My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 146: Can He Charm Zyair?

(Karsten)

She sat alone as I walked out on the ramp and our eyes collided. It pinged my heart that no one chose to sit with her.

Arata was friendly; she easily carried out conversations with others, and she had that special knack for making others feel comfortable with her.

I had observed that during her interactions with my family, with Miranda and Chan and at the event, too, where she almost got kidnapped.

So I could imagine the reason she sat alone was Amanda.

Everyone wished to remain in her good books just because I had made her the showstopper two years in a row, they believed we were sleeping together.

She earned her spot because she was good at her job not because we had ever slept together.

I didn’t sleep with my employees and never had until Arata came along. This girl had made me break all my rules and now she had slithered into the crevices of my brain from where I could never expel her, no matter how much I tried.

My eyes remained fixed on her as I walked down the runway.

A knowing smile sat on her lips as if she understood why my suit had this particular colour mingled with black.

"Sir, rotate your focus, take everyone in. Try and smile." Halima; my event manager, instructed from the side as she scrutinised my focus, which was only on Arata.

Arata snickered and I had to snatch my eyes away as I made it to the end of the ramp and jumped down.

Halima rushed to my side with her tablet swinging in her hands. Her brown hair was held in such a tight bun that it almost seemed painful. She began explaining.

"We will need plenty of rehearsals; you just need to work on your focus; your walk was perfect."

Arata got up and made her way towards me.

"Sure, but I want to observe the walks of everyone else now. We need to choose the showstopper so we can proceed," I informed her, making her push back her glasses and trot away in all seriousness.

She clicked her fingers and ushered the female models backstage.

"So burgundy, huh. When did it become your colour?" Arata teased, making me divert my attention towards her.

She was observing me with a subtle hunger in her eyes, but most importantly, she was taking in my attire.

"This winter, it’s going to be everyone’s colour." I had already chosen a name for our event, which I had planned on revealing in the upcoming days.

Her smile widened, which eased some of the tensions in my heart like the morning sun dissolving last night’s frost. Her smiles brightened the world around me, making it more radiant.

"I would love that, men don’t need to wear only greys, blues and blacks. Red should be universal." She answered, crossing her arm with mine and closing in, so I could inhale a decent amount of her fruity scent.

The male models who had changed began to take seats to act as audience and many gazes settled on us.

"You are correct."

"And you were amazing on the ramp, like a professional model," she answered as I watched her and only her.

"I will take your word for it. Come, let’s sit and watch. I would love to have your opinion on how we can improve it."

We took the front row and sat side by side. Taking her hand I placed it on mine. Asbela had changed the bandages again this morning but they still seemed ugly to me.

The thought of that bastard who had dared hurt her emerged in my brain, and instinctively, my hand slightly tightened against her.

"What’s wrong?" She asked, watching me closely. Arata had begun to understand my body language.

"Nothing, let’s watch."

Soon the female models began to walk the ramp. Some of the costumes had been created using the Swanzi Land Cotton, especially the one Arata’s mom had sent us.

I decided to tease her a bit.

"Thanks to your mom, we have dresses created from Swanzi Land Cotton."

She was facing straight but her head swivelled in my direction.

"You knew?" She asked, trying to hide a sheepish smile by biting into her lower lip.

I dipped my head closer to her ear and whispered.

"I put two and two together after you revealed your identity. That was some intelligent thinking on your behalf. I owe both of you a lot of success. None of these costumes would have been ready on time if your mother hadn’t come to our aid."

Arata beamed at my words but I didn’t expect her next words.

"Next time, my parents are in town, maybe you should meet them. They think highly of you."

She wanted me to meet her parents. A girl only takes that step when she is very sure about a man to not disappoint her in front of her family.

Be as her boss or her love interest.

"And how will you introduce me? Like your boss or fake boyfriend?" I sneakily asked, my eyes unable to waver from her and focus on the stage.

The redness climbed on her fluffy cheeks and permanently settled there as she snatched away her eyes from the ramp and focused them on me.

"How do you wish?... Master," she mocked, blinking her eyes at me.

She had used the word ’master’ exactly like Asbela used–and the Arata I had grown to like and admire was back. If we had been alone I would have grabbed both her cheeks and pinched them between my thumb and index finger.

I had to restrain myself from smiling at her naughty actions but I wasn’t going to back down.

"What if I say as your boyfriend?"

She let a snorting chuckle fall through her lips.

"Be ready to be asked a million questions, judged at even taking in breaths and scrutinised down to your hair by Baba. Good luck." She reached with her free hand and sympathetically patted my head.

And then she whispered.

"Scary...my Baba can be a nightmare for men trying to pursue his daughter."

I wasn’t going to back down.

"Bet, I can charm him. Invite them to the Winter Gala."