King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 18: Alice at the Mad Hatter's Party

My first attendance to the Mad Hatter's Party a week after leaving the penthouse was an out-of-body experience, like I was in some astral plane looking down at myself in a red halter dress Honey bought for me, the mask firmly in place, which had to be or else I would offend Ota who was so proud to announce that he designed it for my exclusive use. In a balcony overlooking the auctions below, I calmed my nerves one more time and tried to be as objective as possible.

The items didn't faze me.

The information for sale did.

Thousand of dollars were raised, and some items were even auctioned off for a million or more, and as I sat there unbelieving, it dawned on me how ridiculously wealthy the guys of the penthouse were.

I knew they were watching me, perhaps waiting for me to stand up and cry foul, but Honey had this look in her eyes all throughout the proceedings, as if pleading for my understanding, and I have battled with my conscience since. I disagreed, like the first time I've heard about it, but my love for him must've blinded me somehow.

A conscious act on my part, to allow their reasons to sway me.

Eisuke did say he was doing it for information on his sister, and the man who betrayed his father.

I sighed in my seat, resigned, and patted Honey's hand beside me.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I owe you lot my life, anyway," was all I could say to her.

I heard the guys make plans after the auctions but my eyes strayed to the only man on the box opposite us, as if he's detached himself from us, and I wondered if it was because I was there. Women sat next to him and behind him, masked just like everyone else, their glittering jewels and expensive clothes a stark contrast to him, looking like a dark and forbidding Olympian in designer suit. I couldn't take my eyes off him, as if staring at him would somehow dull this ache in my heart.

"He will come around, my pet," Ota said from my left.

"And pigs might fly," I said in an attempt to lighten the mood. I no longer cared what was happening down there, the Mad Hatter's voice seemed so far away as I continued to stare at Eisuke, lovesick fool that I was.

He let me go.

There was no way he'd take me back, and I only have to look at him to know that this was so.

I wallowed in self-pity, something I never allowed myself to do but tonight I was in a pretty bad mood, that the party ended without me realizing it.

I would have taken my mask off if Baba hadn't stopped my hand. "Wait til you reached the penthouse, sweetie, or would you like to party first?"

Seeing that Honey agreed to the latter, I nodded absentmindedly and followed them out to the ballroom.

The after-party was in full swing, and there we were finally able to dispose of our masks. The rich and famous were gathered there and at another time I would've been impressed by it all, but all I could think about was Eisuke in the arms of a beautiful blond woman.

He did choose one and I could swear he would bring her up to the penthouse before the night is over.

I wish I was drunk that moment as an excuse for what I did next, but truth was I really couldn't bear the sight anymore. She was as beautiful as he was gorgeous, like two gods condescending to party with us mortals, their beauty attracting a fair number of envious eyes all around. I watched helplessly as she whispered in his ear, my whole world turning green, and didn't notice the others throwing concerned looks my way.