Chapter 7

Chapter 7

ALEXANDER STONE

Since five years of attending this event and receiving the same award, nothing and no one has ever caught my eye for more than one second, but this lady in red gives off this mysterious aura. Call me sapiosexual but her intelligence was a turn-on I didn't even realize I still have. The last time this happened was the first time I met my ex-wife, Sophia.

Sophia was the first and most likely the only woman I'd ever give my heart to. We'd been friends during my first year in the university before being romantically involved. She was the only person who knew me beyond appearance. Everything that there is to know, she knew. I couldn't villainise her after I found out that she had cheated on me because I decided to remember the good.

Who knew that she would use that kind gesture as a weapon to manipulate the media and tarnish my image? Although I am not bothered even after she'd even managed to siphon a lot of my assets during the divorce, I was just glad to give her the freedom to meet with someone better than I was to her. Someone who wouldn't be riled up in his quest for revenge and be emotionally available for her.

They were her reasons for cheating but what could I do? My father tortured me to stupor since I was eight, for being a bastard.

He had a one-night stand with my mum and even though it was a secret she wasn't planning on revealing to me so soon, she eventually had to do it prematurely after finding out she had terminal cancer. She took me to meet my father and because he was a prominent and respected figure, he had to accept me against his will. And that was the last day I saw my mum. It was like she had disappeared into thin air. I was told she abandoned me and ran away because the responsibility weighed her down. I have been looking for her ever since. Whether she lied about everything or she's actually dead, I deserve to know.

On the outside, I had the perfect family. A rich, caring, and kind father, loving stepmother, and stepbrothers. On the inside, I had a father who would lock me in a dark room for days after whipping me, a step-mum who would feed me crumbs and step-brothers who would make fun of my illegitimacy.

When you go through that for nearly eight years and run away, you find out that your only revenge is to be successful so that you'd have enough money to buy their company and render them penniless. My life will be peaceful only after I take all that belongs and is dearest to them.

Every scar on my back is a solid reminder of my purpose and that's why as much as Sophia loved me, I couldn't be there for her even after walking down the aisle and being pronounced her husband. I loved her, a lot. Being together with her was bad timing.

I had arrived with Stacy-the girl for the night and was making my way to my table when she, the lady in red mistakenly spilt her drink on me and after dropping an SOS on Diana's mobile to bring me a change of suit, I made it my mission to find the mysterious lady, like a man under a spell.

Something about this woman made my body crackle with electricity. The dress, her skin, the colour of her hair, and her lips all played a part in setting my curiosity high.

"Dance with me"

I put out my hand and I can't stop grinning as she slowly takes mine. I bring it up and press my lips on her knuckles.

The feel of my lips against her skin drives me even more hypnotic. The warmth of her body around mine, and the smell of her scent were a great force to free from.

"So tell me, who are you for tonight?" my lips turn up in another grin as I stare into the dark space of her eyes.

"No one in particular." She says after clearing her throat. Must be a bad habit, she'd done that at least ten times already.

"You didn't change your shirt?" She said after noticing the imprint of her drink.

"I sent an SOS to my assistant but I'm guessing she's having a Christmas blast. Besides what's the worst that can happen if not topping the news tomorrow."

I scoff before continuing "You on the other hand are one of the reasons why I didn't leave after the incident. I am not a slob but for some reason, I intend to be that tonight if that's all it takes to have a word with you"

She simply gave me a nod while avoiding eye contact. Learning body language is a given in the world that I've lived all my life. It might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things but, I recognize these them.

"All that big talk about senior citizens, don't tell me you're actually shy."

She looked up briefly with a big smile and those eyes, something about them make my body twitch. Who the hell is she?

"What is your name?" Reading the uncomfortable mood the question set her in, I quickly add "I ask because I know everyone who frequents this event and for some reason haven't met you before. Unless I am wrong and this isn't your first time"

Not me engaging in small talk with a stranger.

She clears her throat again and now I am actually finding the habit amusing.

"The whole point of a masked party is anonymity so I don't think exchanging names and the likes are a part of the theme."

"It's not anonymous when the room is filled with folks from the same industry. Forget about the masks, we all know each other here."

"I beg to differ" She insisted

I decided to respect her wishes since she was quite stern about it. She must be a gatecrasher because I couldn't wrap my head around the mystery.

"Your dress, it's beautiful. I think it would look better wrapped around my finger" I say after trapping her waist in my arms.

What I said must have thrilled her because it made her look at me with begging eyes but only briefly. She was quick to drag her face back to the crowd...

"Do you say this to every girl you meet at this event?" She asks, not maintaining eye contact.

"Only those in red" I lean closer to her ear and whisper "Because nothing turns me on than a woman in red" My breath skims the shell of her ear.

"Little wonder you had to discard your date" She whispered back with eyes wide open.

"She didn't get the memo," I say as we moved, swaying with the orchestral music.

I had to discard Stacy not because she wasn't wearing red but because I didn't want to disrespect her since my attention was tangled around the lady in red.

"A player...I see"

"Wouldn't you rather fuck with the devil you know than the angel you don't know? Better a player than a pretentious bastard don't you think?" I pull her close, our faces inches away from each other. Her scent fills my senses, just as heady as the music.

"Why exactly are you here? Everyone has an agenda at these sorts of parties and you don't strike me as one which is why I'm more curious"

"What if my idea was crazy?"

"Can't be as crazy as what I want to do to you"

"And what is it you want to do to me?" She finally looks at me as if I were her target.

"I want to pin you against the wall, skim your bare back slowly with my fingers while trailing kisses around your neck. I want to lock those shy lips with mine while grabbing a handful of your tits in my palm. I want to kiss, suck and fuck the nuts out of you. That encapsulates about thirty percentage of what I want to do to you. Is that crazy enough for you?" We break apart briefly.

Either she's a virgin or she's actually shy in real life because why else would she have a surprised look?

She amused me.

"That's a lot of crazy. I'm not one to sleep with strangers"

"There's a first time for everything. We can even include your anonymity clause by keeping our masks on"

I was aching for her. I wanted her and I sure hope she wants me just as much. I might be persuasive but not coercive.

Without hesitation, she kisses me and I kiss back, pressing those lips that I've been hungry for since the moment she went down on her knees to clean that drink off me. Silky and playful, I tease her, not minding the crowd or the eyes that were probably watching.

I know I'm being reckless, I am aware but her hold on me doesn't make me care.

"Let's get out of here" I smirk at her.

"The event isn't over. You've not received your award and I've got business to..." She opposed with a smile on her lips.

"I have received those for the past five years. Missing one won't hurt anybody. I will call in sick. What's the business you've got to do?"

It takes a few seconds for her to reply.

"You know what, never mind. I've been on it and so far I haven't got anything and it doesn't seem like I would. So yes, let's get the fuck out of here" She ends her reply with a smile and something about the way her facial features lit up is similar to fire. A scorching one that's bound to melt or even scathe me.