175: PARTY (2)

PARTY (2)

Anyone can catch your eyes, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.

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Torak entered the party room, holding Raine by her arm, so close in his side.Their presence immediately made the whole room fall into a moment of silence. All the people's attention was straight away fixed on the couple.

"Are you all right?" Torak took a small bottle of water from the waiter. He opened it for Raine, and let her drink. 

"Yes." Raine took a gulp of the water to moisten her throat. The place was so flashy, impressively decorated with some splendid decorations, and dazzling ornament made it even more flamboyant.

It didn't take a long time for people around to approach Torak. All of them just simply wanted to have a light chat with him. Most of them would use Raine as an opening of their conversation. They would flatter Raine to no end. 

There were no lies being told when they said that Raine was gorgeous and elegant. Because she was indeed looking heavenly. But, behind those flattery words, they were dying to know who she was to him.

Assumptions must've at least crossed inside their mind about her upbringing, and identity. Their gazes were full of questions about Raine, who was the mysterious lady that night. They were truly wondering, that endless questions were inevitably asked.

Which family does this woman belong to?

Is she a daughter of an infamous CEO, but which one?

She looked too young to be a leader of a company. Would it be possible that she's someone famous from the entertainment industry?—It was well known that most business elites who were like Torak, would have associated with one, or two famous socialites. 

However Torak didn't answer any of those questions. He simply said that she was his woman. 

The moment when he said 'his woman', it was right away causing waves of jealousy to every woman who was there and heard that. What kind of deed that this mysterious woman had done, to which she could capture Torak Donovan's heart?

All along, Raine would just smile while occasionally sipping the drink in her hand. Some simple answers to these questions was the furthest they could get from her, while the rest was handled by Torak swiftly. After entertaining some of the people who approached him, Torak brought Raine to get some food.

At this point, Raine began to realize about the gazes that were coming from these women around her. They were looking towards her direction, their eyes were filled with jealousy, and malice. These women looked like they were about to eat her alive, all just because of her being so close to Torak.

Especially those young women who came only to flaunt their wealth—all thanks to their famous wealthy family name—despite the zero effort that they had contributed to their family company. 

Some of the women were only a few years older than Raine. They were there because their family wanted them to have a good relationship with young heirs present there from other companies. It was commonly done among young heirs. Because it would be best for both parties, if they could solidify it through a marriage. All in order to strengthen both family businesses. 

No matter what the reason behind this party, Raine was totally unaware about how things were all about, and didn't seem to care. Because she didn't have the same reason as them. And as long as Torak beside her, there was nothing really mattered to her.

Torak put a few cakes in a small plate, thinking that Raine would like it. Then he brought her to a corner inside the room where there was an empty seat for the two of them.

"How's the party? How do you like it? Do you still want to be here?" Torak's main concern was still Raine's comfort. This was her first time to be surrounded by many people whom she had never met before. Hence, it was understandable if she wanted to call it off early.

"I think I am fine." Raine nibbled on her cheesecake while her eyes wandered around the room. "Don't worry, this is not as scary as I thought." She reassured Torak. "I'll stay here for a while, and finish these cakes. You don't have to stay and stick with me…" 

Raine's cheerful voice was captivating his attention more, than the slow music that was playing inside the room could ever will. The chattering voices, and bright light inside the party room were fading away in the background when Torak looked at his mate right at that moment. 

"No, I'd like to be here." Torak caressed her forehead, and bit the cake in Raine's hand. 

Without the two knowing, some people were capturing their intimate moment with their phone. 

They had just arrived, and the party was still far from ending. Meanwhile in the corner, Raine was enjoying the cakes on her plate, and Torak was having a conversation with two people who were only two steps away from her. 

His exceptional behavior towards Raine once again piqued the curiosity from people around them, but they were too afraid to ask Torak openly about the woman who came along with him.

Just as valuable to be acquainted with Torak, it would be better if they knew the lady as well. A woman's words are sometimes more precious than any form of persuasion. On the other hand, if Torak was too hard to reach, they could try another form of persuasion through his woman instead.

Half of her face was covered with her mask, because after all, it was a masquerade party. But judging from her gestures alone, anyone with eyes could see that this mysterious woman was a quiet, and demure young lady type. They thought that it would be easier to deal with her. 

And if ever she was really special to Torak, then it would be even better. They were thinking about the possibility of how things would get easier from now on, if they were faced in a situation where they had to deal with Torak.

When she was done eating the cake on her plate, Raine stood up. She was about to get something to drink when Torak approached her.

"Do you need something?" In spite of him being in the middle of conversation, Torak chose to approach her and left the conversation he was in the middle of. 

"I'm just going to get something from there…" said Raine, pointing at a row of drinks, seemingly juice of all kinds. It was only a few meters away from her. "You don't need to come with me… I'll be fine." She glanced at the other two men, whom he left in the middle of their conversation.

Torak glanced at the spot that Raine was pointing at. It was indeed not too far. "Alright." Then he agreed to let her go alone. 

Raine walked slowly to avoid the crowd. She was thinking that it would be a simple short move, she would just grab her drink, and then come back to her corner. All nice and simple. However, there were no such things.

Nothing was ever simple when she was being surrounded by many jealous women. Worst of all, human's curiosity was one of the most terrifying things to face alone. Especially when she was the one they were curious about.

Because the moment when Raine had her drink in her hand, and was about to return to her seat, someone bumped on her. Some of the juice splashed all over her dress. 

The yellow colored fruity liquid tainted the front side of her white dress. It would absolutely leave a stain if this was not to be handled quickly, and properly. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. I am very sorry." A woman in a blue gown, with a blue shawl around her shoulder apologized to her profusely. 

Raine waved her hand, and smiled a little to her. But she didn't say anything. Because of her shy nature, she preferred to not talk to strangers, if it was not really necessary. In fact, she didn't like talking to strangers at all.

"I'll help you to clean your dress. Please, let me help you deal with this. Would you come with me to the restroom?" Said that woman apologetically while grabbing her hand. 

Yet, before Raine could answer her, someone pulled her from that woman's tight grip. His raspy voice sounded, shaking anyone around. "What is happening here?"

Torak glanced at the yellow stain at the front part of Raine's dress. He frowned. 

"Mr. Donovan, I'm sorry. It's my fault, I was being so reckless that I ruined her dress." Though she was pleased to meet Torak in person, but to be stared down by him in this proximity, was something that made her nervous instantly. "I was going to help her to clean her dress." She offered, and looked at Raine with pity. 

"There's no need for that." Torak straight away rejected her offer. "We'll just go home."

Upon hearing that, somehow the girl in the blue gown was getting anxious. She grabbed Raine's hand once again. "No, don't. It will make me feel bad if the both of you have to go home because of me, because of what I did." She said, feeling guilty for what she had done. She looked at Rain with pleading eyes. "Please, let me try to fix it."

Seeing how that woman was feeling so sorry about this, Raine was getting uncomfortable and hesitant to turn down her offer. After all that woman didn't mean any harm, nor would she do anything bad, right? All that she meant was just trying to help clean up the juice stain on her dress that she initially caused.

"The party had just started. Even the dancing part has not yet started." That woman tried to persuade Raine to stay.

Little did she know, dancing was the last thing that would make Raine stay. Unfortunately, Raine didn't have the heart to reject her generous offer. At least, her acting was convincing to Raine. But just not for Torak. He then pried the woman's hands from Raine's wrist, and without saying anything he pulled Raine towards a different direction. 

"Ah! Wait…" The woman was so persistent to be with Raine, as she followed them. "My name is Sunny. I think I saw her in the cake store the other day." She stopped right in front of Torak, and Raine.

At this point, people began to notice their small squabble. People started to look towards their direction with curious eyes. 

"I was there, when someone…" She lowered her voice. "Accused her for stealing cakes." Sunny ended it with a whisper.

She was indeed there. Sunny was a girl, who once had a quarrel with Lana. She recognized Torak because her father had been trying to make contact with Torak, he was interested in making an investment in the company that Torak had just established in the city. But it was so hard for her father to reach young Mr. Donovan because he was just an average businessman who was far behind from Torak's level.

Raine couldn't really remember her. She looked around, and didn't like the sudden reaction from people. They had drawn enough attention already. 

"Torak… just let me go with her…" Raine looked worried at Sunny. This woman looked like the one who wouldn't back away before her wish was fulfilled. Besides, with her assistance or not, there was nothing wrong with going to the restroom, and cleaning up her dress. "I'll be quick…" She whispered at him, and tugged his sleeves. "Please…" She added to make sure Torak would allow her.

"Five minutes." Torak said sternly. "If you don't come back in five minutes, I'll go fetch you inside." 

Even when her face was covered with a mask, Torak knew that she frowned. "You will not dare enter a women's restroom, right?" Raine asked, unsure. 

"You bet I will. You'll see." Torak let go of her hand, as he put on his black mask to hide his expression.

"Seriously…" Raine pouted, and then nodded at Sunny. She was suddenly hand in hand with Raine, as she led the way to the restroom.

"I think we need to hurry, I heard Mr. Donovan what he said. We only have three minutes." Sunny pushed open the restroom door, and brought Raine inside.

The restroom had eight cabins inside, two of which were occupied. There was a woman in a black dress standing in front of the mirror. She touched up her makeup casually there.

"Come." Sunny put her hand under the faucet, and then splashed some water to clean the stain off of Raine's dress. She did that a couple of times until it slightly faded. "I think this is the best that I can do…" She said regretfully.  0

Afterward Sunny used tissues to dry the damp part of the dress, so that Raine wouldn't catch a cold after wearing a wet dress.

"It's such a fate that we meet again here." Sunny said cheerfully. "May I know your name?" 

Only then Raine realized that she had not yet mentioned her name. "I'm Raine…" She smiled shyly behind her mask, thinking that maybe Sunny could be her first friend. 

"Nice to see you again, Raine." Sunny kept trying to dry her dress. "I think you're so young. Are you… together with Mr. Donovan?" The question was asked in a whisper that only Raine could hear it. Meanwhile, the woman in black dress was seemingly trying to listen to their conversation. If she had been in the party since the beginning, then she must have known that Raine came with Torak Donovan. 

Raine was taken aback by Sunny's direct question. "I think so…" She mumbled her answer.

"But, you're so young." Sunny protested. "What are you? High school student? College Student?"

"I just took an entrance exam a month ago." Raine replied, hoping the dress would dry faster. 

"Wow, that's great! Which University? I'm a college student too. This year will be my second year." Sunny brightened up.

"Royal University…" Raine said. 

Sunny suddenly shrieked the moment when she heard Raine's answer. She was looking surprised by her answer that she jumped like a five year old little girl. "Royal University!? That's where I go! You see, I'm a student there myself!" Her eyes widened in surprise, she uncontrollably elated. "But, wait… did you choose a second option to go to?"

"No." Raine shook her head. 

"Wow…" Sunny's mouth formed a letter 'o' as she nodded her head. "You must be so brilliant to have that much confidence. Because the entrance exam for Royal University is so difficult. I think that I'm lucky enough to get there."

"No, I am not…" Raine waved her hands in denial. "I didn't take another exam, because other Universities didn't have the major that I wanted to pursue." 

Royal University was an old University in the city. It was only natural for an institution that had been established for so long, like Royal University, to have a one of a kind major. In fact, it apparently was the only university with the specific major that Raine was interested in.

Sunny shrugged her shoulder and lightly said. "This could only mean that if you passed the exam, you will be my junior then!"

"I think so…" Raine agreed. 

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