Chapter 31
Isabella had always been the life of the party with the guys, but today, Amelia took it up a notch. She showed up in a backless golden dress that left little to the imagination. It was flashy, and the men couldn't help but sneak glances.
Meanwhile, Susan was chilling in a corner, munching on snacks. She wasn't into the whole attention-seeking thing; she just wanted to enjoy the food.
As the dinner party was winding down, the host announced it was game time.
"Alright, folks! Our first game tonight is a balloon relay race. In these two boxes, we have cards with the names of all the ladies and gents here. I'll draw five men and five women. If your name gets called, come on up!" the host said, standing by two clear boxes filled with cards.
The game paired up one guy and one girl. No hands allowed, and the balloon couldn't touch the ground. They had to use their bodies to move the balloon from start to finish. The pair that moved the most balloons in the time given would win.
This game was all about teamwork and was designed to create some funny and flirty moments, so everyone was pretty pumped.
Four pairs were already on stage. Susan figured there was no way she'd get picked out of a hundred women. But, surprise, surprise, she was the last name called.
"The fifth lady is Susan!" the host announced.
Susan was in a daze until a colleague nudged her. She had no choice but to get up, fix her hair, and head to the stage, still a bit bewildered.
The host continued, "Now, for the last gentleman."
Seb glanced at Leon, who gave a quick signal to the host.
Catching on, the host said, "Ladies and gentlemen, our very own Mr. Anderson will join the game. So, the partner for our fifth lady is Mr. Anderson. Let's give him a big hand!"
The women in the audience were instantly jealous, wishing they were in Susan's shoes.
On stage, Susan was stunned to see Seb walking up. 'I'm paired with him? Why is my heart racing?'
Seb stood next to her. As the staff got the balloons ready, Susan heard his deep voice in her ear. "Don't be nervous. Let's win this."
When she looked at him, his face was serious, but his eyes were kind, not his usual stern look. 'Has Seb changed in the past few days? He seems so gentle,' she thought.
Then, she noticed a sharp glare from the crowd. It was Amelia, looking like she wanted to drag Susan off the stage. Amelia's eyes were filled with hatred.
Susan smiled at Amelia and put on an extra happy face, just to annoy her.
Sure enough, Amelia's face twisted in anger, and Susan found it pretty amusing.
Soon, the game kicked off.
At first, Susan was in front, and Seb was behind, with the balloon wedged between Susan's butt and Seb's stomach. The crowd burst into laughter.
But that method was too slow, so they switched it up. They faced each other, the balloon between their stomachs, holding hands to keep their steps in sync.
Seb's hands were warm, enveloping Susan's.
Her heart started racing, and her face turned red. She didn't dare look up at him. Seb's warm breath brushed against her face, making her feel a bit ticklish.
But there was no time to think about that. If they weren't careful, the balloon would fall. Cheers surrounded them, and they couldn't afford to lose, as the last place would face a punishment.
They coordinated well, staying in second place. Susan thought they were safe, but then something unexpected happened.
Susan twisted her ankle and fell awkwardly.
The crowd gasped, and Susan's face turned red with embarrassment. She cursed herself for wearing high heels.
A pair of strong arms helped her up. When Susan looked up, she met Seb's deep gaze.
"Are you okay?" Seb asked, his brow furrowed.
"I'm fine," Susan quickly shook her head.
"Good," Seb nodded.
Susan saw the race was almost over, and they were now in last place. She anxiously grabbed Seb's arm. "We're in last place. Let's keep going!"
But Seb shook his head and signaled to the host, indicating they were forfeiting.
"Why give up?" Susan asked, frustrated. She didn't want to be punished, especially not knowing what the punishment would be.
Seb put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "Don't push yourself. Remember the baby."
Hearing this, Susan lowered her head. Luckily, she hadn't hurt the baby. 'How could I forget about the baby in my belly?' she thought.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the race. The winning pair got the latest model cell phones and were overjoyed.
Susan stood there, thinking, 'Would the last place have to pay for those phones?' Each phone cost two thousand dollars, and she didn't have that kind of money. But looking at Seb, she thought he would probably cover her share if they had to pay.
The host finally spoke, "Everyone, the punishment for the last place is a bucket of ice water!"
Susan frowned. Even though it was spring, getting doused with ice water would surely cause a cold.
"Are you ready?" the host shouted. Someone brought up a large bucket of ice water, and another staff member placed a chair in front of her and Seb.
The staff member with the bucket stood on the chair. Seeing this, Susan hugged herself and closed her eyes, leaving it to fate. She hoped she wouldn't catch a cold, especially with the baby in her belly!
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
