Chapter 268 - You Look Dehydrated (1/2)

Fear gripped Fiona Chung, freezing her in place. She wanted to steal a peek at Maxen but was horrified to do so.

She felt lightheaded as questions swirled in her head, but thanks to her impeccable acting skills, she managed to smile even when her insides were shaking in alarm.

Mustering up her courage, she straightened her spine and turned to Olivia's direction. ”Hi, Olivia. Glad to see you again,” Fiona greeted with so much familiarity before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Earlier, she was hellbent in ringing the bells on her wrist yet again just to get Maxen's attention. This time, however, when it did, she had to cup her bracelet to stop the tiny gold bells from chiming.

Fiona didn't know why she was terrified of Olivia when the latter hadn't done anything to scare her. Or maybe, she was just guilty of being caught red-handed with her flirting?

”Hello,” Olivia responded with a smile on her face, walking with confident strides out of the bathroom with Ava and Emily trailing behind her. The two ladies spared Fiona a smile too.

Seeing Ava and Emily, Fiona greeted them as well. The invisible rope that tied Fiona in her spot after seeing Olivia seemed to loosen up, giving her room to breathe.

”You look marvelous up on the stage, Fiona,” Ava complimented, painting a blush on Fiona's cheeks.

”Thank you. I've been practicing, really. Trying to put my hosting skills to test.”

Shifting her gaze from Ava to Olivia, Fiona avoided the towering figure of Maxen in the background.

Fiona wondered if Olivia heard her invitation on Maxen earlier, but all she ever saw was the usual stoic expression and calm demeanor that Olivia projected in the public.

She decided to cover up her lame attempt of seducing Maxen by inviting the ladies over to the same after-party event.

”Oh, by the way, there's an after-party later in the penthouse. I hope you can join us,” Fiona uttered through her chattering teeth.

She didn't have to check the mirror. She heard the distress in the manner she had spoken. Add to that the immobilizing fear in her bone.

Everyone was silent as if contemplating ways to politely refuse an invitation from a commoner like her.

Nobody was attacking her, and it frightened her more. Her name's Fiona Chung and she's a world-renowned actress. Any form of rejection was a damaging blow to her fragile ego.

Fiona knew it before any of the ladies opened their mouths and she braced herself from impact, plastering an awkward smile on her face to hide her embarrassment.

Ava was the first to speak since she was acquainted with Fiona somehow. ”Thank you for the invite, but I have to pass.”

”Let's see what happens later,” Emily raised her hand. ”Thanks for the invite, Fiona.” She awkwardly laughed to break the tension but failed when all that echoed in the hallway was her voice.

Beside Emily, Olivia quietly stood, but deep inside her was a whirlpool of anger and she was itching to grab anything to smash, including those damn bells.

Instead of acting on her impulses, she willed herself to imagine a thick wall of ice in front of her.

She wanted to break that ice, or if she would be honest, she wanted to break the face behind that frozen barrier. However, she had to leash the green-eyed monster that threatened to wreak havoc that night.

She didn't want to make a scene. And she didn't want to fight against another lady all because of a man. She already did that once, and she ended up looking pathetic.

If push comes to shove and she spiraled down into that dark path again, what would that make her look like? An insecured, bratty heiress?

Olivia took a sharp breath and her nose was assaulted with a whiff of Fiona's distress and the stink of her perfume. It was enough to remind Olivia never to stoop down to the actress's level.

Slicing the imaginary blue glacial wall in half, Olivia mirrored the same sanguine smile on Fiona's face.

”Thank you, but I can't join you later,” Olivia spoke ever softly as if she was sorry to turn down the invitation.

She could end their conversation right then and there, but Olivia felt a bit chatty that time.

Maybe it was the champagne?