5

I felt my blood rushing in the wrong direction when I heard Mr. Grey's name on Eric's lips. My heartbeats thumped erratically, and I started to feel afraid that Eric would sense my reaction. I turned away and pretended to grab my bag, heading out of the room ahead of him.

"Red, have you heard me?" I heard him asked before he grabbed my arm. I turned to him and raised my brow, pretending I didn't get his point.

"My goodness, Red, can't you be so stupid just for once?" Eric yelled into my face, and I stepped back in fright, even if he already did this to me a thousand times.

"What do you exactly want me to do?" I sighed as I responded, having realized I overacted my denial.

"You must grab a chance to talk to him or, better yet, dance with him!"

I nodded but I added, and his reply increased the sense of humiliation I felt inside. "And you won't get jealous? Wouldn't this be a problem between the two of us?"

He looked at me with disdain, laughing scornfully in the next moment. "Jealous? With you? Who do you think you are? You're just one of my bought possessions, Red, and I could throw you away anytime I want."

"Eric," I turned and looked at him, drops of tears gathering around the corners of my eyes. "Don't get too hard on me. I might get tired of being hurt and insulted."

I cringed at the sudden change of his expression. His eyeballs almost popped out in anger, as his face turned blood red. I swore I saw his hair stood out, his teeth grinding in a fury.

"After what I have done, you have now the guts to talk back and threaten me like that, you ungrateful brat?"

"I-- I'm sorry," I quickly apologized, not wanting to ruin his mood further when we were still going out. He might throw his lousy temper at me in front of his social circle, and I might get embarrassed further.

All the way to Amara Hotel, he just wouldn't stop reiterating his litany of all the things he had done for me and of how ungrateful I was. His endless ranting seemed to split my head into two as I got irritated with it. Even when we were on the elevator going to the function room, he still kept on nagging and cussing me for how stupid I was in going against him. My patience was then slowly wearing out. Five years was enough to allow him to trample down on me and to give him another year would already be so stupid on my part.

He did not notice that someone entered the elevator as his mouth was still full of contempt leashing out on me. I looked down and pretended to ignore him, wishing that the person who joined us would think that he was referring to someone else. It somehow lessened the shame I am feeling at that moment. I moved my eyes sideways to get a glimpse of the man's reaction, but to the sudden death of me, the person standing with us was none other than Mr. Grey!

I bet Eric himself might not be able to recognize him because he was still in jeans and a white, collared shirt. His scent got into my nostrils, and in my side vision, I stared at his chest and down to the lower part of his body. Oh, dear, he was so gorgeous!

I suddenly felt fine tremors on my skin, and I felt like fainting in too much shame when I also noticed his eyes on me. The hospital staff held high respect for me, and I was sure Mr. Grey had even seen it, but in Eric's eyes, I was just a rag. I closed my eyes and wished I could fly to the 20th floor! I was still murmuring my silent wish when I heard Eric's voice, slamming my self-worth to the ground.

"Stupid woman, do you want me to drag you out?"

I heard Mr. Grey groaned softly, perhaps due to displeasure. The more I felt ashamed that I wanted to flee from this building and hide forever. I rushed out, and Eric grabbed my arm, the impact almost sent me to the floor! Damn him, my last thread of respect was already thinning out.

As soon as we entered the function hall, myriad pair of eyes turned in our direction. I heard gasps, and I assumed it was because Eric's attractive features caught their attention. Not to boast around, Eric was stunningly handsome in other's eyes, but for me, his beauty was never appealing. If only he were that attractive as Mr. Grey, perhaps, I would ignore his dirty mouth. Probably, I would adore and worship him.

Somebody approached us, and I could tell right away that he was also of the business circle Eric was in. His grin was broad as he slapped Eric on his shoulder, reaching out a hand in the next moment to shake with me. I smiled as I accepted his hand.

"Eric, you're not only rich and handsome, but you also have the best luck of finding yourself a goddess. Would I have the honor of knowing her name?"

"Such a compliment," I replied with a smile then added, "Red Nelson, sir, and you are?"

"Tim Cruz, of the Cruz Group of Companies."

I gasped inwardly at the information. The Cruz Group of Companies was in all corners of the country, featured daily in tabloids and magazines, and broadcasted daily in business segments.

"Tim Cruz!"

All our eyes turned toward the direction of the husky and delicious voice my mind had ever registered. His eyes were on me, drawing a wide grin on Eric's face and causing my heartbeat to go into a frenzy. This was precisely what he wanted, to use me as bait to catch big investors.

"Here comes the pillar of international businesses and the gorgeous man behind Laminae, Inc., Mr. Sean Grey!" Mr. Cruz chuckled as he moved his eyes between Mr. Grey and us.

"Thank you for the introduction, Tim, but may I also have the honor to know the gentleman here and the beautiful lady?" Mr. Grey looked at me with a teasing smile, and I was both relieved and happy that he was so kind enough not to let Eric know that we had met a few hours ago.

"The honor to introduce myself to you is mine, Mr. Grey. This humble gentleman in front of you is Eric Martela, of Martela's Group of Companies. The beautiful lady here is Red Nelson."

Mr. Grey held out his hand to me, and butterflies in my stomach put me on the ninth cloud after feeling nauseated with Eric's insincere compliment. He didn't even say I was his girlfriend.

I accepted Mr. Grey's hand, and an awkward smile broke out on my face. The feeling of touching even just his hand was already enough to make me die a happy person. I looked at him, and he also looked back, his gaze sticking into the back of my mind.

"When are you tying the knot, Eric?" Mr. Cruz asked, and I held my breath and curled my toes in waiting for his answer.

Without any hesitation and to my relief in watching Mr. Grey's reaction, he answered. "Marriage is not our thing."