Chapter 6: Stranger?

“Fifty million,” Xavier announced, causing the air to thicken with gasps and whispers. The crowd turned, their curiosity piqued, eager to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic figure wearing a golden mask who had casually tossed around such an astonishing sum like it was merely pocket change.

“Fifty million! Fifty million going once, fifty million going twice... Sold!” The auctioneer’s voice rang with finality. “Let’s give a round of applause to our generous bidder for acquiring our stunning centerpiece,” the auctioneer announced, a note of excitement lacing his voice. The crowd erupted into applause, their clapping filling the air with vibrant energy. Alfonso stood up and made his way to retrieve the necklace that had captured everyone’s attention.

“Now that the bidding has concluded, let’s move to the hall and enjoy the party,” the auctioneer announced, his tone upbeat. However, Lucas, growing increasingly agitated at the fact that he lost to the golden mask man, abruptly stood and stormed out of the auction room. 

He decided to find Reina, but as he approached the break room, he was halted by a series of muffled groans seeping through the slightly ajar door, sparking curiosity within him.

Earlier Inside the VIP break room, Victor has given in to his desire after Bianca strips in front of him and starts to tease him with open legs while lying on the sofa. Letting out a haggard breath, he kneeled between her legs, shifted her panties aside, lowered his head to her center, and started licking her. He groaned hoarsely at her taste; she was so sweet. He continued to savor her. He will lick, suck, and thrust his tongue in her entrance. 

“Fuck!” He cursed, his warm breath on her clit sending shivers down Bianca's spine. She moaned, her fingers intertwined in his hair, pulling him close as she bucked her hips, grinding his face. She was stressed, and she needed a good fuck to release stress. 

“Fuck, don't stop, I'm cumming!” Victor sucked hard on her clit and gently bit it, his teeth grazing it. “Ahhh!” Bianca moaned, arching her back as she came hard. As she was reeling from her orgasm, Victor hovered over her; however, just as he was about to unbuckle his belt, he stopped on hearing a voice at the door.

“Sir, is there something I could help you with?”

“Yes, did you see a fair lady wearing a red gown and a black mask? About an hour ago?” Lucas asked,

“Yes, sir. She went inside the break room,” the attendant said with a warm smile.

Victor got off Bianca and hurried into the bathroom, not sparing Bianca a glance. ‘Fuck, what has he done? He almost fucked his best friend's woman.” 

“Bianca?” Lucas said on entering the room and saw Bianca lying on the sofa with only her bra and panties.

“Mi amor…” Bianca said, sitting up. “I'm sorry, I was stressed, so I wanted to relieve myself; the baby and everything tonight is stressful.” 

“I'm sorry, mi amor,” Lucas said, walking towards her. He sat down next to her and asked with a gentle smile as he began kneading her breast. “What if I make you fully relaxed?” 

“I'm all yours, my love,” Bianca said sultrily as she bit her index finger teasingly. Without wasting time, Lucas unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants and brief, hovering over her, his fingers dipping between her legs, as he began stroking her wet heat, and without warning, he thrust into her, filling her up. 

“Fuck! You're so sweet,” Lucas said as he began to move inside her. 

At the door, Reina, who had walked out of the washroom to see Lucas entering the break room, stood at the entrance looking at the two making out on the sofa. She was so broken; she was frozen to the spot. Just then, Bianca's eyes met hers; she smirked at her and asked Lucas, who was thrusting in her like a starved beast, 

“Sweeter than Reina?”

“Of course, don't compare yourself to that woman; apart from her wealth, she's nothing compared to you,” Lucas said. Bianca smirked, and looking at Reina, she wrapped her arms around Lucas's neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

Unable to take anymore, Reina turned and ran off. She intended to run back to the washroom and lock herself up, but went in the wrong direction.

“I'm sorry, I... wasn't looking where I was going,” Reina apologized when she ran into a firm chest, the man's masculine scent filling her nostrils. It was both spellbinding and comforting; she almost breathed him in, yet she pulled away. But blood rushed to her cheeks when she looked up and was met with a pair of green eyes staring back at her.

Standing so close to Xavier, Reina could see the perfect outline of his chiseled jawline, prominent cheekbones, and Roman nose. ‘It’s a pity the mask was blocking her from getting a full glimpse of his face; he must be one hell of a handsome man.’ At the thought, Reina's lips pulled into a pout, and Xavier, who had lost his voice as he looked down at the woman who was looking at his face like she was looking deep into his soul, smiled. 

Reina subconsciously smiled when she saw Xavier smile but continued with her escapades, her gaze moving down. ‘His muscular build; he was even more muscular and taller than Lucas; how would he look without his dress?’ Reina wondered as she subconsciously reached her hand to touch Xavier, but then she snapped out of her trance when she realized what she was about to do—what was she thinking, comparing Lucas to another man?’ Just then the music started to play, and couples started walking towards them; that's when she realized they were standing on the dance floor.

“May I?” Xavier asked, and Reina nodded, her cheeks hot, embarrassed by her earlier wild thoughts, something she had never done before. She thought Xavier was asking her to dance, but when he circled her and brushed her hair to the side and placed a necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing her skin, leaving shivers in their wake, Reina shuddered, lost in the weird emotions she was feeling toward the stranger she was meeting for the first time. How she felt comfortable in his presence.

Then it dawned on her how the man had casually put the necklace around her neck. ‘Did he think she was his partner since the woman by his side was wearing a dress similar to hers?’ At the thought, Reina, feeling hurt and confused by her emotions, turned to Xavier and said, 

“Mister, I think you made a mistake; I'm not your partner; our dress..." She couldn't finish when Xavier wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her to his muscular build, pressing her to him. 

“Dance with me,” Xavier said huskily. His voice was commanding yet so compelling. Lost in his voice and hypnotic gaze, Reina didn't know when she placed her hands on Xavier's shoulders, and they began to move to the music, their gaze locked. 

“Blonde…” Xavier said when he twirled Reina out then back against him, his voice trailing off as he studied Reina’s face as she held his gaze. Confusion washed over Reina's features; her brow furrowed and her eyes widened slightly. “My partner is blonde,” he continued, a thoughtful look crossing his face, “so I know you aren't her.” Reina smiled and said, 

"Okay,” releasing the breath she didn't know she was holding, and placed her head on Xavier's chest. Time felt suspended as they lost themselves in each other's embrace.

However, as the two were lost in their world, Yolanda was fuming with rage as Alfonso held her back, preventing her from interrupting them.

~~~

Inside the break room, Lucas pulled out of Bianca angrily after answering a call from one of his men in the reception. 

“Mi amor?” Bianca said with a questioning gaze when Lucas started getting dressed. “Why did you stop, and why are you getting dressed? You know I was fucking cumming!” Bianca snapped.

“I'm sorry, we will continue when we get home; now get dressed, and where the fuck is Victor? I asked him to follow you." At Lucas' words, all the desires Bianca was feeling disappeared when she remembered Victor was inside the bathroom.

“I asked him to leave me alone; I don't know where he is.” Lucas reached for his phone after wearing his dress and began calling Victor, but Victor’s phone started to ring on the floor, from under Bianca's dress. “Why is Victor's phone here?”

“I think it fell when I pushed him out,” Bianca said, and Lucas nodded with an unconvinced expression on his face.

~~~

Back at the party reception, Reina's eyes were shut as she was completely enveloped in the warmth of the man's embrace. His strong arms offered a comforting refuge, while his intoxicating scent filled her senses. Just as she began to savor the moment, she felt a harsh yank, yanking her back to reality, and she blinked as Lucas' furious voice cut through the air. 

“Bastard! Get your fucking hands off my wife!” His words crackled with anger, shattering the tranquil bubble Reina had been lost in. A sudden silence fell over the room, like a sharp breath being held, and the music stopped playing.

“Lucas, it’s not what you think,” Reina implored, her voice trembling with urgency. But before she could say more, fury ignited in Xavier’s chest. With a swift move, he lunged at Lucas and delivered a brutal punch that connected with a sickening thud. Lucas staggered back, his mask breaking upon impact and falling to the ground, revealing the shock etched across his face. Everyone gasped and began to murmur. Lucas Men rushed forward, but he gestured for them to stand back.

“How dare you treat her like that!” Xavier growled, his eyes burning with rage as he lifted his hand to deliver another punch to Lucas' face.

“No!” Reina shouted, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife as she stepped in between Xavier and Lucas, intercepting the punch, the atmosphere crackling with intensity. Xavier's anger soared once again as he reached for his Glock tucked under his suit. But before he could react, Alfonso jumped in, grabbing his arm with a vice but apologetic grip, and said.

“Boss.” Xavier came to his senses on seeing Reina's exhausted expression. 

“Micetta, I’m sorry,” Xavier muttered, his eyes softening as he reached out toward Reina’s arm, a hint of desperation in his voice. However, the intimate endearment Xavier used to address Reina stirred something in Yolanda, standing nearby, to step in and announce, her voice smooth. 

“I’m sorry, but I believe my fiancé may have confused her for me; our outfits, as you can see, are rather similar.” Her voice was smooth, but the underlying jealousy and possessiveness seeped through, casting a shadow over her gentle smile. However, a sharp glint of loathing flashed in her eyes as she cast a fleeting glance at Reina, yet her expression remained outwardly composed, framed by a deceptively gentle smile. Soft murmurs rippled through the crowd, igniting whispers about a possible misunderstanding. Xavier rolled his eyes with an exasperated sigh, dismissing Yolanda's absurd suggestion with

“Fuck it, Yolanda, you're blonde! I'm not stupid!” Xavier said angrily. He was pissed by Yolanda's meddling. He regrets his decision to listen to his grandfather and bring her along. “Tesoro, please don't go; come with me,” Xavier said, his voice almost pleading, earning a confused look from Reina and a shocked expression from Yolanda as she thought. 'Xavier is begging a woman?' Reina opened her mouth to speak, but before she could speak, Lucas said, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.

“Who the hell are you? Are you some psycho? Stay away from my wife! Whoever you are! You don't want me unleashing my wrath on you. You wouldn't want to know what I do to those who touch what is mine!” At Lucas' words, Reina looked at his face with an elated smile. ‘Her Lucas is back,’ she thought internally.

Xavier was rendered speechless when Lucas wrapped his arm around Reina's waist, pulling her to him, and how she looked up at Lucas' face with love and admiration; he felt like a stranger. 'Stranger? What is he even thinking? Evidently, he's a stranger in Reina's eyes.’ Xavier thought, snapping out of his thoughts when Lucas took Reina's hand, and she dazedly followed him out of the party. 

As Reina followed Lucas out, she had forgotten her decision earlier when she was in Xavier's arms. To tell the man what was happening back home. She felt the man would help if she did. But all was forgotten when Lucas arrived. She had forgotten the fact that running into Xavier had comforted her broken heart, the betrayal she witnessed inside the break room—her husband having sex with her best friend.

Xavier stood there, tongue-tied, as he watched Lucas drag Reina away. His hand moved to his chest, and he rubbed it. It hurt; it was like he was being shot in the heart a second time, just that this time he wasn't actually shot. ‘Why did he accept the invitation to attend the event in the first place? It had been five years, five fucking years, and he was doing great, so why? Why did he have to waste all his efforts after moving on? Why did karma have to be so unfair to him?’ 

“Boss, the mission has been aborted; let's get you out of here before you have a relapse.” Alfonso leaned in and whispered into Xavier's ear. 

 

~ Forty minutes later ~

Lucas, after locking the door behind them, pushed Reina onto the bed and started to unbuckle his belt. Reina sat up, her body trembling as she yelled, 

“Lucas, what the hell is wrong with you?!”