April's Pov
My time at the office for the next few days was a complete blur, probably because I lived through those days like a zombie, working nonstop toward the fundraiser. I hoped the planning would distract me from everything else, but Rose suddenly decided to handle the preparations herself.
At least she allocated me enough menial jobs she felt were too irrelevant for her to be bothered by, and for that, I was grateful.
Regardless of her condescending attitude lately, I gave it my best and ensured nothing was amiss as the fundraiser day drew closer. It has to be perfect.
The night of the fundraiser finally arrived, and the Home seemed to be bustling with activity. Our guests were arriving by the minute, dressed in elegant and classy attires, ready to support our cause, all thanks to Mr. Ortiz.
He's a striking figure of elegance and power and carries an air of sophistication that belies his age. His dark, wavy hair, often tousled in a stylishly casual manner, frames his rugged but refined handsome face.
His eyes are a deep shade of brown, full of intelligence and a hint of mystery. They light up when he talks about his passions, reflecting the depth of his character. His skin, most likely kissed by the Spanish sun, adds to his masculinity.
One of his most distinctive features is a dimple that adds a touch of boyish charm to his otherwise imposing persona when he smiles. That warm and genuine smile has a way of disarming anyone he approaches.
He was dressed impeccably, favoring a tailored suit that spoke of his refined taste. Yet, his style had a certain simplicity, a testament to his down-to-earth nature, which he rarely shows.
What truly set him apart was not just his physical attractiveness but his drive, ambition, and ability to turn dreams into reality. The way he handled the evening, regardless of his status and good looks, makes him truly handsome.
He and Rose stood by the entrance to greet and welcome each guest with warm smiles, thanking them in advance for their support.
With Rose's help, the kids presented different activities, from singing to dancing and even acting. Tina, eleven years of age, played the violin so well that she won the guests' hearts immediately.
One would think we were hosting a children's talent show or something. But it did bring bright smiles to the faces of our future investors watching the kids perform.
While Rose and Jacob worked the room, I ensured every event itinerary for tonight was done on time. But I couldn't help noticing a concentrated atmosphere around Rose; it felt like it was against me.
At this point, it's clear that I should not get comfortable with Mr. Ortiz, especially since Rose was already jealous of how much time we spent together at the office.
But tonight, she wasn't even trying to hide playing coquette at Mr. Ortiz, and our guests were starting to notice. I wouldn't mind if it were any other day, but tonight shouldn't be about any of us; it should be about Cantia and the children.
Fortunately for us all, Mr. Ortiz was focused on everything except her despite all her efforts. He seemed more interested in saving this place and couldn't afford to be distracted. It made me very proud to know how much he wants tonight's event to go well.
He truly was the best tonight. He was the best dressed, the best host, and the best man in here.
A few hours into the party, I searched for Viktor, who had been out of sight all evening, and I was so worried about that. The last time I saw him was in the early hours of this morning, and he was pretty moody and the least bit excited about tonight.
My mind flashed back to us twelve years ago, when Viktor had faced something similar to now. His jealousy was above the roof when he saw a boy our age kiss Rose during a school play. After the play, he approached the kid and punched him right in the nose.
He didn't go to the same school as us, so he wasn't exactly punished for it, but he was banned from attending all other school plays Rose featured in. That was when we all knew how he truly felt about Rose and would tease him, so he never forgot how silly he had been back then.
Bearing that in mind, I went in search of him. I didn't want him to do anything stupid since he's most likely to disrupt this entire night if he feels like it. After several minutes of search, I finally found him lurking in the shadows by the entrance to the garden where most of the guests were now gathered.
There was a big fountain at the center of the garden where some guests stood around, chatting away under the moon and the starlight. The garden was decorated with many lampposts and deco-lightbulbs to keep the place illuminated throughout the evening.
I found Viktor seething with jealousy and anger as he stared at Mr. Ortiz chatting with his rich friends and business associates. I guess he wasn't pleased with the turnout of tonight's event after all. And right now, his jealousy might be clouding his judgment.
With Mr. Ortiz's arrival and quick relationship with Rose, all attention had shifted from Viktor, who used to be the center of attention in Cantia, not just because of his looks alone but also because of his lovely, carefree, and exciting spirit.
I felt terrible about ignoring and snapping at him, making him feel like his opinion no longer mattered. However, I can't understand why he can't stand the thought of Rose and Mr. Ortiz being together when he won't even talk to Rose about his feelings for her.
So, I approached him to talk with him. But he also made a move and casually brushed past me without noting my presence. As he passed by, I got a whiff of alcohol.
Has he been drinking?
I turned around to go after him, but my tiny footsteps were nothing compared to his long strides as I tried to pursue him.
When I realized he was heading toward Mr. Ortiz and his business associates, intoxicated, I hastened my steps and even sprinted to get to him on time. Unfortunately, I couldn't reach Viktor on time before he interrupted Mr. Ortiz's and his associate's conversation with a sly smile.
Oh no.
Our cheerful guests, who were busy enjoying their drinks and hors d'oeuvres, mingling and chatting about the future of Cantia, may be abruptly cut short by the kind of scene I suspect Viktor is about to create.
"Hey, my man, Jakey," he coerced, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I truly hope your wealthy friends enjoy the rest of the party tonight. I suppose it'll be a shame if something bad happens and the fun gets interrupted, wouldn't it?"
He asked, his voice laced with menace, before walking away. That was it. I was sure Mr. Ortiz could handle himself, but I also expected Viktor to throw a few fists. However, he just left.
Everyone looked confused as I approached the table, and Mr. Ortiz gave me an eyebrow-lift look. But I shrugged, expressing that I had no idea what that was all about.
A few moments later, all the lights began to flicker before they all went out. The bustling chattering sound dropped to a dead silence as we all heard water rushing and splashing from a nearby source in the darkness.
I quickly pulled out my phone and searched around to find the source of the sound. I was met with the horrid sight of the fountain overflowing, spilling water onto the patio. A few meters from it was a loose live wire from a string of decoration light bulbs, which was supposed to have gone out but didn't, and the water was dangerously rushing close to it.
Without hesitation, I sprang into action, and so did Mr. Ortiz. While I tried to locate the fountain's pump switch to turn it off, Mr. Ortiz guided the guests from the flooded area to safety. It was such a mildly chaotic scene, but we managed it well.
Panting and feeling incredibly lucky we could salvage the situation, Mr. Ortiz came to me and held my hand. "Are you alright..." he muttered, concerned and only inches from my face.
Oh God, no.
I could feel the electricity from his touch running down my spine, and my legs turned into jellies. With my throat dried and incapable of formulating words, I nodded vigorously.
Thank goodness the power was restored, and everyone cheered as they could tell what was happening in their environment again.
"...I think we make a pretty good team," Mr. Ortiz added kindly with a smile.
I smiled back, my eyes shining with affection and gratitude, but I kept at bay my excitement at Jacob Ortiz, who was still holding my hand.
"Yeah, I think so too," I finally replied, squeezing his hand gently.
But as soon as I realized my action, I quickly retracted my hand from his. He looked at our hands disappointed, but I went ahead and started the cleanup from the flood, and he joined me.
"You don't have to do this, Mr. Oritz; I can handle it. Moreover, you've got guests to attend to," I stated and returned to cleaning up.
But he adamantly continued to help beside me until a group of three investors approached us a few moments later.
"We've been watching you both, and we're impressed by how you handled the situation just now," one of them said kindly.
I gave a courteous smile while Mr. Ortiz stood from the floor to shake their hands.
"We want to offer our support and donate generously to this children's Home. And we are confident that you two are the perfect team to handle this place and our donation," the second guest added to our surprise.
Mr. Ortiz and I smiled at each other with excitement about their offer. Although hearing their decision felt overwhelming, we naturally accepted it on the spot, and Mr. Ortiz went on with them to discuss it further. This was precisely the kind of opportunity we expected from throwing this party.
But just as things were returning to normal, another disaster struck. It appeared Viktor had set up a second wave of chaos in motion to sabotage the event in case the first wave failed.
I noticed it beforehand, as the heavy rod that hung the canopy for decoration suddenly got loose. It was about to snap toward a clueless female guest standing on its path, which would cause severe impact damage.
So, I impulsively ran towards the lady directly on its path and pushed her out of the way before she got seriously maimed. Luckily, I was on time. Right after I pushed her away to safety, the rod snapped and flew across the garden before hitting the floor, startling everyone around.
"Are you o..." I started, getting up to help the lady I had pushed down on her feet.
But I lost a step, tripping on my gown, and landed backward into the massive fountain. Immediately, my phobia of large bodies of water kicked in, and I could not get a grip as I thought I was drowning.
Before passing out, I last remembered Mr. Ortiz thoughtlessly jumping in to save me. When I opened my eyes again, I saw an equally soaked Mr. Ortiz calling out my name.
Did he pull me out of the fountain?
As he held my head on his lap while sitting on the floor, I wondered what had frightened him when I saw the sudden shocked look in his shadowed blue eyes.
"Wh... what's wrong? Don't worry... I'm fine now," I affirmed in between coughs.
"Ms. Turner, your... hair."
He mutters inaudibly, probably due to the shock, but I heard him. What is wrong with my... Oh no. I had completely forgotten I had temporary hair dye on since I recently ran out of the long-lasting one I'm used to.
I bet all the black in my hair was dripping onto his pants as he stared at me. The pool water must have washed off my hair dye and exposed my actual hair color. And now he must think I'm a freak because he didn't utter a word.
He stared at me dumbfounded, along with all the other spectators, like I was some circus freak. Well, I guess the secret of my unnatural looks was finally out—the secret I've been trying so cautiously to hide for years now.
How could I have been so careless? I tried to look around but noticed everyone staring at me. I immediately got uncomfortable, got up from his thighs, and ran off. Just great!