The red faced lady limped sorely to Sebastian who deposited an envelope in her hand without batting an eye.
It is a very familiar situation, His boss would order for a rosy cheek petite whore, someone with striking resemblance of Victoria and unleash his frustration on her throughout the night. He would choke on them and force them to scream that they are sorry for leaving him while sexually assaulting them.
It was his thing.
His great stamina never seems to fail him and the victim would be nearly faint by dawn of the next day. When they are unable to get off the bed, Sebastian would have to order the boys that took care of Ethan's numerous activities to carry her out and leave her with her payment. It was dusk this time, and soon time for the Gala.
Ethan finished dressing in his tuxedo suit, Shoes and a Premium watch that cost about a yearly budget for a third world country.
"Your charisma is second to none, Boss." Sebastian acknowledged with a nod when Ethan finally turned to look at him. He had been staring silently at the mirror for a while and Sebastian wondered what was running in his head.
He glanced at himself one more time in the mirror. Sebastian was stating the truth, even a child would be awed by his beauty.
"Vanity, all vanity!" A silent voice echoed in his head and he sighed before replying.
"We should get going."
*************
If anyone had told Emma in her previous life that she would sniff a party as grande as the one she would step into tonight, she would never had believed.
The world of wealthy elites and influential citizens was really an equisite one. She looked in awe as expensive cars cruised in, the glamorous dresses, cosmetics, even the males were not left out. The building itself was a masterpiece, she wondered how possible it was to construct such a complicated structure.
Everyone seemed to be living at the peak and there was her, a lone artist struggling to find her feet in the world of Aristocrats.
A world, just like this.
"Your table, the Brandsons." The steward, a man whom Emma presumed to be British because of his thick accent, said with the gesture of his hand.
He led the family consisting of Mr and Mrs Brandson, Lora, her brother, Jack, and Emma to a reserved table.
Emma looked around once more, other families were seated as well. She could also see important figures from the art world, her role models. She felt goosebumps and turned instantly to Lora, eyes filled with gratitude.
"If you keep looking around like that, the guests would think you to be a creep." Lora whispered with a mischievous grin.
In the interim, Ethan walked in - head high, with the Steward that had ushered Lora's family in, directing him. Emma's eyes followed their movements. Her eyes were specifically glued to Ethan.
She had never seen a man with his kind of beauty. It was like he was cut out from the rest of the social class of people. He looked around briefly after sitting and for a second, she thought his eyes met hers. She shivered and swiftly looked back at the host. Goosebumps jolted once again in her.
The night approached swiftly and after a series of boring activities, it was soon time for the 'Unveiling of potentials'.
"You can do this, Emma," Mr Brandson and his wife smiled at a nervous Emma. Lora handed her portfolio to her with a big smile plastered on her face.
The other artists already started walking out with their portfolios and they assembled on the spacious podium. Emma gingerly walked forward, she was the last to arrive at the podium, her heart raced.
Many thoughts ran through her head "What if her paintings were no match for that of the other artists? What if she gets disqualified in the first round?"
She discreetly took a peek at the faces of those who stood beside her. They looked like they were ready for any challenge. Was she? Only time could tell.
Ethan, on the other hand watched with an amused look as the girl with the crimson hair looked at the others, worry and anxiety danced in her eyes.
She had the most innocent face he had ever seen, she just didn't have rosy cheeks.
Well yeah, they always look like that until you get to know them. The thought poked him like a dagger.
"Here, Elite Walton and Noble miss Victoria," The Steward led a couple to a seat, two tables away from Ethan's.
It were the names he dreaded the most. Victoria Hamilton and Geoffrey Walton, her multimillionaire boyfriend.
He stared at the couple, and was just in time to see Victoria's fixated gaze on him. She curled a part of her lip upward, brushed part of her hair backward and tucked a piece of her bang, by the side of her heavily jewelled ear. She was shameless, he decided.
It took everything in him to restrain himself from running over to the table and stabbing her in the eye.
He turned back to the podium, the crimson hair girl no longer looked nervous. In fact, she seemed confident now. His eyes swivelled to Olivia, who was presenting.
Emma waited patiently for her turn and finally, it came. She delicately showcased her paintings, including the dimensions, explaining the complex colors and inspirations. It awed everyone and the judges gazed on in absolute silence. They had never seen paintings more baroque and concluded that she would be awarded the prize.
When she was done, she smiled broadly at the audience and bowed. The applause that erupted was deafening. Her heart swelled, Ethan thought his swelled too.
While the judges rounded up, the Charismatic art gallery owner, Gabriel Riveria walked to the podium amidst cheers and offered to buy a painting of Emma's.
"I offer $10,000 for this creative piece of art" Another round of applause.
Emma's eyes shone with tears, she could not believe that a moment like this would come.
"I offer $50,000 for it," Emma's eyes widened as the speaker walked forward.
It was Ethan Grey.