Chapter 15 Meeting at the Ball

• Celia didn't like that kind of event, but before she could say no, Bryce put his hands together in prayer and looked at her like a puppy. "Pretty please? I can't find anyone else."
• Celia chuckled. "Yeah, right." She didn't believe him, but she still agreed. As a friend, of course. "But fine. Remember to take me home before it's too late."
• A smile flashed in Bryce's eyes, and he nodded. "Sure thing."
• "But I don't have any gowns." Celia sighed.
• "I'll do it." He smiled. He was looking forward to seeing her in a gown.
• They came to a high-end boutique at four-thirty. Celia picked a black dress. The hem of the dress was decorated with shattered diamonds, lending the brooding black a hint of feminine charm. It was a simple dress, but one that was gorgeous. She tied her hair up and held it together with her pearl hair clip. A few strands of hair tumbled down her ears, bringing out the beauty of her face.
• Bryce was flipping through a magazine while waiting for her. When he heard the sound of her footsteps coming down, he turned back, and what he saw took his breath away. She didn't let him down. Celia's beauty had more layers than one. Every time he thought she was gorgeous enough, she would reveal another layer of her beauty.
• "Your girlfriend is beautiful, sir," a staff member said.
• A smile curled Bryce's lip. "Thank you." Aside from building his company, he spent most of the last four years wooing Celia. He found success in business, but the same could not be said for romance. No matter how much love he had for her, Celia kept refusing his advances. It hurt, of course, but he was only more motivated. He swore he would make Celia his.
• Celia came to his side. Bryce was six-foot-one, and he was a handsome man. A perfect match for Celia. "It's already five. Time to go," he said.
• Celia looked at Bryce and narrowed her eyes. "I've been meaning to ask, but what kind of family are you from, Bryce?"
• Bryce smiled mysteriously. "I'm just an owner of a small perfume company."
• Yeah, right. He's powerful, and he acts like an aristocrat. His family must be powerful. But since she was just his friend, she wouldn't try to get too much out of him. Still, the fact that this dress alone cost six figures was enough to tell her what she needed to know. He bought this kind of dress just for a ball. She suspected he was more than he said he was.
• They talked about the new product on their way, and Celia was reminded of Yvonne. She hadn't been able to contact her. She was grateful for her help during her darkest hour. When she had time, she would visit Yvonne's home. She'd stayed in that village for six months, and it left a deep impression on her. Flowers were blooming everywhere in that place. The sky was so clear, and the people were so kind. As a perfumer, she loved searching for new and unfound scents.
• Spencer Group stood tall right before them, the night sky draped over it. It was glorious, just like a tower connecting the sky to the Earth.
• Hugo was in his office, and he called his bodyguard. "Is Jeremy home?"
• "Just arrived."
• "Stay over and keep an eye on him. I'm coming home late tonight." He had a charity event to attend. It was held by his mother's good friend, so he must go.
• And then his assistant knocked on the door. "Time to go, sir."
• …
• Scores of expensive cars gathered at a certain seven-star hotel in the city center, and the blue blood of the city was invited to this event. Bryce led Celia to the lobby of the hotel. He was tall, handsome, and manly, and Celia looked petite and dainty beside him.
• Bryce was showing off his manliness any chance he could, and that night, he hoped he could gain Celia's attention. Better yet, she might fall for him.
• Celia was no idiot. Of course, she knew what he was after, but she couldn't respond to his advances. She was badly hurt by another man, physically and mentally speaking. She almost died; since then, she'd been keeping a safe distance from men. No matter how brilliant they were, she couldn't fall for them.
• The guests arrived on time, and a crowd was already in the hall. The air was merry, and the guests drank away as they chatted. All the elites were gathered around, and every move they made radiated elegance.
• These were the leaders of their industry. Bryce led her to a few businessmen, and they made small talk. The men might be talking to Bryce, but they were eyeing Celia. She didn't like the ogling, but she couldn't show it. She hated these events. Everyone was putting on an act.
• And then, a black Bugatti came to the entrance. Someone opened the door, and a slender silhouette got out of the car. The man pulled his suit closer. He said nothing, but the air around him seemed to stop moving from the moment he showed up.
• The door to the venue swung open, and the light of the crystal chandelier shone on the newcomer. The man had a face even the gods would envy, and he radiated a godly air. His mere existence made the ladies' hearts skip, and the men looked like mere peasants in his presence.
• They wondered who this man was. And then an elder among the crowd stepped up, happily approaching the newcomer. "Ah, Hugo. You're here."
• "Hello, Mr. Hoffson," said Hugo.
• "It's been a while since I saw you. It's an honor to have you here."
• Hugo nodded, smiling. "It's nothing, Mr. Hoffson."
• The ladies around were trying their best to show off and attract this man's attention, but when he looked at them, they quickly fidgeted in embarrassment. Gods, he's so hot.
• Hugo then saw someone, and he said, "I need to say hi to a friend, Mr. Hoffson."
• "Sure."
• Hugo saw his senior back in school, and that man saw him too. They then bumped their fists together. That was how men said hi.
• Bryce was on the balcony. He came to talk about business, while Celia took the chance to get some fresh air. Finally, some time alone with my wine and the scenery.
• She shone like a beautiful elf in the night under the light, the diamond on her dress glittering. She was gorgeous and attractive. A while later, her phone rang. It was from Bryce. She took the call and left the balcony. "What is it?"
• "Where are you?" he asked.
• "On the balcony." She then went back into the hall.
• Hugo was in a nearby crowd, sipping his wine. He scanned around, but when he noticed that certain someone, he froze. He stopped drinking, and wine trickled down his mouth, flowing into his custom-made suit. And then he snapped out of it. Hugo wiped the wine off his mouth and stared in the direction of that woman. He had calmed down from his initial shock, yet he didn't move his eyes away from that woman.
• Some people would just show up in your lives without any announcement, huh? He was not prepared for this.