The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 2: Fresh Eyes

How to tell your boss that he is an idiot, a moron, and utterly incompetent? The answer: go ahead and expect to be fired immediately. That is how Kaya Lane feels about her boss right now. Not only did he unexpectedly drop the responsibility of planning this event on her without asking, but he also tried to ruin it with one of his idiotic pranks.

Alexander Carter, the owner of the Titan's Ink Press and Kaya's Friend's husband, had a notorious reputation for his pranks. Kaya had hoped the gala would be simply elegant and successful, but Alexander Carter had other plans. She glanced around the beautifully decorated ballroom, the shimmering chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed guests. It had taken weeks of meticulous planning to create this atmosphere, and now it was at risk of being ruined.

"Calm down sweetheart, the party is a blast stop worrying," Emily said, trying to soothe Kaya. Emily knew her husband well, but she didn't realize how much Kaya was already on edge.

"Ohh, my dear. I'm not worried about the party. I'm waiting for your husband to mess it up. What kind of tricks will he pull this time to make me hand in my resignation tomorrow?" Kaya replied with a forced smile as she patted Emily's hand. "You know every time there's a company event, the person in charge ends up quitting the next day because of him. I don't know how you're still married to him."

"Come on, Kaya. Don't talk about my husband like that. He's just trying to be funny. Besides, wouldn't it be more interesting with a surprise at this posh event?" Emily said.

"You do realize you're working at a very rigid and strict law firm, right?" Kaya questioned, reflecting on how Emily's life seemed to be a whirlwind of spontaneity. From a cheerful public relations student to graduating in Mandarin Literature, working as a paralegal, and now an arranged marriage with Kaya's boss—it was quite the rollercoaster.

"Oh, please, Kaya. Live a little. Life is meant to be enjoyed. If you stay so rigid, you'll miss out on all the fun," Emily responded. Kaya gave her a skeptical look before excusing herself to get a drink and some food. She was starving after missing breakfast and lunch due to oversleeping, last-minute event preparations, and a lengthy lecture from her mother about marriage.

Kaya made her way to the buffet, her stomach growling. The aroma of freshly baked pastries and savory hors d'oeuvres was irresistible. She grabbed a plate and began to fill it, trying to push her worries aside. As she picked up a delicate pastry, she overheard snippets of conversations around her.

"Did you hear about the last gala? The event planner quit the very next day," one guest whispered.

"Poor thing. The young Carter's pranks are legendary, but they're a nightmare for anyone trying to keep things professional," another replied.

Kaya sighed. This was exactly what she feared. She took a bite of her pastry, savoring the buttery, flaky texture, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't afford to lose this job, yet she couldn't continue working under these conditions either.

"Ms. Lane, Mr. Carter is ready to go down to the party," her staff informed her over the walkie-talkie.

"Noted. Is everything else in check?" Kaya asked, casually finishing her cake. There was a prolonged silence on the other end before the staff responded, "Uh, yeah, everything's fine."

The delay in the response made Kaya's unease grow as if something subtle yet important was amiss. Before she could probe further, the MC stepped onto the stage, drawing the guests' attention.

"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the 20th anniversary of Titan's Ink Press Gala. Tonight, we celebrate twenty years of this publishing company's achievements and impact on the world. Let's give a warm round of applause to our CEO, Mr. Alexander Carter," the MC announced.

Without warning, the ballroom was plunged into darkness, and screams erupted through the room. Kaya quickly set her cake aside and grabbed her walkie-talkie, demanding an update. A chilling animal groan filled the air, heightening the atmosphere of fear. The sound of something crawling echoed throughout the ballroom, causing guests to panic as they felt the eerie sensation of something crawling up their bodies.

Kaya quickly found the light control machine backstage and turned it on. The sight that greeted her was pandemonium: spiders were crawling everywhere. She spotted Alexander, manipulating a machine she assumed was the source of the chaos. Kaya forcibly took the controller from his hand and shut it down, causing the spiders to stop moving. The ballroom slowly quieted as staff collected the fake spiders and Kaya instructed the MC to announce Alexander's presence on stage.

As Alexander took the stage, Kaya looked at him with contempt, He grinned innocently before addressing the crowd.

"I am sorry for the shocking entrance I made. I know you all were taken aback by what I did. I apologize, but wasn't it exciting?" Alexander said, continuing to speak for five more minutes before the MC took over and announced to start of the dancing and socializing portion of the evening.

Her boss now danced innocently with Emily as if nothing had happened. Kaya having lost her appetite and patience, resolved to hand in her resignation letter tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock sharp. The thought of being unemployed suddenly seemed appealing; she could travel, stay up late, wake up late, and do everything she couldn't do because of work.

A voice broke her daydreaming. She turned to see a tall man with a polished appearance dressed in a perfectly tailored black-white tuxedo, holding a champagne glass.

"Are you trying to kill that man with your killer stare?" The man asked. Kaya replied snarkily, "Will he die immediately, or will he suffer as I torture his wretched soul with my silent contempt laser beam eyes? Are you going to sue me after that, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer?"

"Usually, I would, since he's my dear friend. But after witnessing his prank, maybe I could look the other way for a while. Just don't kill him." Ethan replied with a smile. Kaya proceeded to explain to Ethan how Alexander had innocently controlled the remote for the spiders.

Unbeknownst to Kaya, someone was watching her. The way she stood beside the beverage table, the way she touched her lips with her thumb, and the way she checked on the other guests, ensuring they were alright. Kaya might not have a supermodel's body, but her long legs, slender figure, and black gown - a torso corset with a long, silky train split at the left knee- made her stand out. Her loose black hair and chic makeup complete the look, making her the fairest at the party.

As the watcher got closer, Kaya noticed the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. The man was tall, over six feet, and his well-fitted tux exuded a commanding yet handsome presence. They exchange glances a moment before Ethan introduces him and another man Kaya hadn't noticed earlier.

"Kaya, this is another friend of ours from the club, Liam Hillary and Sebastian Blackwood. Guys, this is Kaya Lane. one of Alex's employees." Ethan said. Kaya shook hands with Liam first, and then with the mesmerizing blue-eyed Sebastian.

"There should be another one, but I guess he's not coming tonight." Ethan continued looking around.

"If you are looking for Jack, he is talking with some girls... oh, he's gone. Hi Kaya, I'm Liam Hillary. You can call me Liam," Liam said drawing Kaya's attention to him.

"I'm Lane, Kaya Lane. You can call me Kaya or Kay," She replied, smiling.

Kaya tried to focus on Ethan and Liam's conversation, but it was hard when she felt the intense gaze of Sebastian. She stole a few glances his way, only to be caught each time by his piercing blue eyes. She was finally rescued when her walkie-talkie rang, summoning her backstage immediately.

In the distance, she heard Liam asking Sebastian why he was staring at her so intensely. She realized that Sebastian's rich, baritone voice resonated through the room, filling the space with its deep, velvety tones. She found herself wanting to hear more.

To Be Continued

Hey Guys! It's time for GlassesNerdy Corner again. So, tell me what would you do if a man suddenly stared at you? Would you be creeped out or stare back? Answers in the comment. Don't forget to subscribe, vote, and like the story if you're interested. I would love your support. Also, I need some recommendations for books to read on Wattpad. Please share with me your favorite with me!

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