Chapter 3 Ballroom Fiasco

ADELAIDE POV

My vision turned dark and blurry as I run.

Past the guests. Knocking over trays, a waiter. Down the stairs, into the courtyard, through a secluded garden to a fountain where I used to go in secret when I felt sad. I stumbled as I ran, not caring for my ripped gown that caught on a bush.

Barefoot, covered in dirt and hyperventilating.

The image of them flashed in my head again, and I threw up, falling on my knees in between hacking sobs.

"H-how, could he do this to me?? He promised! Of all people!"

For a good one hour, I sobbed over the searing heart pain until I was spent.

I could still hear the laughter, music, and voices of guests from here.

Under a small bush close to the fountain, Some time ago, I hid a bottle of Chocolate vodka with Ethan. We were supposed to drink it together, feeling around for it under the bush. I grabbed the half-full cold bottle, unscrewed the cap and took a big gulp.

"Fuck them both..." I was bitter.

A few minutes later, my vision began to swoon, so I laid on my back, watching the moonlight glow against the fountain angel statue.

In a few minutes, I heard the sound of slow footsteps coming towards me, I couldn't be bothered.

"Oh, you found me already? Tell my mother not to go back to that ball unless the bitch and the bastard are gone..." my words were slurring now, but I didn't care.

"Oh, is that so?" The rough rumbling voice was deep, and amused.

The looming frame leaned closer, and I could smell his perfume, a mix of pine, filling me with a heady rush.

"Marcus? No, you're not my security guard...."

The figure walked up to me and knelt to press a warm but rough hand against my forehead. I saw him mouth some words to me, before my eyes slowly closed.

The last thing I remember is the feeling of being carried before I totally passed out.

***

HUNT'S POV

I wasn't planning to waste my night on this

charade of a party, but business is business.

Adjusting my tie, I checked my watch, already counting the minutes until I could leave.

"Mr. Steel, remember this is an engagement party for your friend's brother and a business associate."

Saul, my driver and head of security, met my gaze in the rearview mirror.

"It's fine. I'll be there for an hour and no more."

Ethan Lain was getting engaged today.

I chuckled coldly.

The spineless little bastard had always been desperate to prove himself, following his brother all around when they were younger. Not that Adrian paid him much attention. Gave him a fucked up character, that one. He hid it well, though.

I had known his older brother, Adrian, since college. He was sharp, disciplined, and cut from the right cloth. Ethan, on the other hand, was a kid who just wanted to belong.

But I wasn't here for the engagement, it was just a cover-up.

I wasn't even here to get in on the Lain-Dallas merger. There was an underground shift and struggle for power. Corporate power was never my thing but these past years as a Billionaire tech boss, I'd come to see how both went well hand in hand. That also meant I was always working. Even this party and I had a personal interest in keeping an eye on things.

Who knew that punk would be the first to get married between the Lain brothers?

I gave an absent-minded sigh as the car pulled up in front of the Dallas' mansion, all decked out for incoming guests.

The gardens, cars, chatter of guests, muted music mingled with the air of opulence. I hated being among the wealthy.

I lost my dad very young and two years ago, I took over running the Steel Tech company and using one of my patented designs for computer processors, my company outpaced others by nearly 4000% percent. Within two years, the company's valuations had risen and taken our family to the status of billionaires.

But I avoided the public light as much as possible, so not much is known about me or my rough past. Or present.

My mother, Romaine, was a gangster and cutthroat businesswoman who kept Oxalate Tech running for decades and away from Sharks while I was on the other side of the world, engaging in whatever reckless behavior I wanted until I decided to grow up.

Now I wonder if I made the right decision. Sure, I am wealthy beyond dreams, handsome, an eligible bachelor, but I missed when I was carefree and rode around the world with my banged up bike, getting into fights and heading just a mafia.

Now I had responsibilities, a position that commanded immense power and artificial respect, but I was bored. Bored out of my mind. The women, booze and partying had certainly taken a toll on me.

Now at the age of 28, I have effectively retired from having a social life.

I stepped in front of the Dallas' mansion, feeling the gaze of someone from above, but I saw the shadowy form hide once I looked up.

So, not a sniper then. Perhaps a bored guest.

I walked into the party and was immediately swarmed by business associates and hopeful investors. Talk never strayed from business and politics. I was contemplating my escape when I could hear commotion at the other end of the hall.

A dishevelled girl, knocking over trays and tables, running past everyone with a tear streaked face. As she ran past me to the door, I caught a brief look at her face and unmistakable vivid green eyes.

Dallas Adelaide.

The Dallas family recluse and family beauty.

"Poor thing, and on her engagement night."

"Typical Dallas drama."

"Summer was missing earlier. Coincidence?"

As soon as she'd left, the party resumed like nothing had happened with the waiters picking up after the exciting scene.

Standing dazed in a corner was Ethan. He'd grown up nicely.

He was standing at the center of the room, shoulders tense and jaw locked, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

People did not pay him much attention. That was clearly a groom not enjoying his engagement.

I wonder what happened.

Must be a family squabble.

I snatched a champagne flute off a waiter and downed it. Too sweet.

"Mr. Steel! I'm so glad to have caught you, give me a moment, don't go anywhere!" That was the manager for one finance firm, all I remembered was her annoying high-pitched voice and ability to drone on endlessly.

I raised a glass and smiled at her, as soon as her attention was on someone else, I disappeared.

I'd had my fill of this fucking party.

Wandering into the gardens, away from the obnoxious chatter, I could finally relax.

Or so I thought. Not far away from, I could hear a woman's voice, sobbing.

Walking up as quietly as possible to her, she was lying on the grass and didn't seem to care. By the almost empty bottle of vodka she clutched like a baby, I could see she was completely drunk.

"Marcus? You're not Marcus, he's not as handsome as you..." she slurred her words, raising a hand up to touch my face and laughed.

I chuckled.

"No, I'm not."

"Tell that bastard and bitch I'm not coming until they're gone."

Her breath came shallow, and she was pale, despite it, those green eyes watched me with attention. She flinched as I put my hand to her forehead.

Burning. She'd probably been out in this cold for a while.

She was surprisingly light. Carrying her across the garden and handing her to an embarrassed security guard was no problem.

I eased out of their earnest apologies to my car, engine already idling.

I got in and slammed the door.

"You didn't last as long as you said," Saul said.

"I did my best. Now floor it."

As he pulled out the gate and onto private roads speeding, I allowed myself to relax.

At least this night wasn't as boring as I expected.

I looked at my hands covered in dirt and the faint scent of citrus and earthy Jasmine of the drunken, pretty woman whom I'd carried. She probably caught him cheating. I shouldn't care, but it bothered me a little. Poor thing.

"What an Interesting night... Adelaide Dallas...." I muttered her name as I nodded off.