Chapter 3 At the Event

"Dad, I remember you bringing up a… What was it again? Oh! Yes, a wine-and-dine in a couple of days."

Mike looked at me sharply. "How do you know that, and why do you want to know about it?"

Rachel Willow, my stepmother, and Selune shot me looks of judgment. I put on the perfect look of trepidation and anticipation, my fingers twirling the hem of my shirt for good measure.

"I-I heard it's a very upscale event with tons of powerful people there. I've never attended that kind of event. Now that I'm pregnant, it'll be hard for me to go out and about in a couple of months. Can't I go? Staying home all the time can be suffocating."

I made sure my voice trailed off the longer I spoke, adding in a dash of hurt as I continued, "It'll be even better if I get to know someone who can help our business."

That did it for Mike. After all, he was trying to expand his connections, and the event was an opportunity. Besides, he figured that keeping me close was better than leaving me alone at home with zero supervision.

Rachel wanted to say something, but Mike held his hand up and silenced her. "Are you sure you can do this? And you promise you won't cause any trouble?"

I swore, "I won't! I promise I'll do as you say, Dad!"

After a beat, Mike gave his okay. "Fine, but you'll stay close, you hear? And don't you say anything you shouldn't when you're there. Don't look at anyone you shouldn't, either."

"Thanks, Dad!" I put on a smile of pleasant surprise.

Eventually, they left me to my own devices. Once they were gone, I couldn't help but let out a sigh that I'd been holding in. I could feel my shirt sticking to my sweaty back because of all the anxiety.

"Yay! That's the first step done, Mom! But we have to be careful. They're going to keep an even closer eye on you now."

I caressed my belly reassuringly. "You're right. The event's an opportunity. The question is, how do I approach Anthony?"

"It's okay, Mom. I remember some of the details, but we'll have to wing it!"

On the day of the event, Selune picked an oversized, almost anachronistic dress just in case I stole her thunder. I barely held back a sneer, but I wore it anyway.

The venue was resplendent. Whenever Mike ran into someone, he would introduce me. "This is my daughter. She's here to get some experience."

I played along with a smile, but my eyes were frantically searching the area.

Just then, I saw those familiar eyes.

That man was standing by the window, his profile cool and aloof. He was also surrounded by a group of sycophants, who were eagerly buttering up to him.

His figure overlapped with the silhouette I saw that night, causing my heart to skip a beat. The baby also became excited. "That's Dad!"

I only had one shot at freedom. I took a deep breath and held up my juice. Just when I was about to approach him, Selune showed up beside me like a wraith. She held my arm tight enough to stop me from moving, a fake, loving smile plastered across her face.

"You must be bored all by yourself. Dad told me to talk to you."

Her voice wasn't loud, but I could hear the underlying warning. "There are a lot of eyes here, so watch yourself. If anyone thinks you're trying to latch on to someone, you'll be dragging the family's name through the mud."

I tried to break free from her grasp, but her grip only coiled tighter around me like a python.

My baby started to panic. "Do you think she noticed what we're up to, Mom?"

I soothed my baby, "It's alright. Trust me. I have this handled."

"Let go. I was just getting some fruits," I said lowly.

Selune was still smiling, but she moved and blocked my way. "You can tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you. You're in a delicate state right now, so we can't afford any accidents. It'd be terrible if someone bumps into you or you trip and fall."

Our little back and forth had gotten Mike's attention. He shot me a warning look that told me to stay in my lane.

Due to that delay, I saw Anthony turning to leave. He'd probably wrapped things up on his end when I was busy trying to get Selune off my back. It was now or never. I was in a time crunch, and hesitation meant death.