Chapter 3 The Encounter

Mona

"I'm here for the party," I told the bouncers at the door nervously, hoping they wouldn't see through the rented dress and shoes and realise I was a fraud.

"No invitation, no entry," one of them said derisively.

I pulled out the black card and held it out to the man. He collected it carefully and flipped it over, accessing it closely. After a moment where my heart pounded like drums in my chest, he nodded and stepped aside.

"Welcome to Rose Vine hotel." He saluted.

I stepped into the tastefully decorated foyer, trying not to slip on my four inch heels and fall on my face. My jaw dropped open as I took in the chandeliers, and expensive decor. It looked like something from those shows mama and I used to watch on the television, while envisioning ourselves having that sort of money.

I snapped my jaw closed when I noticed someone staring at me curiously. I couldn't afford to look like I was an imposter here.

My legs carried me deeper into the building to where men and women floated around in designer clothes and shoes, jewelry sparkling from every direction. They weren't my concern though. My concern was Ian Harrison.

"Why do I not remember ever meeting such a beauty before?" A copper haired man suddenly appeared in front of me, wearing a smile and carrying two glasses of champagne.

"Because we haven't met," I said curtly.

He held out one of the glasses, "Let's remedy that. I'm_"

"I don't care who you are," I bit out impatiently. I had only three hours with this dress after which I'd have to pay the full 900 dollars for it. Money that I didn't have.

I didn't need any rich asshole hitting on me. I needed to finish my mission and leave.

"Ouch," his smile widened, "You're too beautiful to be so mean. You look tense. Don't you want a drink?"

"No. Go away," I continued to run my gaze over the crowd, searching for a man with a purple flower in his pocket.

"Are you looking for someone? I can help you. I know everyone in this party and_"

I spun around to face him, seething, "I don't need your help. Just stay out of my way and stop calling people's attention over here, okay?"

Hoping that he'd get the memo, I marched off in the direction of the french doors to one corner. The next one hour flew quickly with no sign of the man. The man from earlier kept sending waiters with champagne over, all of which I rejected.

By the time the clock was approaching twelve, I was sweating and trying to hold back my tears.

I grabbed the champagne and tossed it back when the waiter came around again. Before he could walk away, I grabbed another glass. It was while I was gulping down the second one that the air in the room began tense.

"It's him. He's here." Someone whispered.

"Ian Harrison showed up? What a surprise."

I blinked in shock. So the asshole was finally here. I pushed through the crowd and spotted the man with the purple flower in his jacket pocket. He was facing away from me, but I knew it was him.

A small crowd had surrounded him, and my time was quickly running out. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Steeling my spine, I crossed the room to where he was standing.

"Hey, Ian." I tapped him.

He began to turn, and without a second thought, I threw myself at him, mouth fusing against his in a kiss that was uncoordinated and messy.

Shocked gasps went up around the room, and camera lights began to flash. The tall man was still for a moment, and then he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulled me closer and took over the kiss.

I'd been kissed twice in my life, but at that moment, I realised that all those other kisses were a joke. Ian's mouth was hot, hard, hungry and insistent. I got so lost in the kiss that when he pulled away, it took me a moment to remember where I was.

Oh God.

I stared up at the man I had just kissed in a daze. He had to be the most gorgeous man on earth. And he was staring down at me with eyes as cold as ice.

Coming back to my senses, I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and tossed it at Ian's face.

"You bastard!" I cried.

He went statue still, while liquid ran down his face and suit. My stomach cramped with horror at the glacial look he gave me.

"Excuse me?" He finally said in a deep, dark voice that made me shiver.

"You think you can keep me as your mistress while you plan to marry someone else," I screamed, "And you even had the guts to kiss me now. Well, I won't let you mess with my head anymore. I don't want your gifts, the diamonds or the vacations anymore. I'm done with you."

"Who the_"

I didn't let him finish his statement. I raised my hand in the air and brought it down on my man's cheeks. More gasps went up around the room, cameras flashing more aggressively this time around.

Bile rose up my throat at the look in the man's eyes. I blamed the two champagnes I'd drunk. What the hell was I doing!

"She's crazy," I heard someone whisper.

"Go to hell, Ian!" I finally said, spinning around and marching away from him. The crowd parted like the red sea as I hurried out of the room, hundreds of shocked gazes following my exit.

I'd barely stepped out of the hotel when my phone began to ring. I pulled it out, and saw that it was Mia.

"Hello?" I said in a shaky voice, wondering if I'd ruined everything. Had I gone overboard?

She suddenly burst into laughter, "You little idiot. Did you really just slap the richest man in America?"