The Hunt 3

RED INK

EPISODE 7:The Hunt 3

~~

"We are here at Ford mansion, boss." Fred said as he opened the door to the limousine.

Dillion stretched his legs, almost meeting Lorin's and dropped his tablet in a corner.

When he came out of the car, the evening's cool breeze danced around his face, carrying along the smell of dampness and... grilled chicken. Food.

He looked around, seemed like the entrance was at the adjacent angle where people were taking pictures.

He turned to the vehicle and helped Lorin to her feet, gently taking her hand.

"Thank you." She said, standing beside him.

He looked at her, her shoulders were bare. She didn't carry the coat.

He stretched into the car and picked up the coat from the seat. He shook it out and wore it around her shoulders. He extended his arm to her, offering it up for appearance.

She couldn't contain her smile as she slowly but purposefully wrapped her arm in his.

"Shall we?" He asked.

She nodded.

He turned to Fred. "Fred?"

Fred walked up to him.

"Be on standby. We will be out by nine. Okay?"

"Yes boss."

Fred watched them walk away, arm in arm towards the red carpet of the Ford mansion.

~~~

~~~

"Are you comfortable?" He asked Lorin.

"Hm?" She looked up at him. Was Sir Dillion making conversations?

"I asked if you are comfortable."

"Y-yes, I am." She cleared her throat hoping to say something more but she couldn't think of anything.

"You smell nice."

"Oh...thank you? You do too."

He smiled. "What fragrance is that?"

"Mine? Um... it's a mixture of avocado oil and rose petals."

"You make them yourself?"

Her eyes widened. "H-how did y-you know sir?"

"A lot of ladies will mention the brand name if it was bought in a store."

"Oh..." She grinned. "You are very observant sir." She couldn't believe she was having normal convo with sir Dillion.

"I know you are a very confident woman but I am a little confused as to why you are stuttering tonight."

She chuckled, mildly. "I am trying to get used to having you engage in conversation sir."

"Call me by my name for tonight."

She looked at him, stunned. "S-sir?"

He smirked. "But I have a favor to ask."

Sir Dillion had a favour to ask? She must have picked a lucky coin on her way to work three days ago!

"Ask away sir."

"Dillion."

"Sir?"

"I told you to call me by my name."

"Oh...sorry. Ask away...Dil-lion."

They were taking their time to get to the red carpet.

"Permit me to use you tonight."

Use? She didn't know what he was thinking but that was quite blunt. She didn't know what to say, so she said instead, "I don't know what you mean by that."

"Be yourself. Don't fake. Whatever I do tonight, I want you to play along. Can you?"

Oh...is he gonna be doing things tonight? Lorin smiled to herself. "Okay." She said. "But if I may ask, what do you—"

"No questions, Lorin. Just play along." He said without looking at her.

"Okay..."

~~~

Aurora woke up to the buzzing of her phone. She picked it up— it said 6:30PM. She put off the alarm and dropped it on the table.

She looked around aimlessly and stretched her body, saw the note on her table and picked it up. I LEFT. WILL BE BACK LATER TONIGHT.

"I wish I could be like you." She yawned and looked at her books. "Damn! Long day tomorrow." She cleaned her eyes with her napkin and sat up, opening the textbook and looking for where she stopped—she continued reading.

......

Everyone watched as the man stepped out of his limousine, adjusting his coat over his body. He wore a hat made of leather, and his shoe told everyone that he was someone wealthy...or so it seemed.

He was handsome, tall, slim waistline, broad shoulders, fair in complexion and had a playboy kind of look. He looked like some one who often visited the gym.

A photographer from the front house exclaimed."Wow! Did God bless us today with a god?"

The journalists present looked at themselves and started whispering.

"Do you know him?"

"No, I don't. But if he came, doesn't that mean he was invited?" He raised his camera and started photographing him.

"Yeah. It's strictly by invitation." Another one said.

They all watched him walk up the red carpet with another man as the driver drove off the limousine.

•

Lorin noticed that Dillion had been watching the man as they walked towards the red carpet.

"Do you know him?" She asked out of curiosity.

"I have met him...once."

•

The journalist couldn't walk up to him and ask questions cause they were demarcated with bar lines and body guards. So they decided to throw questions from where they stood.

"You look very handsome sir." One of them complimented.

"You look like a new face in Tribat. What family are you from?"

"Are you Director Holmes son?

"You look a lot like Archie Dean. Are you related to him?"

"What is your purpose here tonight?"

"Can you spare one moment of your time for an interview?"

The questions came from both sides of the red carpet.

The other man with him turned to the journalist who asked the last question and said. "Mr Hugo does not do interviews."

"So that's his name?" Someone from the reporter line asked himself.

Mr Hugo was enjoying the attention he was getting from the people present. Even celebrities were looking at him. This was what he was going for when he decided to show up here. He wanted them to be curious of who he was and them really surprised when they find out who he really was. He smirked.

He was enjoying the attention until the journalists gaze turned to his back.

"Mr Dillion?"

"It's Mr Dillion!"

They announced as they hurriedly went to his direction, taking photographs and pointing their microphones and recorders towards him.

"Mr Shaft, we've never seen you with a woman out in public. Is this your girlfriend?"

"Mr Shaft, what is the name of the beautiful woman close to you?"

"Is she your woman?"

"Mr Shaft, you've never shown up at galas and parties. What would you say changed your mind for this one?"

Dillion raised up his hand to block the lights from the cameras. This was why he hated to show up at events. Reporters were always in his face, making one scandal after another.

He raised up a finger and said, "One question at a time."

The reporters calmed down.

He pointed to a scruffy looking man who was at the front rear and said, "Starting with you."

The man was pleased as he carried his jotter and pen, preparing to scramble words on paper. "Mr Shaft, you're known to have a distaste for prominent parties and dinners. What would you say change your mind tonight?"

Dillion smiled and used his nose to scent around. "Can't you percieve it?"

"Perceive what sir?"

"The aroma."

"What aroma...?" The journalist asked, confused.

"Food."

"Food?"

"Yes. You asked what made me change my mind to come to the dinner party, I am giving you a reply."

Lorin held in a smile and people had started smiling on the backdrop.

"So you are saying you decided to come to the gala because of food. Am I correct Mr Shaft?"

"Yes."

Everyone laughed.

"Aish!" The reporter swore.

Dillion smiled cause he was having a good time. He pointed to the lady beside him. "Your turn."

She shuffled forward. "Mr Dillion, you've never appeared in public with a woman before. But here you are with one and showing her off. Who is she to you?"

Dillion looked at Lorin who was blushing with shyness. "She's my chaperone."

"Are you sure she is not your girlfriend?"

"If you are dating would you tell us?"

"Are you married, Mr Shaft?"

"She could be your wife."

The journalists started to ask questions randomly again.

Dillion smirked and looked at Lorin again, she was gripping his arm tight, he felt she was doing it for comfort. She didn't look comfortable at all.

"If you'll excuse us." He told them and turned towards the direction of the entrance. He saw Hugo watching him.

•Lorin's Side of View•

She walked arm in arm with Dillion. As they walked up the red carpet, she saw reporters run towards their direction and started asking questions. The camera lights got into her eyes as she used her hand to block them. Dillion patted her hand and covered it with his other hand. It was really warm.

She adjusted to the lighting and got used to it, smiling once in a while when Dillion looked at her.

As the seconds rolled by, she was gaining her confidence once more, until they started asking questions about who she was to him. She didn't know what to do, and unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm.

When he asked the reporters to excuse them and turned towards their heading, she felt relieved.