The Alpha's Surrogate

Chapter 5

Vanessa POV

Ivan had informed me of a dinner party tonight at the mansion. I spent the whole day in the kitchen, preparing a meal for twenty guests and ensuring the house was sparkling too. It was much work for just me to get done, but I guess it all comes with the pay. I left the cake on the counter to cool off, then got some glasses with which I would use to prepare smoothies.

I raised my head up from what I was doing when Ivan walked into the kitchen.

"How's it coming along?" He asked.

I nodded, too drained to make any coherent speech.

"I'm guessing it's much work for you, today."

"No. It's fine, Sir." I said. All lies. Well, I can't complain I'm drained from domestic chores. This is one little task compared to what I did at Silver Grove Institute as an orphaned child. We usually worked for the people for free as thanks or service for all the good things and help they provided for us.

"Okay. That's good to know." He said and began to walk away.

"What kind of party is being held, by the way? I thought you don't have friends." I said, not knowing how the words rushed out of my mouth.

Ivan stopped in his tracks, and turned to look me in the eyes, holding my gaze for a moment.

"It's in two hours time. Hurry!" He said, and walked away.

So saucy! I finished up with the smoothie and went ahead with preparing other meals. Ivan had given me a list of meals to prepare for the party.

I was dressed in a white flowy dress, hair brushed and packed in a high ponytail with heels on my feet when the doorbell rang. I walked majestically to the door, and went for it. Ivan had called me earlier, and presented the ludicrous dress to me. I feel stupid wearing a dress, a white one at that. White has never been my color. The dress reminds me of what Zia had worn the night I caught her having s*x with Rowan.

I opened the door and smiled pleasantly, as I was instructed to do.

"Welcome Miss and Mr." I said awkwardly with a fake smile plastered across my face.

Luckily, they bought the smile and in return, gave me a beautiful smile while grinning at me. They glanced at each other and chuckled.

"We are Mr and Mrs." The lady said. She wore a gold body hug dress that showed off her curvy body. Her blonde wavy long hair cascaded down to her back and made her look like a goddess from a foreign universe. Her red lipstick shone brightly and I couldn't help but think it was too much.

I didn't realize I hadn't given them entrance into the house as I stared at the beautiful lady with excessive makeup, and revealing dress until the man cleared his throat and gestured with his hands for me to give way.

"Sorry, sorry." I apologized, quickly, heat creeping up my cheeks with embarrassment.

"Mr Ivan!" The man shouted out loud as he walked in.

I shut the door and stood at a corner. Ivan had come downstairs. He smiled at the couple and gave them warm handshakes. I could hear bits of their conversation and it seemed they were discussing business and a company. Maybe, this is a business party to celebrate an achievement or so.

In the next twenty minutes, more guests came and with every doorbell sound, I had to smile and welcome the guests as though I cared. The last guest came in, but I was sure we had more than twenty people in attendance. Most of them came with a plus one. Good thing there's enough food to go round for everyone.

Cool calm music played in the background. The atmosphere was a bit noisy with everyone chatting and others socializing with people they've never met.

I had placed the food on some round tables and placed them at different corners in the sitting room, for them to make their choices and eat, so I had no work to do anymore.

I sat on the coach and looked around, watching the guests mingle with each other. Ivan kept moving around, having small talks with everyone, while thanking them for coming. He wore a shirt and black trousers. The first three buttons were open and a heavy gold chain was around his neck. He gelled his long back hair backwards and took the appearance of a model over an employer of a great and large organization. From the bits of conversation I've heard, it seems he has a flourishing and prospering company in the city. His eyes met mine and I held my gaze with him, not wanting to look away.

"Hi!" Someone said, and sat next to me.

I turned and saw a young man whom I guess would be in his late twenties, with a warm friendly smile across his face.

"I'm Luke." He Introduced. "Ivan's right hand man." He said, and chuckled. "Not necessarily a right hand man, but I'm always around him, helping him stand strong on his feet." Ivan looked towards our direction, and it was as though he heard what Luke had said. He gave him a look I couldn't decipher before going back to his conversation with the couple that first arrived.

"I'm Vanessa." I said in a dismissive tone, not interested in a conversation because it appeared Luke was a talker.

"I know." He said, and I threw a glance at him. He was attractive and had this boyish look, that seemed all sweet but I knew on the inside, he was strong and had the capacity to stand as a fort.

"Ivan has told me a lot about you." He said, and grinned. "But nothing bad though." He smiled and then laughed.

I didn't know when I joined in his amusement and smiled. He seemed to have a personality that can charm anyone.

"So, why are you here all alone? Don't you wanna join us on the floor and meet some new friends?"

"New friends?" I said with a huff.

"Okay, okay. It seems you prefer being aloof. I respect that."

I smiled and nodded. We stayed quiet for a while, watching and observing others.

Ivan changed the music to a slow sensual soundtrack. In a few seconds, everyone had a partner and began swirling and twirling to the music.

A petite brunette clinged to Ivan's arm and danced with him. Ivan had his eyes locked on hers as their bodies moved closer to each other.

Luke, following my eyes, said "that's his secretary, Eve. She's beautiful isn't it?"

So the boss and secretary thingy is real. I looked away not wanting to see again if she's that beautiful.

"She is." I said in agreement.

He seemed to guess what I was thinking because he laughed out loud. "She was hired a few days ago. And I did the hiring. Your boss needs beauties around him."

"I agree." I said, even though I don't agree. Isn't that calling for distraction?

Luke nods, "you wanna dance?" He asked as he stood to his feet.

I shook my head, folded my hands and crossed my legs as I laid back ready to watch everyone.

"Come on, don't be a killjoy." He pleaded as he grabbed my hands and slowly tugged on me to get on my feet.

I don't know how it happened, but I was up and in Luke's bosom, moving my body along the tempo of the music.

"You're beautiful." Luke said in a low whisper as he locked eyes with mine.

I held his gaze for a few seconds before looking away. My eyes meet Ivan. I look away, not wanting to dwell on the emotions I saw on his face. There was a reason I wanted to be alone on the coach. Isn't it out of place for the help to dance with the guests?

"I think I've done my best tonight. I would love to go sit, now." I said to Luke.

He gives me a look that shows he's offended and hurt. "Why would you say that?"

"Because my Boss is throwing daggers at me, right now with his eyes." I explained. "And I feel it's not proper for the help to dance with the guests."

An amused look spreads across his face, then he begins to chuckle. "You don't know Ivan, yet... But trust me, Ivan doesn't mind much."

"Then why the look?" I glanced at the spot where he and Eve were dancing but couldn't find them. Has he taken her upstairs for some important purpose? Perhaps, office duties. Why does their closeness affect me this much?

"Maybe, he's jealous that I'm dancing with you."

I scoffed. That's far from the reason. And why would he be jealous of a lowlife like me?

The clinking of a champagne glass with a spoon gets everyone's attention, and we all turn to the direction of the sound to see Ivan in the middle at the center of the living room. Everyone spreads and moves and a circle is formed. Eve stood not so far from him, her eyes glued to him like he's going to disappear if she looks away.

"I want to thank you all for making it out here today. I appreciate you all for coming." He begins his speech, then pauses to watch the effects of the first line on everyone's face. Some nod, some smile while some faces stay expressionless.

"It has always been my dream to get Crestview Innovations to the frontier, and the global market. Over the last six years, this company has faced lots of challenges, but I'm grateful to you all, for not giving up on Crestview and me. Today, we've achieved a feat, which is well deserved. Thank you all for your hard work, dedication, support and patience as we grew, over the years. Cheers to many more wins!" He finished his speech, and raised his glass. Everyone raised their glasses to the toast, and turned around to clink glasses with others.

I faced Luke and gave him a warm smile. "Congrats!" I picked up a glass and filled it with champagne before clicking it with his for the toast.

"Thank you." He said, and his eyes remained on me. He took a sip of his wine and licked his lips, his eyes tracing every feature on my face. From my eyes, then down to my lips. His eyes settled on my lips and remained there.

"Can we go back to the dance?"

"It's not like I have a choice." I said, and we both laughed.

I placed my hands on his shoulders and took a step closer to him. He pulled me forward, almost pressing my body to his as his hands encircled my waist. We moved to the rhythm of the music and for a moment I got enthralled.

"How about we send tonight, together." He whispered in my ears.

I took a step back, feeling offended. I turned around looking for a way to escape when my eyes locked with Ivan.

He walked briskly towards us. "I think that's enough for a night, Ivan. You can go back to playing hostess. Clear up the place, empty plates and drinks and have warm friendly conversations with other guests." He said. If he was mad, I couldn't tell because his words held no emotions.

"Yes, Sir." I said and walked away from Luke.