“Where’s your prince charming tonight? I don’t see him anywhere,” Cassie asked, sipping on her drink. She arrived just minutes after we did, and without Beth. Again, she had her boyfriend problems.

I gave her a look. “He’s not my prince charming,” I replied, holding back the urge to glance around for the umpteenth time. It’s been almost an hour, and he wasn’t still here.

I didn’t like the frustration building inside me at all. I should be happy that he wasn’t here. But… he wouldn’t miss his cousin and best friend’s engagement, would he? Where the hell was he?

Is he all right?

“Yeah, right! Do me a favor and go look in the mirror. The dullness in your eyes due to your missing lover is unmistakable.” She snorted.

Pressing my lips together, I glared. “They’re not dull at all!”

When she noticed someone familiar in the crowd, raising her hand, she waved. “I think I got my prince charming for the night. Why don’t you just call him and ask where he is instead of playing ‘I don’t care’?”

My brows creased as she bounced off to a pretty guy and disappeared through the mass of people.

I wasn’t playing any games. He was. I was just trying to protect my heart from being broken again.

Scanning the crowd one more time, I walked towards the bar and grabbed a cocktail. The night did feel dull tonight, even after the chatter, laughter, and music around me.

While sipping on my drink, I caught Arthur, Ace’s uncle, on the other side of the hall, talking and laughing with some suited men.

Then his gaze locked with mine. A smile stretched across his face. Even from afar, I could see his façade. His smile didn’t reach the eyes. But I smiled back anyway and turned around.

From what I knew, Ace’s uncle handled a lot of important loads of the company. He was one of the liable persons at Valencian Corp and in Ace’s life. ButI wasn’t comfortable around him like I should have been.

That day at the meeting with Arabs, we were all on the terrace. What was he doing downstairs? Did he have a meeting at the same place?

Maybe. It could be just a coincidence. I was thinking too much.

Then, I felt it. Goosebumps crawled up my skin as I felt his gaze on me. He was here.

The abrupt silence around the hall and whispers of girls, the annoying sound of their giggling proved my suspicion right. The party was back to life after some moments while I stood there, fidgeting in my place, forcing myself not to look behind.

I don’t care! I don’t care! I won’t look. Chanting the mantra in my head, I managed to glue my attention on my drink. I was stronger than this.