Arianna Contos' POV
I was looking around at the banquet when I was surprised by my best friend. Trust Jenny to cut 10 years out of my life right now.
"So, it seems that you did come with that man of yours after all," she said as I was rolling my eyes at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
"Of course you don't. I was just being cryptic right now," she said with sarcasm in her tone that I was sighing at my best friend. I think Jenny was not happy that I came with my sworn enemy.
If I was telling myself right.
"So, any news about your hunt?" I asked Jenny as she was shrugging. She has this one big job that she made it her life ambition to find it.
It was called The Crown Jewel of Sicily. But I guess Jenny was in the wrong country. Sicily was in Italy. What was she doing in Greece? I have no idea as well to that question.
"I thought I might catch Chrysi Gynaika in action tonight. I heard the Citrine of Greece was here," she said as I was rolling my eyes. I know that she wanted to tell me 'when are you going to take the gem?!'
"I was still making an alibi. I cannot be disappearing when I was supposed to be attending the Gala with one handsome man," I said without thinking. Jenny smirked.
"So, he's a handsome man now?"
"Shut up," I said as I was looking at my plate and I went to the table to put my plate down and sat as if I was at the party all the time. I don't want people to be suspicious of my good nature with the museum.
Even if I was stealing behind them.
I sighed before I was putting some sweets into my mouth. It was nice before I was looking around for Lucas. Where was he? He was supposed to be my alibi right now.
"What are you looking for?" Jenny asked me before I was looking at her beautiful face.
"No one,"
"Right," she said as I was rolling my eyes at her before Jenny stood up and walked away.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere,"
"Right," I said before Jenny was glaring at me. I know that she wanted to meet the museum director as Jenny has said that he was one handsome man.
But I'm not sure if Harriet will be swoon with Jenny's attention. That man was a robot, after all, no feelings attached to his heart.
I sighed before I felt body heat behind me. I turned and I saw that Lucas was staring at me. I smiled at him.
"You're not mingling,"
"I was hungry," I said as I was pointing at my plate before he took his seat beside me and I was looking at his handsome face. I cannot think of anything right now but his delicate, warm lips against mine.
"I thought you wanted to mingle when I left you but instead, I saw you're gushing down the food more than you can chew," Lucas said as I was smacking his arm playfully.
"Shut up. You were gone for too long. I was hoping that you might dance with me," I said before Lucas was taking two flutes of champagne from the passing server.
"Maybe after one drink?" Lucas said as I took his offered champagne into my hand.
"One drink then we dance?"
"If you wish," he said as he was smirking at me. He was looking at me over the rim of the glass before I was smirking as well as I was sipping on the wine.
"Absolutely," I said as I was putting the flute down and I was taking his hand when the song was starting.
"Come on! I love this song," I said as I was pulling Lucas to the dance floor before I was dancing to my heart content. It was a Greek folk song and I loved it as my parents would dance to this when they were alive.
And now, I was teaching Lucas how to dance to its rhythm.
I was laughing when he cannot seem to find the right steps as I was circling him and Lucas was smiling at me, despite that he was being horrible right now.
"I don't know why I allow you dance with me like this," he said as I was smiling before I was pulling him up when we were dancing the waltz that I found it strange that Lucas knows the steps.
"Well, look at you, Mr. Dow. Showing your dancing skills right now," I said as I was looking at him with a smile. He smirked at me before we were twirling around the ballroom as I was hearing the sounds and laughter that filled the museum.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I have your attention please," Harriet said as I was bowing to Lucas before we were off the dance floor and we were gathering around the dais as Harriet was clearing his throat and greeted his audience with a smile.
"Now, the time has come for all of us to witness the Gems of the World with a special appearance from our very own pride and joy. I gave you, The Citrine of Greece!" Harriet said before the curtains were drawn and I was looking at my main target of the evening.
The Citrine of Greece, my parents' heirloom for me.
I was gripping my hands on the side before Lucas was putting his hand on my lower back. I turned to look at him as I was smiling before we were listening to how the hell that Citrine was here.
AKA found it in the basement but Harriet has another tale coming out of his mouth.
"I found a private collector that stated he would like to show the Citrine of Greece that has been in his family for generations. I thank him for the opportunity but the person did not make an appearance but we are honored to have it here with the other gems," Harriet said as I was rolling my eyes at him.
It took everything in me to not step on Harriet's head right now.
I was looking at the gem before Lucas was sighing. I turned to look at him before he was rubbing his neck. I can see that he was distressed.
"What's wrong?" I asked him as I was putting my hand on his arms. He smiled at me before he was regarding our surroundings as if he was waiting for something, or rather someone, to jump out of nowhere.
But of course, I was creating an alibi right now, so a little busy at the moment to attack.
"I don't think it would be wise to show the Citrine of Greece when there was a chance Chrysi Gynaika will come and take it from under our noses,"
"Chrysi Gynaika?" I pretended to ask Lucas what was that mean. But of course, it was Greek for Woman in Gold.
I know it because I was that woman.
"The Woman in Gold. Don't tell me you don't know about the urban legend of that elusive thief?" Lucas asked me as I was laughing at his statement. And of course, I have to play it right so that he would not suspect me.
"No, I don't have any idea what are you talking about," I said as I was looking at him. He mused at me.
"Well, it seems that you are living under a rock,"
"Hey! I was not and for the record, I was no in Greece after I was 18. I went out to study in France for my degree," I said as I was crossing my arms at him. Lucas held up his hands as I was glaring at him.
"Okay, my bad. But it did not concern you anyway. If anything, it was making my head spinning to think about it," Lucas grimaced before I was looking at him, arching my eyebrow.
"Enough of that. I was about to ask you with something—" and before Lucas can finish his sentence, an alarm was going off.
I think it's time now.
"What's happening?" I asked Lucas, pretending that I don't have any idea what was going on.
"I don't know but I intend to find out," he said before Harriet was ordering people around before he calmed the crowd down.