Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 268

Austyn nodded.

Then he turned to the assistant, 'Kai, drive her home. Schedule a press conference for ten am tomorrow. It's time the public knows the identity of Mrs McCarthy."

Kira pushed the car door open, sprang out, linked arms with Austyn and beamed at him." Hon I was just kidding. Of course I want to go to the party with you. I'm already here. Might as well go in, right?' Austyn watched her askance. 'Are you sure?'

Kira nodded. 'Yes, absolutely sure. I'm all dressed up and I've somewhere to go. Just to confirm, though-are you sure there are no reporters inside?"

Kira kept the smile on her face and the complaints to herself.

Austyn had her over a barrel, knowing how averse she was to publicity.

The man knew how to play dirty..

"I'll meet you inside,' Austyn said to Kai.

Then he said to Kira, 'Let's go, Mrs McCarthy."

Kira had no choice but to follow.

She silently cursed the architect who designed the hotel's front entrance.

Why were there so many steps?

Guests who came here were looking for accommodation and relaxation, not for at mountaineering exercise.

If not for Austyn, she might have tripped in her long dress and tumbled down the stairs.

Then she would have definitely made the newspaper headlines tomorrow.

Luckily, she got into the lobby without incident.

When Kira and Austyn were stepping into the glass lift, another car pulled up in front of the hotel.

Martin put the limo in park, got out, jogged to the back and opened the door. 'Young Master, we're here.'

He Knows How To Play Dirty

Gideon opened his eyes.

He glanced at the woman seated next to him with a scowl on his face.

Martin looked away sheepishly.

The invitation said guests were encouraged to bring a plus-one.

Gideon asked him to take care of it.

Being new to the city, Martin decided to go with a familiar choice.

He asked Miss Kira-no, she was Miss Gwen now-to accompany Young Master.

But Gideon didn't look too pleased about it.

Gwen Reyes was keenly tuned in to Gideon's feelings, having been with him for more than two years.

It wasn't hard for her to discern that the man's displeasure was directed at her.

She bit her lower lip. 'I asked Martin to bring me along. If you don't like it, I can go home."

Gideon got out of the car and said simply, 'You're already here. You might as well come with me.*

A smile spread across her face as Gwen followed him.

Tentatively, she took his arm.

Gideon didn't object.

They walked into the hotel lobby looking just like a regular couple.

But Gideon's words shattered that illusion.

*You will go back to Ourhlana tomorrow. I'm staying in Stamford.'

Gwen stopped dead in her tracks.

But Gideon kept on walking, pulling her along.

She stared at the man's face.

He looked as handsome as always.

And just as indifferent.

Gwen lowered her eyes and hid a bitter smile.

Was that why he wanted her to start using her own name?

Because her life as Kira Hewitt's stand-in had come to an end? How To Play Dirt,

But Gwen Reyes was not a woman to give up so easily.

over the

years, she'd learned quite a lot from the young master.

She would figure out a way to stay in Stamford and by his side, by fair means or foul.

A Targ For The One Pet Cent

1

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

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 Park 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.'

Pay For The One Per Cent

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 a-

'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 Barge For The One 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.'

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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?'

Cindley-kas Evil 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 just a tad too phoney.

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?"

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