Chapter 30: 23.𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲

Okay

Breath in.......

Breath out

Breath in......

Breath out

There are too many people here. Why? God! too much carbon dioxide being produced.

It's not like I hate people. I just hate too many people especially when I don't know anyone, I feel weird , unsafe and moreover insecure

I run my hands down my dress checking myself for the 11th time in the last 10 minutes. I was really confident in the car but what's happening now. I just need to breathe, Nothing will happen here.  No one knows me, they won't harm me

Right?

Oh god

"I am enjoying your meditating session, freckles but You are squeezing my hand a little too much" Liam whispers, that's when I realized my hand gripping his hand in a really uncomfortable manner, I quickly release his hand and apologize

He chuckles and slips his hand into mine again "I didn't ask you to release it" he says in a low smoothing tone. His thumb caressing the back of my palm , calming my nerves. His touch is so gentle as if he is treating a glass which could  moment. Yet the touch is comforting

We are already inside the huge hall, people chatting, eating and enjoying themselves. It actually looks like an after party instead of a business one . The faint notes of piano can be heard in the background which is being played by a pianist  nearby

They aren't any ordinary people, they are famous personalities, their vibes so refined. Even when we were in parking area, it was filled with expensive cars and even limos and even Liam

He fucking brought a Mercedes?

I almost choked seeing the car, his bike already looks really expensive but now his car too, I could sleep like a baby in that car it was so comfortable

I could literally spot so many models and celebrities walking by me and smiling at Liam or giving him a small greeting. Well he is famous after all, especially after his designs were presented in the fashion show. I was so fascinated that I couldn't help but dream to wear a dress designed by him. His work is so beautiful, his designs were elegant and detailed, I for once wanna see his raw designs too

Liam holds a glass of wine in front of me, offering me a drink. I shake my head to deny. He simply nods and keeps the drink back "you don't drink?" He questions.

"No i avoid it as much as I could" especially after my last birthday party I haven't touched  alcohol

Don't think about it

Liam looked at me for a second, i couldn't understand his expression but it looked like he wanted to tell me something. Before I could speak any further, a honeyed voice takes over our attention

"Liam! There you are!" A lady dressed in an elegant long white dress, her green cat eyes sharp yet she has a comforting smile on her face. She looks familiar

My eyes fall on her necklace

Damn

She is wearing Bulgari's serpenti necklace?

"Aunt lia" Liam smiles addressing her. The lady gives him a small side hug and says something to him that I couldn't't catch up

Did he say aunt?

Oh god! My eyes are gonna pop out as I realized who she was. Amelia Carter, Liam's only aunt . The owner of a fashion agency for modeling.

"Oh who is this young lady?" Her voice is so simple and soft . Even though she is a popular personality I don't see a hint of arrogance in her face or voice. Liam takes my hand and brings me closer to him and gives us an introduction "This is Stella , my date for tonight and she is my aunt, Amelia Carter"

"Oh well hello Stella . Nice to meet you" Amelia Carter offers me her hand. I hesitate at first but shake her hand "Please, the pleasure is mine. I can't believe I am meeting you ma'am" I say keeping my voice as normal as possible

"Don't flatter me. And no ma'am here, I feel old, just call me Amelia" She raises her glass a bit and sips her wine. I could notice her looking at Liam and raising her eyebrow at him. Liam doesn't react much to that but I could see the smirk on his aunt's lips

"So Stella, what are you doing right now?" Her question catches me off guard.  I didn't think she would like to have a conversation with me "Studying Fashion designing right now" She smiles and nods her head in approval

"You know you have a good height" she comments

I couldn't get what she was trying to. Before i could ask she hands her glass to Liam and speaks again "you have a good height, if I am not wrong you are at least 5,7 or 5,8 and a perfect figure for modeling you know? And your face is gorgeous, I would love to have someone like you in my agency"

My lips part up as I get what she is implying to. Did she just offer me to model for her?

Her eyes scans me, she looks at me really professional, her soft face has a look of strictness now. I look at Liam nervously, he gives me an assuring smile. I look at Amelia again

"So what do you think? Will you accept my offer?"

I am speechless right now . Is this really happening or what? It's an amazing offer, my whole life will change if I agree with it but-

"This is an incredible offer, I am honored that you offered me but I would like to reject. My goal is fashion designing and i couldn't just leave it" I say in a polite manner. I don't wanna disrespect her

Her eyes softens "I understand, but if you ever change your mind , my offer is still available" she turns towards Liam and take her glass back "remember to give her my number" Liam nods at her words

"If you don't mind, I need to speak with him for a bit. Please excuse us" Amelia asks

"Oh yes sure"

Amelia walks away as Liam follows her , he turns around and mouths 'I will be back' when he sees me nodding he turns back as they disappear in the crowd. I walk towards the buffet table filled with delicious food and sweets and desserts

As I was about to take a cupcake a voice made me flinch and keep the cupcake back "Stella! How are you?" Zuri pulls me into a hug. I hug her back and pull away asking "I am doing well"

She smiles and grabs two cupcakes and passes one to me. I thank her gesture as we both take a bite from the little cake "are you enjoying the party?" She questions

"Well I am not too fond of these parties and all but wait how did you know i was here?"

She speaks eating the cake "Liam told me you are here too so I thought to give you some company" I nod as her words and finish my cake

I forgot Zuri and Max would be here as Liam mentioned that their families are friends. Maybe Ian is also present somewhere here?

"Did you offer Stella for modeling because of me?" I ask aunt Lia

We are away from the crowd at the second floor, I try to glance down to search for her but there are too many people there

"You know I hate favoritism, right? Plus she is actually capable of modeling I wish she didn't reject my offer, she is a good candidate for it but it's her choice" Aunt lia says and sips her drink

I nod

I just wanted to make sure if it was an offer from her heart or because she wanted to favor me as her family. But knowing she did it on her own makes me happy. I knew Stella would reject as soon as I heard aunt Lia offering her for modeling , she is into fashion designing so much, I don't think she wanna sacrifice it

Especially after going against her family

"But you do have a good taste. I am impressed" Aunt Lia praises me and her teasing is visible. "Are you sure you can pursue her?"

"I know I can, I just need time" I say confidently

"Time is something which doesn't wait for someone"

I sigh recognising the owner of the voice. I glance behind me to see Jeff walking towards us with his hands in his pockets . He stands at the same level beside me "Am I right?" His tone of mockery always annoys me

I look at his attire and again it's a black suit. I think this guy has nothing in his closest except suits

Aunt Lia looks at him and gives a slight nod before going downstairs leaving both of us alone. I glare at Jeff and he shrugs his shoulders "what? I heard you were missing me so much while I was in America" he smirks

"You disappeared without informing. I wanted to know if you got the information I asked about"

He nods , his face is now serious rather than playful "Yeah I did. I will send it to you tonight"

"What did you get?" I question

"I got so much but still there are missing pieces, I am working on it but I hope you didn't forget our deal right?" And his annoying self is back

A while ago when Jeff talked about someone watching us , I decided to take help from him because this guy has connections beyond imagination. I tried to contact him again to know if he got the information I asked him to look into but this guy already flew off to America. I knew he would get the information but he made a deal for it. A race again

He is so rich that his three generations can survive without working but that's passed to him by his father and he hates that. The racing event is something he created by his own and hence he loves the profit he makes from it. In millions

His event is losing its popularity as Adam and I are not showing up. I will get what I want and in return I will race for him but only once

"I know but I wanna know why are your men following me?" I have a question. His expression shocked me to know how I caught up on his trick. I could sense a few of his men following me or lingering around my work place or my apartment. They did disguise themselves well but I could sense someone watching me

He smirks "so you got it?"

"It was really obvious" I reply

He shakes his head and sigh "I didn't have bad intentions I just wanted to make sure your life is not in danger "

I roll my eyes. He is clearly lying

He has his own secrets that only he knows even asking him is useless

"I don't need your protection. What am I ? A child? I can protect myself very well"

He shrugs his shoulders "very well then you won't see my men around you anymore" he pauses and smiles , it's not a soft one but a mischievous one

He is truly a devil in disguise

He removes his phone from his coat and calls someone and speaks to the person "There's a lady dressed in a long midnight blue dress and blonde hair, she came with Liam Williams. Make sure she is safe and maintain distance. Got it?" He hangs up

I frown "what was that about?"

He keeps his hands in his pockets again "I forgot that your life isn't within you anymore. It resides in a certain blonde" He mocks and chuckles sarcastically

I groan

He is never gonna leave me. I feel like he will annoy me in my grave too. But still he assigned his men to guard Stella gave me some relief. As Jeff mentioned, due to her father's work she is on a target of many it's not that serious but I couldn't just ignore that thing like that, because no one tired anything yet

Jeff tired to search who is doing it but her father has too many enemies to pick from

I lean against the railing of second floor and look down searching for Stella again. My eyes land on her golden hair.  She is standing near the buffet table talking with Zuri. I requested her to accompany Stella until I am gone because she doesn't know anyone here and I didn't want to leave her all by herself

"Ah I hate seeing you like this" Jeff stands beside me and sighs. I look at him "Seeing me like what?"

He nods his head towards Stella's direction, my eyes move to her again, she is smiling and this time she doesn't look nervous, her body language is bit more relaxed than before

"Seeing you in love"

My eyebrows join together as I step back and glare at him. He snickers and leans against the pillar near the railing and demands "Admit it"

It's better not to answer him

I get close to railing again to look at Stella again but she is gone

She was just standing there. But I can't see her or Zuri? My eyes wander on each guest searching for her . Jeff notices my expressions and quickly grab his phone and calls someone again

I am still trying to look for her but couldn't

After a few seconds I hear a frustrated groan from him and he curses "shit" I look at him and he shakes his head keeping his phone back inside his coat "They can't find her" he informs

I start running downstairs

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Author's Note

I wanted to say why I am posting according to voting target. Because votes help the reach so other people can discover it. I understand you all need the chapters and can't wait but even I need a motivation to keep writing

Hence I request the silent readers to hit the star icon and vote

Even I hate cliffhangers, so complete the target soon to know what happens next 👀

Voting target: 255 votes

And one last thing - Liam cannot be taken as a billionaire, yes he is rich and heir to NYX but not the Billionaire with the B yet ....

-The temperature is increasing so remember to always carry a water bottle and stay hydrated 💟