Chapter 15

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It took a while for Lyari to decide on what to wear. Finally after a lot of decision making, and for lack of time, she ended up with a white satin cocktail dress with geometric cuts covering ample amounts of skin despite its short length. It still bordered on the proffesional side, rather than a dressy gown - courtesy of her early days when she was forced to dress up for the firm parties.

Lyari didn't care about those frivolities anymore, and this particular one tonight was no exception.

Mr Chaves doesn't really care if she makes it to the party or not. Why did I even agree to that?

She'd arrived- or more appropriately, stumbled into the great doors of a casino. No matter how much she berated herself that she was just wasting precious time in here. This was quite out of character for her to do anyway.

Only the reminder that she had nothing better to do in the confines of her home kept her from going back.

The hotel casino turned out to be a gilded ballroom with two floors and a mezzanine that spanned the entirety of the walls.

Now that's one big ass chandelier.

The lower part is teeming with gentlemen in smart suits and elegantly dressed women surrounding the bars and alcoves for bridge tables where a lot were currently doing bets. Meanwhile the upper part is divided by the VIP section and a gallery, where the spectators convene to watch the games below.

Lyari passed through the throng, steps purposeful but with no real sense of direction. The crowd was making it hard for her to distinguish her few workmates who were probably mingling somewhere around.

Where was Katya? Her boss?

The hum of conversations was nonstop, considering the number of bodies milling around her.

She was a stranger in the midst of it all, but it didn't stop a few guys from giving her leering looks. One even attempted to steer her towards the bar area- which she quickly evaded, being no stranger to advances from the male specie.

She may be an attractive woman, her grasp on reality was firm enough to realize that, but she resented it.

She had straight shoulder-length black hair, an almost innocent looking bare face, and a taller-than-average figure.

But being pretty isn't all that.

Once again, Lyari was starting to regret every minute of this.

Dressing up only got her unwanted attention, which is why she'd always opted to wear the most comfortable though understated clothes for work.

She looked at her phone, just in time to see two messages from the secretary.

They were at the smoking lounge.

Sighing, she headed straight to the gaping doors leading to a smaller version of the ballroom. Sometimes, she jostled people who didn't budge on the way.

Finally, she spotted Katya's familiar figure in a shimmering red dress- currently standing by the doors, waiting for her presumably.

"This way, Miss Sage," the woman said, just as she came near.

They went deeper into the semi-dark cavern of the place, to where the tables ringed with sofas were situated.

Those sofas were draped with bodies of complacent men, either smoking or imbibing. Mr Chaves was one of them, and he was talking with a full circle of seemingly affluent men at the moment.

Mr Chaves, if it wasn't clear before, did not just rely on the firm for business. He had other affiliate corporations that garnered him a household name to the prominent families in the city.

"Ah, there you are, Miss Sage. Come, sit with us. You too, Miss Rodriguez."

They did as told, sitting on one of the vacant sofas alongside their boss.

Yes, these men clearly reeked of... wealth, and power. How else would you describe them, when the son of the city mayor is present among their rank?

Alastor De Silva.

Right now, his intense dark brown eyes were studying Lyari from his seat as introductions were made.

Lyari shifted in her seat, already expecting the proceedings. When in truth, she was just there to act as sort of one of the trophies alongside her more competitive counterparts to make Vladimir look good.

All in all, her presence was basically unnecessary. She'd sit there, like a wallflower, and simper and drink the poisons they offered her way.

Atleast drinking and being surrounded by people numbed down the edges in her psyche, and that's all she ever bothered with.

"Hey, waiter. Another round please, we're a little bit thirsty in here, come on," the man named Alastor was saying.

"... If I be so inclined, Mr De Silva. I'd suggest you amp your resources for the next campaign," Mr Chaves would say, and the important person in the room would answer in - "I could try, Mr Chaves. It's no secret my enemies are especially increasing this year. My father's campaign will be successful no matter what."

All these talk of politics, when they're just a bunch of conceited little men stroking each other's ego. Sometimes, she'd pitch in to the conversation when necessary. Apart from that, Lyari found herself zoning out more often than she liked.

Roughly two hours later, the group dissolved as soon as the boys decided to go try their lucks at the casino.

Vladimir had yet to dismiss her.

Leaning her back on the cool lip of the counter by the sparsely populated open bar, she nursed her third- or fourth drink in hand as she pretended to watch the crowd.

Katya had left her to go to the bathroom a while ago.

"So, aren't you gonna tell me why I've never seen you around here before?"

She glanced up in time to see Alastor who'd approached from the other end of the bar.

The ever elusive Alastor, darling of the crowd, and a ladies' man. Columnists often wrote about him and his numerous conquests. He was attractive, in a brash way which easily translated to an asshole.

Lyari would do well to avoid him at all costs.

How he'd even managed to find her in the midst of all these people was a mystery in itself.

"It's my first time here."

Downing the last bit of his drink, he smirked at her, before leaning across the bar to call the bartender's attention. "Another scotch please."

There was a soft clink on the countertop as the bartender placed his order. Lyari straightened when she found herself under the man's gaze again.

"Well, you are one of Vladimir's protege, and I'm kind of wondering how that is even possible," the man, who seemed to have developed an interest in her said.

Not that she'd really made a distinctive impression earlier at the couches.

What a flirt.

Lyari almost spluttered on her cocktail drink. Even with mind rendered loose from the amount of alcohol she'd guzzled, she was still quick to point out the ridiculous notion.

"D-did you just say protege?"

"Yes, isn't that what you are?"

"No, sir. I most definitely am not his protege."

The man grinned wolfishly. "Please, call me Alastor. If you're not his protege, then what are you exactly?"

"I'm one of the architects, I work under him," she explained, slightly annoyed.

"Huh, it's just the same thing. Lyari, isn't it?"

"'Certainly not his protege," she muttered, whilst finishing the last dregs in her glass. In her mind, she was willing him to go away, and leave her alone.

Alastor was still studying her with those hooded eyes, it was starting to make her uncomfortable.

"You know, you should come here more often," he noted, not quite hiding his desire, leaning a little too close for her liking. "This place could use more people like you."

This guy must be more inebriated than she thought.

Instinctively, Lyari leaned back.

"P-people like me?" She didn't know what he was talking about.

He nodded, hands reaching out to touch her fingers which were resting on the counter. "Yes, interesting people like you. Honestly, everyone here is so dreary."

She certainly was not interesting.

Through the hazy buzz in her head, Lyari's head comprehended the lines between his words.

"You know a lot of these people, then?" Naively, she asked. Damn alcohol.

"Let's just say I'm a regular here, and I recognize a lot of them," he replied, eyes roving over her. His cold sweaty finger drew circles on her hand, and Lyari stiffened.

She looked down at his hands on her own with a frown, her mind half screaming at her to get out of there.

The feel of the contact instantly triggered her defenses, but it seems her body has a mind of its own.

Warily, her eyes darted around, desperately finding her cue to get away from the man before this could escalate any further.

Somehow, the sensible part of her wondered if her boss had something to do with this.

Katya's still in the bathrooms.

"Your glass is empty. Can I buy you another drink?"

• • •

With a big heavy exhale, she leaned back - and this time on the cool surface of a marble wall just outside the service area leading to the bathrooms.

She was currently facing what could be a garden just outside the building.

This was perfect.

Just the right place to hide from that sleazy- what was his name again?

Oh right.

Alistair.

She'd heard he was famous. Famous for hooking up with unwitting girls.

And she couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Someone poked her shoulder, and she cringed, twisting in place.

Fully expecting Alastor, she was equally prepared to clock the man in the head - shoulders hunched back to prepare for a punch.

- Only to come face to face with... Cassian?

Lyari's violent thoughts slowly fizzled and died down, replaced by relief. She couldn't be any more happier to see a different man right now, seeing Cassian's stately face was a big improvement.

Atleast Mr Sleaze didn't follow me all the way here.

"Well, this is a nice surprise. It is the stiff woman," Cassian drawled, giving her a dull look. His gait was unsteady, whilst holding a pack of cigarette in his hand.

But what the hell is he doing here?

"How... What are you doing here?"

Moreover, what is even more unsettling was his effortlessly groomed appearance. He was wearing a well-fitting, sharp black suit which emphasized his upside-down triangle physique of broad shoulders and slim waist.

This was a complete deviation from his usual jeans and t shirt ensembles.

He looked...different.

"I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing in my hotel?"

Cassian's slouched frame came to lean at the wall beside her. Immediately, she smelled alcohol. Which means he'd been imbibing for who knows how long.

"This is not your hotel, Cass. It couldn't be just coincidence you're here," she grumbled, belatedly noticing that his tie was missing. The column of his long neck to his collar bone sleek with sweat, courtesy of the heat of the Metro.

"Easy, this is a smoking area. Atleast, it's what the staff told me."

She stared at him, the muscle in her jaw working overtime as she ground her teeth and generally ignored the surrounding. His logic couldn't be faulted. Maybe he did intend to go outside for a smoke and found her by accident.

"So, where'd he go?" He continued when she remained silent.

"Who?"

"Alastor. I saw you with him a while ago, now I don't see him anywhere," he mused.

"I don't know... I'm currently alone here as you can see."

He looked down at her, arching an insolent brow. His listless eyes meant he was just as drunk as the other guy.

"Hm. You mean to say that he was giving you trouble?"

Lyari frowned at the way he used his tone.

"It's none of your business."

A short dry laugh spurted out of him. "And here I am wondering how you even got here, I don't think I want to know now what you were doing with that boy."

Another slow breathe issued out of her mouth in a bid for patience, while a new question dangled in the cobwebs of her brain.

"Wait- how do you know him?" She asked, earning a sigh from Cassian.

"I know people like Alastor," was his dismissive answer. He slowly removed himself from the wall, only to stagger and stumble onto the sharp foliage of pruned bushes beside the pathway- not unlike a drunk person with a case of arthritis who fell facedown.

Very graceful.

"Fuck," he cursed.

A concerned Lyari was there beside him in seconds, helping him right himself up.

Without a word, he laid his arm across her shoulders and drew her onto his side.

"We should get you back to the hotel."

Lyari ignored the baffling male scent that wafted to her nose, as well as the heat of his body against hers.

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