Looking in the mirror wearing the red velvet dress actually gave me confidence. The curls of my hair slightly fell over my shoulders highlighting my collar bones.
It showed me the women I wanted to be tonight; confident, elegant and smart.

Even though I didn't know what was happening, it did smell danger to me.
I wanted self-defence mechanisms if something went wrong.
I took the knife out of cutlery and tied it to my leg where it was hidden for others but accessible to me.
I also took the hairspray bottle and filled it with pepper mixed with Vaseline and water.

I knew I won't be using it as I am a trained kickboxing champion but I was not ready to take a chance.
I wanted me to be fully prepared to face what was ahead.
I gave myself a last look in the mirror before exiting. I let out a deep sigh as i stood outside the room.
I went down looking for a familiar face to escort me. No one was in sight, so I thought of taking a look around.
As the clock stroke seven, I saw Adrian coming out of a room as charming as possible.
With his hair slicked back, wearing a tux, having his bowtie and pocket square perfectly fixed. He was the most handsome man my eyes ever laid on.
My nostrils fill with his oud, sandalwood fragrance mixed with smoke as he came closer.

My eyes locked with his deep blue, drop dead gorgeous eyes
I liked the way his eyes twitched from my one eye to another.
His eyes scanned me as i stood there frozen to the view i saw.
After a moment of silence, he spoke
"beautiful and punctual. I like the combination."
"believe me, I have got more than that" I replied with confidence.
"try me!" he demanded taking a step forward and closed the distance between us without breaking the eye contact.
Suddenly felt the air around me decrease as he came closer. I struggled to take breath.
Just then Dave came running
"sorry boss, I was checking the final details" exhaling deeply.
I saw a sudden disappointment in Adrian's eyes.
Dave then shifted his attention to me. His eyes went from bottom to top and said with a wide smile
"wow! You look amazing."
"Thankyou Dave. You dont look bad yourself "
He slowly rubbed the back of his neck when he saw Adrian giving him an unusual look.
"don't worry, you are just on time. I want you to check each entrance and see if the staffs are there without absence. I will escort the lady to the hall. We will meet in there"
Adrian said turning towards me with an extended hand.
"Have a great night" Dave said smiling at me.
I nodded back at him reassuringly and took Adrian's hand –
"let's get this over with!"
Our hand perfectly fitted as my fingers slowly slid it into his. He held my hand with a certain grip, neither tight nor easy. I liked it.
As we stepped out of the penthouse, I realised how huge this place was.
The temperature outside was normal but had a misty wind lingering on my face and blowing my hair with each step I took.
As we headed further, my eyes shined in the light radiated from the elegantly lit central garden with a beautiful fountain in its centre.
I saw numerous resort villas around the garden. It was dark and I couldn't exactly figure out where we were going.
"where are we?!" I asked him. I was, fascinated by the view I saw.
"you are in one of the most exotic, expensive and uproared resort and casino of Mauritius as I mentioned before. The building where we stayed is the penthouse, where all the important men stays. These buildings that you see are the resorts and suite" he said proudness filling him.
"and ...you are the owner?" i interrogated.
"yess"
"why did you bring me here? You don't even know me." I was curious.
Why would anyone bring a stranger to a penthouse like this so far?
He smiled, searching for my eyes and said,
"let's get it started with your name".
That is when I realised, I didn't even properly introduce myself to him.
still I was not ready to show him my vulnerability.
"I am pretty sure you saw my id in my purse" I replied without looking away.
"Aint done with the attitude, are we?" he said with a sly smile.
"You bet."
We reached the entrance to a massive hall with a red carpet spread to make way.
I saw most people looking our way as we walked through the grand entrance.
Most of the women standing near the entrance to welcoming guests looked down, clearly intimidated by his presence.
I looked at his face and saw a neutral expression.
Why were they scared to meet those beautiful eyes?
I was confused with the mixed signals I was getting from this place.
It really triggered my curiosity.
I entered the hall to see a great arrangement of all times.
It had a casino, martinis, centrepieces of dice with red lights and cards spinning over them to give a festive look.
The room was filled with people wearing white, red or black.
Several round tables arranged properly, decorations done in a classy manner and a great chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling gave it a final touch up of Bond007 theme look.
After we took a tour of the place and met some people, Adrian excused himself to take care of a 'business' which he apparently can't tell me.
I was in no mood to socialise considering the fact that I didn't even know a bug from here.
I also couldn't go in search of a way out as he said he will be back in minutes.
So, I sat on the bar sinking into my drink. Suddenly someone came and stood beside me. My first guess was Ranger but the voice that came was different and I must say it had a charm in it.
Stranger:" why is a lady like you sitting in a bar alone?"
"a lady like me..as in?"
Str: "someone so breathtakingly beautiful and sexy and those eyes, I must say it-"
Adrian: you don't try those pickup lines on my lady Rei. Forgot the rules already?
I was surprised to hear Adrian's reply.
My lady?! As in me being his lady? What is he trying to do here? I didn't cut him off this time.
Honestly speaking, deep down I was a bit happy to hear it.
Rei: oohh... I didn't know it's your lady. My apologies miss.
He bowed to me and I nodded reassuringly.
Soon he disappeared into the crowd. I turned to Adrian with a pissed off look.
"care to explain what you said?"
" you should try saying thank you. I just saved you another time." he scoffed.
"I can take care of myself. I don't need your help." i tried to cut him out.
"I saw that last night when you fainted."
I was about to fire up but the sound a pleasant music cut me off and saved him this time.
"care to dance 'my lady'?" he asked with a piercing look.
I accepted his hand with a straight expression.
He took me to the dance floor and took me into a standard waltz position.
As I stepped closer to him, our eyes locked and it send a flow of chills through my spine. He took charge and moved with ease on the floor.
He had the perfect rhythm and perfect posture. He held me as if I belonged in those arms. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
My chest was pounding so hard that I literally heard my heartbeats. He was flawless and apparently a very good dancer.
I was too busy studying him and his expressions that I almost forgot we were dancing.
Suddenly his strong pair of hands lifted me off the floor and took me into a spin.
He then turned me around and placed one of his hand snaking my hip and another interlocked with my fingers.
I felt his hot breath on my neck as he slowly whispered to me.
"thinking of me? can't resist the charm Ms. Jenner?"
"I knew you looked my id."
"well the curious mind of mine couldn't stop thinking about you last night." his reply
He turned me to face him in a swift motion with no distance between us and continued.
"so I looked up on you and I must say I am pretty impressed by your achievements. You tend to surprise me every time."
"what did I do now? what did you find about me?"
"you are the valued publisher of white owl publications for five years now and has been presented with numerous awards for your work. You are the only child and your parents passed away when you were way too young. As for now, I didn't know you were such a good dancer and also that tattoo on your shoulder sure is intriguing."
I was really surprised to the fact that he found so much information about me. I was sure my personal facts and childhood is hidden from the media.
How come he got it so fast?
"you are not bad yourself."
"still sticking to the attitude, are we?" (slight laugh)
I saw his eyes divert from mine to somewhere else and a deep expression appeared on his face.
I turned back to see one man waving him over. I recalled him from earlier; his minion.
He had emerald eyes and curly hair; one of a kind, I must say. Adrian went over to him and I saw their faces tense up with each passing second of their talk.
After a few moments he came over and said that he had business to handle and will be back in an hour.
He took my hand in his and said to wait for him. I saw him leaving as his fingertips slowly left mine.
Eventhough without knowing each other, how can two people have such a strong connection that even the air between them start to heat up?
Even him leaving felt like a void being created. His single presence lights up your place.
I couldn't explain the feeling and I knew it would be mystifying for others too.
As he exited the room, I think of myself for a moment and realise that it's my cue.
Well for me it meant bail time.