Chapter 16. Instant Realization (+18)

**(Daniel’s perspective)**

The neon light of the pub shone bright in the dark of night. The place looked crowded at the time.
The big black bouncer, dressed like a rapper with a black shirt and golden necklace, he guarded the entrance door so well. His eyes always looked cautious when scanning all of the people who wanted to pass him by to the entrance door.
Until then, his eyes watched a black shiny sedan car stopped by at the parking lot. A man in a suit got out of the passenger seat. The bouncer kept his dark eyes attentively at him from afar.
When the man walked closer toward the terrace, the bouncer finally recognized him. The bouncer had heard the people in the pub had been expecting to meet him. It was like he was the man of the year in the business world. He was the most wanted man in that hectic industry.
That man would be the most special guest at tonight’s party among the stock traders. The party was exclusive to those who were invited only.
That man came to the terrace, guarded by a big man who slightly looked like the bouncer.
For a second, the bouncer looked at them in the eye. The tension was in the air when they exchanged a glance at each other. Until finally, the bouncer bent down at them to give his respect. Then he let them pass in.
That pale face man looked so cold. He didn’t even smile at all when he walked passing the bouncer. Unlike the big man behind him, he immediately gave the bouncer a good nod to thank him in return. It was just a polite gesture.
The music party was pretty loud. People were dancing cheerfully on the floor. Some of them had a wild champagne drink. Everybody got so immersed in the cheerful vibe until that man arrived in the foyer. Soon after, people started looking at his way.
“Mister Wilson, come this way, please…” his personal big bodyguard escorted him to walk through the crowd. He quickly followed him and walked passing the people on the dance floor.
Some women looked hysterical once they saw him coming in. And others opened their eyes widely, surprised to see his arrival in the room. It seemed almost everyone adored him, especially the women.
His eyes looked around for a while. He was scanning this dimmed room, where the party guests had gathered together.
When his eyes looked around, he didn’t find anyone to be amusing. Boring faces. Boring vibes. He thought this party would be just like another lame event he should formally attend. His office secretary, Maddie made sure he should come over to meet with the new potential investors.
Therefore, he came over only for the business. Once he saw fit, he would seize the opportunity. He was basically thinking like a professional businessman whenever he was.
He was about to tell his big man, Hamuza that the party was lame. But then his eyes caught a beautiful female figure stood among the crowd. She was wearing a black dress.
As if a lightning thunder throbbed into his chest, his whole body went numb. The electrical jolt snapped his whole nervous system. He couldn’t look away once he found her. His eyes watched her cautiously for a split second.
But once Maddie suddenly exclaimed loudly in the room, he flickered.
“Daniel Wilson! Oh, my! Welcome to the hot pub, dear!” Maddie greeted him excitedly.
Another unknown girl screamed out hysterically, “He is Daniel Wilson! Oh, my…”
It had been such a very long time since the incident that happened almost ten years ago. It felt like a huge miracle when he could see her once again. But he wanted to make sure that he didn’t see the wrong person.
And as always, it was not only seeing her in the photo but seeing her directly like this always made him turned on. That woman’s sweet and enchanting charm made him so alive.
But that was not the right reason that made him got attracted to her. It was because she was the reminder embodiment of her lost wife.
Right behind him, Hamuza also noticed. “Oh, God, Mister Wilson… isn’t that…”
He muttered wonderingly, “Carmelia?”
However, Hamuza had to wait for his order. He couldn’t just do anything that he liked, even he knew it would help his boss.
It was such a personal thing for Daniel. He needed some seconds to regain his senses.
All of a sudden, he could feel again the rosewood aroma that always lingered on her body. The warm touch of her skin on him. The sweet smile she had every time he needed it.
The memories all came back like a wave of a tornado. He felt the pain. It was the pain when he lost her. And he thought had lost her forever.
And here, destiny reunited them again in the end. But of course, Daniel couldn’t be reckless. There was a lot of pair of eyes in this room. Meanwhile, that woman who looked like his wife seemed flustered when meeting eyes with him.
He wondered if that woman was the same person as Carmelia. It was not only her look that reminded him of his lost wife but also her classical vibe. Somehow, he could feel it strongly from across the room.
But he needed to feel it more. He needed to taste it for himself. He wanted to feel her.
Afterward, Hamuza said, “Mister Wilson, if you want me to do anything…”
His people had been searching for his wife everywhere. But she had gone untraceable. She was just disappeared after the incident on the island. He was losing hope. But he never stopped praying that he would be reunited with her again, even it was just in a dream state.
However, if that woman he met at the party was truly his lost wife, he should gather solid proof beforehand. He still had a reputation to keep up since he was the owner of the Wilson Enterprises. He didn’t want people to pick up on his private life.
Daniel slightly glanced at Hamuza to whisper, “Let’s see, shall we?”
Before he could approach her, he slightly looked surprised when a man was holding her arm. He looked like a nerdy guy with eyeglasses and wearing a detective coat. His mind started to imagine a wild thing. That guy could be her new lover. And that thought somehow angered him so much.
And then some people came at him to talk about business. All of a sudden, he forgot about that woman and her nerdy lover. People greeted him excitedly. He was expected to be at the party. They wanted to know the progress he did in the Wilson Enterprises. And some of them also only got closed to him for their own financial advantage.
Obviously, it was getting better each day. He could handle his company with the support of his rich and influential parents. And of course, Daniel himself also a great influencer when it came to the business industry and stock exchange.
When some people were done talking to him, Daniel stole a glance again toward that woman across the room.
He clenched his jaw tightly when he watched them suddenly walking toward him. But then that woman looked hesitant as she held back the nerdy guy from walking over. She said something to that nerdy guy. Her expression looked scared. And sometimes she stole a glance at Daniel from afar.
Daniel wondered if she wanted to avoid him? Why would she look scared of him? Or did he just too narcissistic to ever think of that?
Eventually, they both approached him. The sparkle of jealousy crushed Daniel from the inside of his skull when he saw them still holding hands lovingly.
Once they stood in front of him, they exchange a stare at one another. The nerdy guy obviously was trembling to meet Daniel in person.
“He… hello,” the nerdy guy greeted him. His voice sounded breaking, “Let me introduce myself, Mister Wilson… my… my name is Jonathan Brown. I’m a school teacher by day…” he slightly fixed his eyeglasses while talking, “and a part-time stock trader by night.”
Daniel stared back at him with his keen brown eyes. He was quiet while observing him for a second. A raging fire throbbed inside his chest this time. The slight teasing thought made him judge his old-fashioned and nerdy look. How could a man like this ever beat him in a love competition? And he was surely seemed too archaic to dive into the business world.
“And this is Sienna Moss… she is…” when Jonathan introduced her, Daniel immediately shifted his eyes at her.
Sienna Moss? He wondered why her name was different. Wasn’t she Carmelia?
“She will be my fiancée, but we haven’t set a date yet,” Jonathan murmured.
Daniel bulged his eyes out. He was astonished when he heard that. It was like her heart got a stroke by a sharp sword.
But he didn’t want to risk them to read him between the lines. He quickly smiled at them, trying to hide his undying emotion.
“Hello, Mister Jonathan Brown,” Daniel finally spoke to them. His voice sounded so manly. Then he glanced again at her, half-smiling, “and Miss Sienna Moss,” then he stared curiously at him, “I’ve never seen you in this pub before. Are you new here?”
“Oh, well, yes! I’m still learning how to do the stock exchange business,” Jonathan was almost raising his voice since he got so excited.
However, Daniel didn’t want to waste his time on this geeky man. He had to find out first if this woman was really Carmelia or not.
And then he secretly stole a glance at Hamuza. As if they had strong telepathy to each other, Hamuza instantly understood what he wanted to ask him.
“Mister Brown,” Hamuza immediately took over the conversation for him. “If you want to talk about the world of the stock exchange, I’m the man you’re looking for.”
Jonathan got baffled by his sudden approach. “Oh, but I want to talk with…”
“My name is Hamuza, let me…” then he pointed out his hand at the archway door, asking Jonathan to follow him.
Maddie suddenly came between them. She hollered out, “Oh, I know it! You can talk about the business proposal with me directly! Why are you ignoring me earlier, Mister Brown?”
Jonathan went away with Maddie and Hamuza to the next room.
When the music got louder when it changed into hip-hop, he couldn’t hear when Sienna was calling out his name.
Daniel was watching her expression closely. That woman looked scared for her life once her boyfriend disappeared from her sight.
Daniel wondered why this woman wouldn’t want to look him in the eye properly since the beginning. Why would she act as if he was some kind of a predator?
If this woman could be his lost wife, that gave him an idea to pursue her till the end. But if it was, why Carmelia pretended like she didn’t remember him? She even changed her name.
The burning fire inside of him almost exploded whenever he thought that way. He couldn’t hold it any longer. He had to know. He had to feel her to make sure.
When she turned back to see him again, Daniel suddenly landed his masculine lips abruptly on hers. He could feel that she shuddered by his warm touch.
He could feel his emotion heightened when touching her. He could feel the spark inside of his body was craving to kiss her lips for more and more.
In the second his lips met hers, he knew she was Carmelia.
She was the one that he had been looking for. And he was assured.