THE MISTRESS

Six

▪︎ Familiar Eyes ▪︎

"Welcome to The Grand Launch Of The new branch of Ford Firm in Foxton Town."

Harvey Ford smiles brightly at the dozens of guests. He shoves a hand in his pocket and points to the set tables.

"I am pleased and delighted that you could all make it tonight. Have yourselves a seat."

Everyone takes a table with their dates. I pick a table and sit next to Alex who seems a little too excited after the phone call. I wonder who he was talking to and what they were talking about. Maybe it's one of those crazy-ass girlfriends of his...

I munch on a chocolate cookie, staring at Harvey Ford, who is still giving out his endless speech. My eyes dart around the room and I'm startled to see Miles!

I thought he said he wasn't coming! He said these types of events are not his 'thing'! So, why is he here?

Miles is sitting next to his dad, Prof. Smith. The lecturer looks neat in a grey suit. My best friend, on the other hand, looks amazing in an impeccable pink suit that's perfectly tailored. It looks like it was just made for him. With that long blonde hair slicked back and that pink tuxedo, he's the most beautiful boy in the room.

I catch Alex staring at Miles.

"If you're going to say anything negative about him, just shut that mouth."

"Relax," he scoffs. "Seems like daddy got him a pass tonight. How I wish I had a professor for a dad!"

I roll my eyes and ignore him.

I can't believe I didn't see Miles make an entrance. All this time, I was too caught up with Erik and his girlfriend to notice that my best friend was here.

But I know Miles is still mad at me. I know he won't talk to me. We haven't been talking for the last three days now. I stopped trying to reach out because he completely shut me out. And I must admit, I miss him. I miss his crazy stories at the cafeteria. I miss the way his eyes sparkle when he talks about his boyfriend. I miss him telling me he loves me every second as if he's scared I will forget it.

I just miss him.

The room breaks into thunderous claps, the guests standing from their seats. Harvey Ford has just put a full stop to his speech. He steps out of the stage after welcoming a band of artists to perform.

Erik.

I'm taken by surprise when he starts playing his guitar, singing so beautifully on the stage. But what completely blows my mind away are the lyrics to his song.

Met you at the club,

You let me into your cab,

You let me kiss you,

And now I miss you...

My heart jolts in surprise, memories flooding in waves. Every single lyric reminds me of him... taking me back to that unforgettable night...

Tell me how to stop,

Or tell me how to cope,

With thinkin' about you,

With dreamin' about you,

Coz I can't seem to stop!

In my thoughts, you are at the top,

Baby, you are at the top!

Erik's eyes are on me. I can't seem to pull my eyes away from his. I feel drawn closer to him by the sentimental song.

"Boy! That band boy can sing!" Alex remarks, standing beside me. "He just gained a fan here!"

I sip my wine, giving him a silent response.

"Oh, my bad! I forgot the guy is not your cup of tea..." he chuckles. "But you can't deny that he's a hot, talented cup of tea, dude."

I roll my eyes and stop staring at Erik.

"Let's do what brought us here, Alex. It's time."

"We have a little more time," he smirks. "A little more time for you to tell me why that hot piece of cake is not your cup of tea..."

"Because I kissed him!" I hiss. "And he rejected me because he has a girlfriend! And his girlfriend slashed the tyres of my car! And I attacked her! And now he hates me for attacking his girlfriend! And I hate him for rejecting me!"

"Whew!" He whistles. "Is that blonde girl the girlfriend?"

I nod when he points at Sabrina.

A little smirk touches his lips. "Perfect!"

"Yeah, she's perfect!"

No wonder Erik is so stuck up on her. No wonder he felt so guilty after making out with me. Maybe that song he wrote is not even about me but her...

He loves her. I see the way he looks at her. The way he holds her hand. The way he hugs her. The way he defends her. I know he loves her. She's so lucky to have him...

"I have some great news!"

Alex pulls me back to reality. Before I can even say a word, Alex grabs my arm and drags me to the balcony. He makes me sit on the one-arm leather sofa, grinning at me.

"The break-in to my apartment was a burglary!" He breaks the news. "The burglars have been caught and charged with multiple counts of burglary..."

I can't help but gasp and throw my hands all over him in excitement.

"That's great! I knew it! I knew you were just being paranoid!"

"Everything has been recovered..."

"Even your laptop?"

"Even my laptop."

"That means you are safe! We are safe!" I heave a sigh of relief. "I knew it! I knew you didn't have a stalker. I knew it was your freaking paranoia eating you up."

He groans. "I wish I didn't tell you..."

"Yeah, because you know I was right."

He rolls his eyes and shifts his attention to the ballroom. The guests are still schmoozing, drinks clutched up in their hands. Erik is still up on stage singing with his band.

"How about you stop blowing your own trumpet and do what brought us here?"

My eyes travel to Harvey Ford through the wall of glass. He's laughing with a bunch of silver-haired diplomats, a glass of wine swirling in his hand. With his expensive suit and that hearty laughter, you would confuse him for a respectable person. But he's nothing close to it.

"I hate him, Alex."

"You don't have to love him," he says. "Just make him love you..."

I step back into the ballroom, Alex lurking behind me. Erik is no longer singing on the stage, just some slow song playing in the background. My eyes are still fixed on Harvey Ford, wondering if I will be able to get his attention tonight.

"Rue!"

I'm shocked when Miles hisses behind me.

I didn't even think he would want to be anywhere close to me tonight.

He suddenly pulls me to the far corner and looks up at me, narrowing his blue eyes on me.

"Just so you know, I'm still mad at you! And I still hate you! And I won't reply to any of your calls or texts! And I'm going to block you!"

He's trying so hard to look harsh but he's failing terribly. He has such a sweet face. Even when he's angry, he still looks puppy-cute.

I smile. "Okay."

"Don't 'okay' me!" He hisses. "And wipe that smile off your face! It looks ugly!"

I can't help but chuckle and pull this little man into a warm hug.

"I missed you too, Miles."

"I don't miss you!" He grumbles, hugging me back tightly.

"Shut up and enjoy my free hug."

He laughs in my arms.

"I missed you too, stupid!"

He steps back and glares at me.

"I'm not forgiving you until you tell me everything! And by everything, I mean everything! Including how you got Erik to make out with you! And how hot the kiss was! And the name of the first guy that rejected you that night! I demand all the details!"

I chuckle and pull him into a hug again.

"Trust me, I want to give you all the details but this is not the perfect place for that. That conversation will need a rainy night mixed with two cups of coffee and a cosy couch, don't you think?"

He nods in agreement.

I scan him from head to toe.

"That pink tux is hot..."

"I know. I wish the men here were just as hot..."

I giggle, grabbing another glass of wine. That's when his phone rings in the pockets of his suit. He rushes to the balcony to receive it, leaving me standing alone.

The violinists and pianists are still playing the instruments at the far corner. Every guest is going about their business. Harvey Ford is still chattering and laughing with his business colleagues.

That means I can finally strike.

I can finally do what brought me here.

"Noooooooo!!!!!" I let out a scream.

Everything stops.

The noises of the chitchats in the room stops. The clinking of glasses stops. The tapping of footsteps stops. Even the slow music in the background stops.

Silence.

Dead silence.

Hundreds of eyes are glued on me, surprise and shock on everyone's faces.

"I need help!" I cry in horror. "Please! I need help!"

Harvey Ford walks right into my trap. He takes calculated steps towards me, a frown on his face.

"What is the matter, miss?"

"My purse!" I cry. "I can't find my purse! It's a golden purse! I had it just a while ago but I can't seem to find it now! Please help me find it! Has anyone seen it! Please!"

Harvey sets his arm on my shoulder gently.

"Calm down, miss. It's just a purse-"

"It's not just a purse, Sir!" I exclaim. "It's an expensive purse! It carries all my credentials! I keep all my bank cards there! My ATMs! My credit cards! My Identification card! My school cards! My car keys! My house keys! Even the diamond ring I got from my papa! How am I supposed to recover all that!"

"You need to get some air," Harvey says softly, his brow filled with creases.

He takes my hand and escorts me to the open balcony. I follow him behind quickly, feeling triumphant after the scene I just caused. It went perfectly!

"Is this the purse you are crying for, young lady?"

Harvey bends to take the purse that was sitting on the sofa all this time. Alex left it there. A wide smile breaks on my face as he hands it to me.

"So stupid of me! I must have misplaced it!" I huff, wiping my crocodile tears. "Thank you so much, Sir!"

Harvey Ford does not move.

He studies me with his piercing blue eyes. The creases on his brow deepen as he stares at me intensely and silently. He crosses his arms against his chest and clears his throat.

"Your eyes look familiar..."

My heart stops for a split second!

"Forget I just said that," he shrugs. "Come closer..."

My heart pounds hard against my chest with every step I take closer to him. He grabs my hand and circles his arm on my waist. I get a whiff of that expensive signature cologne on his expensive suit. His tall form bends to whisper in my ear,

"I'm ashamed of you, pretty little miss!"

What!

"You are the first woman I noticed in the crowd tonight," he says in my ear. "With your green gown and long hair and red lips, you gripped my attention. You seemed classy and fancy. The kind of woman who wouldn't cry for a purse! Until you cried for a purse!"

I'm silent, his hand still tight on my waist.

"You are a gorgeous woman." His fingers dig into my hair. "A gorgeous woman like you deserves expensive things. A gorgeous woman like you needs a man who will buy her all the fine things she deserves!"

I step back and shoot.

"With all due respect sir, I don't need a man who will buy me expensive things! I have everything I need!"

A small smirk tugs on his lips.

"Fiesty has never looked sexier on a woman..."

I shake my head and turn back to leave.

As I walk away, I'm silently chanting a prayer. Praying that he stops me or grabs my hand.

"Pretty little miss!"

I turn back to look at him over my shoulder, my heart pounding with excitement.

"You just said you don't need a man to buy you all the expensive things you need?"

"You got that right, Sir."

"How about I make you 'the man' that buys you all the expensive things you need?"

"I'm sorry I don't understand what you are saying, sir?"

A grin flits on his face, making his crystal blue eyes sparkle.

"I'm offering you a job at Ford Firm, miss."

My jaw drops in disbelief.

"Will you be my secretary?"

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