Chapter 10 - His Priceless Gem

"She isn't cheap." He grumbled. "Don't look down, my sweet pea." She didn't look down and look straight to his step-mother. He had done a lot of things for her and that includes saving her mother. "That's right. Don't let anyone bully you." He faced his stepmother again.

Then, a man came, his face flushed and glared at her. She looked straight at him and didn't even get terrified. She has him and he'll protect him. That's what's on her mind.

"Alessandro,"

"Mr. De Novo." The surname rings. Was it, Tracey's father? Then she must be a daddy's girl. "I didn't expect that you'll show-up with someone so quickly. Everyone knows that Tracey is your fiancée so why bring your mistress here? I'm so disappointed in you."

"That's too good to hear," Alessandro said sardonically. "My beloved, this is Anthony De Novo."

"Mr. De Novo. Please meet you." She extended her hand to him like a real businessperson. Anthony glanced at it and looked straight at Alessandro. She pulled her hand back and then put it on the sleeve of Alessandro. Anthony just indeed embarrassed her.

"Mr. De Novo is one of our business partners in a certain hotel. You'll know better soon, my love."

"I like the hotel, was it your creation Mr. De Novo? I heard that you are an architect before a businessman. Your art through it fascinates me." She knew well about business. That's part of the thing that she learned about their family business back then. Anthony didn't expect her to say such a thing. "What caught my attention more was your creation of the grand hall." She's been to the hotel.

"My woman has great admiration for art. She's kind of picky but I'm surprised that she was fascinated by your work. But if you'll excuse us, I'll see my father first."

He put a hand small at her back. He led the way to the table of her father. Her father was in his fifties. He looked intimidating, but he held her waist still.

"Father," her father's business partners are a little surprised seeing him with someone. His father was so surprised seeing her. Recognition was across his face and she looked back at him. "Please meet Keira, my woman. Keira, Alexander, my father." His mistress. She extended her hand to him.

"Mr. De Alegre, I am very happy to meet you." He took her hand and held it with his other hand warmly.

"Keira, what a beautiful name. I was surprised that Alessandro would bring up someone." The old man grinned.

"Thank you, Mr. De Alegre. I think Alessandro only wanted to bring me here as an excuse to meet you." She smiled warmly at him. Alessandro smiles slyly. Alexander laughed aloud and called a butler.

She took one glass flute of champagne and took a sipped on it. Alessandro watched her every move. They went to their table as the little program started.

Which of course is hosted by his step-mother, Margarette. She held his hand. Her hands had been cold and nervous but she never showed it. He warmed her hand showing affection in the public. They will notify you that there's something between them. She was still a kept woman after all.

He left to be in the bathroom for a while before she even came back, she was blocked by people asking questions, and the stunning Tracey, wearing a black mini-gown showing a ring on her hand as she drums it on the table. She kept her composure and turned to her with a small smile with a nod.

"How did you manage to get his attention?" Well, I was at the auction selling myself, and then he came out of nowhere. She wanted her to answer that way.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Of course, you won't say such a thing since it's the other woman's technique on how to keep a lover. Just tell me one thing, how many men have you practiced to seduce just to keep Alessandro." She scoffed and wanted to laugh at herself, not directly to her.

"I haven't started seducing, Alessandro. I think I don't need to, because—he's so into me." What she hated most was getting bullied.

Tracey gritted her teeth and her hand was shaking itching to slap her face. She was about to take a sip on the champagne but Tracey grabbed it and splashed it on her face. She had closed her eyes at that moment and just let it drip from her face. She stayed calm and took a table napkin as her bodyguard stood behind her and the other one was trying to pull out Tracey.

"Too bad, that wine was expensive." She mumbled and licked her lips.

"Haven't you tasted such an expensive wine?" Tracey gritted. She only smiled halfway—simply making herself calm and not to burst like a real mistress. Being a war freak isn't her thing.

"I had tasted lots of wines and this one is just one of the kinds."

"Apologize." Alessandro came putting a coat over her shoulder. She was stunned for a while. She thought that he was telling her to apologize to her. But Alessandro's piercing eyes pinned to his fiancée. "Apologize to my woman, right now."

"A-Aless…"

"Apologize right now!" he scowled at her. She held his arm to hold him back. She never saw him this angry before and it was scary. "You have no right to bully her, neither any of you here." He sounded so dominant and suddenly, him protecting her felt so right. But he's just his woman.

A kept woman who was a showcase in a party to make a noise.

Tracey nibbled her lips and when her father came and she expected him to protect her. But her father apologized to Alessandro nodding his head.

"I apologize for what my daughter did. She's a little clumsy."

"It's fine." Keira finally spoke just to avoid any more complications. She held on to his pulse. He looked down at her and his eyes softened.

"It's not fine." He faced her bodyguards. "Next time, be more alert to whoever approached her."

"Yes, Sir." They nod their heads. He pulled out his handkerchief and dumped it on her wet face and hair.

"Alessandro, why won't you take her inside?" Alexander De Alegre said.

"No need, father. We are leaving." He grumbled coldly.