“Aiden?”
The bride appears by his side, holding the hem of her ample white dress. Her blonde hair falls in elegant waves down her back, giving her an angelic appearance.
“What are you doing…” she trails off when her blue eyes meet mine. Her surprised expression is louder than her new husband’s and she blinks a few times. “A-Alicia?”
“I was just telling Aiden you’ve got the wrong person.” This time, I recover quickly.
He narrows his eyes. “How do you know my name?”
Shit. “It’s all over the place. Congratulations on your wedding.”
I turn around and leave before Aiden can catch me. I have no doubt he’d question me, and I can’t allow that to happen. Besides, I have no answers for him.
I’m on a mission.
All I have to do is finish it and get it over with.
I slip through to the other side of the garden, quickening my pace as if I’m being chased. Which I might as well be.
A breath leaves me when I’m out of Aiden’s visual range. I take a pause at the back corner and collect myself.
That was close.
Which means I’m pressed for time and need to get this over with as soon as possible.
As expected, I find Agnus and Ethan here. They stand around a table with Calvin Reed, a diplomat and the father of the green-haired girl I saw earlier.
I touch my wristwatch, the one I have on me at all times. My lucky watch that’s saved me more than once. It’s almost like the one who gave it to me is looking out for me.
Here we go.
Putting my smile in place, I take a champagne flute from a passing waiter, snap my spine into a straight line, and waltz towards them.
Just when I’m about to reach them, a child no older than ten crashes into Calvin’s leg and demands his attention. The diplomat nods at the other two, takes the boy’s hand, and leads him towards the house.
Ethan and Agnus continue talking amongst themselves.
My perfect chance.
Like the pictures on the internet, Ethan’s appearance is striking with light chestnut hair, a sharp jawline, and a tall, fit figure. From afar, he doesn’t really share many features with the bride, but as I approach them, the resemblance is there, subtle and creeping under the surface.
I touch Agnus’s bicep. “There you are.”
His bland eyes fall on me. It’s like they have no colour; their pale blue is washed out, almost non-existent. He’s broader than Ethan, but with a less sharp edge and a more silent demeanour. His physique is very well-built for someone in his mid-forties, and he gives untouchable vibes.
When I first made him my target and figured out where he takes his morning coffees, I thought I’d have the hardest time getting him to notice me, considering he never dates or even shows interest in women.
Colour me surprised when he offered to pay for my coffee that morning.
Maybe I’m majorly underestimating myself? Who knows? No matter how tough it got, I’ve never reduced myself to playing these types of games before, so I have no past experience to compare to.
“Right.” He smiles. Or tries to, anyway. Agnus barely has any expression, like they were washed out at birth or something. When he speaks, there’s a hint of a refined Birmingham accent to his words. “Aurora, let me introduce you. This is Ethan Steel. Ethan, Aurora Harper.”
We exchange business cards and I try not to grin. Acquiring Ethan’s with his personal phone number on it is like hitting the jackpot.
“I told you about her,” Agnus adds.
He told him about me?
Yes!
My victory dance is halted when I perceive the pause in Ethan’s features. He’s the emperor of Steel Corporation, mid-forties, and has a presence so strong, you’re tempted to stop and look at him. It’s not the intrusive type, though. It’s more like the welcoming type where you just have to get in his vicinity.
That’s why he’s the most fitting candidate to help me out. He was in a coma for nine years, and since he returned almost three years ago, he’s been investing in small companies and building back his empire by using several investments in different fields.
The fact that he’s pausing isn’t good. Please don’t tell me he’ll act as if he’s seen a ghost like his daughter and Aiden did.
“Ms Harper.” He takes my hand a places a kiss at the back of it, never cutting eye contact. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Phew.
“The pleasure is all mine, and please, Aurora is fine. Congratulations on your daughter’s wedding, Mr Steel.”
“Ethan is fine. Agnus tells me you sell watches?”
Thank you, Agnus. I throw him a grateful glance and focus back on Ethan. “Yes. In fact, it’s my passion.”
“How so?”
I motion at his wristwatch. “That must’ve cost a fortune, but do you know why?”
“The brand.”
“Yes, brand awareness. But also, the work the brand established to have said awareness. Your watch is custom-made to fit your wrist size and be comfortable, even if you spend twelve hours in the office and then a few more hours at dinners or parties. It’s there to help you get through your day, but it remains unnoticed. Almost like background motivation.”
“Impressive.” He glimpses at his right-hand man.
“I told you,” Agnus says with the same blank face.
“Let’s make a toast.” Ethan raises his glass. “To background motivation.”
“To background motivation.” I raise my flute in return, a wide grin on my face.
I did it.
I’m saving the company.
All I have to do is keep up with pleasantries, offer him another custom-made, and move on to business talk.
I have no time to waste. Countless people in H&H look up to me and I will not let them down.
“I’ll go get another drink.” Agnus nods at us before disappearing out of view.
That leaves only Ethan and me. I smile, even though I prefer having Agnus around. He’s a great backup, considering he did most of the work for me. I may not click with him emotionally, considering he doesn’t really have those types of connections with women
