The room was filled with exclamations of awe as Lydia passed by.
"Wow!" a woman exclaimed.
"She's gorgeous!" muttered another man.
Lydia couldn't help but wonder why everyone she encountered seemed to be commenting on her appearance.
"Huh, maybe they genuinely dislike how I look. I knew it! At any moment, I'll be kicked out like a ball, and the CEO will regret inviting me," she convinced herself, putting on a smile.
Further ahead, Jace spotted her and shared a similar expression of shock.
"Holy moly! Lydia, you look—"
"I know, I know... the worst look in history, no need to say it. It was actually part of my plan to escape this party," Lydia smiled, proud of her failed genius plan.
"You know very well that your plan failed in the best way possible," Jace's face carried a mix of emotions.
"What do you mean?" Lydia asked, placing her hands on her hips. "I deliberately selected the worst gown in the world—"
"You mean the best!" Mr. Fred interrupted as he approached them.
"Best?" Lydia was taken aback.
"You look gorgeous!" Mr. Fred's eyes sparkled with admiration as he floated on cloud nine.
"Sir, we're in public," Janice warned, attempting to save him from any potential embarrassment.
"You truly look stunning," a deep, unfamiliar voice suddenly chimed in, catching everyone off guard.
The speaker was a man who exuded an aura of elegance and affluence from head to toe. His perfectly gelled brown hair cascaded neatly, while his eyes carried an enticing allure. He seemed both handsome and caring, yet there was a hint of something mischievous in his face.
Dressed in an exquisite tuxedo, he flaunted a wristwatch that could easily buy their bakery multiple times over.
"I'm Mr. Gavin, the CEO of FRND Entertainment," he introduced himself with a touch of self-importance.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Gavin," Fred interjected, hoping to move the conversation along. "I'm Mr. Fred."
"Mr. Fred of what?" Gavin's disappointment was evident. He had assumed he was speaking to a multimillionaire who owned numerous companies, only to learn that he was just... Mr. Fred.
"Anyway, thank you for the introduction. I believe we should find the host of this party," Lydia interjected, intending to change the topic.
"True, but may I know your name, beautiful?" Gavin directly focused his attention on Lydia.
"Oh, it's Janice..." Janice began, but Gavin brushed her off and approached Lydia. "You!"
Lydia didn't want the attention or anyone engaging with her, especially since her plan had failed. She was annoyed.
Quickly noticing Lydia's discomfort, Mr. Fred spoke up. "Mr. Gavin, are you single?" It was an odd question, but it served as a diversion.
"Of course, I am," Gavin confidently affirmed, initiating a new conversation.
Taking advantage of the situation, Lydia decided to take a stroll around the house, a foolish decision she soon realized. Moving discreetly, she wandered without informing anyone, easily mistaken for a spy if caught.
The mansion was grand, bustling with chefs preparing various dishes to satisfy the esteemed guests. Approaching the expansive kitchen, Lydia could hear the clinking of utensils and the chefs working diligently to create the main dessert—a delectable ice cream cake.
Curiosity piqued, she opened the door to the busy kitchen.
"Excuse me, may I ask what you're preparing?" Lydia inquired, addressing the head chef.
"We're making an ice cream cake," he replied.
"I can help—"
"No, please. The CEO won't appreciate it, and you're a guest," the chef interrupted, referring to the CEO as "he."
"But I'm also the best baker in town, so if you don't mind, I'd like to lend a hand," Lydia insisted, disregarding the chef's plea.
With her assistance, they managed to complete the ice cream cake in time, a task they would have struggled with otherwise.
Unbeknownst to Lydia, during her absence, the CEO had delivered a speech, announcing sponsorship and the bakery's future development. Her coworkers and boss had also taken the stage, sharing their thoughts and experiences.
Yet, Lydia remained absent.
(Actually more than 45 minutes later)
After 48 minutes of hard work, Lydia was finally done with the beautiful cake creation. The chefs were grateful for her help and expressed their appreciation.
"Thanks a lot, Miss Lydia. We never expected the cake to be completed in just 48 minutes! Truly, we appreciate your assistance," the chefs chorused.
"It was my pleasure," Lydia replied with a wave, bidding them farewell as she hurried back to the party.
As she entered the room, a smooth melody filled the air and everyone seemed to be engaged in a slow dance. The slow pace of the dance almost put Lydia to sleep and she couldn't help but yawn.
"Miss Lydia," a deep male voice called out, breaking her drowsiness.
"Huh?" She turned around, startled by the unexpected interruption.
To her surprise, it was the CEO himself, looking dashing in his attire. His handsome face took her breath away momentarily.
"Sir..."
"Would you like to dance with me?" His request caught her off guard and she blinked repeatedly in disbelief.
Unable to refuse the host of the party who personally invited her, Lydia mustered a response. "Sure... I mean, sure..." She took his outstretched hand and the dancing floor quickly cleared for them.
"Why did they clear the dance floor? Come back, you rich people! Do you want to embarrass me? Come back!" Lydia silently protested in her mind, but she maintained a neutral expression on her face.
The slow music started playing, providing a guide for their dance. It became evident to him that Lydia didn't know how to dance.
"You don't know how to dance?" His blunt comment hit Lydia's ears, causing her annoyance.
"Well, hmm... I mean, no," Lydia corrected herself, realizing she needed to choose her words more carefully.
"Then follow my lead," he instructed, using his legs to guide her. "Don't be slow to learn, or you'll embarrass yourself... badly."
Nodding, Lydia quickly caught on and soon danced like a pro. The CEO appeared momentarily impressed before returning to his usual composed expression.
"I know you can smile!" Lydia silently rebuked him in her thoughts.
Towards the end of the dance, there was a slight embrace. As the finishing music began, he lightly hugged her, mindful of the potential rumors that could arise from a more intimate embrace.
Lydia caught a whiff of his cologne while he discreetly sniffed her, prompting a question.
"Why do you smell like vanilla extract, especially?" The question caught Lydia off guard, and it felt like a lightning bolt had struck her out of nowhere.
"Um... because I'm a baker... that's why I smell like vanilla," she replied, attempting to come up with a plausible explanation.
"So, what you're saying is that instead of wearing perfume like a normal person, you've sprayed vanilla extract on yourself?" Confusion was evident on his face, and Lydia couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Well, um... yeah!" She blurted out without thinking.
"Or you could just tell the truth that you've been helping the chef with the ice cream and cake!" He had uncovered her secret.
BUSTED!!!