33 Opera Night

[ Chapter 33 - Opera Night ]

Imperial State Theatre.

The endless black blanketed over the sky as the sea of wealthy men and fair women dressed in prestige crowded the grand opera hall with excitement. The lighting was bright covering the entire hall and most balcony rows, especially the front rows and secluded booths were occupied full.

There, unseen by the rest of the people, seated inside the private box which was situated top on the right side of the hall that offered the best view and ultimate live opera experience was a man of finest allure shrouded in an enigmatic, elusive aura.

Wearing a metallic dark blue three-piece suit made of the finest fabric tailored exclusively for him by Addison Huang, a renowned fashion designer. Dapper and elegant. Julian looked suavely handsome with his gelled back mid-length black hair and silver drop earringed left ear.

His set of long eyelashes eyes glimmered with starlight aglow as the show-stopping lights began to dim down, followed by the mellifluous sync of orchestra that blended seamlessly with the classic, grandeur setting of the opera.

Julian traced the velvety pink of his bottom lip with a thumb as he took in the picture of what night may become. Seated with a thigh atop the other in an elegant posture, elation washed over him, and a small smile tipped the corner of his lips.

Feeling the strains and vibrations of the chamber orchestra instruments as they flowing through his surroundings, seeping through his senses, he drowned himself basking in the melodious and evocative harmony of the symphony.

There for the next five minutes, Julian contentedly listened to the orchestra but his attention soon started to drift away from the glamorous stage when he heard a very ladylike walking from behind.

Pivoting in his seat in a slow and elegant manner, Julian swiveled his neck to his side and what graced his line of vision in the next second was the lethally alluring sight of a graceful lady.

Breath-taken and captivated on his spot. His onyx eyes trained on the lady's picturesque oval face scouring sultry eyes, appealingly shaped jawline and luscious Cupid bow lips which was stretched into a winsome smile.

Cassandra was standing there, flaunting off her statuesque form and graceful poise. His eyes slid down from the column of her swan neck to her sculpted elegant collarbone and further down to even more sensual flesh of her luscious cleavage.

Julian felt his mouth went dry as he took in her curvaceous form. The style of her elegant suit left the generous part of her lush breasts bare and appealingly showcased her willowy waist, emphasizing every curve of her gorgeous shape.

A surge of heat struck him in the gut as his vision traveled some more of her ultra feminine frame, wandering at her form-flaunting suit that did nothing to hide the curvature of her child bearing hips all the way down to her flimsy nylon-clad supermodel legs.

He felt something hardening and he caught his inner lip between his teeth, seething inwardly. Hell, he should be much better than this. Exhaling deep, he calmed down his flaming hormone and hardened his facade.

His eyes went back to her gorgeous face and his pitch black irises glowered in a leisurely assessment, as he tried to pry past her refined, elegant smile.

Such a femme fatale.

He looked straight at her in the eye and he could sense something in them, the ominous glow in her eyes. The hidden side of her, he peered through her graceful, composed exterior and glimpsing the devious within.

He knew both of them are aware of where they're heading. Regardless of his limited knowing on what she was up to, he had to admit that if what she's doing is to win him over using her feminine wiles, to his shame, she has just achieved in doing so.

Cassandra painted her face with a fluorescent smile, looking back at him as he got up from his seat, the pulsing energy of his being seemed to roil in their depths, tempting her with all of that raw virility.

Holding her eyes on his as he waltzed forward, she let him come and he stopped right in front her, with that deviously charming smile of his resting on his adonis face, towering her six foot form by three inches.

"I'm glad you came." He said low and bending down his formidable frame, he took her black gloved hand and made a twist on it.

Looking down at his poised, elegant form Cassandra could feel the velvety of his succulent pink through the sheerness of her glove as he planted his lips on the back of her feminine palm, kissing her knuckles.

"Thank you." Julian straightened his back after the not-so-formal kiss that lasted a second more than necessary.

Cassandra responded with a smile, her smile was a captivating flash of plush lips and pearly-white teeth, rich and savoring flooding the already beautiful room with opulence and grandeur.

Their eyes kept holding on each other, she could see his eyes peering down at her with an intensity that she hadn't seen in their last meeting. The passion was apparent in his eyes, those eyes alone are enough to convey more than she needed to know.

"Mr. Long." Cassandra sighed, as he kept holding her hand she could feel the electrifying warmth of his calloused palm.

"Yes?" Julian managed to respond, he's just lost breathing in her opulent lilac perfume and might get himself drunk just by filling his lungs with her intoxicating, feminine scent.

They're so close and he could see the moistness in her lustrous skin and lips. The natural blush on her cheeks and a darker pallet around her attractive eyes are extraordinarily tempting in his eyes.

"We might miss the opera if you keep looking at me and holding my hand like this." Cassandra implied with a soft, intentional chuckle that looked so alluring in his graced eyes.

"Ah— My apologies." Julian shot her a heart stopping smile before releasing her hand with reluctance. He's just trying to score some points in skin-ship that's why he did that.

"It's just— I don't think you understand how gorgeous you look tonight." Julian breathed low, tasting the waters of intimacy.

That wasn't entirely unexpected. Well, she wasn't here under the assumption of meeting that proper, suave gentleman that she met in their last meeting.

Cassandra held up the corner of her lips and responded well with an ambiguous undertone, "I think I might have an idea."

His eyes sparkled at her response and then he gestured her to sit in one of two opulent seats where a small table was situated in between accommodating a crystal bowl of ice and a fine luxurious bottle of amber liquid.

Right before Cassandra sat in her seat, Julian walked behind her and held out his right hand, she smiled and accepted his gentleman gesture by handing him her removed pinstripe jacket.

"Would you like to drink?"

Julian asked, trying not to drop his eyes at her ravishing form, her abundant chest to be precise. Now gone was her jacket, every of her alluring curve was now presented before his very eyes to feast upon.

Cassandra took a glance at the bottle of liquor and commented, "The finest Canadian champagne, Veuve Clicquot 1888."

Julian was impressed as she could tell what brand of liquor he had prepared. It's a vintage from his household private collection and not just anyone could recognise it, let alone with a single glance.

Nodding her head, she continued, "On the rocks please, thank you."

Cassandra leaned back against the cushion and crossed her thighs with elegance, watching him picking out three cubes of ice with a pair of silver tongs. Captivated by his every motion, everything of him was the picture of class and elegance.

Julian poured a serving of golden liquid into a long stemmed glass. Once he's finished, he held the fragrant glass out to her and Cassandra took it gracefully.

After pouring a glass for himself, Julian sat down in his seat with a refined grace that she couldn't get enough of looking at him.

He lifted a leg over his thigh, interlacing his fingers. The dim of light highlighted his dark features and his enigmatic bearing blended well with the grandeur setting of his surroundings.

She had to admit that it wasn't just his physical allure that had so enthralled her, she's capable of seeing past his gorgeous exterior and what's there beyond that attractive look.

Holding the champagne glass with so much elegance, Cassandra took it close to her lips and took a whiff of the earthly and floral aroma of the champagne.

"Anyway, here we are all or where's the other?"

Cassandra finally addressed, since he had invited her to accompany him as his partner for a business meeting, there's no way for a businessman of his caliber to tell a lie only to get a lady as his date. He's much better than that.

Julian smiled, as he responded, "They're on the difference box. My meeting with them is scheduled after the third intermission."

Cassandra just smiled at his obvious attempt on getting alone with her, and before she could say anything, the lights went down for the first act of the opera.

Both of them turned their heads to watch the unfolding stage. It's Bizet's Guan Liang, a Huaxian musical opera filled with fever and passion, and it had one of the greatest pieces of music ever, the intense and passionate Habanera.

Guan Liang was both passionate and ill-fated romance, the story of the downfall of Emperor Yun, a charismatic and conqueror Emperor who is seduced by wiles of the fox enchantress Guan Liang.

Cassandra watched and enjoyed the opera, it's surprisingly enthralling. The accompanying symphony was thrilling and transporting. The angelic voice of Elizabeth Sofiola, the stage and the emotions are all amazing.

At one point, when the soloists were singing a beautiful duet of passion and love, Cassandra caught Julian lingering his eyes at her instead of the stage. His smoldering eyes pierced hers as they shared the beauty of the symphony.

When the performance ended, the curtain went down and the first intermission started. The hall lights came up and she found him still looking at her with amused fascination, radiance and apparent passion that hid behind those expressive eyes of his.

Cassandra downed the last sip of her glass and turned to him, flashing him her enchanting smile. "Having fun, aren't you?"

"Julian." His name slipped from her luscious mouth, exactly how he craved it. She looked at him straight in the eye and finally dropped their formal pretense, knowing well what she should be expecting.

Julian sucked in a breath, searching her face. There's so much wanting in his charming grin. His lips parted, "I do. Very much. You're one of finest looking lady."

Cassandra squeezed in her seat and drifted her eyes away from his intense eyes. "You do think such a compliment will get you somewhere, don't you?"

Looking over at her, Julian grinned and pressed for more, "Could you tell me what exactly is this 'somewhere'?"

Cassandra chuckled and then covered her mouth with her feminine hand. She looked back at him for a long second then said, "You're a bold one aren't you?"

Julian smirked and Cassandra continued with a sly smile, "I'm tempted to give you the answer, but I think I'll wait and see how the rest of the evening goes."