Chapter 76 - ATTEND THE BALL WITH ME

Cayenne blushed and she felt that her face was getting hotter every second that has passed. "You're a bit too close." She whispered while looking down on her hands. "Can you step a little bit farther?"

"Why are you blushing? Are you feeling shy that I'm very close to you?"

"Nope." Cayenne looked at him with her clear eye, trying her best to prove to him that she wasn't affected by his closeness. "I just feel that it's inappropriate for us to be so closed to each other. Do you get my point?"

"Yes, ma'am. I understand." Stefan responded and gave her head a gentle pat. "Let me finish drying your hair so that we can go to sleep."

"Hn."

Just like their normal days, Stefan fell asleep with Cayenne in his arms. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and Cayenne was also hugging him back. In reality, Cayenne would always try her best to avoid hugging him back but, Stefan would always put her arms around him, making sure that he's feeling her presence clearly.

"There will be a year-end ball for all employees of the Clover Hotel next Saturday. Will you be attending it?" Stefan asked Cayenne over breakfast the next morning.

"I don't think I'll attend it. I don't like parties."

"Why?"

"I think it's a waste of my time and money. I don't even get anything out of it." Cayenne responded bluntly even though she was talking to the owner of the hotel. Ever since she started working, she would always avoid any gathering with the other employees. Every time she thought of having fun while her mother was suffering because of her illness, she would feel guilty and she couldn't enjoy the occasion. Thus; it's better to avoid it.

Stefan poured a glass of milk for her while listening to her words. "But, I want you to attend it."

"Why?"

"Because I will be there. I want to dance with you during the ball." He was grinning from ear to ear while he spoke which made Cayenne thought that he was just bluffing. She had no idea that he was really serious with his words.

"I don't know how to dance. And I won't attend it."

"Join the ball. I'll send someone to help you out."

"Do I really have to? There are other women who can dance with you and who will look better beside you." She refused once again. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her colleagues and other people if he would really choose to dance with her.

"No negotiation this time. Attend the ball with me."

"Fine. Fine."

Cayenne had no idea that his words of 'attend the ball with me' has another meaning to it. She didn't know the reason until she came to work.

Manager Kim called everyone before the start of work. The lounge was full of female employees since there were many employees in the hotel. For the day shift, there were thirty-six employees including those with higher position. For the night shift, there were forty-three of them included the superiors. Manager Dan will hold a meeting in the evening and Manger Kim chose this time to meet with everyone.

"As you have known, there will be a year-end party for all employees of Clover Hotel and our President, together with the other shareholders, will be attending this ball as well. A news came that our President will choose a woman to attend the ball with. So, ladies, I want you to check the best clothes you have in case you will be chosen."

"No kidding!" Luna exclaimed when she heard it.

"Is this for real?! This must be some kind of a joke. Why would he choose from one of us? Is he tired of the women he had a fling with?" another employee snickered.

"I won't join it." Celine commented. "My husband is a very jealous type and he might kill me if he knows about this."

"I'll certainly join this contest." Another employee interjected. "I want to try being held in his arms."

Manager Kim listened to their opinion but she knew that the news was just a front that Stefan used in order to attend the ball with Cayenne. On the other hand, Cayenne didn't say anything but, she already got a feeling that the news had something to do with the conversation the two of them had during breakfast.

'This man is really unpredictable. I thought he wasn't serious about it.' She thought while looking around at the women inside the lounge. Somehow, she felt guilty towards them. They looked all excited but in fact, it was all planned. None of them will be chosen except her.

When Cayenne got home after that shift, she found that Stefan wasn't around yet. 'Weird. He's usually home around this time.' She changed her shoes to indoor slippers and went upstairs to their room. It was very quiet. She wasn't used to this kind of silence since Stefan had always been home before her in the past days.

She was just planning to take a shower first when her phone rang. It was a song titled Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra and she used it as a ringtone exclusively for Stefan.

"Stefan? Where are you?"

"I'm still at the office. I'll be home a little late. Don't worry about me."

"Are you really okay? You sound a little strange to me."

"I'm fine. I'll call you once I'm on my way home."

"Sure." Cayenne agreed but she was still doubting him. "I'll see you later."

When the call ended, Stefan put down his phone and coughed several times. "Sir, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?"

"No. Cayenne will find out if I go there. Let's just monitor my temp in the next two hours. I'm sure that this will be gone."

Chris nodded his head and went out of his office to get some medicine for him. His phone buzzed several times and when he pulled it out, he saw a message from Cayenne. Worried for his boss, he told her the truth of Stefan's condition.

'What an idiot.' Cayenne badmouthed him mentally while stuffing her phone inside her small sling bag with her wallet. She didn't bother changing her clothes; just making sure that she has a mask and a cap with her.

She ran out of the house and jogged towards the gate of the subdivision. It was farther than she thought and when she got to the guard's post, she was panting heavily from so much exhaustion.

"Ma'am, do you need help?" The guard asked her while she was bending her body, clutching her chest to catch her steady breathing.

"I-I…I need...a..taxi. I need…a..taxi." she repeated in between heavy breathing.

"Wait a sec ma'am. I'll get one for you."

The guard walked towards the street and hailed a taxi for her. Cayenne just waited at the guard's post for his help. Few minutes later, a taxi was finally found for her and she immediately boarded it. "Thanks a lot for your help." Cayenne smiled and told the driver to go to Stefan's company building.

"I wonder what he'll say if he finds me inside his office. Will he get angry? Am I stepping over the line?" She whispered with obvious worry reflecting on her face. She didn't want him to get angry but she was deeply worried for him. 'Well, if he gets angry, I'll just apologize. In any case, I won't be doing anything unscrupulous.'

The moment she arrived, she wore the face mask and the cap before paying the travel fare and went out of the cab. She already contacted Chris about her arrival and he was currently waiting for her at the lobby.

"Thank you for coming." Chris told her while leading her inside under the curious stares of the other employees who were still present at the moment. "I'm sorry for bothering you as well but I believe the President will listen to you."

"And why do you think that he would listen to me?" Cayenne asked in curiosity. She had no idea that she had that advantage over him.

Chris looked at her and faintly smiled. "You will know the reason sooner or later but, I can't tell you about it."

"Alright. I won't force you." The elevator to Stefan's office opened and the two of them came inside. "Won't he get mad if I show up uninvited? He might think badly of me."

"I'm pretty sure he won't." Chris responded to reassure her.

At the lobby, employees looked at each other as soon as Chris and Cayenne were out of their sights. They immediately formed groups and gossiped about the arrival of a woman who used the President's exclusive lift and was personally met by Chris, the President's secretary.

"The President's girlfriend came to visit him." 

"Our lady boss visited the boss today."

These kinds of information or thoughts spread among the employees and even the shareholders received this information as well. Sadly, they all went home after the meeting. When they were all waiting for her to come, she didn't show up. And now that they all went home, she arrived.

'The lady boss is very elusive.'