Chapter 20
Daniel
"Hello, Bella," I said with a small, genuine smile.
I did my best to maintain a composed expression, though, to be honest, looking at Bella at that moment, I felt like I could lose my mind any second. She was absolutely breathtaking, dressed in a white gown with a high slit that revealed her toned thighs. Her hair was straightened to perfection.
"You know, Mr. Russo, it's considered quite rude to keep your guest waiting, especially when that guest happens to be your date for the evening," she chided, and her words didn't come as a surprise. I had expected a reprimand from her.
"I offer my sincerest apologies for the delay. I was attending to some guests, which kept me from coming to escort you personally. That's why I sent my secretary to fetch you. Nonetheless, I have no excuse since I extended the invitation myself, so I apologize," I replied calmly, making an effort not to offend her further.
I knew Bella was sensitive, and I didn't want to say or do anything that might upset her.
I couldn't help but notice that Bella's mood seemed much improved since the last time I saw her. I was genuinely happy to see her doing better, as if the weight of the previous incident no longer burdened her as heavily.
Concerned about her well-being, I couldn't directly reach out to check on her without appearing intrusive. Instead, I kept in frequent contact with Mary, making sure she kept me informed about Bella and how she was coping.
"Apologies accepted, Mr. Russo. But forgive me if I come across as ungrateful. I've been wondering for some time why you invited me here. I couldn't think of any reason why you'd choose me as your date for such an important event when you could have invited anyone else or even attended without one. I'm just curious to know why you chose me," Bella inquired, her curiosity evident.
I sighed, preparing to provide an explanation.
"You know what, Bella? Why don't we take a stroll together and engage with a few guests? By the end of the evening, you'll understand why I invited you here. Does that sound agreeable to you?" I proposed, aware that she seemed a bit puzzled and suspicious. Nonetheless, she didn't insist on an immediate answer.
I extended my arm, inviting her to take it, and she eagerly wrapped her arms around mine.
"I don't know many people here, so if we encounter someone I don't recognize, I'll give you a light tap or signal, and I'd appreciate it if you could discreetly mention their names. I don't want to embarrass myself," she explained, causing me to burst into laughter.
"Don't worry, Bella. I'll be introducing you to people and providing you with background information before you engage in conversations. I want to ensure you don't find yourself in awkward situations or miss out on potential opportunities. Many of the attendees are quite sensitive, and it won't reflect well if it turns out you don't even know who they are. You might think I'm horrible and arrogant, but trust me, some of them are far worse," I reassured her, noticing her shaky breath.
She appeared nervous but was adept at masking it, and I couldn't determine whether it was a good or bad thing. I contemplated offering some calming words but decided against it, realizing it might not make a significant difference in easing her anxiety.
"I'm confident I won't embarrass myself, no matter what," she responded, and I chuckled softly.
As we mingled with the guests, Bella impressively recognized and handled conversations with everyone. She surpassed my expectations, and I didn't need to intervene much to keep the discussions flowing. The couple we spoke to seemed genuinely pleased, granting me an approving nod before we moved on.
"That was enjoyable," Bella blurted out, clearly excited now.
"Did the conversation boost your confidence?" I inquired.
"Absolutely, Mr. Russo. I was nervous about interacting with wealthy individuals and engaging in conversations with them can be stressful and daunting. However, talking to that couple made me realize it might not be as dreadful as I thought," she replied, her tone indicating an uplifted mood.
"Well, the McCoys are known for their easy-going nature, so conversing with them won't leave you feeling uneasy. On the other hand, the next person I'm about to introduce you to isn't as amicable as the McCoys. Brace yourself, as he might try to provoke you," I informed her, noticing a slight frown on her face.
"Who are we talking about?" she inquired.
"David Ketch," I responded, causing her to halt abruptly and turn toward me.
"Did you just say we're about to meet David Ketch? The same David Ketch I've heard of?" She asked, her astonishment evident. I rolled my eyes in response.
"Have you ever heard of two famous men sharing the same name?" I quipped, observing her struggle to contain her excitement. Fortunately, she managed to regain her composure, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've got to be kidding me. Am I really about to meet the legendary David Ketch? Oh my goodness, this is unbelievable," she whispered to herself in excitement, and I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"Are you that thrilled about meeting him?" I asked.
"Do you even have to ask? David is like a deity to every talented and sensible artist out there. And now you're telling me I have the opportunity to meet such an influential person? Hell, saying I'
m excited feels like a massive understatement. I'm over the moon right now, and words can't express how incredibly happy I am," she replied, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"It's great to see you so excited, but as I mentioned earlier, David can be challenging to deal with. Having a conversation with him isn't easy, so you need to be prepared for anything. There's a high chance he might ignore you or try to sideline you. I would advise you not to take offense, but instead, find moments to interject when you can," I advised her, to which she scoffed.
"If you're worried that I'll get upset or be sensitive about whatever he says to me, rest assured it won't happen. Everyone knows David has a temper, and I don't expect him to be instantly friendly when he meets me. I can't speak for all artists, but I'm pretty sure many of us have a touch of fiery temperament. It's not easy being blessed with a creative mind, and it's even harder to express your vision and have the world see things through your eyes," she replied, clearly trying to justify David's behavior even before meeting him.
"So, are you justifying the way he mistreats people and looks down on them?" I questioned, and she scoffed.
"The extraordinary David Ketch I know doesn't look down on anyone. He simply doesn't enjoy engaging with unfamiliar people. But those who know him well have testified that he's quite friendly once you get to know him. So, there's no need for you to speak ill of him to me because nothing you say will ever change my mind about how incredible he is," she defended, and I scoffed.
"Well, there he is, your extraordinary David Ketch. I hope the people who claim he's friendly are right about him," I replied, pointing in the direction where David stood with a few others.
Judging by the look on Bella's face, it was evident that she was absolutely thrilled at that moment.
"He's absolutely stunning," she whispered to herself, and I couldn't help but shake my head slightly. I gave her a gentle nudge, and together we made our way toward the iconic artist, David Ketch.
He was the man who held the key to elevating Bella's career to new heights, just as she had always dreamed, and I had every intention of helping her out as best as I could.