Tessa smiled just looking at Emily, her best friend whuch had turned to a sister. One thing she had noticed about Emily was her love for the spotlight.
Sighing, she silently passed the corners so as not to steal the spotlight Emily was enjoying.
Tessa made her way into the building, heading towards the ball room, observing the beautiful decorations.
She soon made her way to some of the investors, film makers and charity organizers she was familiar with, engaging them in conversations to while away time.
~~~
Mr Santos on the other hand wasn't in the mood to enjoy the celebration or to admire the decorations. He was bent on seeing Lucas drinking the poisoned drink and writhing in pain afterwards.
He made small talk with other busuness owners and potential investors, half of his attention in the matter they were discussing and the other half looking for any signs of the guard approaching Lucas.
The target on the other hand had thought he was going to faint just being a part of the celebration.
Not only were different ladies flocking around him, different men also did. Those who harbored good and bad intentions, a smile plastered on their faces as they came to him to exchange handshakes or "greetings!".
Lucas snorted facing Craig, "I'm so tired, and the event just started!", Lucas said in a way which Craig alone could hear,all while the bored, aloof expression still remained in his face.
"Do you want me to get water for you?!", Craig asked Lucas as he was about to stand up. "No, no need for that yet!", Lucas said, rejecting the offer.
Like Lucas had predicted, the soiree was as boring as he imagined. The ball room was nothing but big investors talking about things which they found amusing.
Lucas wondered why he even honoured the invitation if he could predict the events of the soiree. He suddenly thought of the last function before the one he attended, before Madam Petras's soiree.
The corner of his lips tugged slightly remembering the birthday banquet of the governor months ago. That was where he first met Audrey, where his heart which hadnt skipped in the longest time skipped multiple beats.
He had tried to deny it when it happened, but after reminiscing that moment at the banquet hall, Lucas knew, for him , it was love at first sight.
Emily had walked into the ball room after spending some minutes enjoying the spotlight. Taking out her phone to ask Tessa where she was, she wasn't surprised to be disturbed by handsome young CEOs who wanted to dance with her.
One by one, she rejected all of them politely. She admitted that they were handsome, but they just couldn't compare to Lucas Walton, her Lucas Walton, the only person she intended to dance with that night. She headed to his table soon, most men repulsed to the idea of approaching her, as they thought she was with Lucas
Hours into the soiree, most people had already loosened up, enjoying the conversations and the drinks like they should. Mr Santos however was getting pissed off that Lucas wasnt taking any sort of drink or food.
'The stupid idiot, why won't he just grab a drink!!', Mr Santos thought as he texted the guard, opting for plan B. He stood up and headed to Lucas's table, like every other person who had approached the same table just to be in the presence of the Lucas Walton.
What Mr Santos didn't expect was to see the famous model Emily Han sitted on the table with him.
A few minutes before Mr Santos headed to Lucas's table, Lucas was surprised to see an uninvited person at his table. He glared daggers as Emily returned the gesture with her genuine smile.
"I didn't know you were going to come to the event Lucas!!", Emily said lying through her teeth. As soon as Emily opened her mouth to speak in such an informal tone towards the president, Craig left the table to give the two the privacy he thought they needed.
After Craig left, Lucas leaned forward and rested his hands on the table, Emily's smile growing even bigger that she got to see his face properly.
"And so?!", Lucas asked, wondering where the Emily who was so focused on her future went to. "I mean, I'm here right, I wonder why you didn't ask me to be your date!", Emily said not even being the least bit intimidated by his aura.
"I don't know how many times I'm going to tell you this Emily, I have a beautiful girlfriend and she wouldn't appreciate me going out with other women!", Lucas said putting it in the simplest way he could.
"That doesn't mean I won't try!", Emily said, flashing a grin towards Lucas. "At least, take me home for starters!", Emily suggested, Lucas was about to tell her that he would ask Criag to call a cab for her when Mr Santos approached his table.
"Mind if I bother you for a bit?", Mr Santos asked, a fake smile plastered on his face. "You can take your seat Mr Santos!", Lucas said as a sign of respect for the man who looked like he was in his mid fifties.
"I'm sorry to bother you, I just wanted to propose an idea to you!", Mr Santos said, carrying on with the plan as he gave the disguised waiter the signal they agreed on.
He didn't need to be told twice as he passed by the table like the routine of the waters. "Two glasses of champagne!", Mr Santos ordered disregarding Emily's Presence .
He took the two glasses of champagne from the tray, arranged specifically, he took the one which wasn't poisoned for himself and he passed the one which was mixed with the poison to Lucas.
Like every other waiter blending themselves in the shadows, Lucas had thought the waiter was serving drinks to the guests who wanted refreshments.
Unsuspecting and about to fall right into the trap Mr Santos had set for him, Lucas was about to take the drink from Mr Santos out of appreciation when a feminine hand which they had disregarded came out of nowhere and took the drink from Me Santos's hand.