hands. And placed a chaste kiss on my hands. The gesture was meant to be honorable. Except my entire body was tingling shamelessly. “Mr Blackwood,” I answered with a forced smile. “You seem to be enjoying yourself.” He turned to Naomi and he gave a kiss to her hands. And soon the tingling feelings I felt died immediately. It wasn’t special if he was going about kissing ladies' hands. But why do I feel this tug of disappointment in my chest at that? “We are. Thanks for the invitation, mr Blackwood.” Naomi Vice had taken a low and seductive tone. And I watched as she placed a strand of her hair to the back of her ear. If Adrian was affected by it. He didn’t show it. He just wore a polite smile. Almost as though the act didn’t faze him. He turned to me, and it felt as though his eyes immediately got an intense edge. Or maybe I was over-reading it. “May I have this dance?” He asked as he brought his hands forward. I looked at his face, and then his eyes, my eyes slightly round cause I was taken aback by his request. Naomi nudged at my shoulders. It was a sign that meant I was zoning out. “Uhm…yeah..sure.” My cheeks reddened even more with the fact that my voice broke out into a stammer. I took his offered hands. And he directed me to the dance floor. The background song was slow. Meaning we would have to do a slow dance. Except I haven’t ever done it. My throat bobbed with nervousness. And I was trying hard not to show it. But it was only making me more nervous. “Relax.” His voice had taken a low soft edge as he spoke to my ears. And like a transfix, I felt my shoulders tense down a bit. Then his hands went to my waist, and he pulled my body close to his. Causing my breath to hitch by the sudden closeness. I knew I was to place my hands over his shoulders. And I did just that. And oh. The feel of his… “So do you always drop a glass when your name is being called?” I felt my cheeks get hot. “No. That was an honest mistake.” I said not being quite able to look at him. But when I did. I saw the amusement in his eyes. He was teasing me. It made me relax a bit more. I smiled back. “Do you always kiss the hands of a lady?” I asked. Shocking both him and myself with the question. His lips curved up into a smile. “Only the pretty ones.” He spoke in a low range to my ears. And my stomach rumbled uncontrollably. He twirled me around and then caught me. Causing our bodies to collide. And oh. I have never felt my body fit as perfectly as it does right now. I have never gotten lost in staring at someone's eyes the way I did in his. His eyes were intense. They promised so many mysteries. “You did well tonight.” His voice was barely over a whisper. “Thanks.” My head was hazy. The background song stopped. Indicating that the dance was over. I immediately redrew back. It felt as though the trance had been cut. I tried going away. But he held my hands. And dragged my body to his. Even when the song had ended. And the dance floor had already cleared. People had started staring. “I have a request to make.” I arched a brow in confusion. “Come to my home and dine with me.” Well, that was shocking. “Wh..why?” “I want to get to know you.” Was this some kind of game? Or was there a hidden camera? “I. I can’t. I have to be at work tomorrow.” I lied. And I watched as his expression darkened. “I don’t like the answer no. Especially when it comes out of your mouth.” What? I got off him, and thankfully he didn’t try to hold me. “This is weird. But it’s been nice knowing you. But I can’t accept your request. Thanks for the invitation.” I bowed my head slightly. Before walking away. It wasn’t until I turned around that I saw that people had been staring at us. It raised my anxiety more. I reached towards Naomi. “Wow! That was..” I cut her short. “Let’s go home.”