Chapter Six

She looked stunning.

Tan Lee tuned out the voice of his father who was speaking to him, as he studied Gabby who just walked into the ballroom and was weaving a path through the crowd. She stood out like 'bridgerton' diamond of the season, making those around her look like mere stones.

He noticed her neck and how the silk dress she wore glided over her breast. He hated the way people ogled at her. Did he say stunning? He meant exquisite. And she hadn't even come closer.

Yet.

"Excuse me, Dad." Tan said abruptly interrupting his father's conversation with him not bothering to give a polite explanation for why he is walking away.

His father surprised sputtering should have made him feel some ounce of guilt but he didn't care, his mind was set on Gabby, he couldn't bear another man whisking her away.

Normally, he would stay to hear everything his father had to say and watch his father introduce him to guest, but tonight he wasn't interested. He despised this dinners, it only benefitted the high society of New York. He did all this to make his parent especially his Dad happy.

One thing he'd learned about this dinners was that a good portion of business deals were landed here.

For the first time, he didn't want to meet with anyone or engage in a endless chatter with his father.

He weaved his way through the crowd, pretending not to hear when his name was called, uttering a 'pardon me' when persistent individuals tried to stop him.

"Tan Lee."

Tan's eyes looked back, brunette wearing a long black metallic dress, exposing her side boobs.

Eliyah Park. Why did she have to show up at this exact moment.

"It's being a long time Tan, I don't think we've seen in like five years or what?"

"You're right," it's been long since I last saw your face.

Micah's family were friends with Tans family. She had travel back to Korea to school, her family wanted her to blend with the culture and now she was back to continue the family business as she was the only child of her parent.

"You look good"

Her eyes widened. "Just good, is this what you say to me after five years."

Tan laughed, trying so hard to shorten the conversation so that he could return to his mission.

"My apologies, you look beautiful"

"What are you doing here, when you should be out mingling alongside your dad?" She asked, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I just left his side just now"

His attention went to Gabby who was already talking to someone. He clenched his fist.

Eliyah giggled like ignoring her was a compliment.

Eliyah still went on about something, but his mind had left the conversation.

Tan had learnt that getting involved with any of the high society individuals daughters was a marriage death wish. Eliyah was one of them; she was a childhood friend and well grounded in the culture. If he did something as little as a smile at her, he might as well be walking down the aisle.

"Excuse me, Eliyah, we should talk some other time"

Gabby saw Tan.

Her fingers curled into her palms, her nails digging into her flesh.

Tan Lee didn't have any power over her again. He was a non-factor, and to avoid him would mean he still had an effect on her and she wouldn't give him such pleasure.

She shuffled silently and his gaze didn't shift from her face as he walked up to her.

"Tan" she greeted flatly. "I would say this is a surprise but it's not since this is a business dinner".

"You look stunning," he said, his glacial gaze resting on her once more.

"Thank you," she replied, refusing to shiver under that stare.

"I have to meet some important guest before they leave the dinner, so..." she trailed off, letting her not so subtle hint to get on with it hang in the air between them.

He nodded, slipping his hand into his pockets. The motion opening his tux. She remembered how his abs had been between her thighs when she straddled him.

"I wanted to talk"

"Really, Tan." Her lips twisted into what could have been called incorrectly a smile.

"I'm sorry. That came out wrong. Shit Gabby. I don't know what to do for us to have a proper adult conversation"

"That's the issue Tan, we cant have an adult conversation other than business, so if it ain't about money I don't want to talk to you"

She made a move to leave but he held her back. She turned but he released her, her skin under her dress continued to throb as if his hand still clasped her.

"I just want us to be friends, can't we do that".

"It's the audacity, for me Tan, you think you can walk in and out of my life as you please, please leave me alone before mummy and Daddy would start deciding who you should be business partners with"

"You knew"

"Yes," she said "your parent came to me, four years ago to break things off with you but I refused"

"And you didn't say anything"

"What's there to say, that I defended the man I think loved me, not knowing he did not." She snapped

"Please, please Tan leave me alone, I can't go through another breakup crises again"

"Fuck" at that instant Tan was short of words, he growled, thrusting a hand through his hair, tousling the ruthlessly styled strands.

She walked away, there had been a time she would have surrendered to that lure, cuddled against that tall frame and inhaled his scent let him cup her hip and the nape of her neck, press himself against her.

Felt his cock nudge her stomach, promising her exquisite pleasure unlike anything she had ever known.

Stifling a full body shiver, she walked away, giving her the space she needed from him.

* *

"We make quite a show, don't we?" A cultured voice said.

Gabby glanced away from the host of the dinner to Lana Lee, Tan's sister who stood beside her. She had been so caught up in the show, that she hadn't seen his sister approach.

"I didn't know your family hosted the dinner",

"Well, different company's host it every year. This year LEE is hosting; I just feel it's a show for the wealthy to show who is more wealthy"

Gabby laughed.

"I missed you, Lana" she said smiling with real warmth for the first time that evening. "You stopped talking to me after Tan and I broke up"

"I thought you would hate me and I thought I would not have to see your face again".

"I couldn't agree more," Mrs Lee, Tan's mother interjected, appearing on the other side of her daughter. "I never thought I would see your face again"

"Nice dinner, Mrs Lee. You really outdid yourself " Gabby said offering the woman a smile.

As she had expected, it wasn't returned

"Thank you Gabrielle." Dami Lee nodded.

I didn't think someone like you could afford a ticket to this exquisite dinner.

"Mom," Lana murmured, but her mother ignored her.

Each word came out like an arrow piercing through her heart and she nearly shrank away in pain and humiliation.

But she would be damned if she would allow Dami Lee speak to her, in such condescending tone.

"You're wrong, someone like me can afford it because why not, I am the Co-CEO of a big company. I would have allowed you to speak to me like this four years ago but I won't allow it now."

The words flowed out of her filled with passion and anger but she didn't care. Everything she said was fact.

"And you were right about me four years ago, I am a gold digger, if not I wouldn't be where I am today".

"Tan belongs to an elite lady. Unlike you," Dami snapped.

Gabby shook her head. "There's so much more to Tan than how blue his blood is or the class he belongs to. Like who would show him love and support unconditionally"

"And you think you are that woman?" Dami scoffed.

"I never said I was, but I will tell you something Tan doesn't have the balls to say, he isn't someone you can toss around like a set of car keys."

She stepped back, glancing at Lana.

"it was nice seeing you again, Lana."

Gabby walked off not looking back. She stopped in her tracks when she realized Tan had been watching the whole spectacle. She ignored him and continued walking away. She needed to leave this toxic place.

"Coming to this dinner was a mistake" she muttered to herself.

As she was about to get into her car, she felt a familiar hand pull her towards him and like he did four years ago, his mouth crashed into hers and consumed hers. Tan.