EPISODE 4: The Masquerade Event

The days of his search turned weeks and there was nothing. He was not receiving any news that would direct him to his lost young love's whereabouts. They couldn't find any leads where she might be. He has been warned that it would not be easy to find someone after years of separation. Yet, Sebastian's high hopes turned grim as time kept flying until it mixed up with his stress.

'Boss, from what I've searched so far about the person you had requested to find was not that close to what you have described her. I'm sorry, Boss. It's still a dead end.'

Sebastian threw his phone and smashed his computer before shouting. "WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" he ruined his office desk due to his built-up frustration and stress. "Where are you, my love..." he collapsed on the floor. Devastated.

Glen suddenly jolted upon hearing the sudden clattering sound behind the closed door of the CEO's office. It alarmed him and without knocking, Glen entered the CEO's office and be his old childhood friend.

A smashed computer, broken phone, and displays were scattered into pieces while papers were everywhere on the floor welcomed Glen. It was a complete mess but he didn't care about that. "SEBASTIAN!" He was more worried about his old friend and forgot that he was his boss at the moment.

Sebastian looked lost and broken at him. "Glen, I could not find her..." It was indeed a broken sound that Glen rarely heard from him. "... it's been three weeks already and there's nothing...I found nothing..."

"Hey, you will find her," Glen assured him. "I am sure that you will because the love you had might be innocent and young but I can tell in those eyes you both held undying love."

Sebastian was about to reason but Glen cut him off. "Take a break and join the masquerade ball." 

"You know I don't attend such events." He reminded his secretary.

"I know you hate fake people but you don't need to deal with them. Just watch them and enjoy the entertainment they store for a night." Glen smiled as he helped his boss get up from the floor. "Just give time to free your mind from everything that's stressing you. It was already losing your cool and you don't want your sinister enemies out there to notice that."

"Glen." He sounded like warning him.

Glen handed a cup of hot chamomile mint tea to his boss as well as the invitation addressed to the CEO of the Salazar Empire. "Sebastian, as a friend since diapers, just attend the ball and who knows your heart might lead you to her." Hearing that from an old friend, Sebastian sighed. He knew that he was right. He needs some breaks and maybe try to look in a different perspective. He might find something or someone that he's been longing for. "Fine."

Glen smiled as let his boss think on his own and started cleaning up the mess that Sebastian did. After a few hours, Sebastian rested for a while until Glen gave him another reminder about his noontime meeting.

"I thought you clear my schedule today?" He coldly asked his secretary.

"I know what I said, Sir but they were persistent and needed your presence." Even Glen was pissed upon the meeting that Sebastian will have in a few minutes.

He sighed. "Fine, but I hope they won't be surprised if I reject their proposal." He coldly got up from the couch and just left the invitation on his once again neat desk.

Glen opened the door for his boss. "I would be astonished from seeing their reaction, Sir." Sebastian grinned from hearing it as they headed out of the office.

After Sebastian's meeting that lasted for three to four, he finally settled it and ended the meeting. He was starting to feel his hungry stomach already.

"I'm heading home," Sebastian said to his secretary as soon as they reached his office.

"Don't forget this." Glen handed his boss the invitation. Sebastian sighed. "That's your pass on the ball in case you decide to change the pace even for a night," he added.

Sebastian shook his head. "Your persistent secretary." He smirked at his friend.

Glen smiled assuringly. "I'm not just your secretary, I'm also your friend and I can tell you needed it." Sebastian didn't say anything and just went back to his penthouse to eat and get ready for the event later tonight.

As the night began to cloak the sunset and let the moon shine, the CEO might be having a few twists and turns on whether to attend or not the event. But after a few walks and refreshments, Sebastian decided to attend and freed himself from the stressful paperwork he had been doing lately. He took his secretary's advice and attended the masquerade ball.

"Where to, Boss?" His driver and bodyguard asked.

"Take me to S.Lux Hotel." Sebastian coldly answered and he just quietly sat in the backseat looking out the window as their drive went on.

Arriving at one of the hotels that their family owns, everyone was surprised to see their boss's appearance knowing that he was not a fan of luxury events. Yet, due to their work, they need to be polite and accommodate any customers coming to their hotel. Sebastian was no exception.

They politely greeted him. "Good evening, Sir, how can we help you?" one of the receptionists asked him with a smile on his face.

"Can you tell to which event hall the masquerade ball took place?" Sebastian coldly asked making the receptionist who was talking to him go out from the booth.

"Right this way, sir. I'll lead the way." the receptionist guided him to the right event hall where the masquerade ball was happening.

As the door was being opened for him, live music and some chattering voices from the visitors who just attended the event welcomed his ears. He nodded to the receptionist as a sign of gratefulness before he went inside.

Sebastian was indeed late but didn't care. "Better be late than never." He muttered to himself as he began walking further inside the venue.

As Sebastian walked at his confident pace, some people in the venue began to notice his presence. He might be wearing a very sophisticated Victorian style of clothing from head to toe. From having a black top hat, black silk cravat tie, blood red vest, black tailcoat, black high waist pants, and black leather boots with baston on his right hand, he emits richness and wealth. To top on his costume, he wore a pure blood-red mask around his eyes, which made him like a vampire.

A sarcastic tease echoed around Sebastian's hearing. "Well, well, seems like the richest man in the business world decent himself in this gathering." He knew who owned them and he was not surprised that another businessman took notice of who he was despite wearing a mask.

But Sebastian knew him well. "Ronnie, got something to fish out tonight?" He countered in tease.

"Well, I will be honest, I wish I didn't attend." Ronnie sighed in his upset tone.

"Why is that?" he wondered as he took a glass of wine from the waiter who passed them.

"It's Pendelton's event and whenever they host an event, it is all about showcasing his achievement. Her wife there was only for a show - a trophy to be exact." Sebastian gave him a look upon hearing it. "What? I just can read body language and from my point of view, both of them were already cheating behind each other's back." he defended himself.

"Are you one of them?" Sebastian teased and Ronnie shook his head. "You're full of gossip, Ron." He patted his shoulder. Ronnie was also an old friend from his school years abroad and they've been buddies till they've got their businesses. "Be careful, it might bite you back."

They were both laughing before they started talking about random things from business to their lives. Yet, somewhere in the middle of their conversation, some old peers from trusted partnerships and investors came to greet them.

A surprised yet amused voice spoke. "I know you're not a fan of this kind of event but…" One of Sebastian's investors that he helped. "... I'm still surprised to see you here, Mr. Salazar."

Sebastian chuckled as he shook hands with the man in his mid-50s. "I know even myself was surprised to be here." He joked. "But you know, we need some time to breathe away from paperwork." But admitted that he was stressed out handling overlapping problems around his company.

They were all nodding in agreement. "Can't agree more since you're right about that." One of their partners said with a sigh. "My wife kept nagging me to attend here instead of staying behind the desk."

Among the men, there's one lady who spoke. "This might be a nice way to chill but I still won't do that." She's one of their partners and investors as well. "Not everyone is trusted on making business deals here."

All of them agreed and they were grateful they found it around them. "It's for new faces to have connections to us like what's coming our way." Ronnie caught their attention and looked over some new faces heading to their spot.

"Don't be surprised if I'm going to be rude," Sebastian warned his peers who chuckled since they knew him well.

It was a nice chat at first around businesses but feeling too chill around them, the new faces started to show some colors and kept showcasing their company or their achievements which they all didn't like. Sebastian didn't like it and looked around only to find a very captivating lady. He can't divert his attention if Ronnie didn't nudge his side secretly.

"So what can you say, Mr. Salazar?" a man with a hopeful smile wondered after offering a deal with Sebastian's company.

Sebastian looked around first to see where the enchanting lady was but couldn't find her. "I'm hoping for something impossible." He sighed before meeting them again with his usual cold facade. "Sorry, but I politely decline since I am not here to make any arrangements or do business deals tonight." Sebastian politely declined before their conversation went on. "Please, excuse me and enjoy your night." They left them.

Ronnie chuckled upon hearing that. "You know how to shut them down, dude." 

"You know that I hate fake people on his kind of event." He sighed and Ronnie patted his shoulders. "I'm just hear to relieve some stress from business yet here I am, hearing them again." 

Before Ronnie could say something to his friend, Sebastian was suddenly being pulled by a lady with the same style and color palette that he had. Sebastian was about to speak when the lady beat him to it.

"He's my fiance." He was stunned when he heard it and looked at the mysterious lady beside him. For some odd reason when he looked at her, his heartbeat raced.