CHASING MY RIVAL

BUNCH OF PREDATORS

Kane’s P.O.V.

I hate people like this bloody Mr Jacob Smith. They are wolves under the skin of humans who always looked for new prey whenever they come to these high-end parties. They always targeted innocent girls like Mist. I knew that she was capable enough to protect herself and also had Christopher with her, yet I had this urge to smack Jacob’s face when I saw his lustful greedy eyes on Mist. She was looking stunning in her evening gown which was a bit more conservative than anyone’s gown here tonight. Yet she was now a prey among the bunch of predators present here tonight. I could see so many men almost eye-raping her. They had their female companions clinging to them like a leech, still they had eyes on other women.

I didn’t know why I asked her for the dance. I only wanted everyone to know that she was off-limits so that no one could approach her again tonight. I was not possible for both me and Christopher to stay beside her all the time. “I really don’t know how to dance, sir”, she said in a fearful voice while looking at the other couple on the dance floor. It was a slow song and everyone was swaying their bodies in harmony. “It’s not that difficult, Mist. Come closer to me first”, I instructed her and then pulled her close to me by wrapping my hand around her slim waist. Mist did have a good figure. She gasped at my sudden action and looked at me with wide eyes.

“Now put your one hand on my shoulder like this and second in my hand”, I was instructing her while putting her hand on my shoulder. She was following my actions with her eyes but didn’t protest. This was not the first time that we were in close proximity but due to some unknown reason, her proximity made my heart beat a little faster than usual. “Now what”, her question took me out of my trance. I didn’t realize that I was staring at her. “Yeah… now move your body on rhythm just like this”, I showed and moved her body that I was holding tenderly but securely in my embrace. She looked around nervously one more time and then tried to copy my movements.

She tripped on the tail of her gown a few times, stepped on my shoes making me wince two or three times in pain and we almost fell down once. She was very clumsy when it comes to dancing and I made a mental note that I would never ask her for the dance again. I saw Christopher and Lucas laughing at us standing at a distance. I glared at them but didn’t let Mist see them. She was already red due to embarrassment and I didn’t want her to be more embarrassed. After so many failed attempts, she managed to stay on her feet and then we danced well. Once she got a grip on the music, she enjoyed the dance I saw a wide smile on her lips and her eyes sparked with happiness. I laughed and shook my head once and then enjoyed our time together.

“Wow… that was amazing”, she exclaimed happily when we got out of the dance floor. “Yeah.. it was… finally you learnt how to dance”, I teased him and she grinned widely. This was the first time that I saw her playful side. I was glad that I managed to make her laugh. She always seemed so serious and out of this world. “Finally, you made Mist sway her body on the dance floor, huh?” Christopher also teased Mist while coming towards us with Lucas. He had an amused smile on his lips. Mist gave him her widest smile that made him laugh and he patted her head as if she was a little girl. I could see affection in his eyes for her. My hand was still around her waist in a protective manner.

“Sir”, Lucas spoke this time in a hushed tone while looking at a distance in another direction. “What is it?” I asked him in a calm tone. “I saw Mr Mayor going towards the second floor. The organizer has arranged a private room for him there to rest”, he informed me and I nodded. I looked at Christopher and leaned towards him. He also followed my suit and leaned towards me. “Stay with her and don’t let anyone else approach her again”, I whispered in his ear and he nodded without looking at me. I didn’t know why I didn’t want to remove my hand from her waist but I had to talk with Mr Mayor over a piece of land on the south side of the city for my next project. That was really important.

“I already have given everything to Lucas that you will need while speaking with Mr Mayor”, Mist spoke in a professional tone this time with a serious face. I nodded and looked at Lucas and he also nodded in affirmation. I had given the responsibility of this project to Christopher and Mist was good at collecting information. In fact, she was the best in this field. Even Lucas couldn’t match her if it comes to collecting useful information out of the garbage or down-to-earth. I nodded and then looked at Lucas to follow me towards the second floor. I slowly removed my hand from her waist and then walked away from them after looking at Christopher one more time. He had an amused smile on his lips but it didn’t affect me.

My company dealt in real estate and construction. We were in top five constructions company across the country and I was proud of my achievement. All my competitors were behind that piece of land due to a promising future of that land. I already had made an appointment with Mr Mayor’s assistant in advance. So, there was no problem for me when I approached his room. His assistant was already at the door waiting for me. He greeted me politely and then opened the door for me. He stopped Lucas outside the room. It was strange but giving the security measure for Mr Mayor, I also asked him to stay out with Mr Mayor’s assistant.

I straightened my suit one more time and then entered the room with the file that Lucas had given me. “Good evening, Mr Mayor”, I greeted him in a polite and professional tone. “Aahhh.. Mr Harris… very good evening to you… how is the party downstairs?” he asked me while raising his hand to shake hand. I immediately took his hand and shook it professionally before retracting my hand. “Please have a seat”, he gestured for me to sit at the other end of the couch where he was sitting. Mr Mayor was in his early fifties. He had a strong build despite his age. He had some grey hair but overall, he was an impressive man.

I opened the buttons of my suit jacket and then sat down on the other end of the couch. We started our conversation about that land. I didn’t beat around the bush and came straight to the point. I gave him the file and also explained everything that Mist and Lucas had already explained to me briefly a while ago before I came here. Mr Mayor read the file casually but it didn’t affect me. He knew what he needed to know from the file. I tried my best to explain why I would get that land but no one else. He closed the file when I finished whatever I needed to say here.

He cleared his throat after putting the file on the couch beside him. “Uhh… Mr Harris… Please don’t mind but I want to know about the girl with whom you were dancing earlier”, he said with a small smile on his lips but his remark made me furrow my brows. “What about her?” I asked him in a calm tone but felt my anger boil inside me. “It’s nothing serious…. I was just curious about her. I haven’t seen her before in any social gathering with you. She… she is beautiful and actually you two look good together… if… if I say in other words… you two are a perfect match”, he immediately tried to explain but there was something hidden inside his words.

“She is my employee, Mr Mayor, and a very good friend”, I said without any hesitation while looking at him coldly. He smiled while shaking his head. “Let’s meet again, Mr Harris. I think that you have potential and also, you have done your homework very well. Ask my assistant to fix an appointment later in this week… and… bring her with you”, he said with a sly smile on his lips. I narrowed my eyes at him but didn’t lose my calmness. “I am sorry to say, Mr Mayor …. But this project has nothing to do with her. If you see potential in me and my work, then I am really looking forward to have another meeting with you. But”, I paused and stood up.

He looked at me while folding his legs on his knees. “She is not a sacrificing lamb, Mr Mayor. She is my employee and all my employees trust me with their safety and dignity. I have achieved everything through the hard work of me and my employees. So, if you really see potential in my proposal, I would like to have another meeting with you but without her”, I said in a cold but firm tone. After that, I walked towards the door without looking back at him. My blood was boiling inside me and if I stayed a little longer, I would lose my patience and would do something that I would regret later.