Chapter 47

Lisa paused, suspicious about Mel's statement. "May I know who your boyfriend is?" she asked.

Lisa's question made Mel raise an eyebrow. She wasn't sure what to make of Lisa's curiosity, but given her previous snarky comments, Mel didn't feel like sharing any personal information with her.

"Well, you'll find out soon enough," Mel replied curtly, her tone indicating that she wasn't interested in continuing the conversation.

Lisa frowned, sensing Mel's reluctance to share. She tried to read Mel's expression for any hints, but Mel's face was now a blank slate.

"Right," Lisa said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the dinner then, that's if you eventually manage to make it there, she said, her tone harsh and voice dripping with condescension. After speaking in an ill manner to Mel, she turned and began walking away.

Mel's eyes followed Lisa as she walked away, the sound of her heels echoing through the corridor. She couldn't help but wonder why she always had to meet with such rude people. Despite this, Mel refused to let Lisa's snarky comments get to her. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she had a wonderful evening planned with Ethan. With a smile on her face, she proceeded to the reception where she picked up her package"

"Who is it from?" Mel asked the man at the receptionist stand.

"Sorry Miss, but I don't know who sent it," the man replied, his attention focused on some papers in front of him.

"How can you not know?" Mel asked, feeling like he was hiding something.

"I really don't know miss, the person who dropped it off didn't say who it was from and before I could ask, she had disappeared."

"She disappeared? How?" Mel felt like biting her fingers in frustration. She could see that the receptionist knew more, but he didn't want to tell her.

"Well, fine. So far, it isn't something that will blow my body off immediately I open it. I will check it out myself," Mel said as she picked up the package and began heading back.

"It won't, miss. Might end up blowing your heart though," the man called behind her.

"Argh, so annoying! I'm sure he knows, but wouldn't tell," Mel complained as she continued holding the big box in her hand as she headed towards her room. She wondered what might be in it, more importantly, she wondered who it was from.

Opening the door of her room and walking in before closing it behind her, Mel stared at the package. It was neatly wrapped and looked like something purchased from a high-end shop. Mel tore open the box and saw a name tag on it - Ethan Lorray.

A rush of excitement filled her as she opened the box, revealing a stunning blue evening gown. The fabric was soft to the touch, and as she stretched it out before her, she saw the shimmering diamonds that were perfectly placed around the waist and sleeves. Mel couldn't help but gasp at the sight of it, feeling like a true princess.

But that wasn't all. She spotted a small box beside the larger one and eagerly picked it up. Opening it, she was met with the sight of the most beautiful shoe she had ever seen. The intricate design was breathtaking, and the heels were just the right height to give her the perfect lift.

As she opened another box, she saw a set of pretty earrings and a matching necklace. The delicate gems sparkled in the light, adding an extra touch of glamour to the outfit.

Mel couldn't help but feel grateful for how thoughtful Ethan had been, even though it was just a fake date. She knew he must have spent a lot of money on the dress and shoes, and it made her appreciate his generosity even more. Just as she was admiring the beautiful gifts, her phone beeped with a message from Ethan. She picked up her phone and opened the message, "Dear Mel," it read, "I hope you like the gift I bought you. Please inform me when you're all dressed up so I can come pick you up and we can walk to the ball together." Reading the message, Mel's heart fluttered at the endearment. But then a wave of disappointment washed over her as she realized that Perhaps this was all just part of the fake act they both had to put on.

A few minutes later, Mel had taken her bath and was now ready to get dressed, She slipped into the beautiful blue evening gown that Ethan had gifted her and admired herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe how stunning the dress looked on her, it hugged her curves in all the right places and the color brought out her eyes. As she fastened the strap at the back, she couldn't help but feel grateful to Ethan for his consideration. The dress was clearly expensive and showed how much effort he had put into this fake date.

After Mel had put on her jewelry, she opened her purse on the dressing table and took out a tube of lip gloss. It was one of her favorites, one of the many, she had picked up from the post office a few weeks ago. She applied a generous amount to her lips, making them shimmer in the light.

Finally, she stepped into the sparkling heels that perfectly matched the dress. She then sat back on the bed and felt a mix of excitement and nerves wash over her. She couldn't believe the moment had finally arrived. As she looked down at her phone, she saw that it was already 8:50 pm. Without wasting any time, she picked it up and quickly sent a text to Ethan, letting him know that she was fully dressed and ready for the event.

As Mel waited for Ethan to arrive, she couldn't help but feel nervous about the upcoming event. She fidgeted with her dress, making sure it was perfectly in place, and checked her phone for any messages. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Mel, it's Ethan. Are you ready?" he called out.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and her eyes met Ethan's, she couldn't help but think how handsome he looked, dressed in a sharp suit that hugged his toned physique. His hair was slicked back, and his piercing deep eyes seemed to sparkle under the dim lights of the hallway. Mel felt a flutter in her chest as Ethan's gaze swept over her, taking in her dress and jewelry. "Hey, Mel. You look stunning," Ethan said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Mel blushed at the compliment and thanked him, "Thank you, Ethan. And thank you for the beautiful dress and jewelry. They're really amazing."

Ethan's eyes crinkled in a warm smile. "I'm glad you like it. Shall we?" he offered, holding out his arm for her.

Nodding, Mel linked her arm with his, as they headed towards the event hall, ready to put on their best fake act.

****

Lisa stood in front of the mirror, admiring her reflection in the red straight evening gown she had carefully chosen to catch Ethan's attention. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, and the shawl she draped over it added an extra touch of elegance. Her heels were expensive and stylish, reflecting her impeccable taste. She applied a bold red lipstick, accentuating her full lips.

Lisa's confidence was evident as she gazed at herself in the mirror. She was pleased with her looks, but she felt that a little makeup could elevate her appearance and leave a lasting impression on Ethan. Taking a deep breath, she focused her thoughts on her goal, which was to impress Ethan and focus his attention on her.

Lisa skillfully applied a generous amount of makeup, which she had learned to do recently. She was determined to put her best foot forward for the night. As she waited for the event to start, her mind couldn't help but wander as she thought about the possible outcomes of the night. She wondered if Ethan would be impressed by her efforts and whether they would have a great time together.

Sitting on her dressing chair and crossing her legs as she continued to contemplate, Mel tried not to dwell too much on who Ethan might have picked out to be his date for the night, acknowledging the fact that a cold CEO like him may have paid someone to act as his companion for the evening.

As her mind wandered, she couldn't help but think of Mel, the lady she had clashed with earlier, Lisa had observed her with Ethan on multiple occasions and was curious about their relationship. While Mel had claimed that she was attending the event as a date for her boyfriend, Lisa couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious boyfriend was. Perhaps she would find out soon enough.