Chapter XXVI

"You, girl, are hot as ever! Aren't you planning to seduce your boss with that sophisticated look?"

I looked at Marlou in disbelief then I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. I am not that kind of a person and I am only coming there as a proxy, you idiot." I rolled my eyes one more time before I finished my eyeshadow to my left and right eyes coloring them with smoky colors.

Marlou grinned and leaned to the doorframe. "Uh-huh. Proxy..."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "What is that supposed to mean?" It was like he wanted to say something just by mentioning the word, proxy.

"Nothing, girl." He shrugged his shoulders. But he has a mischievous smile plastered on his lips.

I just shook my head and rolled my eyes before I got to finish applying some lipsticks. As soon as I was done, I scrutinized my whole being and checked out my burgundy semi-formal one-shoulder cocktail dress with an asymmetrical hem. My hair was being tied up to an updo hairstyle made by Marlou himself. I even wore my five-inch black stiletto after that.

"How do I look now?" I faced him and wriggled my eyebrows.

"You look awesome as always, girl." His charming smile smoothed up to his lips. "It's a shame that your boss wouldn't get to see you. Tsk. I'm so disappointed, Cejay." He slightly frowned.

"Duh." I rolled my eyes. I slightly swayed my lips to check my hair. "Thanks for the hairstyle again, Marlou," I said. "Love you!" I gave him a flying kiss.

I watched as his face turned sour. "Eww. You ain't my man to even do that. So gross!" He acted like he was about to puke and stormed out of my room.

I laughed, shaking my head from his hilarious remarks. I took some pieces of jewelry like earrings and bangles before I took my clutch bag where my things were already on it.

"Care to drive me there, frieny? Or I'll hail a cab?" I asked as soon as I was done checking myself and rechecked if I forgot something.

"Keys then. And don't you dare hail a cab. You look so damn gorgeous for tonight and you'll just hail a cab? Oh, please, my dear friend!" He rolled his eyes after I tossed him the keys.

"You're so harsh," I said through laughter.

"I am speaking facts."

I just let him speak with his whims as he drove me off to the hotel where the auction party was held. While on the road, I couldn't help thinking about Sir Sebastian. He said that he will try to come but I doubt that he will ever come. Seeing his earnest expression at that moment when he told me that he needs to do something made me feel a bit curious about his agenda.

Maybe it was a family matter...

That could be it.

Oh yeah. I remember that I had no idea about his family background. When I always went to his house, there was no family picture hanging on the walls, only paintings.

I only knew the names of his parents, Unity and Mason Huntington. But I hadn't met them ever since I started working at Huntington Inc.

Sebastian is still a mystery to me. He never even said anything about them. I didn't even ask him if he has siblings or not. Or if he has relatives or not.

"Thanks for the ride, Marlou!" I waved my hand at him as soon as he dropped me off at the hotel.

"Call me if you need a ride, girl. I'll be at my boyfriend's condo tonight."

"Sure. I will."

I went inside and went straight to the hall room where they held it. I showed the invitation to the receptionist.

"I am the proxy of Mr. Sebastian Huntington. The name's Cejay Merryweather." I smiled.

The receptionist smiled and nodded. "Yes. We have been informed by Mr. Huntington about you, Ms. Merryweather. You may come in."

He did? Did he call them? "Very well," I said and forced myself to nod, wondering why Sir Sebastian did not inform me about this matter. I remembered telling him that I will inform the Jolly Children Association about myself acting as Sir Sebastian's proxy but he stopped me and told me it didn't matter.

That was why I let the subject off.

As I emerged in, I sighed and gulped because I didn't know some of the business colleagues of Sir Sebastian. Usually, he was attending this kind of gathering and didn't tell me to go with him before.

"How am I supposed to mingle with them?" I murmured under my breath, approaching an empty high table. "Damn it..." I whispered.

I should've not volunteered to be his proxy. I felt being left out here as I didn't know some people here. I knew familiar faces but I couldn't afford to approach them as I am only just Sebastian's personal assistant, not a freaking CEO just like him.

"I thought I was just hallucinating but I took the opportunity to approach you. And I knew I wasn't wrong."

I turned around from that familiar baritone voice. I almost gasped when I came to know who that person was.

"Sir Oliver?" I blinked. The son of Mr. Cilantro is here? The owner of North Wind Conglomerate is freaking here?

Sir Oliver smiled sheepishly and raised a flute glass. "Glad to meet you again, Ms. Cejay." He offered his hand.

I looked down at his hand before I accepted it. "I am pleased to meet you, too, Sir Oliver." I smiled.

But before I could yank my hand back, Sir Oliver immediately raised my hand and kissed the back of my palm. I was surprised by his move and forced a wry smile when he released the hold of my hand.

Feeling the awkwardness of what he did, I tried to divert my attention by taking a flute glass of champagne from the waiter who had been strolling around to serve the drinks. "Cheers?" I said to Sir Oliver.

He chuckled and nodded. "Cheers." We made a toast after that. "I didn't see Sebastian here. Did your boss leave you here alone?" he asked with a sardonic smile.

"Um..." I cleared my throat. "He is attending important matters so I am his proxy for tonight's event, sir."

"Hmm? Proxy?" Sir Oliver tilted his head. Then he scoffed. "That's odd. He never asked for a proxy before. This is the first time." He curled up a grin. "Don't get me wrong, Ms. Cejay. I am just too shocked to even hear this from you."

I pursed a smile and nodded. "I also feel the same, Sir Oliver."

"Just call me Oliver, will you?"

"Huh?" What did he say?

His charming smile showed. "Drop the 'sir' as an address. Call me by my name."

"Uh..." What the heck... What am I supposed to say? Must I agree? "O-Okay, Oliver." I plastered a forced smile.

"Can I call in your name?"

I sipped on my champagne and nodded awkwardly. "S-Sure, O-Oliver." I want to stay away from him. I felt like he was trying to hit on me.

"Cejay..." He mentioned my name like he was tasting it just as he did back in Thailand. "You really have a unique name. I like it!"

I cleared my throat. "Thanks..." I smiled, feeling myself getting flustered from his compliment. Few people complimented the uniqueness of my name. Some of them even mistook the spelling of it. Sometimes it was spelled Ceejay, instead of Cejay.

That was totally annoying but I just tried to understand those people who misspelled my name. 

As much as I wanted to distance myself away from Oliver, I couldn't because he was the only person I knew here and the only person with whom I could discourse. Even though I noticed his flirtatious actions towards me, I could endure them as long as he respects my boundaries. But I do feel awkward around him.

I spent some of my time there with him while he was trying his best to engage in a conversation with me. I tried my best to answer some of his questions that are related to business and he asked me what my insights are from economic globalization and issues.

"You're very interesting. I like how you expressed your opinion, Cejay." Oliver nipped his chin with amusement in his eyes.

I smiled and nodded. "I learned a lot from Sir Sebastian," I said confidently. "And from studying at the business school," I added.

"You think so highly of Sebastian. Is it worth it to be his personal assistant?" A sly smile played on his lips. "I envy him having such a smart woman on his side."

"I'm not his woman." I frowned.

"Is it?" He blinked and looked at me innocently. "But that's not what I saw that night at that restaurant in Thailand though. Ah, the jealousy registered in his face... It was my first time seeing it." His eyes were on the flute glass as he slowly swirled the liquid. Then he raised his glance to look at me. His boyish grin almost made me swoon from it. "Are you two dating?"

"What?!" I exclaimed and looked at him in disbelief. Then I laughed shortly. "Dating? My boss? Are you freaking kidding me?"

I know that Sebastian is hot and handsome. Though there are times I almost got stunned by his handsomeness and I felt like I have a little crush on him but dating him? I couldn't even handle dating a guy! Oh my god!

"Oh? So, you aren't dating him then?"

I nodded. "What makes you think we're dating? I am just his personal assistant." I chuckled nervously then drank from my wine.

I almost gasped when his face got closer to me. His hot breath was fanning my face as I smelled his masculine scent.

"Um..." I gulped. I looked at his orbs, feeling a little alarm.

"We should go on a date."

"What?"

The hell! What?

Oliver smiled sheepishly. "I like you," he said directly. Then he took my hand and placed his lips on the back of it. "So if you will allow me, I would like to know more about you."

"Huh?" My heart started to pump faster from Oliver's words. "W-Wait, Oliver... I am still not ready—"

"Get your hands off my personal assistant, Oliver!"

My eyes widened upon hearing the roaring voice of Sir Sebastian. I was about to turn my head to look behind me but I was quickly pulled away by strong arms and in a blink of an eye, I was already inside of a large-built body of Sebastian.

"Sir...?" I asked, bewildered by his reaction. I placed my hand on top of his chest so I could look up at him.

I shivered when I came to meet his cold, fathomless ocean blue eyes that pierced my soul. His sculpted jaw was very captivating as I wanted to run my hands through the stubble I am seeing on his jaw.

"What are you doing and you are flirting with him?" he asked in his dangerous, husky tone.

I was irked when he pulled me more to his body that made my heart raced rapidly. "W-What?" I asked, surprised by his statement. What was he even saying? Me? Flirting with Oliver?

When he didn't get an answer from me, he raised his eyes to shoot Oliver a glare. "What are you even thinking and you are hitting my personal assistant, Oliver Cilantro?"

I lowered my gaze and gasped upon seeing that people in this charity auction party were looking on our way. Holy crap...

"Sir Sebastian, I think—"

"I am asking her out, Sebastian. So, do not interfere with me talking to her."

I gasped when I was being pulled away from Sir Sebastian's arms. In an instant, I was already tugged away by Oliver. My eyes already widened from what just happened as I felt my head spinning from that sudden tug of Oliver.

"And for the record, Cejay is not yours, Sebastian. So don't act like you own her already," Oliver said with a sardonic tone.

"Wait, guys!" I suddenly interjected in between as soon as I spotted Sir Sebastian and Oliver that were about to attack each other. Shit. Why am I being the one who must be in between these two guys? And why the heck were they even arguing about me? I need to stop them before they make ruckus here. I turned my head to Sebastian whose face was on the verge of growling like a lion. Holy crap! "Sir, don't act hastily in the—"

My words were cut off when Sebastian pulled me back into his arms. Distorted, I looked at him in shock. 

"Don't you even dare going out with him because you are mine, Cejay! Mine!"