Chapter 16: Going to the Gala

I looked up, surprised, and right into Reynaldo’s cold eyes.

My heart tightened. “Uh… What’s up now?” I asked carefully.

Reynaldo squinted his sharp eyes and leaned in. “I get the vibe that you’re kinda into this gala. You didn’t actually sign up, did you?”

“N–No…” I shook my head, sounding sure.

He let out a cold hum. “Good. That’s not a place for you.”

I was totally confused.

It was just a dance gala. Why couldn’t I go?

But I didn’t dare ask anymore right then.

After Reynaldo warned me, he got another call.

It was probably from his crush.

He walked over to the window while he answered, and his voice was soft and sweet.

I watched him, and I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.

He had never talked to me like that.

I didn’t want to listen to him being all lovey-dovey with his crush, so I went to the bathroom.

From there, I could faintly hear Reynaldo telling his crush that he had a business trip to Steelville tomorrow.

So there was no way he was gonna make it to that gala tomorrow.

Thinking about it, I finally felt at ease.

I figured that after Reynaldo talked to his crush, he’d go right over to see her.

But when I came out of the bathroom, he was still in the room.

He was leaning against the window, smoking, and staring off into the distance with a faraway look in his eyes, like he was thinking about something serious.

I didn’t want to interrupt him, so I tiptoed over to the bed.

“Come here!”

Reynaldo’s voice, cool and steady, stopped me in my tracks.

I paused, then turned around and walked over to him, doing what he said.

When I got close, he reached out, wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me into a hug.

The smell of tobacco was in the air.

I looked at him.

I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw a little bit of sadness in his eyes.

For a moment, he seemed like the old, quiet, and gentle Reynaldo again.

He looked at me without saying anything.

His eyes were focused and deep, almost like he was feeling something strong.

If I didn’t know he had a thing for his crush, I’d almost think he liked me.

After I got myself together, I grinned at him and asked, “What’s the matter? Did you have a fight with your crush?”

Reynaldo frowned, and the gloomy look in his eyes disappeared right away. His gaze turned sharp and intense.

He snorted, “I wouldn’t fight with her, no way.”

“Oh,” I replied casually, but I felt a bit off inside.

Winston was right. Reynaldo’s crush was special to him.

“I’m heading to Steelville on a business trip first thing tomorrow,” he said out of the blue.

I nodded and asked, just to be polite, “How long are you gonna be gone?”

“How long do you want me to be there?” he shot back, staring at me with those deep eyes.

My heart started pounding uncontrollably.

I looked away and smiled, “You should stay as long as you need. You gotta finish your work before you come back, right?”

He let out a sudden, cold laugh. “You seem like you’d be happy if I stayed longer, like you’d love it if I never came back, right?”

“Of course not!”

See, he got suspicious again.

Reynaldo pushed me away with a cold shrug. “Pack up. You’re coming with me to Steelville tomorrow morning.”

“What?”

I was caught off guard and quickly refused, “I… I don’t wanna go.”

“What?” Reynaldo gave me a sideways look, his eyes cold and a little intimidating.

I stammered, “Steelville is so far away. I… I haven’t been feeling great lately. I shouldn’t be traveling.

“If you’re bored on the trip, you could always bring your crush along.”

I had no clue what I said that ticked him off, but his face darkened all of a sudden.

I backed up a couple of steps and watched him carefully. “Don’t get mad. I really don’t wanna go to Steelville.”

I had that gala to go to tomorrow and the 500 thousand dollars to earn.

No way I was going to Steelville with him.

Reynaldo took slow puffs of his cigarette, staring at me with cold eyes for a good minute.

I wrung my hands nervously and didn’t dare say another word.

When the cigarette burned out, he stubbed it out and said indifferently, “Fine, forget it if you don’t wanna go.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

He straightened up and walked outside. As he passed me, he glanced at me and said in a cool tone, “While I’m gone, you’d better behave yourself and not do anything to make me angry.”

“Yeah, I definitely will,” I promised firmly.

Without another look at me, he walked right out.

Reynaldo was probably still mad because he stayed in his study the whole night.

Madisyn made some mushroom soup and asked me to take it to him.

I figured it couldn’t hurt to try to butter him up, so I brought the soup over with a big smile.

But he didn’t even look at me. When I told him to eat it while it was hot, he ignored me.

After I went back to my room and got into bed, I couldn’t sleep.

My mind kept flashing back to all the times I used to boss Reynaldo around.

Back then, he’d try to make me happy and be super nice, but I never even looked at him.

Now that he was treating me this way, I guess I deserved it.

When I woke up the next day, Reynaldo was already gone.

Madisyn said I didn’t have a heart. I knew Reynaldo was leaving early for a business trip but didn’t get up to see him off.

She also said Reynaldo looked kind of upset when he left.

She thought he would’ve been happy if I had seen him off.

But I thought Madisyn was reading too much into it.

I wasn’t Reynaldo’s crush. He’d only be happy if his crush saw him off.

If I tried to see him off, it would only make things more awkward.

In the afternoon, I texted Johnathan, asking if I needed to prepare my own outfit and look for the dance.

He said it wasn’t necessary. Everything would be taken care of.

I just needed to tell him the name of the dance I was going to perform.

Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was already evening.

The gala started at seven, but we had to get there two hours early.

When I got there, the backstage was crowded. Everyone was pretty.

I had to say, Johnathan and his crew knew how to pick them.

There were so many people that I couldn’t even find a place to sit, let alone have a personal makeup artist or stylist.

Maybe because he remembered some old times, Johnathan called me over to a separate dressing room shortly after I arrived.

As I walked behind Johnathan, I heard some people talking behind my back.

But whatever, gossip couldn’t hurt me.

My goal was 500 thousand dollars, and no amount of gossip was gonna stop me.

As I walked into the dressing room, Johnathan looked at me and smiled, “I didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

I chuckled. “Well, since I signed up, of course I’m here.”

“Did Reynaldo know about this?”

“Why tell him? Also, don’t mention it to him. It’s just for tonight. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

Johnathan lowered his head and lit a cigarette. After taking a drag, he smiled, “You’re here for the 500 thousand dollars, right?”

I tilted my head and looked at him. “Come on, isn’t everyone here for it?”

He nodded with a smile. “Actually, you didn’t have to come. You could’ve just asked Reynaldo directly. He’s generous. If you asked, he’d give you way more than 500 thousand dollars.”

Huh!

I didn’t like the sound of that.

I could earn money on my own. Why did I need to ask Reynaldo?

Besides, he didn’t owe me anything.

I replied casually, “Where’s the costume? I’ll get changed first.”

Johnathan gave me a long look and smiled, like he was thinking something but not saying it.