BOUND BY BETRAYAL

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The party was still going strong, and there I was, standing in the corner with a glass of wine, next to Damien who seemed completely engrossed in the conversation with those two guys. I couldn't help but feel a bit isolated, observing them. I wondered what they were discussing that had captured Damien's interest.

Though on the one hand, I was kinda stoked when Damien put Marson and Olivia in their place earlier. But deep down, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Marson. And I bet Olivia would have some trouble catching some sleep for days after that. Though it's just sad that all of Damien's actions were just for show and not genuine. 

    "Hey, have you guys laid eyes on him?" Damien asked, his hand tugging me closer. I took a deep breath, catching a whiff of his cologne, the scent enveloping my senses. The dude with the tinted hair chuckled before responding, "Nah, haven't spotted him yet."

"But you guys claimed he got an invite," Damien retorted, shooting them a fierce glare that made them gulp nervously. "Maybe he'll still show up," the other guy stammered, only to receive another sharp glare from Damien.

"Since when did you guys start feeding me false info?!" His voice filled with anger, causing both the guys and myself to feel uncomfortable. I wanted to distance myself, but he held me tightly, so tightly that it almost felt suffocating. I struggled to break free for a moment, realizing his grip was unyielding, and ultimately after a few struggles I gave in, leaning into his touch.

Their discussion dragged on for what felt like ages when suddenly his phone beeped. I heaved a sigh of relief as I watched him keep staring at the screen, his gaze locked for what seemed like an eternity. Then, lifting his head, he nodded to his friends, exchanging a silent conversation with just their eyes. Without uttering a word to me, he slowly walked away, leaving me in a state of fear again. This time, I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something was truly amiss. His mysterious actions and the way he kept me in the dark only added to my curiosity and heightened my fear.

    However, standing there I could feel the eyes of his other friends on me but I looked away not wanting to stare in their direction or even act like they were there. So I kept sipping my drink, trying to act all casual. But just then, out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the guy with tinted hair nudge his other friend by the elbow, and they started whispering something. And next thing I knew, they turned and started staring right at me. Still, I played it cool, like I didn't notice, and continued sipping my drink. But then, I felt someone approaching me. Almost closer to me, I quickly gulped down my drink and Instantly handed the empty glass tumbler to a passing waiter. 

"Excuse me!" I heard him, but I was quick to respond, cutting off any further conversation. "Hmm... Sorry, I think I need to use the restroom," I muttered, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. I feel so uncomfortable. 

All this time, the other guy with the tinted hair was staring at me. "Fine, we'll go with you," the other guy chuckled. But as soon as I heard that, I turned and flashed my fakest smile. "No need, I can find it on my own."

With that being said, I turned around and started walking away, not giving him another chance to say a word. I just needed some fresh air, away from all this party madness. I could hear them murmuring as I quickly made my way through the crowd, but apart from their chatter, I could feel someone's eyes on me. It was like they were watching my every damn move. I hurriedly walked out of the party hall, striding down the unfamiliar hallway with no clue where I was going. And that's when it hit me - someone was following me.

I could hear footsteps getting closer, at first I thought it could be one of Damien's friends so I turned around, but there was nobody there, just an empty hallway. Fear kicked in big time, and I clenched a handful of my dress. As I took a step forward, I noticed that presence kept getting even nearer. I stopped dead in my tracks and spun around, my eyes wide with fear.

        "Who are you?" 

I slowly scanned the hallway, but there wasn't a single soul passing by or behind me. Gulping hard I quickened my walking. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I could hear the heavy thuds. The presence was still there, trailing behind me, getting closer. It was like a twisted game of mimicry - whenever I stopped, it stopped, and when I quickened my steps, it hastened as well. 

The tension in the air was thick, and my heart was pounding with fear, and I couldn't handle it any longer. Without hesitation, I swiftly turned around, and to my surprise, there was no one behind me. The hallway stood empty, and the silence engulfed me. What is happening to me? Where did that presence go?

"Hello," 

As soon as I heard the voice, I spun around, my eyes locking on the figure standing before me.

"Who... Who are you?" I stammered, my hand instinctively reaching for my chest. I was completely confused by the situation. It felt like someone had been following me, and now this well-dressed guy was standing right in front of me. This night kept getting wilder. 

"Hmmm," he coughed, snapping me out of my daze. "I'm really sorry for scaring you," he said in a gentle tone as I indirectly observed him. I realized that he was unfamiliar to me. I didn't even notice him at the party because he could have stood out during the ceremony, but now I couldn't help but notice his striking appearance. He was incredibly handsome and older. I would guess he was in his mid-thirties. He was wearing a colorful, blueish tuxedo that caught my eye, and his thick, long black hair fell down his side.

    "I saw your picture in the media," my heart skipped a bit as his words sank in.

"I heard that you are married to Damien Albrecht, so I was looking for an opportunity to congratulate you but you seem occupied since the ceremony started. Then I saw you leaving……" he smiled sweetly at me. 

"Hmm," I managed to push out a smile, genuinely intrigued. "Thank you! But who are you?" I asked, eager to know more about the mysterious stranger standing before me.

But it seemed as though he was expecting my question because his smile deepened. "I'm Alexander Smith," he replied, his voice filled with warmth, despite the mysterious way his eyes gleamed as he stared at me.