Shantelle

"Are the items we need already prepared?" I informed my team.

We're meeting with our soon-to-be business partner at the last minute. Even if Gavin requested a cooperation, we must exhibit all that the Star Food Company has to offer in order to secure their favor.

If we succeed today, we will have a great chance since our firm will be renowned after Gavin's business is thriving in Standford.

"Yeah, we're ready. All of the paperwork have been reviewed and finalized. We're ready to go,” Cara said.

I was grateful to have Cara by my side. She was a wonderful friend and co-worker of mine. I didn't think I'd make it through the day.

I eventually decided to address the suggestion with the team the day after Dani asked me to a party.

Everyone gave the same response. We should not pass up this opportunity without giving it a go.

I had no idea Gavin's Adams Enterprise was well-known in Standford, much alone here in Kensington.

Gavin's business was a nice find.

They possess hotels, restaurants, and resorts in Lambherts and Standford, in addition to Wilderford.

Our company was doing well, but we still needed additional investors and customers.

I was certain that many people would enquire about us as a result of our collaboration with Gavin.

That could cause me a personal difficulty in the future, but I shouldn't be selfish this time and forsake all of the misery that my staff had through over the years.

I should concentrate on what I need to accomplish right now and quit thinking about what could happen to me later.

"Well, if we're through. You may have your lunch before heading to the office to avoid being late. The meeting has been adjourned."

My colleagues began to leave the meeting room, but I remained.

I wanted to sleep, but my thoughts wouldn't allow me since Gavin's words had continued repeating themselves till now.

It was one of the reasons I didn't get enough sleep, but the other was because I've been focusing all of my attention on preparing for the presentation today.

Numerous individuals would undoubtedly attend later, so there was no room for error.

Generally, I wasn't the one who brought up our suggestion. I delegated the task, but I was still there at every meeting.

If I'm unavailable, I'll delegate responsibility for an appointment or meeting to a representative.

But Lance informed me that his employer wanted me to be the one who discussed everything with them.

I felt nervous and a little terrified for some reason. Is it because we'd meet again later, but this time on his territory?

When it was time, I exited the meeting room and headed to the parking lot.

I got word that my unit had eaten and was approaching the extended company of Adams Enterprise.

I made my way there by car. I couldn't eat because I was afraid I'd vomit up, and I didn't feel like eating when I was worried.

When I arrived, I was astounded by how large his firm was. Their main building in Wilderford was considerably larger than what I was witnessing, yet it was only three times the size of ours.

It was simple for me to go through, and I was directed to the floor where the meeting would take place.

I walked smoothly with my head held high, yet deep down, I was worried and afraid, but also exhilarated and motivated.

My emotions have become jumbled. I wasn't sure what I was feeling right now.

I was one meter away from the conference room when I came to a halt because Gavin's face flashed across my head.

I paused for a while and considered backing out, but then I recalled my previous boss's counsel.

Professional and personal problems are distinct, and I should avoid conflating them.

I didn't pay heed to what she said since I understood my limits, but I couldn't completely follow her advice because I allowed my judgment mingle with my emotions.

I took a big breath and attempted to be more composed than I had been.

I need to ignore all of those bad ideas and concentrate on what I should accomplish.

My objective was to acquire their approval before providing them with our services.

As I walked into the meeting room, Gavin and others were already there.

They were talking amongst themselves as I walked in, so they turned their heads in my direction.

"Everyone, good afternoon! We have five minutes until we begin. I recommend that the Star Foods Team prepare your presentation today so that we can begin promptly at afternoon.” Gavin mentioned this.

"Yes, sir," I said, drawing his attention to me.

I told my crew to put the presentation on the screen right away and handed out the hand-outs to the seven guys in this room.

I could tell Gavin was watching every move I made, but I didn't let it upset me, even though I was growing aware.

After we were through, I returned my attention to him in the same way he had gazed at me.

I began my presentation by describing the Star Food Company and the services we could provide to them.

It took me thirty minutes to explain everything to them, such as what we provide our customers, how we differ from other organizations, and how transactions between our company and theirs work.

Except for one individual in this room, everyone cheered and congratulated me after I finished.

Gavin did nothing except gaze at me the whole time, but when everyone else closed their lips, he said.

"Has your organization handled transactions and received customers with a large corporation like us?" Gavin inquired. I knew he wasn't going to let me off the hook.

"Not yet, sir, but we serve fifteen customers every month, including small businesses and individual entrepreneurs," I said firmly.

"Even if you can manage fifteen customers, our branches here expect three times the amount and quality you provided, so what will you do if you can't satisfy those demands?" He responded, dissatisfied with what he received from me.

"I know our firm can manage it, and we can make some adjustments to accommodate you and our existing customers, as well as new customers. If you agreed to have us be your food researchers and formulators for your branches here, we could grow at any moment and add excellent staff."

Gavin kept asking me questions for half an hour, but the final sentence he said upset me.

"Ms. Clarkson, thank you for addressing all of my questions. You and your team did an excellent job of preparing for this day. But we still need to study everything, and we wanted to take our time before making a choice because I want to be sure we won't be sorry." Gavin mentioned this.

He was being absurd, claiming that it may not be appropriate to partner with us when he was the one who proposed that we engage into an arrangement with them.

"It's simply that I believe my taste for everything has altered as a result of what has transpired in the past, not just for work but also for other concerns. I officially proclaim that this meeting has come to an end. Thank you everybody, and good luck."

He instantly departed without looking back after saying that.

Everyone gathered their belongings and exited the room.

No one in this room understood what he was saying, or if they did, they didn't realize I was the source of it.

I instructed my staff to return to the corporation and inform the others of the outcome. I also warned them they may go if there was nothing else to do.

"Are you free right now?" someone said behind my back.

"Well, I'm on my way back to my office. Why do you need anything?" I responded to him. Theo, one of Gavin's business colleagues, who was also present at the meeting earlier.

"Well, I'd like to ask you to a cup of coffee. What are your thoughts?"

"Well, okay as I don't believe I can go back to the business right now," I remarked as I began to walk out of the building.

As we arrived at the local coffee shop, he ordered us some coffee and spoke with us for a while. I had no idea he was so willing to explain things for Gavin.

Theo advised me not to misinterpret Gavin's statements. He's only being cautious about everything he should do since his father would disown him if he made one mistake.

After the wedding was called off, his father instructed Gavin to locate the wedding invader and the kid, which was me with my falsehoods.

But when Gavin couldn't locate me, his father became enraged and told him he was a shame to his family.

I felt bad since there was no unborn kid, and Gavin was undoubtedly aware that I was lying at this point.

I remained quiet the whole time since I didn't know what to say and didn't want him to suspect anything. I had just listened to Theo speak about his friend's life, and I had no right to say anything.

I was the one who ruined him and was to blame. He was not the sort to forgive quickly and would make certain that I spent eternity in hell for what I had done to him.

Maybe I was fated to suffer my punishment now, and he was the one who would administer it to me.

GAVIN

"What have you been up to?" I asked Theo, who was both a buddy and a business colleague.

"I simply went to the coffee shop in the rear of the building with Shantelle," he said as he settled into a comfortable seat on the sofa.

"On a first-name basis now, huh? Are you two friends already or something?" I inquired once again.

"No, we simply spoke for a while. That's all. So, when are you going to accept her proposal?"

"So you're intrigued by her. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not going to take it," I remarked casually.

“What?” He yelled and rose from his seat.

"I didn't like it, therefore I'm not going to accept it."

"Are you sure? Not everyone agreed, but they want to think about it."

"I know exactly what you did. You made the suggestion in the first place. You even sent someone to their workplace to discuss it. So what happens next? Are you playing a joke on her? Don't tell me you still want to get your revenge?" He inquired, surprised.

"No, I simply wanted to play with her for a bit. Don't worry, it'll be my first and last."

Once I stated that, he said nothing. He was one of the few individuals who genuinely understood what had transpired in my life, so he just let me off the hook for what I did today.

Ordinarily, he would nudge me until I realized I was in the wrong, but he didn't this time. Maybe this was what they called pity.

That may seem cringe-worthy, but I would let fate determine our fate. I didn't believe I'd be able to stop myself from playing with her if we ever met again.

I was still unable to forgive her.

‘Shantelle Clarkson, you have to prepare yourself for the worst.’

Shantelle

It's been a week since my firm met with Gavin, but I've received no feedback.

Every day, I had multiple meetings with various customers, but I never heard from Adams Enterprise.

“That man, really.”

I was irritated because I believed we were missing, which was why they stopped contacting us.

Gavin was the first to reject our proposition, and he should be the last.

I couldn't believe him; it was his idea, yet he dared to fully reject us. I really wished we hadn't agreed to offer our proposition to them.

"Hi ladies, how have you been?" It was Dani.

I gave her a quick look before returning to what I was doing.

"How did your idea with Adams Enterprise work out? Did you reach an agreement?" she said, her eyes bright with joy.

On the contrary, I stopped writing and vented my rage once again.

Cara tapped Dani on the shoulder and said she shouldn't bring it up since it was irritating me when others questioned me about it.

"It's all right, Cara. She has a right to know," I explained.

Dani was one of Star Food's investors, although she was not actively engaged in the company's operations.

Unlike Cara, she was an investor as well as the business secretary. She chose to be one of my workers, so she was privy to everything that transpired within the organization from the start.

"I don't believe they will accept our plan, and we didn't receive any reaction from them at all. I think I made a mistake? Oh, I don’t know, really." I explained briefly to her.

“What!? They rejected your proposition! Are they insane?" she said, laughing, sarcastically.

"No, they don't. Maybe we're missing in some manner," I shrugged.

"There is no way we are short in something, dear. Did you show our best-sellers, the most valuable and famous items? What about the price? Did you have a proper discussion?"

Cara was the one who answered her questions after she harassed me with them.

"We did, I'm also there for the conference, and all I could say is that Shantelle did a fantastic job. We are not wanting in anything. They are not contented with what we showed them, maybe?" Cara defended me.

"Oh, they're greedy," Dani concluded, and nodding, she was correct.

Her statements made us chuckle. That wasn't a decent thing to say, but if we were talking about Gavin, I could agree with her.

"Come to think of it, they wanted something we didn't have, and they wanted more of what we had," she remarked, which made me and Cara shake our heads.

"Well, Dani, keep your comments to yourself. If you said anything to anybody, it would damage our image, particularly with Shantelle," she cautioned.

I knew Dani would do anything Cara said since they were buddies before I arrived.

She was a little afraid of Cara when she was serious, and Cara was the only one she couldn't pull to the night-out party.

While there were times when she was the one who asked us out for a drink, Dani was always there.

"Alright, but do you know why they didn't accept up until now?"

"I'm not sure, maybe personal reasons? As far as I recall, Mr. Adams indicated that his taste in everything had changed."

I assured her I understood what Gavin meant, but there was no need for additional explanation.

"I'm still furious, but there's nothing I can do," I said before returning to work.

Dani did not depart, and Cara remained to work at my office.

Whenever Dani came in, she would remain and converse with us, despite the fact that Dani was the one who did all the talking.

Dani wanted to eat during our break, and she promised to serve us outdoors.

I urged them to be patient since I needed to complete my job here and will be unavailable later.

We just had thirty minutes since I couldn't postpone my appointment.

Cara knew I'd be meeting with our first-ever customer, which was why I couldn't stop smiling despite all that had transpired a week before.

Mrs. Helena Thompson resided outside of Kensington, so the trip would take three hours.

Mrs. Thompson owned many restaurants across Standford, and Star Food created all of the dishes on the menu.

Mrs. Thompson and I met via Cara, who was a close friend of her mother's.

I was grateful that she was our first customer since her positive feedback had extended to a large number of people in other places around Standford.

We agreed to meet at her hometown's first eatery.

Even though this was not my first trip there, I was nonetheless awestruck by its beauty; even though we were in contemporary times, you could sense a sparkle of tradition.

"Shantelle, please accept my greetings. I'm delighted you've arrived. I understand how difficult it is for you to get here," she said as she helped me to my reserved table in her restaurant.

"Mrs. Thompson, don't be concerned. I appreciate your inviting me here and your continued interest in our services."

"Just disregard the formality. Aren't we pals?"

"Of course, you're my buddy, Helena, and my first business partner."

"Let's eat first before we begin our talk, shall we? It's free of charge."

She remarked this as she gave me the menu. Helena was quite helpful, so I had no problems with my first commercial transaction.

But, I have met nasty customers, whom we did not entertain since our organization wanted to maintain a good connection with clients in order to secure future projects.

"I wanted to create a resort with an inn and a restaurant," Helena began talking about our true goal.

"Shantelle, I'd want you to come up with fresh meals and menus for me. I'd want to include my children's favorite cuisine, and I'd like you to try it and tell me what you think."

We kept talking about all she wanted me to do for her. I also learnt that she hesitated at first but then remembered her children.

She realized she wanted to satisfy their desires, which were to run the resort in a location near and dear to their hearts.

Helena has always struck me as a remarkable individual.

For a large corporation to give a large sum of money to cease developing the resort indicates that they were intimidated by her ability to make it more successful than those other corporations.

"Thank you for your faith in me, Helena. It motivates me to keep doing what I'm doing now. I want to devote myself entirely to this endeavour." I stated it with a sincere grin.

"I know you can do it; I believe in you and your teams," she added as she took my hand in hers.

"I should be going. It's already after seven o'clock in the evening."

"Well, I forgot about the time. I forgot you had another three-hour drive ahead of you. Do you want to spend the night at my house?"

"No, but thank you; I must return home. I'm still able to drive. I truly loved our conversation today. See you again soon!"

Helena accompanied me to my vehicle and gifted me with a painting.

Today was both exhausting and rewarding. Even though I didn't receive the huge break I was looking for, I did acquire some new customers this week, which was a blessing.

But after an hour, my vehicle broke down in the middle of nowhere. I'm new with the area and couldn't find a business that could assist me in repairing it.

I still had a long distance to go, but I didn't know what to do with this tire.

It seems that my luck had run out for me to be struggling here, on the road at night. I couldn't make calls since there was no signal in the region.

I leaned against my vehicle and waited for a car to pass by, but there was none. I waited a few moments but was still alone.

I was going to get in my vehicle when I heard a loud honk. Someone came by.

"What's a lovely woman doing here in the middle of the night?" he said as he exited his vehicle. I looked at him, stunned. Yet, regrettably, I need his assistance.

"My vehicle abruptly stopped, and I believe there is a problem with the rear tire, which I attempted to repair but failed," I uttered and it seemed that Gavin understood.

‘Why he out of all the individuals that could stop by?’ I thought.

"Your automobile, do you mean this?" he said, tapping my car. "Or are you saying you stole it?"

"What?" I inquired, and what he replied astounded me.

"That's where you shine, right? Stealing anything valuable from someone you don't even know?" With keen eyes, he stated straight to me.

"What are you on about?" I inquired, perplexed.

I was taken aback since I had no idea he would say anything like that.

While I remained mute, he laughed loudly and told me he was joking, but I knew it wasn't a joke.

He began to repair it, and from time to time, he mocked me and uttered jokes similar to those spoken previously.

I knew he was having fun with our position, and I didn't want to respond to anything in case I claimed everything he said was real.

As he finished restoring my vehicle, he urged me to stay at one of his neighboring hotels, but I rejected. It was perfect moment to inquire about the proposal and explain why I did what I did to him, but I couldn't.

I'm not ready yet, and I couldn't take any more scathing insults from him. Which I most likely deserve. His rage against me was palpable.

I couldn't tolerate being around him any longer. I thanked him and was the first to go.

I believed I'd forgotten about him because of the excitement I'd had before, but I had no idea this would happen.

‘Oh God, what else could happen next?’

GAVIN

We parted ways as soon as I finished fixing her car. Last time, I told myself that I let fate decide our fate, and it appeared that we were fated to ruin each other's lives.

Shantelle had finished her portion, but I was just getting started.

"You stated over the phone that you were on your way here, but it took you an hour," my other buddy replied, his expression irritated.

"I assumed you'd abandon us again," Theo said.

"No dude, I won’t do that. I just helped a woman who was stuck in the middle of the road," I stated.

"Sure, anything. Let's have some drinks. We've already gone through one bottle."

I drank the drink they provided. I was here with my pals, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

The image of the lady who had wrecked me kept running through my head. I couldn't comprehend why a horrible lady like her would fill my thoughts.

'What should I do now if we ever meet again?' I pondered.

There was no way I was going to let everything happen if she continued appearing in front of my eyes.

‘Might I play with her for a little longer?’

Shantelle

I stroked the temples of my head to relieve the ache. I couldn't sleep since I'd been conducting a lot of study and testing for Mrs. Thompson.

I knew I wasn't alone in this, but I wanted to do it first-hand.

I've always been like this when I've had new customers or when the client expected me to manage everything on my own.

Star Food has recently received a large number of appointments and bids as a result of our regular customers' recommendation.

That is why we sought out extra researchers to assist us in catering to all of our clientele.

"Remember to eat on schedule and take breaks if you want to continue working. If you didn't, you may become ill again." Aunt Trina's worry was directed at me.

"Thank you, and I'm looking after myself. You should not be concerned. My doctor said that the cancer cells were fully eradicated. Thank you so much for all you've done for us." I kissed Auntie's cheeks and said my goodbyes.

I went to my office and collected all of the documents I required for today's meetings with various customers.

When Cara and I were gone all day, I designated Harry as their leader.

We'd meet with the proprietors of an orphanage, a clubhouse, a hotel, a school staff member, and a few small restaurant owners.

I've been performing this job with Cara for two years, and we've never failed to serve our customers, but it was difficult for someone.

I had no idea why I had thought of him again. I could compare him to whatever my imagination came up with from time to time.

He had occupied my thoughts since the day we met at the pub. I was relieved since it didn't interfere with my job.

Time passed quickly. We had completed meeting with other clients and were on our way to Mr. Wilfredo Smith's place of business.

He was the owner of the Smith Group of Businesses, and we met during a culinary competition in which he was a judge.

Despite the fact that I did not win, he enjoyed my dish.

Apart from Adams Enterprise, his firm was one of the most well-known in Standford, handling various hotel chains and cruise ships.

In Hawaii, he has established eleven magnificent vacation resorts and hotels with casinos.

I was pleased that he would finally be our customer. When I found that he enjoyed my food, we encouraged them, and he ultimately accepted our request.

I didn't anticipate anything from Gavin anymore; I simply wanted to concentrate on this initiative that would provide the Star Food a huge possibility to be recognized.

Someone bumped into me as we were walking to the meeting room. I was fortunate not to injure my foot, but the portfolio I was holding was strewn over the floor.

"Are you all alright, Shantelle?" Cara inquired and assisted me with the documents.

"I'm sorry, I didn't look where I was going," the man apologized as he began to assist me as well.

"It's all right. I didn't notice you either."

He helped me rise up once we finished scooping everything up, and I noticed him reading the papers with such attention and wonder in his eyes.

I feigned a cough to gain his attention, and I'm glad he understood what I meant.

"Sorry for reading it without your consent. By the way, all of your meals are fantastic. And when I saw them, I couldn't help but be intrigued." He said quietly.

His face was flushed from flushing, making him attractive, and he had a sparkling aura that would fascinate anybody.

"Thank you so much. We must go immediately. Please excuse us,” I answered respectfully and offered him a nod.

When we arrived, Mr. Smith and his board of directors welcomed us.

It was logical for them to present today since it would be a critical choice for them. But I'm not going to back down; I'm going to gain their approval no matter what.

"Ms. Clarkson, you never cease to astonish me. Every time I see you, you're becoming better at your job."

Mr. Smith congratulated me on all of my presentations and the questions I was able to answer.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Smith. I'm still giving it my all and attempting to push beyond its limits." I responded.

"I believe everyone was happy with the presentation, and there are no more questions. Then we shall vote to determine whether or not we will approve your firm."

"I want to be considerate, so I let them stay. I was curious what the board of directors thought about your proposition. But, if I had the last say, I would happily accept your proposition." He remarked, which gave me more confidence.

"Okay, everyone. People that advocate having Star Food work with us. Please raise your hands," he was the first to raise his hand, he said.

As everyone raised their hands, I was startled and couldn't help but smile.

"Ms. Clarkson, congratulations. I am excited to collaborate with you.” Everyone applauded and smiled as he stated this.

I approached Mr. Smith and extended my arms, which he welcomed and firmly shook.

We spoke for a few minutes before heading home. I'll come back here tomorrow to sign our contract and discuss our arrangement.

"Dani, how are you? Are you accessible right now? If that's the case, let's eat supper at my place. I've got some fantastic news for everyone."

I informed Dani over the phone and had some lunch delivered to us.

"Cara, come on. We should share our good fortune with them." I had invited her.

"I agree that this is fantastic news for us. Congrats; I know you worked very hard to achieve this." Cara smiled brightly.

~~~

I landed in Hawaii in the evening and was escorted to one of Mr. Smith's hotels near the airport by his assistant.

I informed my family last week, immediately after the presentation, that we were linked with the Smith Group of Businesses.

Everyone was pleased for me, and having a large customer that trusted us was a great accomplishment for us.

Cara was the one who informed my colleagues, and I was astonished when I returned to the firm after signing the contract with Mr. Smith.

Next, I traveled to Hawaii's Freelea Island, where I was astounded by the size of Mr. Smith's luxury hotel.

Everything was so sophisticated, and the view was so breathtakingly beautiful, that I nearly believed I wasn't cut out for this type of place.

Even though I didn't have a financial issue, I still had to work hard to get one of these rooms.

My room was large enough to accommodate my whole family. I would make certain that my family will have such an event someday.

After I unloaded my belongings, I changed my clothing in order to meet the personnel I would be working with throughout my time here.

"Good day, everyone! My name is Shantelle Clarkson, and I work for Star Food Company. I'll be in charge of this kitchen for three months before the hotel opens."

I said this while looking at each of them.

"The two ladies here will give me a report, progress, and everything connected to the foods you'll serve," I added, indicating to Irene and Ria, who were standing on each side of me. They were the designated restaurant manager.

"Our team creates the foods you will serve, and you must learn the flavor, presentation, and every detail precisely as I made it so that we can get the same results. Don't be concerned; I'm here to help. Are we on the same page?" I inquired.

"Yes, miss! We all got it," They responded.

I took a few moments to admire how large this kitchen was. Before the hotel opened, I was in charge of five restaurants selling various cuisines.

I went to each eatery, gave them instructions, and introduced myself.

I was astounded by the distinctive architecture and constructions of all the restaurants here, and I couldn't help but smile at the prospect of the Star Food meals being served here.

My feet were hurting, so I decided to take a break and went back to my room to rest.

I don't have any job to complete in the meanwhile, so I could still have a look around before I accomplished what I came here for.

….

Wait, where was I? And what am I doing here?

"Gavin Adams! Stop! Don’t do this to me! Stop this wedding, now!"

I saw myself at the end of the corridor, attempting to derail the wedding. Then I saw Gavin and his bride at the other end.

I raced to my other self and begged her not to spoil their wedding, but she couldn't hear me and proceeded to wreck it.

I wanted her to stop, but she couldn't since it had already occurred.

I saw Gavin glaring at me with fury in his eyes as the bride and her family exited. I turned around to warn myself, but she was nowhere to be seen.

As I turned around, Gavin was already one step away, reaching out for me.

I had no idea how this occurred, but Gavin was immediately clutching me and yanking me out of the hall.

I then saw him reaching for the security guard's rifle. He aimed his revolver at me. He murdered me.

….

As I awoke, I realized the sound I had heard was not from the pistol, but from the door.

I took a deep breath and went through the door. My meal was being delivered by the hotel personnel.

As I looked at the clock, it was already nine o'clock at night.

I didn't realize I'd had a deep sleep instead than just a snooze. I ate my meal and took a bath to clear my head.

It was the first time I had a dream about Gavin or anything scary.

Even if he simply murdered me in my dreams, I became frightened and hoped that it wouldn't happen.

I knew it would be impossible for me to sleep again, so I went for a stroll down the beach.

Tonight was very brilliant owing to its moonlight, and the sea wind was cool yet soothing, which put me at rest.

The ambience of the beach was too lovely to ignore. There were still a lot of people around.

There was a bunch of people who were singing and having a great time. I could see the couples were in their own worlds as they hugged each other, and some didn't worry if passersby saw them making out on this beach.

I came to a halt when I saw a guy propose marriage to his lady, and she enthusiastically agreed.

I want I could be with someone else who would love me eventually, and I hope that day comes soon.

Maybe that soon would be right now? Who can say? Maybe my soulmate is also here, wondering about and discovering his other half, which is me.

I giggled at my ideas, but meeting someone here would be fascinating.

I continued walking and glanced at something that piqued my curiosity, but when I looked back, I was too far away from the motel. I was about to return when someone blocked my path.

I attempted to excuse myself in front of a bunch of guys, but they wouldn't allow me.

"Hi, lovely, are you looking for some company? We have time for you.”

The guy in the center spoke out and attempted to touch my face, but I took a step back.

As you glanced at them, you could tell they were a bunch of perverts. I attempted to see above them, but they obscured my vision as well.

The folks seemed to be a long way away. I didn't want to make a scene, but I would be in danger if I didn't.

"Come on, ladt! We're on our way to the bar as well. You are welcome to join us.” He gripped my arm and urged.

I attempted to fight back, but he was too powerful, and I couldn't get my arm back.

Even though someone was holding me, I sprinted away without thinking, and the other guy was ready to grasp my other arm when someone spoke.

"Are they your buddies, sweetheart? They seem to be near to you," said the guy from behind.

The guy let go of his hold and took a step back. He grabbed my waist and pulled me away from those males.

"We attempted to assist her since she seemed to be lost. We're going now that you've arrived," someone remarked, running away from the opposite.

"Such insipid thinking, they sought to harass a lady, then wag their tails when someone caught them," he stated and despised the perverts.

I moved away from him and bent my head in gratitude.

"Thank you so much for your assistance. I had no idea what to do."

I lifted my head to see who it was, but when I saw his face, my panic returned.

It was Gavin, and he seemed shocked that we had seen each other. But he quickly regained his composure and smiled.

"Well, I believed someone was being harassed, but I suppose I interrupted something," he said, and I had no idea what he meant.

"What do you mean by that?" I inquired vehemently.

"Isn't it for a show, to capture someone's attention? Are those your subordinates? I assumed it was true, but when I found out who it was, I realized it was all a ruse."

I couldn't believe he felt that way, he added.

I couldn't say anything since he was criticizing me. I couldn't say anything without cursing him and crying.

"Thanks for interrupting us. After I was discovered dead, I assumed the show would be over." I walked away from Gavin, saying.

A tear streamed down my cheek, and my whole body trembled at the notion.

I'd never been wounded like this before. Or maybe I was, but not in a humiliating way.

I'd never felt this type of terror before, and I had no idea that Gavin would be the one to deliver it to me today.

"Oh, come on, Ms. Clarkson. What are your plans? I believe you should pay my talent fee. Is it true that I'm a good actor earlier?" He taunted me even more, which irritated me.

All I wanted to do was unwind, but what occurred tonight sapped my energy, and Gavin exacerbated the situation.