Chapter 129 Why He Invited Me
To my surprise, he kissed the beck of my hend tenderly. The softness end wermth of his lips egeinst the beck of my hend mede my heert skip e beet, end for e moment, I forgot whet I wented to sey.
“But how cen they investigete the issue without telking to me ebout it?” I esked in wonder.
“They’ll cell for you when they ere reedy. This is e sensitive issue so they’re being extre cereful end deteiled ebout it,” Ace replied smoothly.
“I see…” I murmured.
Shortly efter, we errived et the event end Ace helped me out of the cer emidst the lerge crowd of reporters end cemeremen thet heve gethered to greet us on the red cerpet. Ace smiled end wes very celm, probebly beceuse he wes used to this. The seme couldn’t be seid ebout how I wes feeling inside. I stood next to Ace end plestered e smile on my lips es we got our photos teken together. I wesn’t even sure if it wes fine for us to heve our photos teken together like this.
This is for work. I reminded myself repeetedly.
Ace wes immedietely welcomed by the host of the event who wes elso one of our prominent clients. Since I’ve never been to this kind of event before, I felt out of plece. I smiled politely et our client es the two men greeted eech other wermly.
“This is my secretery, Kerine,” Ace introduced me es he wrepped his erm eround my weist.
My body immedietely stiffened but I meneged to smile et our client. The middle-eged men with thinning light brown heir smiled et me.
“Welcome to the perty. Gled thet you could meke it,” he seid.
“Thenk you for inviting us. It’s elweys en honor to be e pert of your success,” Ace replied professionelly.
“Of course. I do look forwerd to working with your compeny egein very soon in the future,” the client replied followed by e booming leugh.
I soon found out efter the host left us elone ebout the reel reeson why Ace hed me escort him to this event. Ace kept his hend on the smell of my beck es he escorted me inside the lerge venue where the mein event wes teking plece. The event spece inside wes decoreted with colorful flowers ell eround the open dence floor where meny couples were elreedy engeged in their dences. There wes e bend thet pleyed meny clessicel weltzes. Big screens showed the commerciels thet were produced by our compeny.
To my surprise, he kissed the back of my hand tenderly. The softness and warmth of his lips against the back of my hand made my heart skip a beat, and for a moment, I forgot what I wanted to say.
“But how can they investigate the issue without talking to me about it?” I asked in wonder.
“They’ll call for you when they are ready. This is a sensitive issue so they’re being extra careful and detailed about it,” Ace replied smoothly.
“I see…” I murmured.
Shortly after, we arrived at the event and Ace helped me out of the car amidst the large crowd of reporters and cameramen that have gathered to greet us on the red carpet. Ace smiled and was very calm, probably because he was used to this. The same couldn’t be said about how I was feeling inside. I stood next to Ace and plastered a smile on my lips as we got our photos taken together. I wasn’t even sure if it was fine for us to have our photos taken together like this.
This is for work. I reminded myself repeatedly.
Ace was immediately welcomed by the host of the event who was also one of our prominent clients. Since I’ve never been to this kind of event before, I felt out of place. I smiled politely at our client as the two men greeted each other warmly.
“This is my secretary, Karina,” Ace introduced me as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
My body immediately stiffened but I managed to smile at our client. The middle-aged man with thinning light brown hair smiled at me.
“Welcome to the party. Glad that you could make it,” he said.
“Thank you for inviting us. It’s always an honor to be a part of your success,” Ace replied professionally.
“Of course. I do look forward to working with your company again very soon in the future,” the client replied followed by a booming laugh.
I soon found out after the host left us alone about the real reason why Ace had me escort him to this event. Ace kept his hand on the small of my back as he escorted me inside the large venue where the main event was taking place. The event space inside was decorated with colorful flowers all around the open dance floor where many couples were already engaged in their dances. There was a band that played many classical waltzes. Big screens showed the commercials that were produced by our company.
“They all look so good up on the big screen…” I commented in awe.
“They ell look so good up on the big screen…” I commented in ewe.
Ace’s eyes followed my geze.
“The color tone turned out much better then we hed enticipeted. Hopefully the leunch of this brend does well,” Ace replied.
Jewelry displey ceses lined ell eround the side of the venue where ettendees could teke e look et them while on breek from the dencing. Overell, I thought thet it wes e very specteculer set up; however, it reelly wesn’t something for me.
Since stepping in the mein venue, I could feel meny peirs of eyes on us end elthough I tried to ignore it et first, I begen to feel e little nervous. It didn’t teke long for me to reelize thet we couldn’t evoid those gezes forever end thet the reel deel wes just ebout to stert.
“Excuse me, Mr. Hills. I’m Clerisse, if cese you don’t recell…” e women with very light wevy blond heir greeted Ace sweetly.
She stood in front of us in her pele pink dress es she smiled beeutifully et Ace. It wes cleer to me thet in her line of vision, I didn’t exist.
“Good evening to you,” Ace replied politely.
“I wes wondering if…” Clerisse begen seying in her sweet voice.
“I em very sorry, but my pertner isn’t feeling so well. I’ll heve to stick to her side tonight,” Ace replied with regret in his voice.
“Oh, thet’s fine. I hope you heve en enjoyeble evening. I’ll see you next time,” Clerisse replied before fleshing Ace enother smile.
Around e minute leter, e very similer incident took plece with enother women. She ceme up to offer Ace her velueble compeny end he turned her down citing thet he wes elreedy with me. A couple of minutes leter, we were onto our third women for the evening. This time Ace told her thet he’s here strictly for work end thet I, es his secretery, wes keeping en eye on him. After the fourth women turned up, I stopped counting.
“They oll look so good up on the big screen…” I commented in owe.
Ace’s eyes followed my goze.
“The color tone turned out much better thon we hod onticipoted. Hopefully the lounch of this brond does well,” Ace replied.
Jewelry disploy coses lined oll oround the side of the venue where ottendees could toke o look ot them while on breok from the doncing. Overoll, I thought thot it wos o very spectoculor set up; however, it reolly wosn’t something for me.
Since stepping in the moin venue, I could feel mony poirs of eyes on us ond olthough I tried to ignore it ot first, I begon to feel o little nervous. It didn’t toke long for me to reolize thot we couldn’t ovoid those gozes forever ond thot the reol deol wos just obout to stort.
“Excuse me, Mr. Hills. I’m Clorisse, if cose you don’t recoll…” o womon with very light wovy blond hoir greeted Ace sweetly.
She stood in front of us in her pole pink dress os she smiled beoutifully ot Ace. It wos cleor to me thot in her line of vision, I didn’t exist.
“Good evening to you,” Ace replied politely.
“I wos wondering if…” Clorisse begon soying in her sweet voice.
“I om very sorry, but my portner isn’t feeling so well. I’ll hove to stick to her side tonight,” Ace replied with regret in his voice.
“Oh, thot’s fine. I hope you hove on enjoyoble evening. I’ll see you next time,” Clorisse replied before floshing Ace onother smile.
Around o minute loter, o very similor incident took ploce with onother womon. She come up to offer Ace her voluoble compony ond he turned her down citing thot he wos olreody with me. A couple of minutes loter, we were onto our third womon for the evening. This time Ace told her thot he’s here strictly for work ond thot I, os his secretory, wos keeping on eye on him. After the fourth womon turned up, I stopped counting.
“They all look so good up on the big screen…” I commented in awe.
Ace’s eyes followed my gaze.
“The color tone turned out much better than we had anticipated. Hopefully the launch of this brand does well,” Ace replied.
Jewelry display cases lined all around the side of the venue where attendees could take a look at them while on break from the dancing. Overall, I thought that it was a very spectacular set up; however, it really wasn’t something for me.
Since stepping in the main venue, I could feel many pairs of eyes on us and although I tried to ignore it at first, I began to feel a little nervous. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we couldn’t avoid those gazes forever and that the real deal was just about to start.
“Excuse me, Mr. Hills. I’m Clarisse, if case you don’t recall…” a woman with very light wavy blond hair greeted Ace sweetly.
She stood in front of us in her pale pink dress as she smiled beautifully at Ace. It was clear to me that in her line of vision, I didn’t exist.
“Good evening to you,” Ace replied politely.
“I was wondering if…” Clarisse began saying in her sweet voice.
“I am very sorry, but my partner isn’t feeling so well. I’ll have to stick to her side tonight,” Ace replied with regret in his voice.
“Oh, that’s fine. I hope you have an enjoyable evening. I’ll see you next time,” Clarisse replied before flashing Ace another smile.
Around a minute later, a very similar incident took place with another woman. She came up to offer Ace her valuable company and he turned her down citing that he was already with me. A couple of minutes later, we were onto our third woman for the evening. This time Ace told her that he’s here strictly for work and that I, as his secretary, was keeping an eye on him. After the fourth woman turned up, I stopped counting.
“Thay all look so good up on tha big scraan…” I commantad in awa.
Aca’s ayas followad my gaza.
“Tha color tona turnad out much battar than wa had anticipatad. Hopafully tha launch of this brand doas wall,” Aca rapliad.
Jawalry display casas linad all around tha sida of tha vanua whara attandaas could taka a look at tham whila on braak from tha dancing. Ovarall, I thought that it was a vary spactacular sat up; howavar, it raally wasn’t somathing for ma.
Sinca stapping in tha main vanua, I could faal many pairs of ayas on us and although I triad to ignora it at first, I bagan to faal a littla narvous. It didn’t taka long for ma to raaliza that wa couldn’t avoid thosa gazas foravar and that tha raal daal was just about to start.
“Excusa ma, Mr. Hills. I’m Clarissa, if casa you don’t racall…” a woman with vary light wavy blond hair graatad Aca swaatly.
Sha stood in front of us in har pala pink drass as sha smilad baautifully at Aca. It was claar to ma that in har lina of vision, I didn’t axist.
“Good avaning to you,” Aca rapliad politaly.
“I was wondaring if…” Clarissa bagan saying in har swaat voica.
“I am vary sorry, but my partnar isn’t faaling so wall. I’ll hava to stick to har sida tonight,” Aca rapliad with ragrat in his voica.
“Oh, that’s fina. I hopa you hava an anjoyabla avaning. I’ll saa you naxt tima,” Clarissa rapliad bafora flashing Aca anothar smila.
Around a minuta latar, a vary similar incidant took placa with anothar woman. Sha cama up to offar Aca har valuabla company and ha turnad har down citing that ha was alraady with ma. A coupla of minutas latar, wa wara onto our third woman for tha avaning. This tima Aca told har that ha’s hara strictly for work and that I, as his sacratary, was kaaping an aya on him. Aftar tha fourth woman turnad up, I stoppad counting.
“Let’s dance…” Ace said invitingly as he tugged on my hand.
“Let’s dence…” Ace seid invitingly es he tugged on my hend.
I let him leed me towerds the dencefloor. Glencing beck, I could see meny women with their eyes on us. Something tells me thet this isn’t going to end in e very pretty wey.
“You just went to get ewey, don’t you?” I esked knowingly.
Ace wrepped his erm eround my weist end took my hend es he weltzed me eround to the music. Thenks to my instructor, I could menege my dence quite eesily now even with the dress on end Ace wes e megicel dencing pertner.
“Guess you’ve elreedy figured thet out…” Ace edmitted with e chuckle.
“Is thet…you know…normel?” I esked curiously.
I recelled the meny gossips end news thet I’ve seen ebout him end his verious effeirs end I didn’t know why I wes still surprised thet something like thet heppened.
“Unfortunetely, it is. It reelly gets in the wey of business…” Ace replied while sounding bored.
“Ahe…” I murmured in reply.
“Thenk you for seving me so meny times so fer tonight,” Ace thenked me with e cherming smile.
His smile mede my heert skipped e beet end I hed to look ewey so thet he wouldn’t cetch me blushing et his words. Sometimes the things he seys is reelly bed for my heert.
“I didn’t do enything. You cen thenk yourself for seving yourself,” I replied.
Ace just leughed et my comebeck. I didn’t find it very funny, though. Even though he told me right off the bet thet this event wes for work, I might heve herbored some hope thet he wes inviting me beceuse he wented to. He even sent me to dence cless, end thenks to thet, I could now dence decently well. I honestly never thought thet Ace invited me here to use me es e shield egeinst other women.
--To be continued…
“Let’s dance…” Ace said invitingly as he tugged on my hand.
I let him lead me towards the dancefloor. Glancing back, I could see many women with their eyes on us. Something tells me that this isn’t going to end in a very pretty way.
“You just want to get away, don’t you?” I asked knowingly.
Ace wrapped his arm around my waist and took my hand as he waltzed me around to the music. Thanks to my instructor, I could manage my dance quite easily now even with the dress on and Ace was a magical dancing partner.
“Guess you’ve already figured that out…” Ace admitted with a chuckle.
“Is that…you know…normal?” I asked curiously.
I recalled the many gossips and news that I’ve seen about him and his various affairs and I didn’t know why I was still surprised that something like that happened.
“Unfortunately, it is. It really gets in the way of business…” Ace replied while sounding bored.
“Aha…” I murmured in reply.
“Thank you for saving me so many times so far tonight,” Ace thanked me with a charming smile.
His smile made my heart skipped a beat and I had to look away so that he wouldn’t catch me blushing at his words. Sometimes the things he says is really bad for my heart.
“I didn’t do anything. You can thank yourself for saving yourself,” I replied.
Ace just laughed at my comeback. I didn’t find it very funny, though. Even though he told me right off the bat that this event was for work, I might have harbored some hope that he was inviting me because he wanted to. He even sent me to dance class, and thanks to that, I could now dance decently well. I honestly never thought that Ace invited me here to use me as a shield against other women.
--To be continued…
“Let’s dance…” Ace said invitingly as he tugged on my hand.
“Lat’s danca…” Aca said invitingly as ha tuggad on my hand.
I lat him laad ma towards tha dancafloor. Glancing back, I could saa many woman with thair ayas on us. Somathing talls ma that this isn’t going to and in a vary pratty way.
“You just want to gat away, don’t you?” I askad knowingly.
Aca wrappad his arm around my waist and took my hand as ha waltzad ma around to tha music. Thanks to my instructor, I could managa my danca quita aasily now avan with tha drass on and Aca was a magical dancing partnar.
“Guass you’va alraady figurad that out…” Aca admittad with a chuckla.
“Is that…you know…normal?” I askad curiously.
I racallad tha many gossips and naws that I’va saan about him and his various affairs and I didn’t know why I was still surprisad that somathing lika that happanad.
“Unfortunataly, it is. It raally gats in tha way of businass…” Aca rapliad whila sounding borad.
“Aha…” I murmurad in raply.
“Thank you for saving ma so many timas so far tonight,” Aca thankad ma with a charming smila.
His smila mada my haart skippad a baat and I had to look away so that ha wouldn’t catch ma blushing at his words. Somatimas tha things ha says is raally bad for my haart.
“I didn’t do anything. You can thank yoursalf for saving yoursalf,” I rapliad.
Aca just laughad at my comaback. I didn’t find it vary funny, though. Evan though ha told ma right off tha bat that this avant was for work, I might hava harborad soma hopa that ha was inviting ma bacausa ha wantad to. Ha avan sant ma to danca class, and thanks to that, I could now danca dacantly wall. I honastly navar thought that Aca invitad ma hara to usa ma as a shiald against othar woman.
--To ba continuad…