2

I stopped and pulled back when our lips almost touched. “I’m sorry. I have to get back inside.” I said.

Ace cleared his throat and nodded. “Before I forget, please don’t tell Lana you’ve already met me.”

“Sure. It was nice meeting you Ace.” I said and ran inside before he could reply. My heart was racing but I managed to calm it down. When I entered the gymnasium, the party was almost over and I was glad that it almost was.

“Raven, what took you so long?” Lana asked. Her friends weren’t at the table and I was glad.

“I got lost?” Lana gave me a questioning look. “I also didn’t make the effort of looking for the washroom fast because I didn’t have to use it urgently.”

“Raven.” She dragged my name. “Misbehaving won’t help you at all if you’re looking for clients and a job.”

“I can find myself a job on my own Lana.” I used a firm tone. “But sure, I’ll need the clients you’ll hook me up with.” Lana has been trying to help me find a job and I appreciated her efforts but since she’s a rich woman managing her father’s business, people will give me the job immediately without interviewing me or considering my resume or if I really deserved the job. That’s not what I want. What I want is to find a job without anybody’s help and get employed thanks to my own efforts.

“Okay. I’ll back off from the job hunting. I do know someone here who’s obsessed with paintings. I hope he came though. He’s an old friend. If he’s not here then the others don’t give a fuck about paintings but they will buy it as long as it is expensive.”

Spotting a plate of grapes, I pull it towards me. “Who are you talking about?” I asked her, popping a grape in my mouth.

“Ace Black.” I choked on the grape. “I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s the CEO of Black Global Group of Companies, BGGC.”

“Stop talking Lana and pass me a bottle of water.” I managed to say. “Can you not see that I’m choking?”

“I’m sorry about that.” She passed me the water. “You should chew slowly if you don’t want to choke on your food again.” I blinked at her and decided to ignore her.

What she said about Ace Black earlier was what concerned me. I now remember the guy I was talking to, Ace. He is Ace Black. He looked familiar but I couldn’t put a finger on it so I didn’t want to think much about it. He was so calm when I didn’t recognize him earlier. Any famous person who met someone that didn’t recognize him would’ve flipped. I gasped when I realized that I almost kissed him and then didn’t kiss him. Chicken nuggets!

“Are you alright?” Lana inquired. “You look flustered.” I wanted to tell Lana that I met Ace earlier but he told me not to tell her about that which obviously no meant that I had to keep my mouth shut. “Maybe you’re nervous to meet your soon-to-be boss.”

“What are you talking about?” My brows furrowed.

“You have a job interview on Monday, don’t you?”

Oh chicken nuggets. My eyes widened. “Wait, if Ace is your friend, then-?”

“I haven’t done anything okay. I was going to put in a word with him and then when he told me that your application was already reviewed and you’ll soon be called to be interviewed, I decided not to influence you chances of getting employed on the spot since you’re strongly against that. Trust me, I haven’t spoken to Ace in a very long time and that would’ve been the first time I spoke to him in a while. But today I get another chance.”

I facepalmed myself when the idea of not going for the interview came into my head. Now that Ace, CEO of BGGC, knows that Lana is my friend, chances of getting employed after Monday is very, very high. I mean he tried to kiss me and I just ran away. But if I don’t show up for the interview, I’ll mess up since I don’t have any other option. Chicken nuggets. What do I do now?

“He might not be the one to interview you for the position you have applied for so don’t think too much about it.”

People started shuffling out as the party had ended and then I felt Lana tapping me. “Raven, I’ve spotted him. Let’s go and say hi.” Lana got up and took my hand.

“Oh no. You go and talk to him. I’ll wait here for you.”

She pulled me up and dragged me with her to Ace’s table where he was seated alone with some other good-looking man.

“Hello Ace.” Lana greeted him and he looked up at us. I avoided his gaze when it landed on me. Then he acted casual, as if we’ve never met before, which was good and bad at the same time. I couldn’t tell if he was acting that way because I didn’t kiss him or because he doesn’t want Lana to know that we’ve already met.

“Lana Daniels. It’s nice to see you.”

“It is. It’s been very long Ace. But not that long since we spoke last week. How have you been?”

“I’m doing well Lana. You?” He replied.

“I’m good as well.”

“How is your father and the business?”

“My father is doing well. And the business is running smoothly too.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Yeah. Meet my lovely friend Raven Snow.” She pinched my arm and I forced a smile.

“Good evening Mr. Black.” I greeted and he nodded.

“Raven is a talented artist and a very intelligent woman.” Lana added.

“An artist you say?” He quirked up a brow with a smirk.

“Yes. She’s amazing with the paint brushes and pencils. You should pass by and take a look at her gallery one day.”

“If this is coming from you, Lana, then I will pass by one day. You do have a good taste in art. I hope that’s okay with you Miss Snow.” He said with a daring smile. It had a hidden meaning which he wanted me to decipher. This man was cunning and that made me nervous. Honestly, I’m a little bit scared of him now.

“I don’t mind at all Mr. Black.” I returned the smile.

“Raven and I will be leaving now. I’ll talk to you later Ace.”

“I will be expecting your call.” Lana waved at him and we left the gymnasium. But as we were walking out, I could feel his gaze burning through my back. I turned back and found him indeed staring at me. Then I followed Lana out quickly to the car.