Seeking Serenity

9. The Mysterious CEO

-X- 9. The Mysterious CEO -X-

"Hello Mrs Marx." A smart looking young lad greeted me with a British accent. "Oh, it's not Mrs. Marx, its Miss Marx." I said prompting him. His ears turned crimson with embarrassment. "I am so sorry Miss Marx." He said apologetically.

"It's alright Mr. Cavalo." I replied, recognizing him from the guest books as the secretary at the Feltching Techies. "It's Alec for you, milady." He said taking two drinks from the waiter and handing one over to me.

We stood there awkwardly staring at each other, with no idea about what to speak. This was because, in a regular conversation between a lady and a man. It's lady who does all the talking. Silence between us became more awkward with passage of time.

From the corner of my eye I spotted a familiar person entering the hall. "Could you please excuse me for a moment." I said hurriedly and made my way to that person.

"Hello Miss Tryst" I said in an oh-so formallish fake tone. The lady in pink turned to me. She stared at me for a minute or two, and then her eyeballs almost popped out of her eyes. "Louissa?" She asked. I bobbed my head up and down for confirmation. "Oh my god! Louuuuu.." She squealed in a very unlady-like way which may have caused the entire population of the humongous hall to turn towards us.

"Never mind people, back to your work." She said with a raised voice, and then they all snapped their heads back to their conversations. "So, what are you doing here? I mean I've never seen you in these events before..." She asked, with curiosity and excitement laced in her voice.

"Why I am here will be known by you, soon. So, I see no point in answering you question"

"What about you Amber? How's your life? Found a man?" I asked. She simply stated, "Well, mine is not any different than usual. And about a man, yes I did find one and I am getting married in February."

'Really?" I asked, she flashed her ring at me.

"Yeah, he is perfect for me. It is as if like, we were made for each other. He is handsome, charming, good-humoured and a gentleman, the four qualities any girl looks for in a man." Her eyes were filled with dreamy looks, as she spoke.

"By the way, have you noticed how reckless Galavo Enterprises has been for the past four years?" She asked rhetorically looking at me. "It has been so, ever since the new heir has taken the throne." "Yes, I have. But whatever they are doing, they are doing it well. Look at their stature. They are actually on their peak." I gave my opinion.

"Well yeah..." She was cut off by the person on the microphone.

"Good evening, ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the first annual fund-raising event of Qera. Well, Qera was started three years ago by four people, Louissa Marx... a spotlight shone over me, believe me the attention was blinding... our head technician and CEO, Marcus Dunhill and Rajat Singh... a spotlight lighted over them ... and me myself Diana Smith." Diana spoke.

"Well Diana, I guess if you are done boring people with your mundane speech, could we just get to the point why we are here." Rajat piped in. "If you can't, let me do the honours." Diana glared at him. Walking up to him, she smacked him on his head. I contained a snicker in. He looked at her disbelievingly and then continued.

"Well, I won't be formal and I hope you guys will appreciate that. They thing is, over these years we've patented many goods, but not sold them commercially. But now we want to do so, but we are down in drains with the budget. And so we are hoisting today's event. I hope you guys will donate generously. And now that I am done go ahead, dance, drink, talk but most of all have fun. And don't forget to have the cookies; our CEO herself has made those"

I raised my brows with amusement at Rajat. That guy seriously can't keep his mouth shut. "So, you are the mysterious CEO of Qera?" She looked at me with astonishment. I just smiled at her and stared back at the floor. Somehow, Rajat managed to convince Diana to come up to the dance floor, amusing. A few more people were joining in.

"Would you do the honours of dancing with me, milady?" It was Alec, he had his hands held out in front of Amber for a dance. She looked up at him and smiled, then she accepted his hands and looking up to me said, "Lou, meet my fiancé, Mr Alec Cavalo." She said to me.

"Alec, Louissa my college friend." She said to him.

We greeted each other politely and then they moved to the dance floor.

I slowly made my way to the back to avoid being asked to dance. Luckily, no one had done so yet.

I moved back step by step, trying to look indifferent and avoiding people's gaze. I crept back probably looking like a crazy stalker. And then I did the most brilliant thing. I tripped over the hem of my dress. I would've probably fallen down if a hand had not steadied me just a second before I was down, sprawled on the floor.

"Thank you." I murmured out to the anonymous person who helped me get steady on my feet.

"You know Louissa, heels have never been your thing." The person said, as I turned to him after gaining my balance. "Thank you Marcus."

"So how has it been going?" Until now, good enough. No one's asked me to dance yet or started a conversation about the weather so.. ." I trailed "What about you?"

"Nothing much, just people being curious about the company and how do we manage with just four people. And I've had to do all the answering, since a certain someone decided to become a wallflower."

"Hey, I am a wallflower." I said.

"I think you should have some fun Louissa. Maybe, find a guy to lead your life with. You don't want to die with sixty cats on your veranda. There are a lot of potent mates in here." He said pointing out to a few men, subtly.

"Oh please..." I laughed uncomfortably looking at Marcus. But he was staring behind me. He held a potent smile. His face lighted up.

As I turned around to see, who he was looking at a hand slid around my waist. I shivered with shock and the sudden heat felt on my body. I tried to pull away, but the hand held an iron grip over my waist. "Hello Mr. Dunhill, it's a pleasure meeting you."

All my movements stopped after hearing that voice. My face held a horrified expression frozen at its place. I slowly turned to my side to meet his eyes. Eyes of the one and only Mr. Paul White, drum roll please.

I simply wanted to punch him square in the jaw, but I couldn't. Since he was the more important person over here. Any harm done to him would soil my own company's future.

"The pleasures all mine sir." Marcus said eyeing his hands on my waist. I struggled to get them off me. "Stop moving would you, you are creating a very bad impression of yourself." He said with his breath tickling the nape of my neck. I shuddered involuntarily. He had grown quite intimidating over the years; his aura had confidence written on every square inch of it.

He turned over to Marcus and asked, rhetorically.

"Would you mind if I steal your boss for a dance?"

Marcus, merely nodded with a grin over his ape-like face. While I was being dragged half way through the hall,to the dance floor.

-X-

Guys there will be a song on the side, in the next chapter. Put it on first, and then continue reading it.