Chapter 8: A Night to Remember
Mia woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear, and her heart sank as she realized she was running late. Again. She panicked, throwing off her covers and rushing to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She got dressed in record time, her hands shaking as she tried to button up her blouse.
As she rushed out of her apartment, Sarah was waiting for her in the car, a concerned expression on her face. "Hey, girl, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Mia took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I'm late, Sarah. I'm going to get fired."
Sarah's expression turned sympathetic. "Don't worry, Mia. You'll be fine. Just get to the office and apologize. Kaiden can't be that bad, can he?"
Mia raised an eyebrow. "You have no idea, Sarah. He's...different."
Sarah dropped Mia off at the office, and Mia rushed inside, her heart racing. As she entered the lobby, she bumped into Tracy who was standing by the reception desk, a stern expression on her face.
"Mia, you're late again," Tracy scolded. "The president is waiting for you. Run upstairs, now."
Mia didn't need to be told twice. She took the elevator to Kaiden's office, her heart sinking as she realized she was in for another scolding. As she reached the top floor, she saw Kaiden coming out of his office, looking more handsome than she had ever seen him. He was wearing a tailored suit, and his hair looked like it had just been cut. He was breathtaking.
But Mia didn't have time to admire him. As she approached, Kaiden's expression turned stern. "Mia, you're late again. What is wrong with you?"
Mia felt a flush rise to her cheeks as Kaiden scolded her. She looked down, trying to avoid his piercing gaze. "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
Kaiden's expression didn't soften. "Take the bags from John. We need to go."
Mia looked puzzled as John, a production member, handed her a stack of bags. She wondered how she was supposed to carry all of them, but a second look from Kaiden made her rush to collect the bags.
As they made their way to the car, Kaiden ordered his driver to take the bags from Mia and put them in the boot. He then opened the door for Mia to get in, a gesture that surprised her. She wasn't used to Kaiden being chivalrous.
As they drove through the city, Mia asked Kaiden where they were going, but he didn't respond. He just kept staring out of the window, his expression unreadable.
After a few minutes, Kaiden asked the driver to stop at a clothing store. Mia's curiosity was piqued. "Why are we stopping here, sir?"
Kaiden turned to her, his eyes critical. "You look like trash, Mia. You need something different."
Mia felt a sting from his words, but she was also grateful. She had never been one to splurge on clothes, and the thought of getting a new dress from her boss was exciting.
As they entered the store, Kaiden commanded the sales associates to bring out their finest dresses for Mia. Kaiden then sat on a chair looking like a king on his throne. Mia was overwhelmed as she tried on dress after dress, but Kaiden condemned each one. She began to feel like she was never going to find a dress that met his standards.
But then, she tried on the last dress. It was a beautiful blue gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. Even with no makeup on, Mia still looked stunning. Her beautiful deep brown eyes shimmered, and her bright pink lips seemed to shine brighter that moment.
Wow," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You look...stunning. He caught himself saying. Kaiden was lost staring at Mia for a while, till a sales man had to call back his attention ; "Sir, what did you say??, Hun!", Kaiden exclaimed having being brought back to reality . "What do you think of the dress sir" the salesman asked. "This one is acceptable," he managed to say with his voice gruff.
For a moment, Mia thought she saw something like admiration in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by his usual stern expression.
Pack the rest for her" ;he further said, also commanding that Mia to follow him.
Kaiden stood up, his eyes still fixed on her. "You need some jewelry he said, his voice firm. Mia nodded. She followed Kaiden to the jewelry section, where he picked out a stunning silver necklace and earrings, then ordered that they dress her up.
Mia felt like a princess as the sales associates fawned over her, helping her into the dress and accessorizing her with a beautiful necklace and earrings. Kaiden even ordered them to do her makeup, and Mia felt like she was being transformed into a different person.
As they finished up, Mia looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself. She looked...stunning.
Kaiden's expression was unreadable as he looked at her, but Mia could sense a hint of approval. "You look...presentable, Mia," he said, his voice low.
Mia felt a flutter in her chest as Kaiden offered her his arm. "Shall we go?" he asked, his eyes glinting with something like amusement.
As they walked to the car, Mia asked, "Where are we going, sir?.
Kaiden's expression turned mysterious. "We're going to a charity ball, Mia. One of the most prestigious events of the year."
Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "A ball? I've never been to one before."
Kaiden raised an eyebrow. "Really? I would have thought you'd be familiar with this sort of thing."
Mia shook her head, feeling a little self-conscious. "No, sir. I'm not exactly...high society."
Kaiden's expression softened slightly, and for a moment, Mia thought she saw a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Well, you look like you belong now," he said with a smile and his voice low causing Mia to blush.
As they arrived at the ball, Mia was struck by the grandeur of the venue. The room was filled with people in formal attire, and the music was a gentle hum in the background. Kaiden led her through the crowds, nodding and smiling at people as they passed.
Mia felt like a fish out of water, but Kaiden's presence beside her made her feel more confident.
As they reached the center of the room, Kaiden stopped and turned to her. "Mia, I need to warn you," he said, his voice low. "There will be a lot of people here who will try to talk to you, to get to know you. Just remember, you're here as my representative. Be yourself.
Mia nodded, feeling nervousness. She could do this, she told herself. She just had to be herself and keep her head up high.
But as they began to mingle, Mia realized that it wasn't going to be easy. There were so many people, all wanting Kaiden's attention, and Mia felt like she was just a minor accessory.
Just when she thought she was going to get lost in the crowd, Kaiden's hand found hers, then his fingers wrapped around her waist in a gentle but firm grip. "Stay close," he whispered to her left ear, his breath tickling her ear.
Mia felt a shiver run down her spine as she looked up at him. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Mia felt like she was drowning in their depths.
But then, Kaiden's expression turned neutral, and he led her into the fray, leaving Mia to wonder what had just happened.
As the night wore on, Mia found herself swept up in a whirlwind of conversations and laughter. She met people from all walks of life, from business moguls to celebrities, and she was surprised by how much she was enjoying herself
But every now and then, she caught Kaiden's eye, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the world around them melting away.
As the night wore on, Mia found herself having fun. She got introduced to different business partners of Kaiden, And when they all asked who she was to him, he simply said his Assistant. Mia felt a pinch on his words, but I mean what was she expecting that he call her. Guess she got ahead of her self thinking she was special just because he offered her a dress. She quickly waved off the thought and decided to have fun through out the night. She got drinking, and soon she became drunk.