The Taste of Wine

{ Chapter 3 ~ Some taste }

"We assure you the production and quality will exceed your expectations! As a comfortable community i wish for more opportunities for eac-"

"Well then?" He further said making Xierra more nervous.

'Why is he pushing me to drink? Can't he read the mood or something? He should at least ask if i even want to instead of pushing it!'

In irritation, the anger made her confident to look straight at the other's eye, which she noticed has the strange vapid mauve colored eyes, and because of its uniqueness she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, but nevertheless she immediately notice how he keeps staring at her, that it felt like he never left his eyes at her.

"Staring is rude, Sir" She said in defense even though she just stared at him herself, her words made the mauve eyes sparkle and his lips move in attempt to smile even further, he's looks are in no denial is extremely attractive even with a mask covered, it was very obvious, it's only be close to 10 minutes with his presence yet she already felt a gentle and fun but playful vibe around the guy.

"How nice it is to be rude then.."

His unexpected comeback made Xierra a bit flustered and confused, it is very odd, why does he keep talking to her and bothering her? Is it possible he simply just want a company with?

In a span of 15 years since she has been dealing with this kind of gathering, there is no single person that ever approached her like this.

"Please quit with your jokes." Xierra could only respond in impulse, she averted her eyes and fixed her eyes at the crowd that is fully focused at front.

Her eyes wondered what time it is already, there is no clock in the hall so she's unsure, but since it started at 7 maybe its already past 9? She also noticed how the crowd has lesser number than earlier, some other guest might have already gotten home or had some other business to attend to, it's quite great that its saturday because she has a day left to rest before focusing again on her studies and artwork.

......

The young man became quiet that made Xierra wonder if he's even still there, she turn her head towards him and saw him still sitting there promptly and fine, his eyes moving slowly around the crowd as if spectating, she took her time staring at him to try and guess whoever this gentleman is, she might remember him if they ever have met before, she took a good time and still come up with nothing, she's sure now that she have never encountered this man before nor saw him on news or articles, maybe he's just a son of some business owners here perhaps?

"Staring is rude, milady" He suddenly said looking at her in sideways, saying back her words earlier, his eyes showing a hint of playfulness and amusement. It caught Xierra off-guard but she only averted her eyes and whispered a simple sorry.

"But if its you i can take it as compliment." He then added, Xierra gripped the silk of her dress as she can feel her cheeks burning up and her heart pounding in nervousness.

'Is he playing with me or simply flirting?' She thought, unfortunately this maiden has never encountered someone who ever attempted to flirt with her, or more less ask about things that doesn't concern her family or situation, Therefore she is clueless.

"Are you not fond of parties?"

"No, not really" She answered while her eyes are stuck at the crowd, her face remain emotionless, tho she doesn't even have to pretend with the mask on her, but still out of habit, she acts elegant and obedient but stern whenever she talks.

"Hmm, why is it that your sitting here alone ever since the party started? Only you were not with a group or partner" He pushed his curiosity which Xierra want to escape from.

'This is giving me a creep vibes, has he been watching me or he just noticed that?'

"I simply prefer to be alone, sir-"

"Ran." He cut her off which made her glance at him in confusion. 'What does he meant by ran? should i ran or is ran a name?'

"You can call me Ran, Not sir" He said which Xierra only nodded in response, So it was his name.

"I'm-"

"Your Xierra, the adopted first daughter of Armani? I'm Ranzel Zhyrious, Nice to meet you. Now then may i have a drink with you?" He cut in again before she could speak, and he even get straight to the point not letting her speak, he adjusted his posture to face her with the wine bottle resting now on his left hand while his hand rested at the top of his knee.

'Why does he keep cutting me off???? Is he that rude or obnoxious?' She irritatingly thought, the young man who she barely knew keeps getting on her nerves with the sweetest and gentle voice he has, If she answered back that for sure would make her look bad, after all his voice sounded so innocent and deep.

"Um yes, nice to meet you too" She said blankly avoiding his daring eyes, now then how can she get away from this man? Ranzel Zhyrious? She have never heard of that name.

In the end she agreed to drink with him, she grew tired getting all defensive around this man, a drink of wine won't kill her right? Just one glass and she would leave, he maybe sweet and gentle but she could feel his presence that he is someone that in every action and words he has that unknown intention.

Ran called out a butler to fetch him a bottle of wine and another cup,

"You said you dont drink?" Ran teased her, which she can only respond with a small smile even though she wanted to roll her eyes.

"It would be bad to be rejected twice" She said while still rejecting to give the man an eye contact. Her response made Ran laugh again, they waited for the butler to come and serve, but the butler was dismissed immediately after Ran took a hold of the wine and giving me my own cup, he made her hold his cup for a bit to open the bottle while Xierra just watched him, her eyes focused on his hands while his eyes focused on her.

"This wine only has 24 percent of alcohol, so don't get worry about getting drunk" He said with a charming smile making her raise an eyebrow and wondered-

'24%? Is that low than i expected? I thought i recall 12 percent is the average...But oh well it's my first time i don't think i'd get drunk just by a few drinks'

She let him pour her wine filling up only half of the cup, while he let his a whole, she watched him first drink for a bit, she couldn't help but also catch the way his adam's apple attractively going up and down while he drank up, somehow that made her even more thirsty.

"Go on" Ran persuaded placing an arm around the back of his chair while he faced her, the hand holding the wine rest on top of his knee while his knee is also on top of the other, she gulped while looking down at her own wine, a few seconds of having second thoughts before drinking up a whole which made Ran giggle.

"Milady easy, you can take it slowly" He said after Xierra took a deep breathe after chugging up her cup and letting the wine make her feel a bit sensation of heat, she didn't expect the wine to be hot and sweet but it was delicious than what she expected.

It was so sweet that its making her feel addicted..

She let Ran pour her another drink, A sum of time has passed with them just drinking and talking comfortably around each other not minding how the crowd is still there. Maybe its because of how much she's enjoying the wine, she let her guard down around the man she barely knew who keeps talking to her as if they were well known partners.

But of course even though a bit clumsy at the moment she noticed how the crowd was just still and somehow trying to ignore them? Like they are being forced to obediently don't mind what's happening at the corner of the hall where two individuals that were never ever expected to even look at each other is now drinking and a bit clumsy.

"I'm telling you that i did art major one time and i was so good at it i almost dropped out of my business one, my parents was so mad, saying i'm bringing myself down! HAHAHA parents really are so stressful, so of course i did what they want me to and just forget the memory of me doing art." He open up to her easily which Xierra listened, after hearing what happened she then frowned and patted the back of Ran which she didn't notice has now its sit closer to her than earlier.

"I feel you, those sick Armani's wanted me to do business and be a freaking maid to my sister, But i rebelled and pushed to do arts, and because of that they barely give me support for it" She complained too, which is unlike her to open up about this, she thought the alcohol percentage isn't enough to make her drunk and a bit tipsy but it looks like its making her more talkative, after realizing what she just said she covered her face and was on the verge of crying, singing Ran immediately patted her head comforting her.

"Now now, don't cry. I'm a billionaire and i can give you everything, i'll support you" He said with most sincerity making Xierra paused and removing her hands on her face and removed the mask she was wearing to wipe off the tears falling down her eyes.

"Nonsense, anyway what am i even doing" She said, maybe crying made her a bit sober because why would she be crying?? A person that wasn't even her parent abused her and she never even cry so why is she being so weak right now? How crazy this is...

But as she was now sober and fine, the problem is the person in front of her is nowhere near sober and sane, after all he drank half the bottle while she barely had more than 5 cups of wine and in half of it, maybe this guy underestimated the amount of alcohol that he was too easy going, good thing she only been clumsy for a minute before realizing she's about to mess her life.

"Xieeee, i want to sleep, I'm sleepy." He wined almost falling on to her if she hadn't place a hand on his chest from preventing her from falling, she shook her head and waited for the pain inside her disappear, her throat is burning and her stomach, but it was bearable so she didn't put much concern to it and focused more on the person that is slowly becoming a bit clingy to a stranger like her.

She roamed her eyes at the hall, but because its a bit darker because its just all chill and some business man and woman chatting around for business, either on groups or in partners, everyone was ignoring them which is odd, she thought it might be an issue but it looks like they don't really care if she's even there with someone or what, She then try finding Vy and her parents, but thankfully they are at the very front and is currently busy, Vy seem to be drunk a bit seeing her shoulders turning a bit red, and her parents has there back on her that's why she's now secured. The maids were asked to leave the hall and their work is done once the last session start, not only because they care but they wanted privacy for only them.

The Armani had an issue before about having a spy that leaks their projects and intentions to other companies, And it was quite a mess, thankfully though the only thing was leaked was about them planning to buy of all lands in the south.

As business workers, a leak like that is a problem especially with other business owners as this would lead to a competition.

Putting that aside, Xierra then stood up and made Ran put his right arm around her shoulder to support him while her other hand was on his waist, they walked out the hall and they went to the guest room, since the halls and way are empty there is no interferance or whatsoever from others.

"Xie, would you like to sleep with me?" A gentle voice echoed the whole row of their way which made Xierra roll her eyes only.