"Miss Allea, I was looking forward to meeting you at Mr. Salvadge's party but, at the last moment, I was unable to attend."

I stared at the man, smiling softly as he with a warm smile gushing about how happy he's to see me here. My conversance with a man standing in front of me, who is probably in his forties now, begun while I was working as an employee in the Allgaier Corps. —that's when I met him for the first time. The first project I prepared was for his company, Ming Technologies, as I was directly supervising it, consequently, the longer I worked with someone till now. For those several months, that we spent time in meetings and turned into good acquaintances. About three years ago, he moved his company to his home country, China.

My tone was a little bit softer, as I responded genially, "Yes, Mr. Ming, it has been quite long, and seeing you here is quite a pleasant surprise."

He grinned hearing my words, and raised his glass a little, "Ah, wǒ yě yīyàng!"

Hearing his response in his mother language, my smile widened a little, "I see, so, you have achieved your goal, impressive."

With his constant smile, he nodded at my words, "Not fully, but yes, I'm still trying pretty hard to fully command my language," with proud lacing his voice, he added.

I nodded along, appending a word of praise, to which he advanced further telling me about how his Ming Technologies is doing in China. There's a considerable age difference between us, but Mr. Ming is one of the few people who from the beginning has never approached me like a younger generation, always greeted and treated me like a fellow of his age and caliber. And because we have known each other for such a long time, the formalities have lessened between us to quite some degree.

Soon our discussion was interrupted, as the announcer's voice reached our ears from the main stage --the person stated about commencing the event.

With that, excusing myself from Mr. Ming, I walked toward my designated table. As I paced, I could feel the words and eyes following me. There are a lot of people here, much more than what I expected, although this event is of larger scale still I thought that maybe I wouldn't have to see the people of business, but I was proved wrong thoroughly. Because the moment I stepped inside the hall I noticed a lot of familiar faces including those with whom Allgaier's have done contracts, projects, and such.

These events are such, where no matter what I can't avoid the social factor —that's what you are here for, to convey your point, and if you don't meet people how do you expect them to hear you. And I know how to separate my business from the work of the organization, I have never mixed them both, and the outlook to see both of these is also different for me. I know where to put my arrogance and stubbornness, and where not. So, for a while now, I initiatively spent all the time greeting people still for some I got no time.

Although for the past three years my organization heads are attending such awareness events, but, as a founder, I felt the need to attend this time. With so many changes going on in the organization, with all the matter of legal cases solving and their transfer while passing through countless authorities, it would be better if we could raise it to a much larger scale, for it to aid with the ongoing process.

As I reached toward the table, Miss Gorata (the head executive of the organization) and Mr. Dineo (executive assistant) were already there, nodding toward them I took my seat beside the former. After formally greeting the other representatives of the organizations (who were at the same table as them) seeing that we had time before everyone settles and things could progress further, Miss Gorata proceeded to inform me of pointers regarding what she's going to talk about on behalf of our organization.

I smiled at her, not adding anything, of course, she knows better than me, where I just go over all things, she's the one who deals with them in-depth. Even though the sudden work of the past months has put her under stress but she's proficient to deal with all of the things, and when she can't, that's probably only when my involvement is needed. Still, I don't want her to overwhelm by things, this's also the partial reason I have decided to stay longer in Gaborone.

"Miss Ciarve."

Hearing my name being called and interrupting my thoughts, my smile faded as I recognized the familiar voice.

Raising my eyes, I looked up to meet the darker eyes of the man standing a step away from my chair. Moving my eyes again toward Gorata, I politely excused myself from her, to which she nodded vigorously, and then I stood up to return his greeting.

"Mr. Salvadge."

With a nod I regarded his presence, even though my voice was nonchalant, hearing my response his lips curved subtly.

In the silence, when I waited for him to say anything, the impatient person beside him couldn't control and chimed in. As my eyes move toward him, his unswerving smirk came into sight, "Hello there, Al-nope, Miss Ciarve."

I didn't respond to his words, my gaze only paused on him for a second, and as I was ready to look away, he proceeded, "Thinking about it now, I have never introduced myself properly, have I? Let's change that now," With his realization, he extended his head with the utterance of his name, "Nial Delton."

For the first time, I felt thankful that my hands were bandaged as I don't have to shake my hands with him.

Still not wanting to say anything, I nodded at his words, extending my hand forward, and raising a little to show the reason for not accepting his affable gesture.

Both pair of eyes of the men in front of me moved toward my hands and I heard him say, pulling his hand back, "Oh, what happened?" Nial Delton's tone as if he was utterly concerned, but the smirk didn't match with his words

I indifferently uttered a single word, "Something."

My single world left a lot of possibilities for him to assume what could it mean, and from the way his smirk faltered, he got what I was trying to say —that I'm not interested to talk to him, just like always.

"Miss Ciarve, I hope your hands are fine."

Moving my eyes toward the aloof man beside him as I heard Aris Salvadge's words, his indifferent tone contradicted with how his brows lowered slightly, and before meeting my eyes his gaze halted on my hands.

My lips curved in a smile, my professional-pretended one, as I affirmed, "Yes, they are, thank you for asking."

He gave a slight nod at my words, for a second his eyes moved toward the table I was seated on, "Is Miss Ciarve here on the behalf of her organization?" he inquired, his tone held the same neutrality.

Staring straight at him, "Certainly I'm," assured I.

Before I could hear the reason for him particularly coming here, the announcer's voice once again resonated, this time he directly commenced the event. Seeing that I was going to excuse myself when Aris Salvadge precluded my action and presented his request.

"Miss Ciarve wouldn't mind if we just sit here."

His words were not a question but a statement, without looking behind me, I knew our table had three seats extra (excluding us and the representatives of the other organization) and that too was beside the chair I sat in. Seeing no reason to decline, I simply nodded with, "Not indeed."

As I stook my seat, the empty seat beside it was taken by Mr. Salvadge, and on the other two sat Nial Delton and Mr. Salvadge's secretary.

Silence descended, with occasional whispers interfering it, throughout the hall as everyone took their seats. Putting my attention toward the happenings on the stage, I too, along with others became a part of the audience, occasionally applauding and sharing an opinion or two with Gorata. There is two way the funds are being raised, by selling things and the sponsorships, among the latter our organization also includes. The things were being auctioned one-by-one, with an interval of representatives of organizations taking the stage to inform about their purpose.

"Does something occur to catch Miss Ciarve's attention?"

Hearing a low voice near my ear, I tiled my head toward the right and met Mr. Salvadge's steady gaze.

Keeping my tone bland, I responded, "I'm afraid not."

"What are the likes of Miss Ciarve, I'm really curious."

Hearing his unexpected words, I felt a momentary surprise passing through me. But keeping my steady expressions, I implied, "I assume, Mr. Salvadge already knows."

His brow raised a little, clearly aware of the fact that I was subtly ridiculing him. Well, it's not like I have forgotten he has tried to find things regarding me.

He didn't say anything, and seemed like has no intentions to, so, I turned my attention away from him and toward Gorata, who'll be anytime going to the stage.

The moment Gorata's name was announced and she stood up to advance toward the stage, I once again heard the man beside me speak, this time his voice held a lighter tone, even edgy casualness.

"Seems like Miss Ciarve can also assume why I'm seated here."

Not intending to face, I kept my eyes forward and uttered, "No."

I didn't until now, who could be more aware than me that there's every meaning behind the actions of Aris Salvadge. A man who could be seated with anywhere, with anyone, would choose to sit here on the tables of sponsors when he clearly not among them. I can think he's seated here because of me, and once again he surely would have something to ask, offer or require. I, seriously, wouldn't have thought over his presence, if he just didn't utter the words.

In the next instant, my assumption was proved right, because he finally uttered his request. I didn't get a chance to answer him, as in the next moment Gorata started speaking on the stage and I just put my focus over it, excusing with just a peripheral glance toward him.

"Later, will Miss Ciarve be amenable to spare some sole time?"