Chapter 300 What? Have You Fallen For It Too?
"Sorry, I don't dance," Camilla politely declined.
The young man walked away, visibly disappointed.
Just when she thought it was over, another suitor appeared, and then another. After turning down five different men, Camilla quickly pulled Hestia to a secluded corner.
Hidden in the shadows with dim lighting, they were finally out of the spotlight.
"Thank goodness," Camilla sighed with relief.
"You're quite the hot commodity tonight," Hestia teased. "I'm almost tempted to ask you for a dance myself."
"Now that's an offer I might actually consider," Camilla replied with a playful smile.
Hestia struck a proud pose. "Those guys would be absolutely green with envy!"
"Wouldn't that be something?"
"It would be brilliant!"
They both dissolved into laughter.
"I'll grab us some refreshments," Hestia announced.
"Perfect."
With little interest in socializing further, Camilla opened a bottle of water from the table, took a few sips, and pulled out her tablet to review a research paper. The fancy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails held little appeal for her tonight.
When Hestia returned with an armful of snacks, she shook her head at the sight of Camilla working.
Their isolated location had proven effective—no one had approached their table.
But as if tempting fate, a familiar voice broke through their sanctuary, "Is this seat taken? Would you mind if I joined you?"
"I'm sorry, we're actually..." Hestia began to refuse.
Camilla looked up at the familiar voice and froze. "Professor Russell? What brings you here?"
Sebastian stood there in an elegant gray suit, his black overcoat draped over his arm.
"So... may I sit?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Of course," Camilla nodded, smiling.
It took Hestia a full five seconds to recover. "Good evening, Professor Russell! Are you here for the mixer too?"
"Indeed I am," Sebastian confirmed with a nod.
Wasn't this event just for first-year students?
As the evening progressed, the hosts announced the "Spotlight" segment, revealing the reason for Sebastian's presence.
"Let's shine our spotlight! Who will be our first guest? Three, two, one!"
A bright beam cut through the darkness toward their corner. Camilla and Hestia squinted as the light landed squarely on Sebastian.
He rose gracefully as a student rushed over with a microphone.
"Well, look who we have here—Professor Sebastian Russell! Would you mind saying a few words to kick off tonight's event?" the host called out.
It was clearly pre-arranged.
Sebastian took the microphone and delivered a brief, polished welcome speech before returning to his seat as the spotlight moved on.
"That's it?" Camilla whispered.
"What were you expecting?" Sebastian asked, amused. "An academic lecture?"
"You could have tried," she teased.
"I'd rather not put everyone to sleep."
"So you came all this way just to give a standard welcome speech?"
"Sometimes we all have to fulfill our institutional obligations," he replied diplomatically.
"I'm surprised someone as busy as you would agree to this," Camilla murmured.
The truth was, Sebastian typically declined such invitations. This year marked the first time he had readily accepted.
When Hector had learned about it, he nearly choked: "Sebastian, have you lost your mind? This is a social mixer for the Life Sciences Department, not an academic conference!"
"I'm aware," Sebastian had replied calmly.
"And you're still going?"
"Is that a problem?"
"You've completely lost it." Hector paused, then glanced at the invitation again. "Life Sciences... isn't that Camilla's department?"
Sebastian's hands stilled over his equipment.
Hector leaned in with narrowed eyes. "Sebastian, you've fallen for Camilla, haven't you? Does she know? The age gap between you two—can she even accept that?"
Sebastian had remained speechless.
"Sebastian? Sebastian!" Camilla's voice pulled him back to the present.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" he asked.
"I was asking if you're heading home after this or back to the lab?"
"Home."
Camilla nodded. "Then perhaps we could..."
Before she could finish, a tall figure appeared beside her.
Camilla looked up, meeting Marcus's gaze.
"What a coincidence," Marcus smiled. "Mind if I join you?" He turned to Hestia. "Would you mind scooting over a bit?"
Hestia nodded mutely. "Not at all."
"Thank you," Marcus said smoothly, taking the seat right next to Camilla.
"What brings you here?" Camilla asked, surprised.
Marcus glanced at Sebastian with a subtle smile. "Is it that strange? Sebastian's here too, isn't he?"
"He's here as a speaker. What about you?"
Marcus shrugged. "I'm here as an investor."
It was common for university events to seek external funding, and Marcus, an MBA student and CEO alumnus, had become something of a walking ATM for campus activities.
"Do you personally attend every event you sponsor, Mr. Davis?" Camilla asked.
"Certainly not," Marcus replied casually, his candor startling. "I came because I knew you'd be here."
Camilla fell silent.
Sebastian's expression darkened.
Marcus maintained his enigmatic smile.
Sensing the tension, Hestia intervened. "I'm going to get more refreshments. Camilla, care to join me?"
"Absolutely!" Camilla stood up immediately.
As the women left, Marcus offered Sebastian a bottle of water. "Care for a drink?"
Sebastian accepted with a polite "Thank you."
"What brings a busy man like you to a social mixer, Sebastian?"
Meeting his gaze steadily, Sebastian replied, "I could ask you the same question."
"I'm here for Camilla. And you?"
"Likewise."
Marcus's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What exactly are you implying?"
"Exactly what you think I am."
Marcus's expression hardened. "So you've developed feelings for her too?"
"I'm no saint. I have desires like anyone else."
"How self-aware of you. But I should remind you to keep your aspirations realistic, don't you think?"
Sebastian smiled thinly. "A piece of advice we should both heed."
Marcus fell silent.
Just then, music filled the room as the spotlight began moving again.
"Who will be our next lucky guest?" the host called out. "Spotlight ready!"
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