CHAPTER TEN

Estafania's POV

Walking into the venue, you could see that whoever was in charge of the event took their precious time to plan out every single detail of the room

It was a huge ballroom with stairs, one led to a balcony and the other a hallway. Every corner of the room had flowers and antique decorations arranged beautifully,

One corner held a scrumptious arrangement of desserts and........oh my world! Treats that are so so tempting.......wow! Waiters were up and about making sure that the guests do not run out of drinks

Judging from the scene it seems the auction and dinner was over and now it was time for the mingling of the rich. At the centre of the ballroom was the dance floor with a huge chandelier hanging over it

Wealthy men and women, the city's top socialites of different cadre and let's not forget the wannabe socialites. The room was packed with them all, each one gorgeously dressed from head to toe.

The men in their designer tux and suits and the women in different designs of evening gown, made from fabrics like satin and luxurious velvet, was like a scene from a movie.

A life band played at another corner of the room, creating a tapestry of sounds that brings everything together, giving the room an elegant, cool and relaxing vibe.

Some couples found it hard to resist the call of the band as they made their way to the dance floor.

I looked around once more and surely I was way out of my league. I hated this kind of gatherings I always felt awkward and I still do

I still don't know where and how Kina got the invitation card she gave me, I was so nervous when they were checking it as opposed to Kina who was super chill.

I was dressed in one of my best evening gowns, if I wanted Seth to pay any attention to me I had to draw his attention and that has to starts with how I was dressed

I specifically picked the black gown because apart from not so subtly hugging my curves at the right places, I loved how the material felt and how effortlessly it just fell on my body

It was an off-shoulder dress with a little v-cut at the chest....not too much just enough to tease you. The dress hugged my curves perfectly flaring out little by little towards my knees

It had intricate designs with gem stones carefully weaved into it at the chest area and continued all over the dress towards the flared part giving it a shooting star design.

My head was pulled up into a ponytail, probably the highest pony I have ever worn. While a diamond encrusted lace choker lay on my neck

I paired it with a lace hand gloves and a pair of diamond studs from my mother's collection, I was going to need all the luck I could get. I also added her black fur tippet to wade off the cold evening

For the shoes I went with a silver stilettoes, decided on a no makeup makeup glowy base with shimmers and eyeliner for the eye and a bold red lips. Kina was screaming her lungs out by the time I was ready.

Getting here I could not help but berate myself for coming in the first place but at this point I had little to no options. My only saving grace was that this was a masked ball

But now I have another problem as it was going to be harder for me to spot my target tonight in the sea of men in black.

I felt eyes on me and it didn't take a while before someone walked up to me and asked for a dance........"did somebody say attract attention?" ....

Haa! Not only did I attract attention to myself, I seem to be the centre of attention

I need to shake off these men with their drunken conversations. I mean what was I expecting all dressed up and very late to the party

With no luck finding my target from where I was and with the men not relenting anytime soon plus the stinky eye from the posh ladies, I decided to dance with the next guy that approaches me

Using the opportunity also to look for my target on the dance floor. It was a classic ballroom waltz but can someone please tell me why he keeps stepping on my toes

I tried my best to hold it in until the end of the song but the dude was not even trying at all. It was like he knew nothing about the basics of the dance and if this song doesn't end soon I won't be able to move again

Like a miracle from above, the heavens heard my cry and as we were to exchange partners. I felt a strong grip on my wrist twirling me round and then ever so softly with his other hand on my waist, positioned me at his side......very very close to him

"This is closer than normal" I thought to myself while trying to create a bit of space between us

"Scared?" I heard him whisper to my ear and just that one word brought me back to focus

I looked into those eyes as dark as it could ever be and sure enough it was him Seth McQueen (my prey) on the dance floor with me.

I had to ask myself if he was still the prey or if I was now the prey and him the hunter. Because the way he was holding me captive in his arms screams otherwise

How is it possible that I couldn't find him before now, he was just not the same, everything from his presence alone down to his choice of clothing.

Even though he was on a black tuxedo like other men, his was just not the same.........there was a difference, so how did I miss him

"That's the second strike Bella what are you thinking about?" he said twirling me away from him and before I could change partners he dragged me back to himself again, this is the second change that he has refused

"Sorry I did not hear you just now" I said to him

"Focus baby, I still need my toes" I tingled all over at the same time felt really embarrassed hearing that and quickly apologized

"We should probably change partners" I suggested to him seeing that he was not ready to give in

"Already tired of me" now at this point, there is no right answer, so I just kept quiet

At the absence of my response he brought me closer to himself leg to leg and chest to chest

We moved like that for a while till I couldn't take it anymore I felt hot all over.

"I am tired of dancing I need to sit down" I said and left the dance floor trying to escape

I found my way to the stairs and did not stop until I got to the balcony luckily it was free and there were chairs there

But I did not expect him to follow me a bottle in his hand and a waiter in tow. The contents of his tray, another bottle of wine, two glass cup one bottle of water and a small plate of cake.

Seth's POV

I watched her going towards the balcony almost like she was in a daze

"She must be tired" I thought

I signaled over to a waiter and instructed him to bring over a few things to the balcony while I grabbed a bottle and headed for the same place.

I found her seated, her dress slightly lifted to reveal a little bit of what is hidden behind all those layers. She had an uncomfortable look on her face while trying to massage her ankles

"Care for a little refreshment" I asked startling her a bit

I waited for the waiter to drop the tray on the little stool beside her before taking a sit opposite her

Looking at her again, the mask was just a silly excuse of a costume, I would have recognized her even with a ski mask

I knew the moment she walked in that it was her, I had wondered how she got in as she didn't come in with her old geezer of an Uncle.

Until I saw her with the same lady she has been hanging out with lately but almost immediately, she was on her own as her companion soon left her and didn't return

I watched keenly as she captivated the attention of everyone present with her ethereal presence, watched as one man after another sought for a dance with her admist the envious stares from other females.

She must not know how dangerous it was to make an enemy out of any of this female socialites present, luckily the mask provided some kind of cover from others but not from me

Finally I watched as she chose one to dance with and also watched her go through the torture of dancing with an amateur,

who did not deem it necessary to learn the basics of waltz before asking a lady to dance

''how rude!''

I decided that I couldn't take it anymore. What was it about her that always gets a reaction out of me. Any other person and I couldn't care less what happens

I handed over the bottle of water to her and watched her gulp it down immediately

"Take it easy Cara there's more if you need it" I teased

" No, thank you I'm okay" she replied

I went for the wine and poured us two a glass. We drank in silence, she however was in a hurry to finish her drink and I poured her another.

She went for it again like the first glass and I had to stop her

"Easy Blossom" I said to her gently

Realizing she may be feeling awkward because of the silence, I decided to start up a conversation

"I was not expecting to see you here" she looked at me surprised

I chuckled " Did you think I did not recognize you Peaches"

She dropped the glass back in the tray, I could sense a bit of nervousness, just a little bit before it was gone

"Really......what gave me away" she said in a sly tone

" Well I would have to say everything" I thought to myself but then what really gave her away.

Obviously I have known her for only a short while so I shouldn't have been able to identify her that easily,

but it was hard not to whenever I remember holding her little fragile frame in my arms that night at the bar or her appearance and disappearance for the past few days

"You are not as covert as you would love to assume" I said

" I see......" she said and went for the cake "......but I must thank you for your thoughtfulness, I really needed this" she said lifting the plate

" So tell me what brings you here, seeing that you were not present for earlier activities,

Dressed to the nines, you really took your time to make an impact"

" Oh! Did I?........Does Mr McQueen think I made an impact?" she asked, I knew better than to give her leverage but I wanted to see how far she could go

"I think everyone present today will agree with me that you made an impact" I replied her

" Oh you know....... a girl gets bored and she suddenly wants to socialize besides it is a masked ball which makes it more fun" she said devouring the cake in seconds

I watched as she smeared frosting all over her mouth and proceeded to lick it clean with her tongue. I had to restrain myself from reaching out and devouring her