68 First Impression

Close Horizon was the most luxurious hotel in Delta City. It has sinfully sumptuous suites and jaw-dropping interiors of gold leaf. With 200 rooms and suites, the hotel boasted state-of-the-art facilities and an incredible view of the sea.

Then there were a dozen dining spots, 20 bars, 6 lavish spas, and so on. All over, Close Horizon was a hotel with unimaginable vanity for those who could afford it.

In the parking lot, a fair complexion woman stepped of a white hovercraft. Clad in a stunning black cocktail dress, her figure was to die for. No matter if it was her glistening long legs, her striking face, and the lust-inducing cleavage, she was incredible! Her almond-like eyes and the raven hair added extra charm to her stunning features.

She was none other than Sarah - the better half of Daniel.

Sarah was not exactly in a pleasant mood. The cause was her husband's recent strange behavior.

He was angry for small matters and would even vent his frustration on her and the kids. When she asked him reasons, his expression would turn ugly, almost like she has kicked him in the guts!

Things took a drastic turn a few hours ago. She had invited him for a dinner date, subtly promising a lot of romance and intimacy! Instead of appreciating her, he screamed at her for wearing 'slutty' clothes!

"What has happened to him?" Sarah wondered as she left the parking lot. She felt their lives should have been bright with the recent boost in TRP ratings and the benefits they earned from Sylvan... Yet everything was the opposite!

She stepped into her regular dining spot where she would often hang out with her friends. Suddenly, she took a wrong step and her body started losing balance.

"Ah no!" Sarah cried as she felt she was about to collapse on the floor. As she waited for the cold floor to touch her, a warm hand slipped on her waist and grabbed her. She was startled but also thankful as she was saved from an embarrassing moment in front of so many people.

"Are you all right?" A voice asked.

"Yes! Thank you!" Sarah turned towards the speaker of the voice and was stuck on the spot.

Kiba?!

She obviously knew about given her profession and the recent handling of the breaking news. She didn't let the shock appear on her face and once again politely thanked him.

"It was nothing," Kiba said with a smile, "Please excuse me."

Kiba then sat across a chair, close to where Sarah was about to fall. Sarah noticed him resuming a chat with a gorgeous blonde.

She cleared her thoughts and walked to her regular table. Her friends were rather late so she ordered a few things.

She was rather bored alone. And since she has nothing better than to do, she glanced towards the table reserved for Kiba and the blonde. She was curious about the latest woman the womanizer was dating, so she secretly captured the image of the blonde on her phone.

In no time, she was able to acquire the identity of blonde: Meghan Adley.

"A fashion model working for Kestone Fashion Company."

Sarah read the information. She eyed Kiba and felt he was blessed with an attractive build. Plus he seemed to be a gentleman with how he helped her a few minutes ago. 

"No wonder women fall for him!" Sarah thought with an amused expression. She cleared her thoughts as her group of friends joined her.

"Sorry but we were stuck in unusual traffic!" Her friends apologized for the delay, and soon, they started gossiping...

*****

Meghan was pleasantly surprised when she received an invitation for dinner from Kiba. Six days ago, she has given him her card but he established no contact, something that left her disappointed.

"You look stunning!" Kiba complimented her with a faint smile.

"Thanks!" Meghan politely expressed her gratitude for both the compliment and the invitation.

She was charmed by his looks and personality, but the reason she arrived on the date was to take advantage of his influence. She has seen how her boss swallowed insults from him so she knew he was powerful. She felt that as long as she has his protection, she could save herself from the old codgers.

Kiba and Meghan talked about everything and nothing as they enjoyed the fine dishes: roasted lobster, artichoke soup, caramelized quail, seared duck foie gras, sweetbread, etc.

In the end, the dessert - icecreams- arrived and both of them took small bites.

As Kiba completed most of the ice cream and was left with only cherry, he gazed at Meghan with an expression of deep contemplation. Meghan was surprised by his expression.

"What are you thinking about?" Meghan curiously asked. 

"Just wondering what tastes better," Kiba answered as his eyes moved towards her breasts, "The cherry I have in the bowl or the two cherries there."

Meghan was stunned by his remark. It made her face flush.

"You will have to find that yourself!" Meghan replied with a vixen-like smile.

Ten minutes later, Kiba tasted the best cherries in the world...

----------

Next day.

Close Horizon was hosting an art exhibition, focused on the paintings of the renowned painter - Anakletos.

Kiba and Meghan stepped into the exhibition hall, joining the rich in appreciating the art. Sarah and her group of friends were also there, marveling at the painting of a queen on the throne.

"She has got nice boobs!" A haughty, youngster in the early twenties remarked loudly. He stared at the woman in the painting as if she was a porn actress.

"Olly, you are right about that!" A youngster named Rogan agreed, "She should be the Queen of Boobs!"

Olly and Rogan started laughing at their jokes.

Kiba and others were surprised by their actions. Not everyone was capable of appreciating the art, but at least, one shouldn't make such slanderous comments so openly.

"Olly! If I'm not wrong, he's the son of the chief officer investigating the incident in the wasteland!" Sarah whispered to her friends.

Kiba remembered the details Claudia has provided him. From what he knew, the present investigating team wasn't the main team.

He brought his focus on the painting in front of him, without bothering about the remarks of Olly and Rogan. Everyone else, on the other hand, looked at those two as if they were idiots.

"Meghan, let's observe the next painting!" Kiba has plans for establishing contact with Sarah but they were for later. For now, he only wished to enjoy art.

"Sure!" Meghan joined Kiba in admiring another painting. Coincidentally, Sarah and her friends, along with Olly and Rogan also stepped towards the same painting.

The painting depicted a woman under a waterfall. Kiba was a man who appreciated beauty, and the same applied now.

"A woman washing away the ugliness of the world!" Kiba marveled at the painter's ability to propagate such a deep message through the painting, and that too, so subtly.

"Ugliness?" Meghan was surprised. She only saw the woman taking a bath and nothing else.

"The paintings are always subtle," Kiba explained.

"Are you dumb?" Olly suddenly interjected in the conversation.

"Hmm?" Kiba turned towards Olly.

"What ugliness of the world!?" Olly looked at Kiba with disdain as he continued, "The painting is about a slut! Look how she enjoys bathing in open!"

Kiba let out a barely audible sigh. If possible, he didn't want to create trouble as he has a plan to follow, but it seemed the world wouldn't let him have his way.

"I wish your mother has washed you away when you were in her womb... That would have saved me from an idiot ruining my mood!"

Kiba then focused back on the painting.

"Motherfucker, what did you say?!" Olly was incensed. 

"Now now," Kiba has a sincere smile on his face as he said, "What happened between your mother and me is a secret. You shouldn't leak it to everyone by being so obvious."