20 Chapter 20: Shyn's Curiosity

... Shyn's Point of View ...

"I doubt that they are going to let me in. I do not even know you are here."

Ava's reply stopped me, and left me staring exactly at the huge entrance of the hall. I slowly glanced at her... looked at her, furrowing my brows, "What? Then what are you doing here?" I gave her an invitation. She ripped it, yes, but I thought she still had the curiosity to know what I gave her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Let's welcome the beautiful granddaughter of the Imagoverse, that we are celebrating today, Ava Smith!" The door opened in slow motion with colorful butterflies fluttering everywhere, giving an elegant and magical effect of our entrance. Then the entire hall's light dim, and a bright blinding light shines only at us...

"What party is this?" Ava faced me with a confused look in her eyes.

I gulped, blinked many times, faced in front and told her under my breath, "Yours..." I curved up a smile the best as I could, and held her hand that is clinging in my arm. I do not want her to run nor back out now!

I walked through the crowd, and now she doesn't have a choice but to follow me to the stage, beside Mr. Smith. I felt a slight pinch on my finger that held her hand. "What the heck, you did not say anything about a party for me!" She whispered with a clear hint of annoyance.

"If you didn't rip the invitation I gave you, you would know." I hissed while maintaining my smile in front of the staring and applauding guests. Luckily, she have a mask on, I don't, so I have to play it cool and smile!

"We'll talk about this later!" She said through her gritted teeth.

The party went on with everyone's attention onto her. Every male investor and guests are offering their hands to dance with her, and all she did was lightly rest her hands on their shoulders. Tsch, she is that serious with the letting go thing? Really...

I told Ava all she needs to know and say before we left the room... She is Ava Smith, granddaughter of Mr. James Smith Senior, the owner of Imagoverse. She lived overseas to stay away from Imagoverse's popular name, however she recently decided to visit her grandfather and let herself be known to spend time with her grandfather. She must not say any specific name of places where she came from, name of school or address... it is too risky if anyone finds out that Ava's living a different life all these years.

The sweet taste of red wine immersed my thoughts deeply into my mind, without taking my eyes of Ava. It still bothers me... If she is not here because of this party, then what is so important here tonight that she is willing to fight hard for?

A tap on my shoulder break my thoughts, I quickly shook my head, slightly gripping the wine glass on my hand. I glanced at Mr. Smith who came by my side, he is smiling from ear to ear. He must be really really happy. "She dances elegantly like her mother. Do you think she spun so much already?"

I smiled at Mr. Smith and raised my shoulders, "Maybe, you have to save her from all of the guests sir." Mr. Smith tapped my shoulders again before he left to rescue her from the sea of men lining up to dance with her.

Sigh...

Ava is like her mother, huh? I never saw Ava's mom, but I heard a little about her. Jayva Andrea Smith, she is the life of Imagoverse... maybe the correct word is 'was'. She was the one who named Imagoverse, and the one who created the Imagoverse butterfly logo. She also was behind the great concepts that made Imagoverse grow into what it is now. I heard she left the Smith family for selfish reasons... but, who knows what really happened.

Right... Ava told me this weird story about her parents. I almost got fooled, and decided to back off, and leave her alone. But, her dad is, in fact, still well and alive... I asked Mr. Smith for Ava's investigation report. I don't know whom Mr. Smith hired, but the file looked promising. Her mom died in a car accident when robbers hijacked her car on her way home. Then, when I read Mr. Rei Kriezer's name, it sounds so familiar. I just don't remember where I heard that name before.

The train of thoughts in my head stopped after a weak vibration from my pocket buzz me. It's Four...

I took a serious glance at Ava, and nothing is wrong going on at the moment... Knowing her, she may be up to something. She fought dozen men at that narrow hallway... I did not see the action, but when I arrived... most of the servers are beaten down. She seems pretty good at fighting.

It shouldn't hurt leaving her with Mr. Smith for a couple of minutes... I doubt that she is going to create trouble when all of the guests' eyes are on her.

I felt the cold wind on my skin as I stepped out to the balcony, near the table I was at. I took out the phone and answered the call, "Four..."

"Shyn, I can not be there personally, but about the girl you are talking about... I haven't seen her before, no reports about a girl from any bases either. It seems like Gladiolus do not have something on her. I heard Five is there, he is the one monitoring the base in the East City. Maybe he knows something."

"Five? I did not know the organization already have a five." I peeked inside the hall, and everything still seem fine.

"Five is like a shadow," Four said. "The Dragon himself appointed Five last year. I do not know the specifics about him, but you might find him there tonight... Hall C, it's the grand transaction."

Grand transaction? "Isn't it too risky, I mean, Five being here himself? You have underlings for doing things for you." Just like the two tough guys that was sent to Ava's apartment for example...

"Shyn, I told you. The man is like a shadow." A shadow? What the hell does that mean? I ended the call and chug the remaining wine in the glass on my hand.

I let out a deep breath, and looked at the sparkling stars above... A grand transaction under this beautiful night sky. They sure like to ruin pretty things in most awesome times.

"What is it?" I can clearly feel his presence behind me.

"The Young Miss, we can not find her."

Ava!