Selina arrived home to prepare for the party. After refreshing herself, she changed into a short-sleeved, white flared dress made of cheap crêpe fabric, stopping just above her knees. The squared neckline revealed a hint of cleavage. It was a recent creation of hers.
Seated on a wooden chair before her dressing table, she brushed her sleek, long brown hair while listening to the worried voice on the other end of the line.
"I know this invitation matters a lot to you, but I don't feel right about it. How could someone who never spared you a glance suddenly notice you?" the feminine voice fretted.
"I don't feel right about it either… but it would be rude to reject his invitation." Selina's voice was soft as she stared at her alluring reflection in the oval mirror. "I guess no one turns down an invitation from their crush."
"That's different from yours," Annabelle retorted, her voice sharp with concern. "Selina… I don't even know what he wants. A year ago, he was just a name in some erased article—the CEO of Cassius, remember? And now, out of nowhere, he's inviting you? It feels off."
Selina finished brushing her hair and lowered the brush onto the table. Annabelle's words hung in the air, unsettling her as she pondered them.
She let out a quiet sigh. "He might be mysterious, but I don't think he's the bad kind."
Annabelle's sarcastic laugh cut through her conviction. "Lover girl. Men with secrets are scary and unpredictable."
Selina nodded slowly, acknowledging her best friend's concern. "I mean… What if he does want us to get along? This could be… something, right?"
"I hope so," Annabelle murmured, sounding unconvinced.
"That's why I called—to let you know my whereabouts," Selina added, attempting to stay positive despite Annabelle's worry. "And I'm only going to figure out his intentions behind the invitation and this sudden recognition."
After all, Mr. Zane's life was shrouded in mystery, and not even the media had the slightest clue about his background. Even the article about his inauguration had vanished within twenty-four hours of publication. The thought of his secretive life made Selina's heart race, yet the eagerness of seeing what kind of man he had become now sliced through her unease.
Was he still the cold customer she once served, or had time softened him?
Annabelle sighed, resigned. "Don't forget to take the pepper spray from my bag," she reminded her.
Selina's gaze shifted across the table to Annabelle's bag, left behind from a weekend visit.
"I'll take it with me. Just in case," Selina replied.
"Remember, you have a terrible habit of drinking. You're not allowed to consume anything. And when you see him, don't lose yourself in fantasy. He must not touch you until we know his intentions," Annabelle warned sternly, well aware of how often Selina had fantasized about being Zane's romantic partner.
Selina beamed softly. "Yes, ma'am. He won't," she reassured.
"See you later. I have a delivery to finish before the day ends," Annabelle said.
"Okay. See you."
"Have fun. And be careful."
The call ended, leaving Selina to breathe deeply in an attempt to calm the nervous flutter in her chest. She reminded herself—this was just a welcome party. She was only going because he had recognized her.
Selina's cinnamon eyes lingered on her reflection. She traced her fingers across her face, admiring her delicate features. A part of her wished she could attend as her most alluring self, hopeful that he would like her new appearance. Wealthy men like him were typically drawn to beauty. Yet she knew he might not even recognize her—the unattractive waitress from before.
Besides, she didn't want to be selfish, dragging him into the mess of the scandal tied to her real identity.
Selina gathered her hair into a wig net, then carefully placed a short black bob wig over it. She followed with gray contact lenses to mask her cinnamon eyes. Picking up a brow pencil, she reshaped her naturally thin brows into a thicker form, then made a few freckles beneath her eyes. Lastly, she slipped on her round glasses, their clunky frames dulling the allure she saw in the mirror.
After applying a touch of unflattering makeup, she changed into a modest evening outfit, nothing too fancy, but presentable enough not to embarrass him in a room full of elites. She slipped on her wedge heels, grabbed her purse, and the small gift box she had prepared that was wrapped neatly with a ribbon across it.
A light spray of pleasant perfume misted over her, and she smiled at her reflection. It reached her eyes. Satisfied with her low-profile preparation, she rose from the chair and walked over to Annabelle's bag, retrieving the pepper spray.
She glanced down at it, silently hoping the evening would go smoothly—and that she wouldn't have to use it. If something happens, at least Annabelle will know where she went.
***
It took a forty-minute drive from home to reach the venue. The cab braked gently on the spacious grounds of the Cassius Hotel as Selina stepped out after paying her fare. The towering building looked even more impressive in person than it had online, with a grand fountain flowing at the center of the courtyard. Luxurious cars pulled up, dropping off their owners before driving away, confirming the presence of high-profile guests.
Just as Selina prepared to move, her gaze caught a sleek black Dongfeng M Hero 917 accompanied by a BMW XM (Label Red Edition) pulling up and stopping at a safe distance. She froze, captivated by the flashy cars, and noticed the driver hurriedly stepping out.
Selina recognized the driver as Damien. Quietly, she watched him open the back door and the person inside first extended his long legs before stepping out.
She was rooted to the spot, dumbstruck.
His dark, lengthy hair was slicked back neatly. He wore a black tailored-sleeve T-shirt tucked into black pants, revealing a muscular frame. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, and everything about him amplified his striking charm, despite the cold aura that clung to him.
Lost in his presence, Selina found her eyes locked onto his icy gaze. Her heart raced, her cheeks warming with a faint blush. Still, he didn't move or act like he recognized her while he allowed their stare to simply linger across the distance.
The BMW's driver stepped out and broke the silence, his voice low as he glanced between Zane and the young woman three times before speaking.
"Is that Hudson's second daughter?" asked Noah, standing beside Zane. His eyes widened in surprise as he observed Selina.
Noah's sharp question pulled Zane from his trance. He blinked, looking away from Selina as if breaking free from a fleeting pull. It wasn't that she was dressed in the finest attire, nor did she have a mesmerizing appearance to captivate him. Yet, deep down, he couldn't shake the strange feeling about her—one he couldn't quite comprehend.
"I didn't expect Selina to look this unattractive in person compared to the photo," Noah commented, scanning her with amusement. "How could she be unattractive when her eldest sister and stepmother are famous for their beauty?"
As usual, Zane said nothing and pulled Noah out of his distraction.
Noah turned to him and asked, "Do you think she'd be entertaining if she were my girlfriend? She might not be beautiful, but sometimes people like her have the most beautiful hearts."
Zane remained silent, suppressing a snort at Noah's compliment.
Beautiful at heart?
He didn't believe she had any beauty within, especially with that man's blood running through her veins. Besides, her appearance hadn't improved in the past three years. She was still an ugly swan.
Since she was here, it would be good to confirm his assumptions.
Without a word, Zane slid his hands into his pockets and walked away, Noah following close behind.
As Zane strode into the hotel, Selina still couldn't understand his unreadable reaction when their eyes met earlier—his cold gaze held hers for a fleeting moment. He stared at her as if they were strangers.
She didn't dwell on it, remembering she was here to figure out his intentions.
Selina followed, eyes wide with awe at the grand interior and the enormous paintings lining the walls. As her heels clicked softly on the staircase, she ascended the hallway behind him, her steps falling in quiet sync with his.