Katriona

"I can't believe he's here. This event is another first time for him,"

"He never attended my parties. Why did a common fundraising event like this make him go out and show himself to everyone?"

"I never knew that he's into this kind of event."

All the loud chattering I heard was from the guest - three elite women, to be exact. They're all wearing expensive clothes, shoes, and pieces of jewelry. All are branded from head to foot. Their faces were also plastered with makeup, and it was obvious that they had prepared well for this event. It takes work to check on every guest in this social gathering, and it's my first time handling this event.

With over two hundred guests invited, I know few of them personally.

"The crowd gatherer is giving this event a unique color," said a voice behind me.

"Who?" I asked as I listened to the one speaking in my two-way radio earphones. I'm currently checking the sound setup and the stage's LED TV.

"The infamous billionaire doctor." With that keyword, I knew now who Tori was talking to.

Dr. Samuel Rosario is a famous billionaire doctor who recently went viral after performing a successful awake brain surgery. It's the first time in the country that this kind of surgery has happened, so I understand why he's famous. Dr. Rosario and I are in the same circle but have yet to meet in person.

I have no plan of meeting him.

"Tori, can you help Irish in the gift center?" I asked my friend and business partner.

Victoria, or Tori, to me, is my childhood best friend. We grew up together in the same neighborhood until high school. We only moved when I was in my first year of college because Papa's business boomed, involving herbal medicines and juices.

Yes, I am the daughter of the famous Asian medicine doctor, Luisito Tsui.

"Ugh! Why can these guests not understand the difference between each bag?"

"I cannot answer because I will go for a bigger bag despite donating a small amount."

"Are you for real, Katriona?"

I smiled and led Tori to the spot where Irish was now. "Go now and help out our little friend there."

"Okay, boss." My eyes rolled upon hearing Tori's remarks. I don't want to be called boss even if I own the advertising agency that handles these fundraising events for stray dogs. This event was about ​​Mr. and Mrs. Trajano having a close heart for stray dogs.

A widespread event that even Dr. Samuel Rosario attended personally.

My eyes narrowed at the crowd where Dr. Rosario was. It was full of people who probably wanted to meet him. This event serves as a connection of elite people to each other. And I choose this line of work because an heiress needs to experience working and earning money without the help of anyone. Even if my parents offered to help, I would still refuse.

Freedom to choose was the only thing I could give myself before my parents eventually decided to meddle.

"The billionaire doctor is walking towards your spot, sweetie," I turned around when I heard what Tori said on the radio. "On your three o'clock."

My gaze was on Dr. Rosario's, but unlike any other movie-like encounter, ours didn't end like that. He walked past me and greeted the other guest not far from where I was standing. But I know inside my heart our eyes met, and I saw a sly smile on the side of his lips.

He's handsome but not my type.

"Was he handsome up close?" Irish asked, which made my eyes roll again.

"Even though he is still far away, I know Dr. Samuel Rosario is handsome," Tori answered confidently. "And these people focus on him, not on the agenda of this event."

"Are you saying these people are not concerned with the stray dogs?"

"Their wallet has, but the people, I doubt that. More important to them is business, getting allies, and money."

"People, let's work, please?" I begged, which silenced them. That's my cue to go and visit the tech booth. Before Mr. and Mrs. Trajano come to the stage, there will be an introduction video. "Is the video okay now?"

"Yes, boss," my eyes rolled again. They like calling in that way. "We're ready on your cue, Kat."

"Okay," I said, rubbing my eyes, making my eyelashes and contacts misaligned. "Shoot!"

"What happened?" Lance also said hysterically to me.

"Nothing. My lashes fall out, as well as my contacts." I pressed my two-way radio. "Tori, I need backup in giving Lance's team a cue for the video setup."

A shrill voice answered me before I heard the voice. "On it, boss."

"Tori will give you a cue. I'll take five first."

I quickly went to the bathroom when I gave all the instructions on what to do. I immediately took out eyelashes glue and contact lens solution. I removed the contacts I was wearing and soaked them in a solution. Without this pair of eyes, my world is blurry. I don't know anyone, so I'm grateful that this eye-clarifying contact lens was invented.

"Oh, God!" shouted the baritone voice that woke me up. "What are you doing here?"

"Doing my business," I said as I glued my eyelashes and carefully pasted them together my natural lashes. "How about you?"

"Inside a men's comfort room?" One of my hands fell when I heard this man say that. I couldn't make out who it was. I'm still blind, but I can determine his shoulder's width. That made him look handsome, but I didn't want to force myself because I might get a headache. "Dare I ask?"

I took a deep breath and continued what I was doing with dead malice. "You can do your business there while I'm here. Don't worry, and I won't record any video."

He chuckled. "You're a talkative lady,"

"Thank you. That's my best asset aside from my butt and boobs." I heard him clear his throat as if I had said something wrong or offended him.

"What is that?"

"My eyes." For a while, I didn't hear any word from him. I turned around even though I couldn't see his face. I didn't notice I entered the wrong comfort room without a contact lens."Not literally. These contact lenses help me see the world's accurate color."

"Interesting."

I scoffed. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not that kind of woman."

"Which kind?"

"The one who can warm your cold nights?"

The man laughed and filled the bathroom we were in. At first, it was awkward because I was in the men's comfort room with a man I couldn't see.

I am still determining what his name is. Usually, the first meeting starts with a self-introduction, but our case is different. I wrongly barged inside the men's comfort room and had a chit-chat with a stranger who sounded like Henry Cavill.

Ugh. The accents are killing me.

"I'm not that kind of man either." I nodded. It's good because it's hard to run with no eyes.

Again, not literally.

"Are you one of the guests here?"

"Sort of." Small talks. I like the mystery, but I prefer it if he tells me his name. "What about you?"

"Event Coordinator. I handle this fundraising event for Mr. and Mrs. Trajano."

"That's cool." Yeah, cool. I turned back off him when I heard his cell phone ringing. "Well, I'll leave you here alone and lock the door for you. It's hard that someone might take advantage of you."

I heard the door close, indicating that the mystery man had left me alone. What he said was sweet, but I had no time to flirt. I have work to do, so I must finish -

What the hell?!

I looked closely at my cell phone when I heard it ring. The caller is my father; if Luisito Tsui called, I could not ignore it.

"Papa..." I said in my lazy tone.

"Where are you? Why am I hearing loud music in the background?" The comfort room isn't a soundproof place. I can still hear the excitement outside, and I think that's because the video was launched.

"I'm working, 'Pa. I happened to be in the bathroom when you called. So what's up?"

I heard Papa's deep sigh on the other line. "Come home for family dinner this Friday, seven o'clock sharp. You are not allowed to be late or make an alibi. We have something important to tell you."

Essential to say or do?

Friday, seven o'clock sharp... That's in four days, and they knew I was in Manila. Traveling to Zambales on Friday is difficult, so how can I get there without getting stuck in traffic? The hassle and why all of a sudden?

"You both know that I'm in Manila, right?"

"Make an excuse or take a leave. You choose that, Katriona. Not coming is not an option."

I have a deep sigh. When Luisito Tsui gave the order, it was challenging to say no, so I did nothing but agree. It's still the best than starting an argument with them.

It is indeed the best.