33 The second male lead

*Warning- this chapter contains strong language which might upset you*

Mara Athena hated the crowded places.

She never attended those parties. It was rare to see Mara Athena at the crowded places. "Ofc, I have to come to congratulate you" Mara smiled as Noah chuckled in satisfaction. "Congratulation, uncle. I wish you all the best in the future"

The young woman said as she smiled at the man. "Thank you, Mara" Noah chuckled lightly. "Where is Alek? I thought he was with you" Noah questioned and looked around to find his son. He knew that his son like this young woman. But now his son was nowhere to be found.

He thought his son would run towards this young woman and stay by her side like a glue. "He was with me just now. He just went to bring me some drinks" Mara spoke as Noah nodded in understatement. His son was faster than his thoughts.

"What's wrong, father?" Alek's voice interrupted the two who were looking for him. Noah turned around and smiled at his son. "Take care of your friend, Alek" he patted his son's shoulder and left the two at the place. "Here. Your favorite red wine"

Mara's eyes lit up at the sight of the glass of wine. "How do you know that this is my favorite?" the young woman took the glass and raised her eyebrow. She questioned in curiosity. "It is a secret" Alek smiled and shrugged. "Alright thank you, Alek"

Mara smiled and sipped the wine.

"Do you want cake? Or desserts?"

Alek questioned as he stood beside the young woman, not leaving her side just for a second. "Mmm, I will go take it by myself" Mara spoke as Alek furrowed his brows. "No, I will go take it for you" he stopped the young woman.

"Nah, it is fine. I will come back, just wait for me here" Mara patted Alek's shoulder, not wanting to look bossy. Alek sighed, not saying anything. He nodded and let the young woman go. "Wait for me here then" The young woman grinned and left.

Mara's steps were directing to the fountain of wine glasses and desserts. She bit her lower lip and gulped at the sight of the chocolate cake. Without waiting anymore, her hand reached to the chocolate cake quickly. She took a bite.

Her honey brown fox eyes sparkled in satisfaction. 'This is better than I thought' she smiled and placed the piece of cake onto the plate. But she furrowed her brows when she noticed the deep stare on her. She looked up at the place where she felt like someone was watching.

As Mara looked up at the place, her eyes locked with the pair of gold colored eyes which were staring back into her honey brown fox eyes. The young woman frowned, feeling familiar with the man's face. She kept staring back into the man's eyes fearlessly.

Slowly and slowly her eyes widened when she recognized the man. His raven hair and gold eyes were telling that he was the man who she met at the club. "Oh shit.." the young woman cursed under her breath, turning back to return to the place where Alek was waiting.

Mara stood beside Alek and looked down at the plate. Wanting to know the reason why that man was here. Her brain was telling her that the man was a business man. But Mara did not want to believe that. She squeezed her eyes in annoyance.

Alek looked down at the young woman with worries. "What's wrong?" he questioned with a frown. Why was she lowering her head as if she saw something she should not? Did something happen? The young woman looked up at Alek with a stone face.

"Who is that man?"

Mara raised her eyebrow at the man who was staring at her. She did not want point her finger at the man obviously like a five years old kid. Alek looked up at the man with furrowed eyebrows. "He is Ezekial Clyde" Alek answered and looked back at the young woman.

It was the moment Mara's eyes widened in disbelief. "He is Ezekial Clyde? The CEO of 'Jole' company?" the young woman asked with widened eyes. There was no way she mistook that man. He was the one who she met at the club, she was thousand percent sure that it was him.

Her eyes would never trip. 'I fucked up again' Mara squeezed her eyes in annoyance, feeling extremely frustrated. She was the one who said she would never get involve with the main leads. But now she was the one who asked for help from the second male lead.

How could she blame herself? She only knew the female lead's name and second male lead's names. Nothing more than that. Not even their features. So it was normal for her not to recognize the second male lead's face.

Ezekial stared at the young woman who looked like she was in trouble. He already noticed that young woman from the start. The way she walked into the hall with boredom, the way she smiled at the man and hugged the man, the way her eyes sparkled at the taste of chocolate cake.

They drove him crazy.

Ezekial attended the party because he heard the new about the collaboration between 'Reece' company and 'Sun' company. He found out that the young woman who turned him on with a simple kiss was Mara Athena aka the CEO of 'Reece' company.

He never knew her existence before. When he knew who she was, he started to stalk the young woman. He just wanted to know where she bought her house, who she hung out with. Or if she had a boyfriend or not. Nothing more.

He never stalked the young woman like a psychopath. Not like watching her taking a shower or something. He even offered her a chance to collaborate with his company's brand. But the young woman refused. Seemed like she was avoiding him at all cost.

As if he was going to kill her if she ever met. Ezekial attended the party just to meet with the young woman. After getting to know her, he became the wild beast who could not even sleep peacefully. This young woman who named Mara Athena was making him think about her only.

The amount of time he thought about her were uncountable. Whenever he worked, his eyes would be focusing on the pile of files but his mind was seeing the young woman smiling under the sunlight. He was like a fool who fell in love really hard.

He also found out that Mara Athena's non blood related brother Remy Horper was seeking a chance kill her. Ezekial wanted to kill that man who named Remy Horper at first but was stopped by the thought of the young woman running away from him.

He just decided to see what would happen. He did not want to do something without the young woman's permission. What if she already had a plan and he became the one who ruined her plan? She could hate him if he did something wrong.

Ezekial brows wrinkled when he saw the scene of Alek patting the young woman's shoulder with worries. He did not like it. He wanted to become closer to the young woman if it was possible. But how? This young woman was running away from him and avoiding him at all cost.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, the girl bumped into Ezekial who was staring at the young woman from afar. The girl gasped when she noticed that she just spilled the wine on the man. The loud crashing sound of the glass caught everyone's attention. Mara quickly turned around.

There was a girl in white colored short strapped dress which was designed with flower lace. Her face was showing the pureness and looked like an angel which was sent from heaven. Her body was shaking in fear and anxiety, making everyone wanted to protect her.

The young woman sighed tiredly. That girl who was shaking in fear and anxiety was none other than the female lead of the novel. It was the scene where the female lead bumped into the second male lead and crashed the wine glass accidentally.

Female lead apologized for her fault. Second male lead did not mind at all. Instead, he fell in love at first sight. The moment where the second male lead's heart raced like an alarm for the first time in his life. The moment where he wanted to protect her at all cost.

The moment where the readers grinned like a fool due to the sweetness of the second male lead. The moment where the female lead's pureness made everyone fell in love with her easily. However, the reality shattered the beautiful moment.

Ezekial looked down at his white shirt which was soaking wet in red wine. His brows pulled together in displeasement and annoyance. He looked up at the girl who was smiling at him awkwardly with sweats. Everyone was waiting for his reaction.

"Are you blind?"

Since the hall was in silence because of the crashing sound of glass, Ezekial Clyde's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. His sharp and cold question made the female lead aka Lovelyn Elain flushed in embarrassment. She did not mean to do that though.

How could he speak so heartlessly? Mara gulped when she heard the man's words. There was something wrong with his reaction. He was supposed to stare at the female lead with affection then say it's fine with a sweet smile. Not a cold and sharp question like this.

"I did not mean to! It was an accident! Why are you getting mad at me for this little thing?!" The female lead aka Lovelyn Elain shouted with a frown, feeling offended. "Well, you should walk while opening your eyes" Ezekial spoke with a stone face.

"What the! What is wrong with you?! I said I did not mean to! And I was walking with eyes wide open! You were the one who was spacing out in the middle of the hall!" Lovelyn shouted as Noah Flynn ran towards the two who were glaring at each other.

"Please don't be like this, Mister Ezekial" Noah smiled. "Miss Lovelyn did not mean to. Please forgive her. I apologize for her instead ok?" Noah spoke as he smiled at the two. He was the host of the party, he had to cover the mess and make the party alive.

Ezekial did not reply. He just looked at the girl with a stone face. Lovelyn gulped and stared back into the man's gold eyes. She could not help but admired the man's handsome face. "Fine" Ezekial responded and walked away.

Lovelyn was left alone at the place. She bit her lower lip in annoyance and embarrassment. That man was handsome and yet so heartless. He was like an ice. "Please enjoy the party, Miss Lovelyn" Noah smiled and ordered the waiters to clean the mess.

Everyone looked away and minded their own businesses when Noah Flynn cleaned the mess quickly. Some of them glanced at the man who was walking towards the young woman. "Lovelyn, are you ok?" the girl ran towards her friend with worries on her face. "No, I want to go back"

Lovelyn said with a tightened frown.

Ezekial's steps were directing to the young woman who was staring back at him with furrowed eyebrows. Mara was secretly wishing for the man to walk past her and go to somewhere. She did not want to involve with the second male lead. No matter what.

She did not want to create problems. But her wish did not become true. "Hello, it is been a while" Ezekial spoke with a smirk, ignoring the man who was glaring at him. Alek frowned tightly as he grabbed the young woman's arm.

He was protecting the young woman from the man. Mara gulped, wanting to vanish into thin air if it was possible. Why did she have to meet with the second male lead? She wanted to go back to her house and lie down on the cozy bed. Mara sighed tiredly.

"Do I know you, Sir?"