LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 17: False Idea

*MELANIE SMITH POV*

The conference already started and I still couldn't believe that I met Angelo Smiles' brother. What was more unexpected was that I already met him before. I just didn't get his name. 

Coincidentally, his reserved seat was just next to me so my heart couldn't stop beating fast thinking that we were too close to each other. 

I seemed back to my teenage years in which I was too embarrassed to see my crush. Heheheheh, if I remembered it right, I acted shamelessly at him the first time we met and I was even drunk that time. 

I wish I could delete that moment. It was too embarrassing. I looked like an easy girl with that attitude. 

Wow, I was feeling hot and lacking oxygen to breathe. Everything that the current speaker said just passed through my ears. 

Because everything I heard was the only loud beats of my heart. I seemed, I'm in love.? Really? So fast? 

I didn't realise I was staring at his face. 

"Miss Smith, is there something on my face?" The cold husky voice made me flinch and immediately retracted my eyes from him. 

"Mr. Smiles, don't be too self-conceited. I wasn't not staring at you." I bluffed. 

He just observed me intently then returned his attention in front. 

Fiddling with my fingers, I forced myself to focus on the speaker's views. Later, my phone beeped and I saw Barbie's name on the screen. I smiled joyfully to know she was fine. 

"Thank you God." I mumbled.

In the next minute, my attention was fully taken by the speaker . He called Adorro in front of us. 

Adorro strengthened the hem of his navy blue suit to tidy it then sauntered on stage handsomely. The conference filled with uproar from the single girls as Adorro stood facing us and it was more intensified as he began to deliver his speech. 

The content of his speech was all related to business. He shared the experience of Smiles Group before it became a big and influential company in the whole world. At the middle of his speech, Adorro was interrupted by a dubious reporter. 

"Mr. Adorro Smiles, can we ask you a question?" The female reporter with eyeglasses said, setting her camera on Adorro. 

"You should ask me after I am done. Cutting people talking is a bit inappropriate." Came the cold voice of Adorro again. "But, since you already started to ask, then go ahead. Feel free to ask." 

"Okay. Mr. Smiles, we are just wondering why the Smiles Group only gave their attendance today? And why is it you who came here, instead of Mr. Angelo Smiles?"

Adorro face's stiffened. "It is inconvenient for my brother to come. So the group sent me here on his behalf."

I couldn't just watch. This witch reporter was getting on my nerves. How dare she ruin the happy moment? She shouldn't ask questions. I couldn't help not to speak, "Miss reporter, are you insinuating that Mr. Adorro Smiles is not qualified to attend this conference?" 

The reporter threw a cunning smile, ignoring my fierce glare. "No, Miss Smith, I am just asking." She turned to Adorro again,  "Mr. Smiles, you said it was inconvenient for Mr. Angelo to come here, why? Please give us a reason."

"He is on a very important business trip abroad." Adorro answered in a more cold tone. 

"What business trip for him to stay there for long?"

"It was a secret business project. And I don't want to disclose it now without Angelo's permission. To avoid leaking."

"Really? Then why did we receive the news that he was just in the country and went missing?" 

Everyone exchanged meaningful gazes at each other as they created a noise hearing the reporter's said. 

-"Went missing? Is this true?" 

-"I don't know."

Random audiences gossip. 

I suddenly stood up from my seat and yelled to the reporter. "He said Mr. Angelo is out of the country, then he is. Why are you still doubting it? That information of yours must be wrong."

"Miss Smith, why are you so furious? I am just asking him not to kill him." The reporter smirked at me. 

The one from behind me rebuked me silently. "Miss Smith, please sit down and don't waste your arguing with them. That is just their work."

"Nonsense!" I groaned. 

Thankfully he was smart and calm. He didn't let everything bother him. Adorro finished his speech smoothly. As he returned to his seat, I thought he was going to thank me for speaking up for him

 but he actually got mad and said in a low voice, "You should not interfere."

My blood seemed boiled up with his cold treatment, "You should at least thank me, first." 

His brow curved up, "Thank you? Thank you for adding fuel on a firewood? If you don't care about your reputation, I care. With you doing that, don't you know you are creating a false idea in their mind that there is something going on between us?" 

I suddenly smiled to realise the effect of my action.

"Why are you smiling?" 

"Well, I'm fine with it." I giggled. 

Adorro turned away. "You're crazy."