Chapter 55 President Oscar is fiercely protective
Now Pearl was astonished, looking up again, hardly believing what she had heard.
He had never praised her like that before.
What was different today?
Pearl and Oscar exchanged glances. "Really?" she inquired.
Oscar ran his fingers through her hair, which framed her face, and chuckled softly. "Have you lost your confidence?"
Pearl felt uneasy, confronted with a different style, but she didn't want to admit it, "Absolutely not."
"You look beautiful tonight; it suits you perfectly," Oscar complimented her.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Pearl took a few steps forward and crashed into his embrace.
"I can hardly stand the thought of letting you go out and be seen by others," Oscar murmured in a husky voice.
His breath was hot on her face, intriguing, causing Pearl's cheeks to flush. She pushed him away playfully, "Stop kidding around. If you say it looks good, then it must."
Her smile was light and spirited.
Oscar's eyes narrowed slightly before he leaned down closer. "Why is it that if I say something looks good, it truly does?"
Pearl looked up into his eyes, which twinkled like stars, and teased, "I won't tell you."
Her beauty was meant for his eyes alone.
Feeling a bit shy, she tried to walk ahead, but Oscar grabbed her hand and pulled her close, holding her tightly. "Be my date for the evening."
Previously, she had stood by his side merely as a secretary. Pearl hesitated, "Will it affect you?"
"It will," he affirmed.
Pearl paused.
Oscar fixed his gaze on her, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "It has a big effect, actually. I find myself wanting to look at you all the time."
Pearl's emotions were a roller coaster – partly flustered. "Can't you finish your sentence?"
Oscar remained silent, simply continuing to watch her.
He certainly enjoyed this lively version of Pearl, no longer an emotionless work machine but a woman with feelings who could get angry and coquettish with him.
As they were about to make their entrance, it seemed everyone had arrived.
Pearl linked her arm through Oscar's as they walked in, and the flash of cameras immediately followed.
Under so many lights, Pearl had never been the center of attention like this, as if all cameras were focused on her.
Feeling nervous, she instinctively leaned toward Oscar.
"Look, President Oscar has a date with him! It's the first time we've seen him enter like this, and she's so beautiful!" someone exclaimed.
"Didn't they say President Oscar got married recently? Could that be his wife?" another speculated.
"But President Oscar mentioned his wife is very low-key and doesn’t like being in the limelight. Why does that lady look familiar to me?" queried another bystander.
As people got closer, some were surprised.
"Isn't that Pearl? She's actually attending as President Oscar's date!"
"Goodness, Pearl always seemed so cool and indifferent, never drawing attention, but all dressed up, she's stunning—she looks like a movie star!" That was the buzz for the evening.
The fact that Pearl got to attend the Oscars as someone's date was a real shock to the ladies.
Oscar felt Pearl clutching his arm tightly, so he asked her, "Nervous?"
"A bit. It feels like everyone's looking at me."
No matter how calm and strong Pearl appeared on the surface, her insides were tumbling like a drum solo.
Oscar held her chilly hand and said, "You'll get used to it after a while."
"Huh?" Pearl couldn't quite decipher his words. Was he suggesting there would be many more such occasions in the future?
But as he reached for her hand, Pearl instinctively pulled away a bit. "So many eyes are on us; better be careful to avoid being photographed."
Nobody knew she was Oscar's wife.
With so many eyes watching, if it got out, people might think he had a wife and was still playing the field, which could tank his public image.
She didn't want to damage his reputation.
Seeing her avoidance, Oscar's expression cooled, and he didn't insist anymore, simply slipping his hand back into his pocket.
"President Oscar," someone came over to greet him and then glanced at Pearl. "Miss Pearl, you're a dark horse! You look stunning tonight; you've taken my breath away!"
The man came over to shake Pearl's hand.
"You flatter me, it's all makeup, nothing compared to your date," Pearl, suffering from occupational hazard, immediately responded with a smile and a returning handshake.
Yet Oscar stepped in, "No need to be formal tonight."
Pearl withdrew her hand.
The man didn't seem to mind and joked, "President Oscar is quite the protector, isn't he?"
Meanwhile...
"Look, President Oscar's date is actually his secretary. I thought she would be something special!" Eileen's assistant scoffed, deliberately loud enough for others to hear.
"I'd say the status of a secretary seems higher than some!" chimed in Haley, wearing a spare dress that paled in comparison to Pearl's radiance.
Ever since Oscar announced his marriage, Haley had become the butt of the jokes.
If it weren't for Mrs. Brown pulling at her, she didn't know how many more would have laughed at her.
Watching Pearl, who seemed so bold with all the cameras, pointed at her as if afraid people wouldn't know she was Oscar's date, Haley clenched her fingers tightly.
Hearing their idle talk, Haley could only bear it. Just like Mrs. Brown said, she needed to have some patience—eventually, everything would be hers.
Eileen saw that Haley dared not make a sound, so she knew that her previous commotion had caused quite a stir, and now her fall was particularly rough.
She could only smirk coldly without saying much more.
Pearl's legs were aching from having seen so many guests. Normally, she would only wear heels no higher than three inches, and they were always chunky to avoid getting tired feet.
Today, she had worn four-inch stiletto heels, and now she had blisters on the backs of her heels.
She was both tired and hungry.
Not wanting to trouble Oscar, she found an excuse to sit down for a while.
She was sure she would still have to stand for a long time.
Finally getting a chance to rest, Pearl sighed in relief, gazing at the lake outside as a gentle breeze brought a sense of serenity.
She took her foot out of her high heels to take a look.
As she suspected.
Her toes were red.
Several blisters had formed on her heels.
Her feet were extremely sore.
She rubbed her feet, and suddenly, a suit jacket was draped over her shoulders.
Smelling a familiar scent, she turned her head to see Oscar standing behind her in a white shirt.
"How did you come out here?" Pearl was surprised. After all, this was a Brown Group exclusive event. He should be busy and shouldn't be concerned about her.
Oscar sat down beside her, "Didn't you say that you had to stay close to me tonight? You made an excuse to leave. As your husband and CEO, I have to come out and check on you."
Pearl quickly covered his mouth, her eyes darting around to make sure they were alone, "Good, no one’s around."
Oscar looked at her closely, enticed by those red lips. He couldn't help but stroke her hand.
Pearl then looked again at Oscar, realizing she was too close. She quickly let go and moved back a bit.
A warm sensation was placed on her foot, it was so hot that she flinched, and she said, "It's dirty from the floor."
Oscar didn't seem to mind; instead, he placed her foot on his lap, noticing how cold her feet were, "They must hurt and be cold. Let me warm them up for you."
Her feet on his lap, his hands covering them completely, enveloped.
Her feet warmed up instantly.
His careful attention kept Pearl's gaze fixed, staring at his beautiful face, the corners of his lips tinged with a hint of pain and tenderness for her.
Pearl snapped out of it. Was this her imagination?
She pinched her own leg unconsciously.
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