Chapter 3. Dinner Ball

Pearl insisted on staying in the Excellor Enterprise internship program instead of thinking about the dress for her dinner ball. She was ready early in the morning and was about to leave. When Sandra saw it, she did not like it.

"Why are you still going to work? You have to prepare yourself for the dinner," Sandra scolded Pearl. Pearl didn't want to argue with Sandra, so she continued to put documents in her bag without saying anything. Pearl was ready to work on her first day of internship.

"Mom, I'll be late," she replied sweetly, avoiding the argument.

"I warned you, Pearl. Don't you dare to leave!" Sandra got more angry as she put her hands on her hips. She pulled her bag, so Pearl stopped walking.

"Mom, we'll talk later,"

"Do you know the consequences if you don't obey me? You will never be able to leave the house again. I will lock you up in your room." Sandra grittedly threatened Pearl. Her eyes bulged with a sinister look. Pearl took a deep sigh and started to fidget. John then came to interrupt his wife.

"Just let her go. She'll be back before dinner, right, sweetheart?" said John, defending Pearl. Pearl turned quickly to John and nodded. But Sandra still glared in disbelief at Pearl. Briana and Keith then came out when they saw Pearl.

"You tried to escape, right?" Sandra accused Pearl of being suspicious.

"Mom, I'll pick her up later; don't worry. Come on, Pearl. I'll take you there," Keith said to save Pearl from Sandra. Pearl nodded with a big grin. She instantly turned and left with Keith and Briana.

Sandra was getting more annoyed, although she couldn't bear it. Her son Keith and youngest daughter Briana will always defend Pearl and oppose their mother.

"Please don't worry too much. Please don't put too much pressure on her. She will be back," John reassured. Sandra snorted in annoyance and turned to leave.

Pearl walked into Keith's car with a big grin. She thanked her brother for saving her around.

"Thanks for taking me to the company, Keith." Keith smiled, looking at her. He rubbed Pearl's head, and then he nodded.

"Of course, dear. I am certainly always on your side. You are my most beautiful sister."

"What about me?" Briana answered with pursed lips. She faked a sulk when Keith complimented Pearl. Pearl giggled and hugged Briana, who was sitting in the front seat. Keith chuckled and turned to rub Briana's hair, also.

"Fine, baby. You are also the prettiest." Keith offered a compliment. Pearl also did the same thing, so Briana smiled broadly, getting affection from her siblings.

"I love you both so much," Pearl kissed Keith and Briana's cheeks. Keith and Briana also returned the same kiss to Pearl.

"Let's go now. Don't forget to put your belts on."

Pearl arrived in Excellor in such high spirits that she forgot she had a dinner party appointment tonight.

The HR manager then took Pearl and some interns on a company tour. Pearl was stunned by the grandness of the building, which inspired her to study harder to achieve the position she wanted in the big company.

The manager also showed the group the way to the factory. It was just a short distance from the office. The group exited through one door and re-entered through another. They were on the top floor, where they could see almost the entire main factory.

Pearl slightly opened her mouth to see the vast scale of Excellor's production. Excellor designs its products and extends its reach into property. It has constructed large buildings to house its products, such as giant warehouses that contain replicas of houses.

"That is the CEO of Excellor; his name is Mr. Taggart Kerrent!" said the manager, pointing to Taggart. He was talking to some people in the middle of the factory. Pearl, who was busy looking around, suddenly looked down.

"Oh my God, I think he's not a human. He is very handsome." Some interns whispered praise, and Pearl overheard them. She didn't know who it was until one of the men looked up and saw her.

Pearl gasped, and her eyes widened. The man's face was clear, and he looked at her sharply.

"Mr. Kerrent, we are ready to boost the newest product this month," said the head of the production, interrupting Taggart. Taggart was examining a girl up there. He should have paid the head and told about the work, yet he's drifted off.

"Mr Kerrent!" Taggart turned quickly, expressing his displeasure at the disturbance.

"What is it?" he gritted coldly.

"I'm sorry, I'm giving you a report."

"Just send me the complete one. No need to talk about it here." Taggart warned harshly. The production head nodded in understanding. Taggart glanced up again, and the girl was no longer there.

"What's the matter, sir?" The Vice CEO, Everest Leon, asked Taggart, who looked confused. He glanced up at Taggart, searching for an answer.

"What are you looking for?" Everest asked more. Taggart took a sigh, then drew closer to Everest.

"I saw someone,"

"Who?" Everest also lowered his pitch. Taggart then came closer and whispered close to his left ear.

"I think I found my mate." Everest suddenly enlarged his eyes.

"What?!" he shouted, quite surprised.

"She was there earlier." Taggart pointed towards the top floor, where Pearl was standing. Everest nodded understandingly. He leaned closer and whispered again.

"Then what about the dinner ball tonight? If your future Luna is here, you won't have to search through the ball anymore, right?" Taggart nodded in agreement.

"Do you want me to look for that girl? I think she's not far yet. What does she look like?" Everest got more interested. Taggart looked everywhere, trying to find Pearl. He shook his head then.

"I'll tell my Dad to cut off the dinner. I've found my mate," said Taggart, and then he walked away from the factory. Everest nodded in agreement and followed him out.

After the tour, Pearl still thought about the man she met earlier. His face was similar to the man in her dream. Pearl's heart beat faster, and she became anxious.

"Who is that man?" Pearl muttered worriedly. Throughout the day, her enthusiasm waned, and she lost her cheerful smile.

In the afternoon, Pearl hurried home to keep her promise. Sandra was glaring when she came home. However, Pearl ignored Sandra's scolding. She was getting ready to go to a dinner ball that she didn't want to. 

John and Sandra take Pearl to an elegant mansion to attend the ball. Pearl doesn't smile at all. Her thoughts diverge as she hates to see her future husband. But on the other hand, she is also thinking about her future at Excellor.

During the introduction, Pearl widened her eyes when she saw a man walking towards her. Her eyes widened to see Taggart Kerrent standing in front of her now. John then smiled, introducing Taggart to Pearl.

"Pearl, he is your future husband. His name is Taggart Kerrent."