I quickly noticed what was going on around me earlier. There were some guys and gals chatting, and from what I heard, they seemed to be new acquaintances. What stood out to me was that most of them were older and wealthy.I can count the younger ones on my fingers.

Is it possible that some women here come across as aggressive when introducing themselves? They tend to approach the men they like, and at first, I didn't know what their intentions were for doing so.

By the way, if I'm not mistaken, I've heard about this event from my classmates, and they even mentioned a website for it.

I didn't pay much attention to it because I don't really care about that kind of stuff.

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw an older man approaching in the direction where I was standing. He had a short height, a chubby figure, and a beard.

Just from his posture, I could say that he seemed somewhat arrogant.

"Ah, my dear, you possess a rare charm," the man said, his eyes assessing me with a predatory gleam. "How would you like to be taken care of? I can offer you a life of luxury you've only dreamed of, my dear sugarcane."

My eyes widened at the audacity of his proposal.I felt my cheeks flush, not out of excitement but out of anger, and I gripped the cup tightly that I had been carrying around even though it was empty.

"Thank you, sir, but I am not interested in such an arrangement," I replied firmly, my voice laced with a mixture of courage and discomfort.

The old man's face contorted with anger, his tone turning harsh. "You foolish girl! Do you know who I am? You're nothing but a penniless brat. You should be grateful for this opportunity!"

My heart raced, my resolve tested by the man's aggressive response. Just as my discomfort began to escalate, a strong presence materialized at my side. I can't help but to turned my gaze to it.

"She is not interested, and her choice deserves respect," His voice rang out, his tone authoritative and unwavering.

The old man's expression shifted from anger to surprise. "Mr. Montgomery, I... I had no idea."

"It's clear you're unaware of the purpose of this event. She is already spoken for, and her choice was made well before tonight. I suggest you respect that."

I felt a mixture of gratitude and relief wash over me as he came to my rescue. I don't know what would happen if he did not come for me. This is the second time that he helped me and I really thankful for it. Th

The old man apologize before turning away. As he walked away, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I've been holding it for a while.

"Are you alright?" Alex asked softly, his concern evident.

I nodded, offering him a small smile. "Thanks to you, I am."

His lips curved in response "Remember, you're here by choice, not circumstance."

I smiled at what he said. Shena was right; I would make friends here, and I was happy to meet this man.

"Oh, I have not introduced myself to you yet. I am Alexander Montgomery," he revealed, extending his hand, and I reciprocated.

"I am Isab—" My introduction was cut short when I spotted the familiar figures of two people. My eyes widened, unable to believe I was seeing them here.

Why was this woman here? Of all the places we could meet again, why at this event? What would they think? That I was desperate for coming here? Anxiety gripped me, and I instinctively withdrew my hand from Alex's.

"Wait? You are Mr. Montgomery, right?" I lowered my head upon hearing the woman's voice. I didn't want to embarrass myself again, especially in front of this man.

"Yes, and you are?" Alex replied formally to the woman.

"I'm Jessie Vlomder. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Are you searching again for a new sugar baby?" It seemed that this wasn't Alex's first time in such a situation. I had mistakenly assumed we were in the same boat, but clearly, we weren't.

"I cannot answer that. I happened to be invited here." I decided to step back and not confront them, especially since I didn't know what they might say to me. I was about to turn away when I heard the woman's next comment.

"Really? So, who's that woman beside you? Not a new one?" I swallowed hard a few times before facing them. There was no point in hiding; why should I avoid them?

"N-no, we're not like that... We just happened to meet here too." I noticed Alex's gaze on me, so I averted my eyes.

"Ms. Heyes? Is that you?" My heart felt like it was about to burst as my former manager stared at me, seemingly passing judgment on who I had become. I wanted to escape, but I had no idea where to go.

The woman gasped, placing her hand over her mouth as if seeing me here was an unimaginable surprise. "Really? That crew you fired? What a pity." My former manager didn't respond and simply looked elsewhere. I averted my gaze and lowered my head once again.

The woman walked closer to me, but I couldn't bring myself to look at her due to the nervousness I was feeling. "Oh, wait, aren't you supposed to be washing dishes right now?" She laughed as if she was a TV villain, complete with an evil chuckle.

I couldn't help but pale at her comment, especially since she said it quite loudly, drawing the attention of onlookers. "Good evening. I hope you all had a great time coming here," I tried to compose myself to say those words.

Alexander raised an eyebrow at the turn of events after hearing our exchange. "Is there a problem here?"

"Oh, nothing, she's just a former crew member with a bit of 'history,'" the woman was the first to respond, so I remained silent.

Alexander and I exchanged glances. His eyes held both interest and concern. "Thank you for letting me know," he said with a smile directed at me, which I avoided. I had no idea what was going through his mind right now. All I wanted was to peacefully leave after an hour, but luck wasn't on my side tonight.

"They really are quite impressive, aren't they? You'd think that just because Alexander brought you here, you'd suddenly become a 'socialite.' But who would have thought, right?" she added, a smug satisfaction evident on her face.

I remained quiet, doing my best to block out the woman's disruptive words. I didn't want to respond and make things more complicated.

Fortunately, they changed the topic, and I felt relieved. I decided to wait for them to finish their conversation before leaving.

"Enjoy the rest of the evening," Alexander bid farewell to the two, seemingly eager to end their conversation before turning to me with a smile.

"Do you want to come with me? There's an interesting art room here that I'd like to visit. Don't worry; I'll make sure to escort you later." I nodded, smiling as he guided me outside the large room.

Upon entering, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of artworks displayed. There were sculptures and, of course, paintings.

Until now, I hadn't paid much attention to art, probably because I had been so consumed with work and school. I didn't realize how many fascinating things there were beyond my daily responsibilities. My gaze settled on a painting in the corner.

The painting depicts a night sky filled with swirling, vibrant blue and yellow brushstrokes. The stars shine brightly against the deep blue background, and a crescent moon is visible in the upper right corner. Below the celestial scene, a small village with quaint houses and a church steeple can be seen, surrounded by rolling hills and cypress trees.

" The painting called The stairy night created by the Dutch artist Vincent von Gogh in 1889. It is a famous painting" I heard Alex muttered beside me.

I became intrigued by the process behind creating this painting. I gently touched it and let my fingers slide down, exploring until I discovered the artist's signature.

" It's widely believed that the painter of this represents the turmoil and intensity of his emotions, while the peaceful village below could symbolize his desire for solace and stability. Base of the rumors but I don't have any evidence to proof that."

Every piece of art carries meaning, and I knew there was a possibility that the rumors about this painting had some truth, or perhaps none at all. Only the creator truly understands the symbolism behind their art.

I accidentally glanced at my watch, which had been with me for years and was still ticking away. It was already eleven in the evening, and I hadn't realized how time had flown because of what was happening.

I was about to turn and speak to Alex when I tripped once again. I closed my eyes, anticipating the fall, but I was caught again.

Alex gently held my shoulder, and we ended up embracing. My cheeks flushed with warmth due to our proximity, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"You can't walk like this," he said, surprising me.

"What do you mean—" I was cut off when he suddenly lifted me up.

I widened my eyes, looking at Alex who now had a grin on his face. "This is better," he remarked and began walking briskly. I couldn't react immediately to what he did, especially with the sensations coursing through my stomach.

"You don't have to do this, Alex, please let me down," I whispered, but he continued to walk, making it even more challenging for me.

I blushed as I noticed the people at the venue staring in our direction. Alex chose to walk right through the middle of the crowd. I couldn't handle the embarrassment, so I buried my face in his neck.

"Alex, please, put me down. I can walk," I said in a soft, almost pleading voice.

"I will put you down once we reach the parking area. Don't worry, we're already outside, so you can take a look around," he assured me.

"You don't have to do that; it's embarrassing for you. Besides, I'm heavy," I said, feeling ashamed.

"Really? But you are light to me," I looked at him, and he just chuckled.

"I'm just kidding, but it's okay; I can always lift you anytime you want," he winked, making my cheeks flush. Why did this guy enjoy teasing so much?

I raised an eyebrow when I noticed a woman approaching us. She looked like she was one piece of clothing away from being undressed. She stared seductively at Alex and seemed to completely ignore my presence.

She got close to Alex and swiftly kissed him on the lips, leaving me frozen. I had no idea he had a girlfriend.

"Hi babe, I came here to see you," she said, and I bit my lip when I saw them kissing right in front of me. I turned away and walked straight to the parking area.

Maybe I should get used to it. I knew that some guys were sweet to others not because they were interested but because they genuinely wanted to help, and Alex was one of them. He may be a playboy, but he had helped me several times today, so I was grateful for that.

I took a deep breath when I finally reached the outside of the hotel. I glanced back at where Alex was. I hoped we would meet again.