Chapter 3

It took only a few minutes before we arrived outside the venue. It was a multi-story hotel, one of the most expensive in the country. From what I know, the hotel's name frequently appeared on television and in articles.

I looked out the window, scanning the area until I saw a crowd gathered at the entrance. Almost everyone was in formal attire, with a few paparazzi stationed outside.

I wanted to know more details about the event I was attending—or rather, the one I was signed up for—but Shena didn’t provide much information. She just said it was a normal event. Even though I had my doubts, I still came because the event was well-known. Unfortunately, that was all I knew. There were no additional details to satisfy my curiosity.

The driver opened the car door, and at that moment, I felt a rush of anxiety. I couldn’t keep calm until this event was over. Why did I even come? I've probably regretted my decision many times. Like, maybe a hundred times.

“Thank you, sir,” I said to the driver as he held the door open for me.

He smiled formally and gave a slight bow before returning to the elegant car. I couldn’t help but wonder why it was necessary to pick me up, especially since I knew most of the attendees were wealthy. Shena also mentioned that someone would pick me up, but I forgot to ask about the details earlier.

I took a deep breath as the anxiety in my system intensified, mixed with embarrassment. I felt shy because of all the people around.

I started walking toward the entrance, and slowly, people began to turn their heads to look at me, especially those holding cameras. It was already night, so it was easy to spot the camera flashes, and I knew some of their attention was on me, which made me feel even more self-conscious.

My steps came to a halt when I noticed the red carpet.

“Excuse me, you're blocking the way.”

My body instinctively turned to the side, and I looked at the person who spoke behind me. She was wearing a glittering, fitted red gown that highlighted her ample chest since it was a tube type. I looked at her face, and she was already raising an eyebrow at me. She had a small red bag hanging from her wrist, while her other hand was on her waist.

“Tsk, first-timer,” she said with a hint of irritation and then strutted confidently on the red carpet. I rolled my eyes and watched her walk away. I scratched my cheek before I headed into the hotel.

As I walked along the red carpet, my heart pounded with every step. The heels of my shoes were high. I took cautious steps, moving like a turtle.

“Damn these shoes. Why did Shena make me wear these? If I had known I would walk this far, I would've gone barefoot,” I muttered to myself.

Despite my careful steps, I still stumbled. My eyes widened, and as I was about to fall, I felt a strong yet gentle grip on my arm. In an instant, I was standing again, and I looked up to see who helped me.

A tall man stood in front of me, wearing a black tuxedo that seemed tailor-made for him. His hair was slicked back, and his eyes sparkled under the hotel lights.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I felt like I was in a daze for a moment. He had a stunning face, like someone straight out of a magazine cover. His features were sharp, and his eyes were deep and alluring. I couldn’t help but stare at him.

“A-Ah, yes, thank you,” I replied, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. “I didn't realize I had stumbled.”

He smiled, and that’s when I noticed the deep dimple on his left cheek. “It's a good thing I caught you. You might have gotten hurt.”

“Thank you again,” I said, trying to regain my composure. “I guess I need to be more careful.”

“That’s better,” he said with a nod. “With so many people here, it’s really easy to trip.”

I looked around and noticed that many people were still watching us, especially the cameras flashing. My embarrassment intensified. I realized we were attracting a lot of attention.

“Sorry if I caused a scene,” I said, nervously touching my hair and forcing a smile.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s not your fault.” He extended his hand. “If you don’t mind, I can be your partner tonight.”

I looked at his hand and glanced around, feeling the stares of the people. Why were they all looking at us? This wasn’t a movie shoot.

“A-ah, sure… that’s okay,” I stammered. He chuckled softly before taking my hand and placing it on his arm.

“You’re nervous, just relax. Let’s go inside,” he whispered in my ear. I bit my lip because what he said was true. Who wouldn’t be nervous with so many eyes following them?

When we entered the hotel, the lavish decorations and lights added to the elegant ambiance. The place exuded wealth and sophistication.

“So, where do you want to go?” the man asked, still smiling. Wait, we haven’t even exchanged names. What should I call him?

“A, I’m not sure, Kuya. I’m not used to events like this,” I said, trying to think of what to do next.

He laughed. I looked at his face. What’s so funny?

“Kuya, huh?” His smile remained, but there was an expression I couldn’t decipher. “What should I call you then? Little sis?”

I smirked. “You don’t like Kuya? How about Daddy?”

But then I realized what I had said when he didn’t respond. My eyes widened as I stared at him.

He remained silent, looking at me, and I felt my cheeks heat up again. “Ah, I mean, just kidding,” I said, trying to laugh off the awkward moment.

He smiled again, but this time there was a different gleam in his eyes. “Alexander,” he said. “You can call me Alexander.”

I smiled in gratitude. “Isabella,” I said. “Sorry about that.”

“Nice to meet you, Isabella. So, where do you want to go?” he asked again, trying to steer the conversation back to a more comfortable direction.

I thought for a moment, trying to figure out what to do at this event. Shena hadn’t given me much information other than that I should attend. “To be honest, I have no idea. All I know is that this is a matchmaking event for singles.”

He chuckled softly. “It’s not exactly a matchmaking event for singles, Isabella. This is more of a game planned by some elite group members,” he explained. “Most of the rich people here are invited for business purposes, but not all of them are here just for business.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“There’s something called a match partner,” he said, his tone serious. “Basically, a higher or richer person can pay the organization to match them with people they want for different reasons. Some want business alliances, others are looking for personal connections or even potential relationships.”

“That’s... interesting,” I said, thinking about why I was here and who put me in this event. “So, how do you know all this?”

“I was part of the planning,” Alexander said, “but I’m just here as a guest tonight, not a participant.”

Before I could ask more questions, a woman approached us. She stood tall and carried herself with the confidence of someone used to these events. “Excuse me, Alexander,” she said, tapping his shoulder. “I believe I already paid to match with you tonight.”

I was shocked by what she said and looked at Alexander. He paused, seeming to think of what to say.

“Ah, Miss, I think there’s a misunderstanding,” he said calmly. “I’m just a guest for the night, not a participant.”

The woman smiled, but it was clear she wasn’t pleased with Alexander’s response. “But I specifically requested you,” she said, a hint of irritation in her voice. “I paid a lot of money for this.”

Alexander took a deep breath, but before he could reply, I spoke up. “Sorry, but it looks like you need to talk to the organizers about this,” I said. “Alexander isn’t available right now.”

The woman looked at me, then at Alexander. But instead of understanding the situation, she seemed even more annoyed. “And you are? Did you pay to be with Alexander too?”

My eyes widened, and I shook my head. “N-no… I don’t have money for that.”

Her eyebrow raised. “So, you’re poor? Why are you even here anyway?”

“Hey, Miss. You’re crossing the line. If you’re that eager to be with me, let’s talk to the director first. I bet you didn’t know me,” Alexander interjected.

“I know you!” the woman insisted. “You’re a regular participant here two years ago, and I know you’re looking for a match again! That’s why I paid for our setup.”

Alexander sighed wearily. He turned back to me and forced a smile. “I’ll come back, Isabella. I need to fix this.”

I just nodded. They started walking away. The woman tried to grab Alexander’s arm but couldn’t because he walked so fast.

I noticed a waiter approaching with glasses of wine, so I took one and drank it quickly. Let them look; I had no time to be elegant.

Suddenly, the lights shifted to a large stage. The room fell silent as someone walked onto it. I tried to see through the crowd, feeling curious. I placed my wine glass on the table

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Are you ready to meet your destined partner tonight?"

The applause of the crowd filled the room. I looked around and saw almost everyone smiling, but it wasn't a genuine smile of happiness. It was the smile of someone who felt like they had won a game.

"Okay! So, please, rich people, find your partner based on the color of your pin. Use your phone to detect your partner easily!"

As the applause and excitement around me continued, I noticed that many people were wearing pins on their clothes in various colors—red, blue, green, and others. Curiously, I checked my own outfit but found no pin.

I was surprised when a woman approached me holding a small box. She smiled as she handed it to me. "Miss, this is for you," she said.

I took the box and opened it. Inside was a small silver pin. I had no idea what it meant, but I pinned it onto my clothing anyway.

As I did this, I heard the emcee speak again from the stage. "Please use the app we provided on your phones to find your matching partner. The app will guide you based on the color of your pins."

I looked around and saw almost everyone starting to check their phones. Not knowing anything about this app, I decided to ask the first person I saw.

I went back to the table and grabbed another glass of wine, but before I could take a sip, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and saw a woman also holding a phone and wearing a gold pin.

"Are you new here?" she asked. "Do you know how to use this app?"

I shook my head. "I have no idea. What's this pin I'm wearing?" I asked, pointing to my pin.

"Ah, silver! Interesting," she said, looking at her phone. "You must be one of the special guests. Usually, they only give out gold, red, or blue pins. Silver is quite rare."

"Special guest? Why me?" I asked, puzzled.

"I'm not sure either. But come on, I'll help you. Maybe I can assist with the app," she said and began to explain how to use it. "By the way, I'm Glennon. I'm also new, but I know a little bit about this."

"Hello, Glennon. Call me Isabella. I'm new here too," I replied.

Once we set up the app, I looked at it and was surprised by what I saw. "Match Found" appeared on the screen, with an arrow pointing in the direction where I should find my match. Glennon nodded and encouraged me to follow the direction.

I followed the arrow, walking slowly. As I walked, I noticed eyes watching me, just like earlier. I tried to ignore it and focus on the app.

I reached a large door guarded by security. When they saw my pin, they immediately opened the door and let me in.

Inside, a man was sitting. I couldn't see his face clearly because the lighting was dim.

"Welcome, Ms. Heyes. Nice to finally meet you," a man's voice spoke.

Before I could respond, the man moved, and his face finally came into view as the room brightened. I squinted at the sudden light. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and saw the woman standing a few inches from me.

"G-Glennon?" I called uncertainly. Glennon smiled but quickly turned serious when the man in front of us cleared his throat.

I turned to face the man and blinked in surprise. He smiled, and I cringed. Oh my God, his teeth were all gold! I thought he didn't brush his teeth!

"Who are you?" I asked abruptly.

The man's smile disappeared, and he sneered. "I didn't expect the daughter to be so rude."

Daughter? Who is this old man talking about?

"What daughter, and who are you?" I asked bluntly.

He signaled to a man behind me. I was startled when the man grabbed me and forced me to sit down.

The old man leaned in, flashing his gold teeth. "I'm Marco Alatorre. I'm your father's friend. And I paid for you to become my match partner."

My expression turned serious. "Father's friend? Are you stupid?" He was shocked by my curse. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't want to be partnered with you. You're ugly. Pedophile!"

His veins bulged in anger. "How dare you! Disrespectful little brat!"

"Isabella, relax. Let's handle this calmly," Glennon interjected.

"No way, Glennon! This guy is creepy, and I don't know him!" I replied, my voice shaking with anger. "Who in their right mind would partner with that old man?"

The old man looked even angrier. "You will regret this, young lady! Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Mr. Alatorre, let's talk this out outside. Isabella needs some space," Glennon calmly suggested. What was Glennon's role in all this?

Mr. Alatorre resisted. "No! She owes me respect! I paid for this arrangement!"

I pointed at the old man. "Hey, I don't care if you paid for me! You're an idiot, you know that? Should I kick you?"

Glennon sighed and took out his phone, making a call. After a few words, he faced the old man.

"Mr. Alatorre. I'm sorry, but sir Montgomery is on his way," Glennon announced.

Mr. Alatorre stopped and tried to calm himself. "What's the point of him being here?" he asked, struggling to hide his irritation.

Glennon glanced at me before answering. "You'll talk about this, Mr. Alatorre. Please, calm down before he gets here."

Mr. Alatorre suddenly calmed down, his anger fading as he seemed to understand how serious the situation was. He muttered something quietly, then turned and left the room without saying anything else. I wondered what his deal was.

I took a deep breath, feeling relieved. "Thanks for stepping in, Glennon. I didn't expect things to get like this. I'm really sorry."

Glennon smiled warmly. "Don't worry. I'm just happy it didn't get worse. Sorry about that whole ordeal."

Glennon suddenly stopped as another knock on the door caused the atmosphere in the room to change. It was the tall gentleman who had reopened the door and entered, making everyone pay attention to him; I immediately knew him—Alexander.

He looked around the room, his gaze landing on me. He seemed surprised to see me there. "Isabella? What are you doing here?"

Before I could answer, Glennon responded to Alexander's question. "Mr. Montgomery, there was a misunderstanding with Mr. Alatorre. Isabella handled it well, but it got a bit tense."

Alexander looked at me, still puzzled. "He paid to match her?" he asked Glennon.

"Yes, sir," Glennon replied shortly.

"Okay, can I talk to Isabella outside? I think she needs some information about it."

Glennon nodded and gestured for me to stand up. Alexander walked out, and I followed him.