14 THE BEGINNING OF MANY ENCOUNTERS (1/2)

Alex looked all around the room until his eyes finally landed on her back. He took a mental picture of her, then chatted with the people at his table.

At five thirty, the Bai Entertainment Gala began. The room went silent as the host walked on stage.

”Sirs and madams, good evening. Please help me welcome and thank the Bai family this evening, for holding a grand gala for a great cause…Let's welcome the man himself, president Eyan Bai…”

The dining hall filled with thunderous claps as Eyan Bai walked up to the stage, smiling and waving at the audience below.

He gave a brief welcoming remark and turned the stage to the host, who introduced the faces of Bai Entertainment.

Among the actresses was Natalia Omalu. All the people at the Zi's table were surprised to see Natalia as one of the actresses under Bai Entertainment. Alex had no idea what she did and never wondered…He never thought her to be an actress.

After the awards were presented, there was a fifteen minutes break.

To his right, Alex noticed the girl he had been keeping his eye on stand up and walk out of the dining room. He stood up and followed.

Throughout the award presentations, Zunnie was nervous. Even though it was for a good cause, deep down she really wanted to run home. Who knows who will win the dinner with her…it might even be a pervert.

As she walked to the bathroom, she silently prayed that whoever wins the dinner with her, be a woman or a good person.

Seeing she had ten minutes left, she decided to stroll around the lobby to admire the paintings on the wall. She stopped before a painting of a young girl facing a pond. Across the pond was a house that looked like a castle. She couldn't help but feel sad…she really missed her mom. She took her phone and captured a picture the painting.

”Such a lonely and sad painting she whispered.”

”It is indeed. They say most painters paint what they feel.” A sweet and deep voice replied.

Zunnie had no idea she wasn't alone…and that the person standing next to her had been following her from the time she began observing the paintings. So she was baffled when she realized someone was standing next to her.

'What the…when did he get here!' Zunnie screamed inside.