C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 6 - Showtime?

Katherine and Tamara sit a row behind their bosses. She's forever thankful that each row is elevated the more behind it went, so they still got to see a very clear view of the stage even if they're not exactly at the front. Though in truth, the seating's the least of her worries.

"The invitation said this was a diplomatic dinner," She says to Tamara. Katherine is sitting next to her more mannerly than she is. "What do we need a giant hall and a stage for? I don't even see any food! What's dinner without food?"

Tamara only shrugs. "I was kinda wondering that too. But I assume the host wants to greet everyone first, tell us why we're here, what's exactly so diplomatic to have warranted a dinner and all that."

"Good point," It's only then that she realizes she hadn't checked who's hosting to begin with. She knows it's on the invitation given to them, her eyes brushed over the words, but she can't seem to recall whose name it was.

Her mind had been way too occupied with the fact they got the invitation from Dmitri, it seems.

"Katherine," James glances over his shoulder to her. "You didn't tell me who was hosting this."

It's her fault, but she decides to try seeing thing optimistically, knowing full-well her boss wouldn't publicly scold her if she made it look intentional. "You never asked."

James rolls his eyes and turns away. "I'm not supposed to be required to."

"Wow, high-and-mighty much?" Dmitri pinches him playfully. James flinches and smacks his hand away in response, earning an amused chuckle. "It's Middlemist, by the way." Dmitri says. "The host, I mean."

"Middlemist?" James tilts his head. "The fashion production?"

"Uh, yeah," Dmitri shoots him a judgy look for not knowing the host of the very party he's attending. "They recently partnered up with an entertainment studio. Bet they're gonna announce their upcomin' TV show sometime soon. Or somethin'." He then gestures to the stage. "Also heard the actual host will be the face of Middlemist herself."

James glances back at Katherine. There is concern in his eyes now. It's faint, only a slight upward crease of his eyebrows and lips thinned. But it's there.

Dmitri notices this. He squints in confusion. "What? What's the matter?"

"If I'd known it was Middlemist," James mutters, a tone as if he doesn't want anyone to hear him, but also very much does. "Then I wouldn't have agreed to come."

Dmitri's brows only crease further in confusion. "Pechen'ye, what're ya-" He pauses, his face immediately switching to a worn out realization, brows raised though eyes rested. "Oh."

It took Katherine a moment to realize it too. Eventually, she feels a part of herself riddle with guilt, all her actions towards the boss regarding the invitation up until now only pushing the guilt further down her throat.

The face of Middlemist, beloved ambassador made from her years of modeling, so happens to be James' ex.

Ex-fiancé, no less.

Her name is Selene Star. And indeed is she a star. Though, Katherine has opted not to say her name in front of James.

Surely he doesn't actually mind if she did anyway. It's been three years since they announced to the public that they were calling off their engagement. The truth is, they'd split five months prior to the announcement just to avoid public heat. But as how media works. Of course rumors start to spread, and debunking those rumors were made far more necessary.

A busy, incompatible work schedule they said. She's a top model and he's a C.E.O of a big company. It's not unlikely. But even Katherine only found out about their breakup during the announcement. For James to have hidden something as big as the calling off of his engagement from even his own secretary (and best friend)... She figured it wasn't just because of a busy schedule.