Chapter 15: Chapter fifteen.

Katrina was glad when they entered the hall. Eric's mom and another woman walked towards her and Eric.

"Katrina darling" Eric's mom said hugging her.

"Good evening Ma'm. Thank you for inviting me over and thank you for... " Katrina started to say but was interrupted.

"It's nothing, thank you for coming " Mrs Salmadiego said and smiled.

The other woman hugged Eric.

"Nice meeting you " the woman said to Eric.

"My pleasure " he replied.

"Come, I reserved a special seat for you "the other woman said. The woman turned to look at Katrina and gave her a brief smile.

Eric and Katrina followed his mom and her friend to the seat. Eric caught most ladies attention as they walked. Many ladies were drooling over him. Katrina could see some guys staring at her too.

They got to the seat reserved for them. The table was well decorated with different wine and drinks on the table.

"Come with me son, let me introduce you to my friends " Eric's mom said to Eric.

"Is it necessary? " Eric asked.

"Yes darling. Let's go" Mrs Salmadiego said and dragged him with her.

Katrina sat on the chair looking around. The guests here were really wealthy, she could tell from their dressing and all so she felt out of place.

At the other end, she could see Eric's mom friend talking to a young lady. They looked alike, so she was guessing the young lady was either her daughter or sister. The woman was pointing to Eric and the young lady kept staring at him.

Eric came back to the seat after the introduction and all. A light music was playing.

He looked at Katrina but didn't say anything.

"Good evening everyone. I want to thank you all for coming. My husband planned a welcome back party for me so I invited you all. I appreciate everyone who took their time to honour the invitation " The woman Katrina saw earlier with Eric's mom said. She was holding a wireless microphone, the music stopped playing.

So she was the one celebrating.

"You all know me but for those that don't know me, I am Mrs Grace Swadys, the wife of Mr Dennis Swadys, the owner of DG building company, a well known company " she informed.

"And here's my one and only daughter, Clara Swadys " she said. The young lady Katrina saw with her was walking up to her.

The guests clapped. The lights were dim but Katrina could see her face clearly, she's beautiful and have a cute smile. She's putting on a black beautiful gown.

"Let's have fun tonight " Mrs Swadys said.

She dropped the microphone. The music resumed playing. Eric's mom was chatting with her friends. Katrina felt bored just sitting here, talking to no one. Eric wasn't helping matters too.

Clara Swadys walked to their table.

"Hello" Clara greeted and smiled.

Katrina smiled back at her but didn't reply her. She was here for Eric, not her.

"I'm Clara Swadys " Clara said to Eric bringing out her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Eric Salmadiego " Eric replied shaking her.

Clara glanced at Katrina giving her a questioning look.

"Wanna spend some time with me??.. Let's get to know each other better " she said to Eric.

"Sure, where should we stay? " Eric asked.

"Over there" Clara replied pointing to a dark corner.

"Let's go then" Eric replied. He stood up and they left.

"Oh wow "Katrina said as she watched them go.

People were already dancing to the soft music playing. Katrina looked towards Eric's direction, she saw him sitting and laughing with Clara. He must be enjoying their conversation.

Eric's mom walked up to her and sat on the seat beside her.

"Katrina darling, why are you sitting here all by yourself? " she asked.

"Where's Eric? "

"Over there " Katrina replied pointing to his direction.

"I was avoiding this, I don't want him to be friends with Clara, I know what she and her mom is up to" Mrs salmadiego said and Katrina smiled.

"Eric knows what he's doing " Katrina defended.

"Yeah" his mom agreed.

"I really want to thank you for the clothe, shoe and bag. Thank you so much" Katrina said.

"You're welcome darling, they look perfect on you. You're looking so beautiful this evening "Mrs Salmadiego complimented.

"Thank you ma" Kat replied smiling.

A young handsome guy interrupted their conversation.

"Beautiful lady, wanna dance with me?? " The guy asked.

Katrina looked at Eric's mom, Mrs Salmadiego smiled at her and nodded.

"Have fun baby " she whispered before walking away.

Katrina followed the stranger to the dance floor, she held his hand and they started dancing.

"So what's your name? " The guy asked while they were dancing.

"I'm Katrina, you? " She asked.

"I'm Fred" he replied.

"You're so beautiful " he said.

"Thank you " Katrina replied smiling.

****

Eric sat chatting with Clara. She's lively and funny but he's aware of her motives. He doesn't want to be rude so he decided to play along.

He saw some people dancing, couples mostly and wondered what's Katrina was doing right now, he shouldn't have left her alone on the table.

Then he saw her, she was dancing with a good looking guy. They were too close and she was even smiling.

Eric felt jealous immediately, he couldn't concentrate on the conversation with Clara anymore and kept on staring at them with anger.

******

Katrina didn't know what made her look towards Eric's direction but she looked towards there and saw him staring at them with a weird look on his face.

Was he jealous or what??

She looked away and kept on dancing with Fred.

"You're a good dancer " Fred complimented.

"You're not bad too " Katrina replied.

"I must say this again, you're too beautiful and your lips are so attractive " he said.

Katrins smiled and replied him with a "Thank you, you're looking good too"

Then Katrina saw Fred bend his head to kiss her. They were already too close and now he wants to kiss her??

She quickly turned her face. Fred's lips grazed hers then landed on her cheeks.

Katrina hugged him slightly then whispered into his ear.

"Don't try this again "she said and stepped back from him.

"It's my pleasure dancing with you " Katrina said and walked away.

****

Eric couldn't believe his eyes.

Wait??

Did that dumb guy just kiss Katrina??

And then she didn't react?.. Instead she hugged him???

"But she rejected my kiss!!!" He said frantically.

The fact made him angry more.

"Is she your girl?.. You've been staring at her for a while now " Clara said.

Eric has totally forgotten about Clara.

"Umm, I'm sorry about that. Let's continue " he said to her and gave a fake smile.

****

Katrina's night was going well. Eric was still chatting with Clara, different guys kept on coming to her table to ask her to dance with them. She danced with some and declined others.

She had just finished eating and drinking when a guy walked up to her again and asked her to dance with him.

Katrina checked her wristwatch and saw it was almost eleven pm.

"Well, this should be my last dance for tonight" she said before accepting to dance with him.

***

"We have to go home now." Eric said inwardly. He wasn't sure he could stand watching her dance with any other guy again. This was the fifth guy she's dancing with. She's really having fun while he was stucked here having a useless conversation.

"Where's mom??.. I need to tell her I'm leaving." He said and started looking around for her.

"If you don't mind, I would like to excuse myself " Eric said to Clara who was still sitting beside him.

"Oh, alright " Clara replied.

Eric stood up and walked towards his mom.

Mrs Salmadiego watched Katrina dance with different guys and she couldn't help but laugh at her son's expression. She has been watching them both for a while now.

She saw him walk towards her looking angry.

"Mom, I need to start going now" Eric said when he got close to her.

"Why? Katrina is still having fun " Mrs Salmadiego said teasing him.

"I'm not feeling okay, I need to rest. " he lied.

"Really? " She asked

"Yes mom " he replied.

"You can go alone. I would bring Katrina home" Mrs Salmadiego said.

"No need mom. I came with her so I'm going with her " Eric replied.

"Alright darling " she said.

***

Katrina was still dancing when she saw Eric walk up to them.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we need to go now" Eric said to Katrina.

"Why? " She asked him but he gave her a stern look.

"Okayy " Katrina said and walked to her table to pick her bag. She wasn't going to let Eric embarrass her at the party.

She waved to Eric's mom on their way out.

The bodyguards were still waiting. Two followed them back to the car while one stayed back.

The first bodyguard sat in the driver's seat.

"What are you doing? " Eric asked.

"Your mom asked me to drive you home" the body guard replied with a deep voice.

"Okay" Eric replied. He wasn't in the mood to argue but he doesn't like this.

The other bodyguard sat in front too while Eric and Katrina sat at the back. They drove home in silence.

------

They got home and came down from the car, the bodyguards stood outside while Eric and Katrina went in. Eric was looking so angry and Katrina wondered what happened.

"So this is the real you??.. You were flirting with guys at the party, you danced with five guys.. Were you the only girl at the party? " Eric blurted out. He couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I don't understand Sir" Katrina said.

"You even allowed one kiss you but you rejected my kiss" he added.

"He didn't kiss me Sir. Now I know why you've been angry, because I rejected your kiss? " Katrina said.

"Don't act dumb. I knew you just wanted to get me too. I wasn't wrong after all, you're just the same with other ladies, I was thinking you're different " Eric said harshly.

Katrina got angry!!!

"I'm not like other women and for the record, I would never stoop so low to catch a man as arrogant and self centered as you are " she said angrily.

She started to stride haughtily away from him but as fate would have it, she miswalked and tumbled across the arm of the chair and fell.

"Oh jeez" she cried, her blood rushing to her head. This was not the disdainful exit she envisioned.

Katrina heard Eric clear his throat, she would bet big money that he was hiding a laugh.

"Do you need any help? " he asked mockingly.

"No, don't bother " she replied.

But he helped me till she was standing again. Their eyes met for the briefest, most apalling second.

"Damn it Katrina " he said.

"Damn what? " Katrina was about to say but Eric drew her closer to him and kissed her passionately.