My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 123: Who Is This Man?

(Arata)

"Hi! Larry," Karsten casually greeted him, it seemed like both of them were on a first-name basis. A woman accompanied him, dressed in a rose-shaded pleated gown.

Larry Hughes had a long-term partner, Masdja Kalum. Since they weren’t married, she had a different surname.

"Masdja Kalum," I murmured under my breath so Karsten would be able to pick up her name.

"Miss Kalum." Karsten gave her a respectful nod.

"Mr Chevalier, it’s good to see you have a lady on your arm." She beamed at us both and extended her hand towards me. She didn’t seem the jealous kind and appeared nicer than the others I had encountered today.

I shook her hand with a kind smile.

"It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Kalum."

"Likewise, dear."

"Just out of curiosity, how did you unfreeze his frozen heart?" Mr Hughes asked me with a snicker, and I had to purse my lips, or I would have guffawed.

Karsten shook his head in disbelief while Masdja giggled.

"It took some time, but he is not that bad once the ice thaws; the inner heart is pretty goey." I thumped Karsten’s chest.

Both of them laughed some more.

"I like her; I can see why you chose her," Masdja announced, and her partner seemed to agree.

A server came towards us and informed the men that they were to head over to the meeting room. The board was to be briefed about the company’s progress and the proposal that Karsten had in mind.

Karsten leaned in and pressed his warm lips on my temple before murmuring.

"I will be back soon. Stay here, if you need anything, just go outside. Olphi and Caysir are nearby." His hand gently squeezed my waist and I felt my heart flutter like a dainty wing of the butterfly.

"I will."

Karsten and Mr Hughes left and Masdja offered to sit with me.

"Don’t worry, not all of us bite," she said with a cunning smile and I had to hide a snicker.

"I am glad to hear that."

"By the way, Mr Chevalier didn’t introduce you. I am not sure why but maybe he didn’t wish to reveal your identity. But I know, you are Arata Zyair." She subtly winked as we settled down on a table.

My mouth hung open in shock and I leaned closer, grabbing her hands.

"How did you know?"

She giggled lightly, like a perfect lady.

"I follow the news, like a lot. I am a huge fan of your parents. I followed your mother’s case very diligently, I was merely a teenager at that time and desperately wanted her to win. Your parents are such an inspiration."

My eyes gleamed in shock. She was so suave and subtle. Understanding the situation she hadn’t spoken in front of the men but only did while we were alone.

"Wow! I didn’t expect that at all."

"I understand; you kept a low media profile, and I don’t even blame you because people can be so insensitive. They must give you a hard time." She was referring to how we must have been bullied because of my parents’ past.

"Yes, that’s why Karsten and I don’t reveal my last name. Thank you for understanding." I was truly grateful to her.

She relaxed against the chair as the servers brought us more food.

"I understand, Arata. Everyone has a dark history they don’t want to spill and some people just like to be private." She picked up a macron and took a dainty bite.

Just then another server arrived. He was a tall guy with his dark brown hair cut short.

"Miss Arata, Mr Chevalier requires your company. He says he has something urgent to ask." Since we hadn’t brought our phones as this was an electronics-free event, I had no way of confirming with him.

"Isn’t Mr Chevalier in a meeting?" I asked with pinched brows.

"It’s about to start. He said there were some numbers he needed to discuss with you before the meeting. So if you will follow me," he urged with a kind smile.

"They are on the first floor, I will be right here waiting for you. Don’t worry," Masdja patted my hand assuredly and I got up, placing my champagne flute down.

The server guided me towards the elevator and used his handprint to open the door.

"After you, ma’am," he respectfully stated, extending his hand. Taking a deep breath, I entered the box of suffocation; he followed, and the door closed behind me.

Instead of pressing the first floor, he pressed on the underground level.

"Hey! Aren’t they on the first floor?" I asked in confusion, watching him with my eyes narrowed.

His demeanour suddenly changed as he turned towards me, anger flashing in his not-so-friendly eyes.

My senses became hyper-alert. Something was not right. Karsten didn’t send him.

"Shut up and do as I say if you want to live," he barked at me, his hand extending to clutch at my throat.

All the training Baba and Uncle Kail had given me kicked in and I dodged his hand, tilting slightly to my left, but there was limited space in the elevator.

Adrenaline rushed into my body like a life force; I knew I had to fight to survive. I had no clue what intentions this man held but they were not pious.

Fisting my hand, I aimed a punch at his temple but he was not an ordinary man. He shifted just in time and my punch hit straight at the glass display with buttons. It connected in full force, and cracks appeared on the glass surface while my knuckles bruised horribly.

"Argh!" I cried out and shook my injured hand.

"You bitch," he grunted and tried to grab me again with both his hands. I struggled, lifting my arm and elbowing straight to his face.

~Crunch~

I broke his nose. The blood splashed out as he staggered back and hit the far side.

He let out a painful grunt as his mouth twisted into something evil, and he aimed for the glass control board; punching in some numbers, he halted the elevator with a screech, but it didn’t open.

"So you want to fight, let’s see how long you survive. This elevator is not going to move without the codes which only I know," he viciously smiled at me, and my heart sank slightly.

This was a fight for survival, but now the fear of being trapped in this damned metal container sunk in.

He made a grab for my hair, fisting he pulled me backwards, my head tilting at an odd angle.

My body collided with his rigid one.

I didn’t scream, not wanting to give him the satisfaction but I elbowed him in the stomach with all the force I could muster.

He was strong, built like a fighter and it didn’t affect him much. He tried to smash my face into the metal surface of the elevator but I guessed his intention and extended my hands to shield my face.

If he had been successful, I would have most likely passed out, and then I didn’t even wish to think what he would have done.