CHAPTER 1: A Damsel In Distress

CHAPTER 1: A Damsel In Distress 

Louisa Emerson makes silent elegant steps into the grandly decorated banquet hall, her heart racing rapidly, anxiously considering different approaches to execute her mission tonight.

Normally, she does not attend these hypocritical formal gatherings, where people just sit idly around, sip expensive champagnes, and gossip. However, tonight is an exception. She has an agenda.

Waking through the great hall, she is greeted by the stares of many admiring men, wondering about her presence. After all, she is known in the business world to avoid banquets. 

Louisa joins a group of men for a chit-chat. Most of the ladies do not like her anyways, they believe her to be a whoring bitch catapulting into the business world and making waves with nothing but her beautiful face and sexy figure.

“Louisa! What a pleasant surprise to have you here.” Matthew, an acquaintance, greets, offering a polite hug. 

“Hi Matthew, good to see you. Hi everyone ……” Louisa replies, returning the hug. 

She looks around, and her eyes meet CEO Alan Craig, the host. She looks away and heaves a heavy sigh, wondering if this is the right time to approach him before Cordelia, his flirtatious secretary comes into the picture.

“Thank you” she smiles, accepting the glass of champagne offered by Matthew. Looking toward CEO Alan's direction once more, she decides to take the bull by the horns. “Excuse me guys.” she nods and makes her way towards Alan.

“It's been a while Mr. Alan, I'll make a toast,” she says, clinking her glass against Alan's.

 “You look breathtaking Louisa,” Alan sucks in his lower lip seductively before continuing. “red suits you best as expected.”

 Louisa ignores him, downing her wine and emptying the glass at a swift go. 

Alan takes a seat in one of the comfy chairs around him and observes her, his eyes ogling and roaming over her body.

Louisa, getting uncomfortable with the stare, makes to leave, but Alan takes a hold of her hand. “What's the hurry?” He asks, his eyes not leaving her face, even for a second.

Bending slightly to lean in closer to him, for a whisper, Louisa asks right back, “Mr Alan, isn't that enough?”

“You embarrassed me five years ago by quitting my company after calling my bluff. Do you think a few wine sips of wine can write that off?”

Louisa scoffs and leans in again, whispering.

“Mr. Alan, do not go out of line.”

 “Don't forget that you're now begging of me, Louisa,” Alan replies, leaning back in his chair, his eyes glued to her. 

Louisa squints her eyes in contemplation for a few seconds and suddenly makes a dramatic turn around, her long golden brown hair flipping around with her. 

With her back to one side, she sits on his lap and placed her hand on his shoulder, to the shock of everyone at the event including Marie, Alan's wife who is discussing with a few friends some distance away. 

Gossips can be heard from different quarters among the crowd, “how shameless can Louisa get?” “she dares seduce a married man with his wife present at a formal gathering?” “this is why she is a single mother raising a child with cardiomyopathy all alone..........”

Louisa looks at Alan squarely, “are you satisfied now?” 

Alan smiles, reaching for her waist,to draw her closer but is interrupted by his wife, Marie, who angrily splashes her wine at Louisa from behind. 

She stands up immediately but Marie meets her with a resounding slap. “Are you nuts? How dare you disrespect my husband and I by fooling around here?”

 Frowning and touching the assaulted part of her face, Louisa turns to leave but Marie pulls her back, ready to launch another attack. 

The event guest of honour, Kingsley Wills had arrived earlier, but didn't get noticed as everyone is engrossed with the event of the hour. He had been watching the scene for a while and decided to intervene. 

He approached Marie and held her hand from behind just as she raised it again to strike Louisa. “Don't you think that is enough, Mrs Craig?” 

Everyone turns to face Kingsley, wondering when he arrived the gathering. 

Louisa eyes widens in shock, seeing the man she had been missing and yearning for these past five years. 

The events of five years ago came pouring in and she blinked severally to stop the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her. 

“Kingsley,” she muttered. 

“Mr Kingsley Wills, you're finally here”. Alan spoke, standing and straightening up, trying to diffuse the situation.

“A formal party organized by Modu Tech is reduced to nothing but chaos. Who would have thought a top tier business man like yourself would be so irresponsible?” Kingsley spoke with an air of authority, arrogance evident in his voice.

Alan smiles, trying to hide his embarrassment. “unforeseen incidents happen all the time, doesn't it?” He makes to lead Kingsley to his seat. “come on, let me lead you…..”

“There'll not be a need for that”, Kingsley cuts in. “I'll be on way now.” Alan raises an eyebrow “but you just got here”. 

“I do not have a tolerance for toxic environment, my secretary will communicate the details of our next meeting to you.”

Kingsley looks at Louisa, his gaze indifferent. ”Come with me.” He commands, taking her hand. They both walk out of the hall.

Outside, Kingsley let go of her hand immediately he realized they were alone and looks away from her. 

“Kingsley, it's really you. I didn't know you were back in New York”. Louisa spoke tenderly, still unable to believe that the man standing before her is Kingsley Wills, the man that stole her heart effortlessly five years ago.

“I didn't come back for you, so save your breath and live a proper life for once. It's time you stopped ogling other women's men and become an upright woman” Kingsley spoke with spite, eyeing Louisa like he would a dirty rag lying aimlessly his way.

Hurt and speechless, Louisa opens her mouth to talk but no sound came out. She blinks severally, trying to regain her composure. “Kingsley, I am sorry about……”

“Like I said, save your breath “. Kingsley replies firmly and walks away without as much as a single glance at Louisa.

“How can you hate me so much, even after five years and without hearing my side of the story?” Louisa muttered, looking at Kingsley's reclining figure in sadness.

She heaved a heavy sigh, her right hand massaging her forehead in frustration. At length, she removes her cell phone from her p

urse and makes a call.

“I did as you asked, it's your turn to return the favour”.