"Everyone, thank you for joining us. Kindly be seated at the table written on your invitation card. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. The ceremony will begin in a few moments." The male host announced.
Gradually, the guests ended their conversation and went to look for their assigned seats. The angry girl could only stomp her feet in anger as she went back to where she was previously while not losing sight of her targets.
The Queen family was, of course, seated at the very front of the stage, and somehow, the actress's seat was also in the front with her back against the boy's back.
Ruby's seat was near the doors and nowhere close to the stage and that family. She was outrageous. How could that b*tch actress sit in the front with Ares while she had to share a table with old dudes in the back?
She was younger and more beautiful than her (in her opinion). How come she couldn't be in the spotlight? There was an empty seat next to the boy and the father. She would have snatched the seat and talked to Ares nonstop if there was a chance.
Moreover, Hannah got a better seat than her in the middle, chatting with hot heirs with who she shared a table.
Ruby was extremely jealous and angered because her friend's family wasn't that famous or rich, but Hannah still got a better condition. It was unfair, and the person assigned the seats must be dumb.
After everyone settled down and had their drinks on the table, the host reappeared on the stage with a big smile.
"Good evening, everyone. Once again, thank you for joining us. I'm your tonight's host, Pearson Hopkins." The crowd cheered. "Now tonight is a celebration. Tonight, we are here to make memories and friends. We've got celebrities across the globe, company executives and heirs, and small business owners. After a talk by Mr Cristian Queen, we'll have a ball where anyone could participate. The winner of the ball even receives a prize."
The host continued, "We hold this because we want everyone to have equal opportunities in life. Many times, a person can not express their full potential because of no support or opportunity. So tonight, the Queen's corporation will make a change. A one-eighty- degree change that alters someone's life for the better. Give it up for Mr Cristian Queen!!"
The crowd clapped decently as the host moved away, and the CEO went up the stage calmly yet shyly.
Cristian raised his hand, signalling for a stop. "Good evenning everyone." The chosen photographers in various places began taking photos of the man with the flash on.
"I am Cristian Queen. My father, Levi Queen, built this company from scratch. But he wasn't alone. He got help from his mother, friends, and many other people who gave their trust and invested in him. And the same people also did that for me and helped me make this company a bigger and better place. Tonight I want to repay everything I received to other people with talents and gifts."
He paused, and the crowd cheered loudly. The man then looked at the front row table where his family sat. He then eyed the photographers to take photos of them.
As the cameraman began gathering in one spot and snapping photos, Ares whispery asked his mother as he smiled awkwardly. "Isn't this a little too dramatic? It feels too much."
His mother acted as if she didn't hear him. In her sight, the only person in the hall was her husband. But below the tablecloth, she had kicked his foot harshly.
Without sensing his son's awkwardness, Cristian proudly spoke, "As some of you may already know, I have a son, but I haven't been open about it. Nicole and I sent him to live with his grandmother in the countryside when he was little to make him an understanding and kind-hearted person. He only came to live with us when he joined university. As we hoped, he grew up to be the kind of person we wanted him to be. As he is graduating the university in a year, we believe this is the moment to make this official. Ares, come here."
Somehow there were lights from the ceiling that pointed at the poor boy. His father was full of excitement. Being recorded from all sides with the feeling of being watched everywhere, he didn't have a choice but to go up the stage.
When Ares stood next to his father on the stage, he could see until the entrance, where people excitedly watched them.
Cristian placed a hand on his son's shoulder and announced, "This is my son, Ares Queen. He will officially be joining the company after his graduation. So please, everyone get to know him and welcome him." He then brought the microphone to Ares's mouth and spoke into his ears. "Just say some few words."
Ares was on the verge of closing his eyes and running away from the place, but he couldn't tarnish his parents' reputation. Hence, he held the microphone hesitantly and faced the crowd.
All the available lights were aimed mercilessly at him. He constantly blinked to adjust but was unsuccessful. He restrained himself from not wincing.
Now he knew what his friends, specifically Omal when he was talking about what he experienced on red carpets. Everything was too bright and high pressure and expectation.
Ares tried to speak, but his voice didn't come out. Words flew away from his head as he panicked.
Without knowing what to do, he looked at his mother in the audience for help.
Their eyes met, and Nicole mouthed something. Before he could comprehend or she could repeat, a photographer got in the middle and disrupted their line. He could still see her eyes like a pair of knives at the oblivious photographer's head as if she was trying to pierce him and on the verge of cursing.
Ares's eyes unconsciously drifted to the sight. His eyes met the crowned woman's black eyes. Surprisingly, there was no one near her. The closest photographer was three metres away from her. He didn't know why and he didn't think to care.
It was probably less than a second that their eyes were connected. But it felt longer than how long the dinosaurs had existed to the boy.
Strangely, Eirene didn't avert her eyes and kept on locking their eyes.
Ares saw the Queen raise the corners of her soft pink-coloured lips faintly. And gave him a nod almost unnoticeable if it wasn't for the light jiggles the pearl earrings made.
The words flew back to his head and out of his mouth without thinking about it. "Hi, I'm, Ares Queen. I'm very new to this, and, the things I know, are limited. But I hope to learn, understand and... better..." His speech wasn't smooth but understandable.
"Say thank you." His father whispered from the side.
"Thank you." The boy hurriedly said and looked away from the actress hastily.
The crowd cheered even louder as he left the stage, back to his seat.
His mother commented bitterly. "Not bad for your first time. I expect improvements in the future."
Ares simply nodded and uncomfortably wiggled in his chair just to meet the calmly smiling manager of the actress.
The man gave him a thumbs up, and the boy mouthed thank you in return before he turned back to face the stage.
From the conversation earlier, he knew the man's name was Jaxon Easmon, the manager of Eirene Queen (also known as his crush). He was an easy-going person with a variety of knowledge from space to psychology, never failing to cease interest. Just from exchanging a few words, Ares knew he wasn't a bad person.
Thankfully, Cristian didn't talk much after his son's exit and left the stage to the host, who took over enthusiastically.
As soon as Cristian was seated, Ares bitterly said in a low voice, "Dad, don't make me do that again."
Cristian turned with a smile mixed with guilt, "Well, there will be many times in the future where people will swarm you like that."
"At least warn me first."
The mother spoke without looking at them. "There will be no warning when it happens. Be ready for it all the time."
The father and the son shut up instantly as they looked at each other.
What she said was harsh, but it was the truth. The media always fed on people's despair, faults, and bad luck. They'd make anything out of thin air and claim it as if it was the truth.
The boy sighed in defeat and boringly stared down at the white tablecloth.
After a few moments he heard a soothing, deep voice from his back. "You did well."
The boy almost turned his head in surprise but controlled last minute. Eirene just told him he did well. The queen of villains told him he did well! How could he NOT be happy?!
Ares further bent his neck to a point it was a right angle, smiling like a pre-schooler and pink covering his ears softly.
----
"I saw that."
The actress did not say anything and kept her attention on the host cracking jokes without a trace of being entertained.
Jaxon chuckled with wide eyes and shook his head. He clearly heard and saw her saying 'you did well' to the boy, but as soon as he pointed it out, her happy face was replaced with a cold one.
"You are going to draw unwanted attention," Eirene warned her chuckling manager with her icy tone.
"I'm sorry." The man cracked up more. She was caught red-handed, but she didn't want to admit it. She was certainly changing, but this side of her wasn't.
Cracks of laughter joined Jaxon's and filled the hall, laughing at whatever the host said.
The host was also satisfied with the audience and was about to crack another one when there was a loud bang at the entrance. This caused everyone to freeze and turn to the origin of the sound.
There stood an old lady confidently in a classic red dress.
When she realised she paused something that was going on, she spoke in her strong, carrying voice. "Oh. Hello. I was trying to come in as quietly as possible but I failed. Excuse me for my actions." She then began walking past the tables and to the front. "Please, don't mind me and continue with what you were doing."
Of course, there was no way the crowd and the host could pick up wherever they left off, especially when the lady was striding toward the stage with dominance as if she owned the place.
The host looked at the CEO with panic when no one stopped the lady. He was about to call security when Cristian raised one of his hands as he stood up.
Cristian watched and waited until the lady reached him.
They started into each other's eyes for a short time before the lady said, "It's been a long time." She had the same silver eyes as the man in front of her but hers were sharper.
The heir also stood up from his seat. "Grandma."