Bound To The Seduction

Chapter 23: Business Gathering II

"How did you even get here?" Brandon looked like he couldn't wait to throw her out if he could. "You aren't supposed to be here!"

"Don't worry about how I got here." She straightened up and her eyes sharpened. "Why wouldn't I be here? even Sarah can be here, why can't I? Brandon, I'm your girlfriend. I have every right to be here!"

"Girlfriend?" Brandon laughed. "Since when were you, my girlfriend? We were only having a good time, Nothing serious." He was only playing around with her and he had no intention of getting serious. He shuddered at the idea of living with Clara forever. Sarah was the woman he truly wanted.

"But you've already broken up with her." Clara's voice now had a trace of panic. "Shouldn't I be your girlfriend now?"

"You are overthinking this." Brandon patted Clara's shoulder, adjusted his tie, and walked back into the hall as if nothing happened.

Clara followed suit after composing herself. Although she had a radiant smile on her face, there was a cold glint in her eye whenever she glanced at Sarah's direction.

It should be known that not everyone here was here for business. Some were here to fish for a potential husband or wife. Marrying someone from an influential family was also a strategy to boost your business.

And then there was Sarah who did not fall into any of those categories. She was here as a replacement for some random assistant who was on leave. And yes, there was money too. She had nothing to talk about with the members present, and most of them were only interested in Henry anyway.

Tired of being treated as invisible, she wandered off to a less busy part of the room. She made a beeline to the buffet area. Food was the only thing that felt relatable to her at that moment. Sarah took her time to admire the skills of those world-class chefs for their food presentations. it was only fruit cuts but they were enough to make one salivate.

She picked a slice from the duck-shaped watermelon, another from the tortoise-shaped apples, and a few more from the exotic fruits she'd only heard of and never tasted. She savored the taste before moving to the dessert corner.

"Are you President Salva's companion?" Sarah was busy enjoying free food when she had a clear voice. She raised her head and saw a woman dressed in a lavender evening gown she'd seen once in one of Emily's fashion magazines.

The woman was so graceful and dignified that even a princess would fall short. Even though half her face was covered with a veil, she was an unmistakable beauty who had curves in all the right places. Sarah paled in comparison and even felt unworthy to carry the woman's shoes.

"Yes, I am." Sarah smiled at the woman and passed a plate of Turkish dessert to her, "Have some, they are delicious." Sarah figured that someone wandering at the food corner at this time must either be as bored as her, or a foodie.

"No thanks, I prefer healthier options." The woman rejected her offer and picked up a slice of sweet melon as she studied Sarah's face. Sarah could briefly feel the concealed hostility in those doe eyes before a condescending smile formed on the woman's lips. "Where are my manners? Sorry for being so abrupt to you."

The woman continued, "We don't know each other but I've known Henry for many years. I heard Henry brought an unheard-of companion, so I was rather curious. Tsk tsk, I didn't expect his tastes to have deteriorated this much." With that, she turned around and left with a smile on her face.

The woman's words sounded strange in Sarah's ears. Why did it sound like she was insulting her? Sarah chewed the cake in her mouth a little slower as she pondered. She glanced at her wristwatch and sighed. It was almost midnight; one more hour before she could leave this place.

"Sarah you are something else." Clara couldn't hold it in any longer and decided to find trouble with Sarah. She knew Sarah wouldn't dare do anything to her on such an occasion. "Don't pretend you aren't clinging to Henry because of his money."

"Did I say I wasn't in it for the money?" Sarah shrugged, unbothered. "Oops, my bad. I'm totally here because of the money."

"Aren't you even ashamed about it?"

"Why should I be?"

"You surely have the nerve." Clara glared at her. Sarah's indifferent attitude was getting on her nerves. "Fine, wait until Henry hears about it."

"What do I need to hear about?" Henry walked in on them.

"I wasn't wrong indeed," Clara's voice rang out a little louder this time and more people heard her. "How could she leave Brandon easily if she did not have a backup plan?"

Her words suddenly twisted other people's minds. It was a rather common occurrence for people to abandon their relationship and go to someone with a thicker pocket. Few people left their boyfriends because they had a mistress. In a way, Clara's point of view was more acceptable to the crowd.

And just like that, Sarah went from a beautiful respectable young woman into a gold digger in seconds. If there was one thing that the upper-class society hated the most, it was a woman who relied on men to gain a foothold. Clara had successfully whitewashed her actions while smearing mud at Sarah at the same time. What a clever move!

"Senior Henry, you have to be careful not to be scammed by some people," Clara said as she extended her hand to Henry.

Henry ignored the hand. instead, he wrapped his hand around Sarah's waist and pulled her closer to his body. Such an intimate action drew more curious glances at the two. "Thank you for the advice but I don't need it."

Clara's hand froze midair. It was embarrassing enough to be ignored like that. Her other hand balled into a fist, so much until her knuckles turned white. How dare he ignore her! She forced a smile and retracted her hanging hand. "Of course, senior Henry is wise and doesn't need my advice."

She had done it on purpose thinking that he would at least give her some face in front of all those people. But alas, she overestimated herself and he did not care either. Clara had a poor memory.

Brandon clenched his fists tight. He used all the strength left in his body not to tear those two apart. His feelings towards Sarah were getting more and more complex. On one hand, he wanted Sarah to let go of her pride and find him so that they could get back together again.

On the other hand, he wanted Sarah to stop appearing in front of him again and again because every time she did, he would remember what happened that day. Brandon wanted Sarah to depend on him a little and be a little more docile. He liked her rationality and calmness, but he hated it at the same time.

Sarah noticed Brandon following them out. She quickly thought of a plan to make him give up completely. Sarah suddenly held Henry's hand and stopped walking. "Henry?"

"Hmm?" He turned to face her and they stood a few inches apart. He raised his eyebrows as she did not speak.

Sarah saw Brandon still standing a few meters away, clearly unconvinced. It looks like she had to make it more real. She fiddled with Henry's tie as she thought of what to do next. Sarah stood on her tiptoes, inches away from his thin lips. She was so close that his warm breath fanned her face. A whiff of his cologne made her forget her plan and wondered how it would feel to seal those lips with hers. Those sparkly eyes and godly handsome features up close were tempting.

Slam!

The sound of a car door being slammed brought the two back to reality.

"Sorry about that." Sarah took a big step backward and let out a nervous laugh. "Umm. I was looking for something." She made up a random excuse while avoiding his eyes. "Yes, something."

Henry took a deep breath to calm his racing heart and cursed whoever slammed that damn door. He was shocked by his own reaction. He could have stopped her at that moment but all he wanted was to taste those delicate lips a few inches from his.

Henry licked his lips as he watched the nervous girl scramble into the car. He chuckled at her clumsiness. It was just a kiss that didn't even happen, was there a need to be so nervous?