Deluded

Chapter 2

Evangeline's P.O.V

As we reached the venue, I could not help but stick like a leech to either my mother or father. The stares we were getting were enough to make me almost faint and wanting the earth to swallow me whole.

You can do it, Eva. Just calm down. I chanted like a mantra as everyone was pointing at our direction, more like to me, to be precise. Beautiful women wearing floor length dresses throwing daggers at me, men wearing expensive suits staring real hard making me feel inferior.

It was visibly clear, everyone was just here to flaunt their wealth and status and from the smiles, they are showcasing, you can really tell that they are forcing it.

Typical rich people. I'm really grateful that my parents did not raise me as a snob despite everything we have.

As we sat at the table that was reserved for us, businessmen with their partners came and went talking and greeting us, questioning my father who I was and when my father told them I'm his only heir, the shock on their faces was pretty evident.

"Mr. Rossi, what a pleasure to have you here", an old guy around my dad's age, wearing glasses came over at our direction, extending his hand to shake my dad's with a warm and genuine smile plastered on his face.

"Ahh, Robert please drop the formalities.'' My dad responded by hugging the man, while I looked between them wondering who he is, so I decided to nudge my mother lightly with my elbow to get some answers to satisfy my curiosity.

"A close friend of your father" She whispered, giving the guy, Robert a hug too, while I stood awkwardly not knowing what to do when his eyes fell on me.

"And who is this beautiful gem, Alex?", he questioned my father making my body heat up from the sudden attention I was receiving.

"This is my princess, my daughter, Evangaline." my father replied full of pride placing his hand on my cheek as he smiled tenderly at me.

"My goodness!. She looks marvelous. No wonder, why you hide her from our world." Robert exclaimed happily as he hugged me side by side.

"She looks exactly like you, Melissa." he said to my mother, making her smile proudly.

As father and mother chatted with Robert, I sat down playing with the purse that sat on my lap, letting my eyes wonder at everyone chatting continuously at one another when my gaze fell towards the bar section at the man staring intently at me.

He was wearing a suit just like everyone else and he got a glass of alcohol, which I presume, at his hand.

His dark eyes never left mine despite, I caught him staring at me. His eyes sharp and focused at every move I was making.

I turned my head sideways not having any more courage to stare back at him as I can already feel cheeks getting red. He looks like a bad guy but a handsome bad guy whom it's better to maintain distance with.

He got a smirk on his lips that is really tempting to smack away.

"Are you alright, Eva?. Why are your cheeks so red?" mother asked, making me almost jump in surprise.

"Yeah. I'm good" I answered stammering which she of course did not believe so she placed her hand on my forehead to check my temperature and from the corner of my eyes, I can see that guy laughing his head off. He must be finding it too entertaining as he knows the effect he has on me.

"Mom, I'm fine, chill." I said, taking her hand from my forehead, smiling at her so that she can stop already.

"Are you sure, my love?. If you want we can go home" She suggested which I really want to accept but then I saw my dad happily chatting with his friends and I did not want to be too selfish only thinking about myself so I declined my mother's tempting offer.

Time passed away in a blur and thankfully it was time for us to leave. My father was leading us towards the exit when he abruptly stopped in his tracks and surprisingly pulled me to his back protectively, blocking me out of sight.

I stood still, too afraid to move. I glanced over my mother's paled face and tried my best in capturing her attention but she was intentionally avoiding my eyes.

"Mr. Rossi, leaving already?" a man with a deep smooth velvety voice questioned my father.

I felt my father stiffened before he cleared his throat and answered with a sharp 'yes'.

"Leaving without even introducing your precious hidden gem to us?" the mysterious guy again asked, as my curiosity almost urged me to step forward and see the guy myself.

The fact that my father is concealing me is not suspicious to me at all as it's completely normal for them and to me but at some times, I still could not help but wonder why and how dangerous my father's business rivals are?

"Mr. Rossi, why don't you and your family stay a bit longer so that we can do a little catching up?" spoke another man sounding in a taunting voice and just about my father was about to reply, my nose started itching uncontrollably, with a great urge to let out a sneeze. I placed my hand over my face to block out the noise about to be released but it looked like they heard it anyways.

Crap