CHAPTER 114
The room was expansive, filled with the most prominent young men from various elite social circles. Some sang with beautiful women by their sides, while others sipped drinks with women draped around them. A few engaged in a game of pool, and others played poker with towering stacks of chips, each representing a substantial sum of money.
Such was the opulence of a wealthy man's life.
At that moment, Arianna couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment towards the rich.
“There she is! The star of tonight's party has arrived,” Felix called out from the sofa, his eyes unabashedly fixed on Arianna.
Her elegant figure and mesmerizing dance moves had captivated him when he watched her perform on stage earlier. Now, seeing her up close, she was even more stunning than he had anticipated.
It was quite a pity that she wore a mask that concealed her face. A coat covered her upper body, hiding her slender waist, but her exposed legs were more than enough to entice him.
Those legs could take his breath away if they wrapped around his waist.
Felix did not hide his desire. He beckoned to Arianna with a come-hither gesture and said in a flirty voice,
"Come here and have a seat."
Arianna detested the way he looked at her, but she kept a straight face and did not show the slightest emotion.
She had heard rumors about Felix before. He was an extreme playboy with many beautiful women around him, thanks to his wealth and good looks. Since he could get them so easily, he disliked women who came cheap and hated it when they were overly clingy.
With that knowledge in hand, Arianna walked boldly over and sat down beside Felix.
She picked up a bottle of wine, poured it into two glasses, and held one out to Felix. In a soft voice, she said,
“Thank you for your admiration. I’d like to raise a toast to you.”
Felix cocked an eyebrow. “You’re very courteous, beautiful!”
He reached out to take the glass of wine, deliberately brushing his fingers against the back of Arianna’s hand as he received it.
Arianna suppressed her disgust and smiled even more charmingly. “Cheers.”
After clinking glasses with Felix, she tilted her head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
She glanced at Felix from the corner of her eye and noticed him only taking a small sip. There were already signs that his interest was waning.
Success seemed to be within her grasp.
Arianna set down her empty wine glass, looked at Felix, and feigned eagerness. She hinted, “Shall we play something else, Mr. Quimby?”
As expected, the interest in Felix’s eyes vanished completely. He turned away from Arianna and instructed his men,
“Give her a check.”
It was clear he wanted her to take the money and leave.
Arianna suppressed her inner joy. Outwardly, she displayed an expression of disappointment, looking at Felix with a touch of resentment.
Felix immediately turned his attention to another beautiful woman, wrapping his arm around her as he enjoyed his drink.
A subordinate approached Arianna and handed her a check for 500,000.
Just as Arianna was about to take it, another hand swiftly snatched the check away. A man's voice came from beside her,
“You’re stunning, but no one knows what you look like. Wouldn’t it be such a shame if you left without revealing the mysterious face behind the mask?”
Arianna's brow furrowed ever so slightly at the sound of that voice.
She instinctively turned towards the voice. Seeing the man's familiar face made her heart race.
It was someone she knew and definitely did not want to encounter—Xander's good friend, Zach.
Zach seemed intrigued by her. His dark eyes were fixed on her as he said,
“Hey there, Beautiful. You look kinda familiar.”
Arianna’s long eyelashes fluttered involuntarily.
If Zach recognized her, he would almost certainly tell Xander. If Xander found out she was dancing and drinking with other men, no explanation would matter. He would definitely be furious, rendering all her efforts that night futile.
Fortunately for Arianna, Zach wasn't known for his attentiveness. She just needed to be cautious.
Arianna raised her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. Lowering her voice and pretending to giggle softly, she said,
“You’re hilarious, Mr. Summer. How could I have met you when this is the first time I’ve attended such a large party?”
She slightly lowered her eyes, avoiding Zach’s gaze smoothly.
The dim lighting and her mask, combined with her deliberately altered voice, would likely be enough to keep her identity hidden as long as Zach didn't scrutinize her too closely.
Zach squinted at her for ten seconds before saying exactly what she expected,
“You’re right. How could a little dancer like you ever cross paths with someone like me?”
Arianna was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Zach continued in an intrigued voice,
“Still, I’m very interested in your appearance. If you can pole dance so seductively, I wonder if your face is just as extraordinary.”
As soon as he spoke, his hand reached for the mask on her face.
His movements were too sudden, but Arianna was lucky to have kept her guard up. She pretended to turn her face sideways by accident.
Zach’s fingers closed around nothing but air.
Rather than irritation, his curiosity only deepened. He stroked his chin thoughtfully,
"Why don't you reveal yourself, Beautiful? I'm really curious to see the face behind that mask."
Meanwhile, Felix’s attention returned to her, despite his earlier disinterest. He pushed aside the woman beside him and gestured toward Arianna,
"Come on, Beautiful. Since Mr. Summer is so eager to see your face, why not take off that mask? If he likes what he sees, you might get to enjoy gourmet meals and fine wines by his side."
The others chuckled with a hint of innuendo at Felix's remark.
Arianna's eyes narrowed slightly. If it were anyone else, she might consider removing the mask just to end the situation. Unfortunately, the person before her was Xander, and that changed everything.
She hadn't forgotten the time when Xander accused her of being with other men at the club. The consequences of that accusation were severe, leading to a bitter fallout that almost cost her life.
If Xander caught her again, the repercussions she'd face were secondary to the risk of him disrupting her plan to save Charlie.
That was something Arianna couldn't forgive herself for.
