Chapter 109 - CHAPTER 109: BAD AT ACTING

"I'm sure he's somewhere near the portraits so why don't we look around as well while searching for him?' Zion suggested as soon they entered the hall of the famous five-star hotel where they held the art symposium. 

"You don't have to use Mr. Black just so to see the paintings, you know that right?" Zenia replied while showing their special passes to the security personnel of the said symposium. 

Zion chuckled as soon as he heard her. Zenia truly knew him very well. She knew he loves looking at different kind of arts although he was not good at it. Who would have thought that a person who sucks in all of his art subjects could appreciate paintings of sorts? Weird. 

"But it was also my intention to look for him." He reasoned. They were already inside the hall which was packed with many known guests. 

"Fine." She rolled her eyes playfully. "I'm not gonna argue with you about that." She nonchalantly voiced. They were heading towards the paintings posted on the right side when Zenia suddenly heard some couples talking about a certain person.

"Well, he definitely deserves a good beating!" The old woman uttered in disgust. "He doesn't have the right to treat a beautiful woman like that."

"Well, I'm sure he'll get what he deserves. He dared to insult Marcus' woman so I'm sure he will be punished accordingly." Said the husband.

Zenia halted from her tracks. "Did you hear that?" 

"The what?" Zion asked confused. 

"I think something happened earlier."

"Are you that curious to know?" He raised his brow.

"No, it's just that…" She paused while recalling what the old man said. If she heard it right, the old man mentioned a name that caught her attention--- Marcus. Could it be the man whom he knew? 

She unknowingly sighed. "Never mind, let's just look for Mr. Black." She turned her heels and walk beside Zion. 

Zion was having fun while looking at the paintings one by one but a particular painting caught his attention. It was an abstract painting but he could feel sorrow in it. Looks like the artist painted it wholeheartedly as if it'll be her last piece. 

"This…." He muttered sadly. "What a heartbreak." 

Zenia looks at the painting for a few seconds then to the man wearing a gloomy countenance. She raised her brows as if mocking him. She couldn't see and feel any emotion the way Zion sees it. She could only see distorted image of whatever it is. 

She heaved a disappointed sigh. Not that she hates it but she was never into any kinds of arts specially abstract since she can't see any sense in it. 

"Sorry, I can't sympathize with you on that. I was not born to be an art lover like you so I will be waiting at that table." She pointed at the empty table at the left side using her eyes. But before even Zion speaks a word, she lightly tapped the man's shoulder and smiled a little. "Keep looking around." 

She headed to the empty table and as soon as she sat down, someone walks towards her. 

"Zenia?" It was a voice a man whom she knew. Her eyes widened in shock and felt a bit nervous as well. 

"R-rey? W-what are you doing here?!" She asked trying to hide her fright. 

"I should be asking you that? What is an accountant doing in here? I thought you're on duty?" Rey raised his brows. 

Zenia faked a smile. She lied when she told him that she was an accountant in a small law firm in the city. In addition, she also told him that she will be out of town for a couple of days but the reason was unknown to the man. 

"I…"

"I thought you were on vacation." She can sense the building suspicion on the man's tone.

"T-that…" She jerked when she saw that Zion was heading to her location. And while Zion was walking towards her, she thought of an idea and immediately stood up to meet him. "I came back because of him." She embraced Zion's arm.

Rey looked at the puzzled man beside the woman. Could this be her lover? But Zenia said she's currently not in a relationship. Now Rey's confused.

"My cousin Zion came back yesterday from his medical mission in Africa and he's been pestering me to accompany him to this event. That's how I ended up here. How about you? Aren't you supposed to be guarding the house?" Zenia was quick to reasoned out. Only when she mentioned the 'house' did Zion understood what's happening.

"I was called to monitor the security here." Rey replied but he couldn't cast away the doubt he was feeling at the very moment. 

"The security here is pretty tight; I must say you are doing a great job." Zion smiled and extended his right hand for a handshake. "My name is Zion, nice to meet you."

"Rey, my pŀėȧsurė ----" He is not done talking when his phone buzzed. "I have to go; I think they're looking for me now. Please excuse me." He partly smiled before leaving the two.

"I don't think he was convinced with your acting." Zion nonchalantly spoke as soon as the man's shadow was nowhere to be found.

"I have the same thought. Rey's pretty observant and smart."

"That's because you were always bad at acting. So what will you do now?"

"Well, I don't think we will be seeing each other often so he won't be a problem in the future."

"Why don't you tell me directly that he is useless to you now."

"It would be rude for me to term it that way."

"But I know that you are heading to that conclusion anyway."

"Ugh! Whatever." She rolled her eyes and faced the man. "Why don't you call your father and ask where he is? I am itching to go home now."

MEANWHILE, Peter Black was having fun as he goes around checking every paintings and sculpture inside the hall that he forgot his guests --- Zion and Zenia. He was marveling at the rock sculpture inspired by the medieval period when his phone rung. 

It was only when he saw the caller that he remembered about his guests. 

"Son, where are you?" The old man asked as he walks towards the next display. Unfortunately, he accidentally tripped his foot and bumped into a lady holding a glass of wine which was poured on her beautiful white dress. 

"Dammit!" Zion heard a loud voice on the other line. 

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry young lady." Peter Black sincerely apologized but the lady glared at him as if she was ready to kill the old man. 

"The heck with you? Did you see what you did to my dress?!" The lady started cursing at the old man and Zion felt alarmed at the situation. Therefore, he immediately turned off the phone to look for his father. Unknown to Zion, the lady irritatingly pushed the old man who fell on the floor.

"Mister, are you alright?" The old man suddenly heard another voice from a lady who helped him got up to his feet along with a fine young man.

"I am. Thank you." He smiled at her as if nothing bad happened to him. 

After making sure that the old man was fine, Jade faced the young lady with a scowl on her face. "Miss, you should apologize to him."

"What? Me? He should be the one apologizing to me! look what he did to my expensive dress!" The lady bawled. 

"That is just a piece of clothing that you can change anytime, but how could you push an old man like that?" Jade replied. 

The lady was about to say some more when she suddenly looked at the man standing beside her. She recognized him--- "Hayden?" 

"Miss Heidi, please don't make a scene here. people are looking at you now. Do you want to ruin your career?" Hayden spoke when he finally had a glimpse of the woman.

"You----!" She wanted to rattle more but Hayden was right, some people were already looking at her indifferently. 

"Follow me." Before Hayden left, he looked at Jade's eyes meaningfully. Jade, on the other hand, understood what he was trying to convey so she nodded in response. 

"Thank you." The old man muttered. 

Jade led the old man in an empty pew and amazingly, they exchanged some few words. After a few more seconds, a young man came and stood in front of them.

"Dad, are you alrigh----" He didn't finish his statement when he saw the woman opposite his old man.

"J-jade?"

"Zion?" Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. 

"I didn't know you were here. Then I guess you are with your husband. Where is he?"

"He's in a meeting with the executives. He'll be here soon." She replied confidently.

"Did you say your husband is in a meeting?" He raised his brow while looking somewhere. Jade on the other hand nodded confidently. 

"Then who is that person then? I'm sure it's Marcus." He muttered softly. 

Filled with curiosity coupled with doubt, jade turned her head and followed Zion's eyes. only then did she realized that the meeting ended for who knows when and now he is with someone whom he should not be with.

"Rachelle…." She suddenly felt a pang of pain within her.