Chapter 4 Gala

Bina laughed on the other side of the line. "I told you you'll need my help."

"I need a date to the annual Charity event hosted at the Flannigan hotel." He ignored her earlier comment wanting to get over the preparations so he could get back to the office. "Do you know where that is?"

"No I don't."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and pulled his phone away from his ear. He placed Bina on hold and dialed another number.

The person picked up on the first ring. "Goodday, Mr Bright

"I need you to pick up someone. I'll send you the address and the lady's phone number." He didn't wait for the person's

response and hung up.

He took Bina's number off hold again. "I'll send a car for you at 7pm sharp, don't keep him waiting."

The driver would pick Bina up and then come get him on the way. With that, he ended the call and took the rest of the stairs up to his room. The lobby of the Flannigan hotel was packed with people waiting to enter the well decorated hall that had been set aside

as the venue for this year's charity gala.

The charity event was hosted by the Flannigan family, owners of a chain of successful hotels that were thriving.

Millionaires and CEOS, heiresses and models and basically the rich and upper class in the society gathered one night every year to attend this event that is considered the Event of the Century.

The theme for this year's event was Hollywood and everyone was dressed to impress.

A few women were gathered at a corner of the room gossiping, as usual and checking out the dressing of the invited guests as they walked in.

There was a chocolate fountain at another

corner of the room where some of the

guests were already filling their glasses with the richly sweet chocolate drink.

"Wow, this is so beautiful." Bina gushed as the car stopped in front of the hotel.

Just like on the inside, the outside was just as beautiful. Decorations, flowers, and ribbons were placed neatly at strategic spots.

Sebastian got down from the car and adjusted his tuxedo. He checked his wristwatch for the time and sighed in pleasure.

It was 7pm and he was right on time. He hated being late to an event even some people claimed there was nothing wrong with being fashionable late.

Bina walked up to him and he held his arm out for her to take. He then walked into the

hall, Bina on his arm. At least she had listened when he told her to dress up. She looked incredible he couldn't help but notice.

And he wasn't the only one who noticed.

He could feel heavy stares and glares

directed at them.

"Would you like something to drink?" He asked as they walked into the hall and she

shook her head pointing towards the chocolate fountain.

"Is that really chocolate?" She screamed although it came out like a whisper and Sebastian sighed turning to face her. "I think we need to establish some ground rules first before anything else."

Bina took her eyes off the chocolate fountain and frowned up at him. "What do

you mean by that?"

"People here are not as nice as they seem."

He pointed towards the women at the corner and sighed. "I know these people

and all these smiles you see are just a facade to hide the real person underneath."

Bina nodded and looked around her with a

smile. I can do this. A group of women walked up to them just then. The same group Sebastian had been referring to. "Come on Bina,it's time to turn up the charm." She whispered and plastered a smile on her face just as the women caught

up to them.

"I'll go get us a drink." Sebastian said and headed straight for the wine cellar.

He poured himself a glass and downed it a little too quickly, coughing and spitting wine everywhere.

He muttered curses under his breath as he

bent down to clean his shoes. Rising back up, he frowned as he caught sight of a pair of silver heels.

Bina's heels were black with a touch of

green.

He stood up fully and was staring into the eyes of his ex, Natasha. He faked a smile and accepted the handkerchief she offered him.

She had probably slipped away from all those women he had seen her talking to earlier.

He used it to wipe his hands thanking the heavens none of the wine had made it to

his suit.

He was wearing a white one piece custom made tuxedo that he'd gotten tailored mainly for this event.

"You look good Sebby." Natasha giggled, touching his arm and he pulled away, frowning at her. "Right, I'm sorry about that. Don't touch the suit." She laughed again and Sebastian sighed in irritation.

From where he was standing, Sebastian followed Bina with his eyes and watched as she laughed and mingled with the women as if she was a part of this world.

Bina waved at Sebastian and pointed at him causing him to frown wondering what she was up to. He couldn't let her create a scene in front of all these people. With that thought in mind, he caught up with her and held her arm.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked taking her arm in his again.

He had to take her someplace else right now. These women were the gossip group of the high class world.

"I'm just socialising," she replied smiling at a woman Sebastian recognised from one of the events.

"Oh my God, Sebby, you work fast!" She giggled at Sebastian whose only reply was a blank stare. She ignored it and glared at the strange woman. "And who are you?" She asked, a frown on her face.

She had noticed the minute Sebastian

walked into the hall and had been meaning to walk up to him until she noticed this woman by his side.

The only woman that deserved to be at his side as his date was her and no one else.

She didn't like the way Sebastian was holding unto this strange woman's arm after he had left her standing all by herself.

People were going to get the wrong idea if she didn't do something about it.

Bina tightened her arm around Sebastian's arm and grinned at her. "He's my fiancée."

After she spoke, she plucked Natasha's fingers off Sebastian's other arm and dropped it.

"Please keep your hands to yourself from now on." She said, causing the women who

had gathered around them to gasp in shock. "Sebby, what's she talking about?" Natasha asked, flipping her hair. The tips hit Ava's face and she glared at her. "Tell her about me, Sebby."

This woman was delusional, how could she say such a thing?

All eyes settled on Sebastian for some kind of confirmation but he remained silent.

Ava grinned at Natasha and inched closer towards her. "Well, that's all in the past now my darling. I'm his fiancée now."

Natasha opened her mouth to say something but she noticed the women around them were already whispering under their breath.

Download

She didn't want to become the center of attraction especially if Ava would come out looking perfect.

"We will continue this conversation later."

"Bye now." Bina chirped, waving her hands with a smile irritating Natasha further.

With one final glare shot at Ava, she walked away holding her head up high even though she was boiling and seething on the inside. "Natty! Wait for us." The women secruied off after her and Ava shook her head.

It was just like in the soap opera she used to watch. This party was crawling with opportunists.

Well it was a good thing Sebastian had brought her along as his date.

Later on, as the party went on in full swing, Ava was socialising and mingling as if she was used to these kinds of scenes.

Sebastian frowned as yet another woman walked past him without stopping to greet him like they usually did at these kinds of events.

Meanwhile, Natasha watched Sebastian all night from a distance noticing how his eyes never strayed from Ava as she talked to different people.

Natasha couldn't understand how Sebastian could bring such a woman with him as his date.

The woman had to be blackmailing him or else why would he bring her?

She was going to get to the bottom of it. The event was over and all the guests were filling out of the room. Some were already waiting outside the hotel for their drivers to bring the cars.

Sebastian helped Bina down the stairs and released her arm, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

He dialed the driver's number and waited.

"Bring the car." He instructed and slipped his phone back into his pocket after the call ended.

"That was so much fun! I've never seen

these kind of people before, only in the movies of course. I have never been around that much money in my life. Is this what your world is like?" She asked, staring up at him as they waited for the driver to bring the car. "I wish I can do this everyday."

Sebastian ignored her, his hands tucked inside his pocket. Bina continued talking despite his cold demeanor.

"Did I do my job well? Oh please tell me I did my job right!" She giggled and continued. "I had so much fun acting today.

Imagine, I'm your fiancée!" She giggled again and Sebastian sighed in irritation.

Did she ever stop talking?

The driver parked the car in front of them and Sebastian sighed in relief, opening the back door for her. "Get in."

Bina did as she was told but didn't stop talking. Sebastian hung his head and entered into the car as well, facing the window this putting some distance between them.

"So, how did I do? Were you impressed?"

'She had done pretty well for someone who has never been to this kind of eventt before.' Sebastian thought, staring out the window. The women at the party had stayed clear of him after the scene with Natasha and Ava.

All because she had introduced herself as

his fiancée.

Perhaps Bina could do what he hadn't been able to do all these years. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to keep her around.

After all, if she could keep those women away from him, he'd pay her any amount she asked for.

"You're so deep in thought. I bet you can't believe how well I acted my part tonight." Bina shrugged and he looked at her.

"I have a proposition for you, Mr Bina." He wound up the window separating the driver's side from the back seat and Ava looked at him. "I need you to act as my fiancée."

"I don't understand, I already did. Did I do something wrong?" She was frowning now and Sebastian shook his head.

"I will attend more events like this one in

the future and all you have to do is pretend to be my fiancée. Once you agree to it, I'll give you anything you want. Bina's expression was one of shock. She opened her mouth to reply and closed it again, repeating the action multiple times.

He sat up straight facing the window again.

"You don't have to give me a reply now...."

The window separating them opened and the driver smiled. "I apologize for

interrupting your conversation sir but we have arrived at the lady's house."

Sebastian nodded and the driver got down