Meeting the Devil

"Dad, I'll be there in a sec", I told him over the phone while rushing down the stairway.

"Hurry up, Aviana. We don't own the time here. I'll be introducing you to very important persons. I'll be expecting you in 5 minutes", he said with authority.

"Got it, dad. See ya!", I exclaimed before hanging up. "We should reach the place in 5 minutes", I ordered the chauffeur.

I'm still applying my make up when the car stops in the event. I'm always organized and ready not until tonight. My father just informed me about this party 30 minutes ago and I haven't even chosen a suitable dress to wear.

I just remember him saying that it is a masquerade party so aside from wearing a sexy backless red flowing dress, I ended up bringing a vintage mask which is my mom's personal artwork. Talking about my mom, she passed away 5 years ago due to a car collision and that was the biggest downfall I ever had. 

 I saw dad talking with a woman in her mid-50's in the hall when I decided to go to the nearest comfort room. I need to fix myself since I'm pretty sure that I look messed up until now. While fixing my makeup, I heard moans and groans in the occupied cubicle near me.

Oh geez! People nowadays are really taking their time to satisfy their sexual urges even in events and places like this. How pathetic! I just smirk before putting back my mask which suits my make-up already this time. The door of the cubicle flung open and the woman inside hurriedly went outside. I was surprised when I hear a voice near my ear.

"You heard nothing, you saw nothing. Did you get that?", he said in a very powerful voice but it annoyed me in an instant.

"Excuse me?", I asked him with a very irritated tone.

"Just pretend that nothing happened a while ago if you don't like any mess, miss"; he told me with a warning tone.

"Are you serious? Ha-ha. As if I care, mister. You can do whatever you want to do here and it will be none of my business. It's not worthy of my precious time", I ended up before leaving him inside the comfort room. 

I greeted my father before giving him a peck in the cheeks.

"Well, I bet this is your lovely daughter", the woman he is talking to a while ago remarked.

"Yes, she is. Aviana, meet Frencheska Delatorre, the sole owner of Delatorre shipping companies and our partner for the K & D Airlines", my father initiated.

"Wow! At last, it's my pleasure meeting you Mrs. Delatorre. My father had discussed a few things about your partnership and I really admired you for running such remarkable businesses in the country. You're very inspiring", I told her while kissing her cheeks.

She let out a demure kind of laughter and that amused me a bit.

"And look at you, Aviana. Wow, you're the most stunning woman I saw at this party so far. What would it be if you'll also take off your mask? Men here will surely feast with this kind of a beauty you have laid to them", she commended while looking at me with pure sincerity.

"I don't want to ruin the theme of this party ma'am, so let it be for now", I responded with a chuckle and followed with a wide smile. 

"I'm sorry if it took me so long mom, I'm just having a hard time finding my watch in the car a while ago", someone said in my back which the voice is kind of familiar.

And I'm not mistaken, it is the guy I encountered in the comfort room a while ago.

"Well, just a perfect timing. I have Aviana here with us, she is the only daughter of Mr. Kho", she introduced.

When I turned to him, he froze for a few seconds before uttering some fancy words to flatter me.

"I never knew that you do have such a lovely daughter, Mr. Kho", he started which my father just smile while I'm on the verge of smashing this guy's hand in my bareback.

I took a couple of steps forward to get rid of it but it seems that he wanted to annoy me tonight since he literally does the same thing as I did. 

"Aviana, this is one of my sons, Devin Delatorre", her mom presented.

I fake a smile towards him.

"It's nice meeting you, Devin." Then I shifted my attention to the other two, "Dad, Mrs. Delatorre; if you'll excuse me for a while. I just need to get myself a drink".

They just nod and smile while I quickly went to the area where the wines are located. I'm really not into wines but I can't find any reasons to just get away from Devin. I almost choke while I'm trying to take a sip from the glass of wine when he just appeared in front of me with a devilish smile.

"Hey. Don't take it seriously", he said with that smile still.

"What do you mean?", I asked while looking away from him. "What happened a while ago in that cubicle is just nothing for me. She forced me to do it though", he stated like he was even proud of it. I glared at him.

"I told you, it is none of my business. Is it that hard to mind your business as well?"; I asked him sarcastically and before I can take some steps away from him, he gently holds my free arm. His eyes were full of confusion.

"Then why are you acting like this?", he asked me with a stern look.

"C'mon, we just met tonight, Devin. You barely know me. I'm just normally like this, so get used to it", I answered without even blinking then left him while I can still feel his stares in my back. 

"Can you just get lost?", I'm a little tipsy already when I pushed him away from me slowly. My voice isn't that loud since I knew that dad is still around. I had decided to go in the dance floor when he followed me a few moments ago to the table.

"C'mon. Let's just be civil, Aviana. Your dad and my mom are having a great partnership with the business and we both know that it is important to them", he furiously stated in a low voice.

"And what do it have to do with the manner on how you're treating me right now? Touching me without my consent is civil for you? Are you freaking serious, Devin?", I asked him while my voice is a little high pitched this time.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let you feel that way", I can feel the sincerity in his voice and it is reflecting in his eyes but I won't fall for such.

I can barely remember the number of times that I got glasses of wine. I'm just enjoying the rest of the night after that confrontation with Devin. I can't see him around already and it may sound absurd but I feel good without having his presence near me.

I felt a hand in my waist while the sound was deafening. I was taken aback when I saw a stranger trying to hit on me. Well, he is good looking but the way he looks at me is kind of creepy. The floor is crowded already and my head is swirling that I don't know which way to go anymore.

"Get your hands off me, mister", I gave him a glare but it doesn't stop him to keep his arms around me. I'm just hoping that dad was still around to take this man out of my sight.

"You're very beautiful, miss. Would you mind going out with me after the party?", the man asked me with lust in his eyes.

 "No, man. She's with me and you can let her go now or else you'll see your face on the floor tonight", I heard Devin talking to the stranger who is holding me right now.

"Prove it to me first that she is your girl", the stranger challenged him. And before I can say anything to stop the tension between them, I almost lost my sanity when he grabbed me and lowered his head towards my head.

"I'm sorry", he uttered before his lips touches mine.

I froze. My eyes were widened. I can't move a single muscle in my body except for my lips that is responding to his lips and that fact is driving me crazy. He just stopped when that stranger tapped his shoulder and left a few words that made me blush.

"Get a room with your girl, man!". The man exclaimed.

I'm just standing still when he tried to talk to me but I can't hear any words at all. I still can't get over what happened earlier. I know that it sounds funny but it is really my first kiss. 

He grabbed my hand and I just followed him where he's going. He took me to the garden, he placed a cloth in the grass and let me sit there. The wind which is gently blowing in the night sky is calming my nerves little by little. My focus is on the sky when I just felt warmth. I haven't noticed that he already placed a sweater around my shoulder.

"Look, I want to be honest with you as much as I can. I'm taking back what I said before kissing you. I'm not sorry for doing it because I'm not regretting doing it with you", he said while looking at me intently.

We still have our masks on our faces but by just looking at his eyes, his sincerity is over-flowing even I know that it is not wise to trust this man most especially on what happened on our first encounter is memorable. 

He moved a little before slowly taking off his mask. It is quite dark outside but the lights placed in the garden were just enough for me to witness such beauty. His eyes, nose, face, and lips are perfectly matching each other that I can't find any words to describe them. He leaned towards me and our lips intertwined once more. It is slow but more intense this time.

At first, I don't know how to respond on how he move his lips above mine but after closing my eyes and just let the feeling flow in that very moment, my lips seems having its own thought already for it is joining the intensity of Devin's kiss. Our tongues were in a heavy battle when my arms just automatically pushed him closer to me.

I stopped when I felt his hand above my breast. We looked at each other's eyes intensely but I got alarmed when he attempted to take off my masks. I stood up quickly and give him back the sweater he gave me a moment ago. Both of us were silent while our gazes were still in each other's faces. The sadness in his eyes were evident but I still found the courage to walk away without leaving any words even if inside me is telling me not to.