Chapter 43: Attractive
Camille sent him an unimpressed look.
What kind of wording was that just now? Was he trying to make himself seem like an angelic gentleman?This is the property of Nô-velDrama.Org.
‘This devil incarnate is wearing sheep’s clothing but the disguise is just too lousy and obvious,’ she thought with a roll of her eyes.
“I can handle myself,” she said coldly.
For some reason, her response seemed to please Christian. “Ah, a fiercely independent woman, I see,” he remarked. “Just the way I like it.”
Camille scowled.
‘So infuriating!’
When they finally arrived at the doors, Christian handed their invitations to the security guards. After a thorough check, they were allowed to pass.
One of the butlers offered to take Camille’s hat and veil, so she agreed and handed them to him. The man also took both of their coats before gesturing for them to go inside.
The moment Camille stepped into the hall, she felt her breath being taken away.
The ballroom was huge. The walls were covered with silk tapestries depicting scenes from various eras, and crystal sconces lined the walls, reflecting the soft glow of candlelight. Beneath their feet was a parquet floor polished to a mirror-like finish.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow that danced off the gilded moldings and intricate frescoes that adorned the walls. Gold accents punctuated the decor, adding a regal touch to the ambiance.
She had never seen an interior quite like this before. She was so used to companies and buildings with dull, modern color schemes and simple yet expensive furniture and decorations.
Nothing of this scale, in fact.
Currently, soft instrumental music was playing in the background, creating a nice atmosphere.
Camille felt like she was in another world. The masquerade theme really came to life in this room. She could see rich, deep colors everywhere, ranging from burgundy to midnight blue to emerald green.
Some guests glided across the floor in a mesmerizing waltz, their masks concealing their identities and their gowns and suits adorned with lace, sequins, and feathers. The sounds of laughter and hushed conversation provided a harmonious backdrop to the symphony.
In one corner, a lavish dessert buffet was filled with an array of delicacies. Camille’s gaze rested there, her eyes widening as she spotted macaroons, chocolate truffles, and towering cakes decorated with edible gold leaf.
Not only that, but crystal flutes of champagne and colorful cocktails rested on trays nearby.
“Hungry?” Christian asked.
Camille tried to seem calm and dignified, but she could feel her stomach rumbling silently in protest, so she had no choice but to be honest.
“Yes,” she said begrudgingly.
“Then let’s go,” Christian said gallantly as he led her towards the buffet table.
As they walked over, Camille couldn’t help but glance at him. She hadn’t taken a closer look earlier because she had been too self-conscious about her appearance and the media’s reaction to her at the entrance, but now she had the opportunity.
It seemed that Christian had chosen an outfit that complemented her own. He was dressed in a tailored tuxedo, the color of which resembled a deep midnight black. The jacket had satin lapels that caught the glimmer of candlelight, adding a touch of sophistication.
He wore a crisp white shirt underneath the jacket, providing a striking contrast to his attire. A classic black satin bow tie was tied at his neck, and he wore a single silver cuff link on each wrist. He also wore elegant black leather gloves.
His trousers were also impeccably tailored, falling with a graceful drape to his polished black leather shoes.
His mask, on the other hand, matched the colors of his clothing, with subtle silver accents around the edges. His hair was meticulously groomed and slicked back, adding a touch of old-world charm to his overall appearance.
“Like what you see?” Christian suddenly said, snapping her out of her momentary trance.
Camille instantly snapped her head back, gritting her teeth.
Darn it! How could she have been admiring him just now? That was foul!
“Can you please pin down your narcissism at least for once?” she snapped. “I just thought that you look better with a mask on. That way, I won’t be able to see your ugly face.”
“My face? Ugly? Oh, perish the thought,” he said, chuckling. “You like to call me ugly, yet I caught you admiring me just now.”
“That-!” Camille was suddenly cut off when they finally arrived at the buffet table. The sight of the delicious food instantly swept her away from her annoyance.
“If you’re hungry, go on. I won’t keep you,” Christian said, waving her away.
“You don’t need to tell me that,” Camille said before finally indulging herself in the delicacies.
The food was absolutely delicious. If she could, she would send her compliments to the chef.
The only thing that annoyed her about this situation was having to eat while Christian was standing nearby, watching her with that damned smirk on his face.
Why did he have to be so wicked all the time? She had to watch his every word and action in case he had an ulterior motive. It was mentally exhausting.
“Feeling full now?” he asked.
Camille set down her plate and allowed the waiter to take it away before turning to him with a frown.
“You’re not going to eat?” she inquired.
Christian raised an eyebrow. “Are you worrying about me?”
“No. Just think about how embarrassing it would be for your business partners to suddenly hear a grumbling sound coming from your stomach.”
“I appreciate the concern, Miss Parker, but that won’t be necessary,” Christian said smoothly before offering her his arm once again. “Now, let’s go, shall we?”
Camille grumbled something under her breath, but she didn’t push it further. In the end, he was still her boss, and she had a duty to protect his image.
But just before she could take his arm, he suddenly turned his body, facing her frontally instead of sideways.
Startled, Camille looked into his brown eyes, wondering what he wanted from her now.
The next thing she knew, he reached out and rubbed the corner of her lips with his thumb, his gaze turning dark and unreadable.