Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 248

A Party For The One Per Cent

Kira scanned the banquet hall and was relieved to find no one who looked like a reporter.

At least none armed with an SLR camera.

Her mind at ease now, she took in the scene.

The party was well underway.

Well-dressed men in tux and women in slinky evening dresses mingled, chatting amicably and laughing decorously.

Crystal chandeliers cast their faces in soft white light.

They didn't walk so much as glided on the beige broadloom carpet.

Glasses clinked gently to the accompaniment of soothing piano music.

So this was how the one per cent lived.

Kira recognised half a dozen faces she'd seen on TV-politicians and business moguls,

Without Austyn, she would never have been able to set foot inside such a venue.

Actually, she could have gotten in by herself.

As a waitress, maybe, instead of the one being waited on.

It reminded her again that she and Austyn were from different worlds.

The thought depressed her a little.

Within thirty seconds of walking through the door, Austyn was besieged by a throng of people.

Some shook hands and greeted him.

Others hovered nearby, waiting for their turn.

Kira was soon nudged out of the way.

She stood there for a moment, observing the crowd of beautiful people.

Austyn was in his element.

With an erect, almost military, bearing, he towered above everyone else

else present.

His habitually expressionless face did not deter the attendees who jumped at the chance of making his acquaintance. There was an actual queue forming in front of him.

Kira found it amusing.

A Pork For The One Per Cent

So it wasn't just the employees at the M Group who treated Austyn like a celebrity.

Her stomach growled.

Lunch was more than eight hours ago.

She had not had dinner yet.

Kira quietly found her way to the buffet table.

The organisers had pulled out all the stops.

A 12-metre-long table was covered with dishes and trays and plates.

Canapés in spoons, cute little amuse-bouches, spinach and feta tart soleil, mini beef

tourtières, easy smoked salmon, ham 'n' cheese biscuit stacks...

For the meat lovers, there were shrimp tartlets and steak & blue cheese bruschetta with onion and roasted tomato jam.

For the vegetarians, there were baked aubergines stuffed with vegetables and mozzarella cheese, as well as marinated olive and cheese rings. There was even a chocolate fondue.

Kira was spoiled for choice even with just the hors d'oeuvres.

A tuxedoed mixologist offered her a charming smile along with a fruity mocktail.

Kira sipped at her watermelon agua fresca and sighed contentedly.

She could get used to this life.

No wonder people wanted to be rich.

The two hours spent being a stylist's doll were totally worth it.

Almost twenty minutes had passed before Austyn finally realised his wife was missing.

He scanned the room for the truant.

But there were close to two dozen women in red dresses, and Kira was short.

Austyn couldn't find her.

Samson Pierpoint, CEO of Wireline Telecom, noticed his distraction. 'Mr McCarthy, are you looking for the lady who came with you?" 'You've seen her?"

Samson pointed towards the buffet table. 'I've kept an eye on the lady, seeing as how she's your date."

A Park For The One Per Cont

Austyn had to resist the urge to facepalm when he saw Kira with a plate in one hand and a cocktail glass in the other.

Others came here to socialise and make new contacts.

She came here to dine..

Samson noticed Austyn's pursed lips. "The young lady is pretty vivacious and rather... unconventional."

He went with a tried-and-true flattery technique. 'Your girlfriend is quite remarkable."

Austyn said with a faint trace of a smile, 'She's not my girlfriend.

'O...oh,' Samson faltered.

It was rare for his compliments to misfire.

"I'm sorry, Mr McCarthy. I must have made at

'She's more than just a girlfriend, Austyn corrected the man.

Samson caught on immediately. 'A fiancée then? Congratulations."

To men in their positions, girlfriends were basically arm candies, disposable after three

months.

But a fiancée was a different story.

It meant the man was going steady with her.

The young girl, who was treating this important gathering as an all-you-can-eat buffet, could very well be the future Mrs McCarthy.

Samson was about to ask if Austyn had set a date for the wedding and fish for an invitation, but held off when he noticed Austyn was not wearing an engagement ring. There must be more to the story, but he did not want to come off as sounding too nosey.

Austyn simply smiled.

The topic of conversation soon moved on to something else.

Austyn looked as alert as before, but his attention was elsewhere.

Kira seemed to be enjoying herself as she snacked on a ball of pimento croquette.

She looked refulgent in the red silk dress, whose silver waist chain glinted in the chandelier light and drew more than one pair of eyes.

Then she turned around, revealing the smooth, ivory-like, blemish-free skin on her back.

More eyes landed on her.

A Pater The Oner Per Gent

Austyn's tie was suddenly getting too tight.

***

Kira eyed the beautiful black-and-white crème fraîche and caviar tartlets longingly.

She set down her plate with a great deal of reluctance.

There were so many more yummies to try, but she didn't want her full tummy to show under the figure-hugging dress.

She decided to devour the food with her eyes instead of her mouth.

Busy indulging in food porn, she didn't notice a pair of venom-filled eyes fixed on her.

Georgina hid behind a tall potted dracaena, her fists clenched.

She never expected to run into Kira Hewitt here.

That woman just kept showing up like a bad penny.

'What are you staring so hard at?' Alissa patted her friend on the shoulder.

'Remember the gold digger I told you

about?"

'Uh-huh.'

'She's here.'

Alissa followed Georgina's line of sight. "That's your half-sister? The one who bullied you in the hospital and even slapped you because she got a rich sugar daddy to back her up?" Georgina curled her lip. "That's her." Claim Bonus For Free Every Day>>

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Cinderella's Evil Stepsisters

'What a bitch.' Alissa plucked a flute of champagne from a passing waiter's tray. 'Is she here alone?'

'Looks that way."

'Well, in that case, why don't we go over there and say hello?'

Georgina thought it was a good idea.

The two sashayed towards the buffet table.

Kira rubbed one hand clockwise over her stomach.

She was not full yet, but she decided to move away before she succumbed to the temptation.

Austyn had asked her to stick close to him when they came in earlier, but he was surrounded by too many people. Maybe the queue had shortened now.

Kira tossed one last yearning glance at the beautifully garnished plates. 'Bye for now, my little bite-sized friends.

The moment she turned around, a cold liquid splashed onto her, drenching her silk dress.

Kira smelled champagne.

She sighed.

So this was why Cinderella must leave the ball before midnight.

Overstaying would break the spell and bring her nothing but trouble.

'Oopsie, my bad!"

A woman was standing in front of Kira.

She held an empty champagne flute in one manicured hand and covered her mouth with the other.

'Don't worry about it,' Kira said.

It was probably an accident.

She looked down and surveyed the damage.

Luckily, the dress wasn't white and the fabric wasn't something gossamer.

If she were in her usual get-up, she'd look like a participant in a wet T-shirt contest by now.

'Miss, I don't think I've seen you around before. Is this your first time here?'

Cinderkini Evl Stepsisters

Kira raised her head.

The woman with the champagne flute wore a black sheer gown.

It had a slit that opened way up along her thigh.

The strapless dress was so tight that the top of her breasts almost spilt out.

Must be at least C-cup, Kira thought distractedly

The woman was taller than her...

She was looking down at Kira with a smile that was jus

Her chin was raised.

Kira could see up her nose.

The woman had a smug air about her.

She didn't look apologetic at all.

Kira knitted her brows.

Did the woman splash the drink on purpose?

Come to think of it, it had not felt like an accident.

Kira had barely moved just now.

'Miss?' the woman prompted with a mocking smile.

'Yes, it's my first time here. So?'

a tad too phoney.

'No wonder.' Georgina stepped out from behind her friend.

She gave her half-sister a disdainful once-over. How'd you sneak in here? I saw you stuffing your face with the food. It's for the guests. That's stealing, you know.'

'Here come Anastasia and Drizella,' Kira muttered under her breath.

She shouldn't have compared herself to Cinderella just now.

Providence must have heard her and delivered the evil stepsisters to complete the ensemble

cast.

This must not be her lucky day.

Georgina Vaughn was the second last person she'd want to see in the whole wide world.

Helen Vaughn was the last.

Kira straightened up and squared her shoulders.

Cinderelas Evil Stepsisters