When she appeared, everything in the room no matter how grand and beautiful it was fell past behind her enigma, as if everything were just a wallpaper that served as her background. Hawk recognized not only her mocking smile but also her salacious lips that seemed to be ripe for kissing.

As if hypnotized by her, Hawk accepted the hand she offered and joined her in what she claimed a promised dance. She dragged him graciously to the center, aware of the eyes that we’re fixated on both of them by many guests whose interest were drawn to the unidentified woman who was able to lure the great Hawk Monsanto into dancing. Never did they see the man dance, let alone dance with a woman who wasn’t his fiancée.

​​

“I don’t remember promising this dance to you,” Hawk asked as he drew the girl toward him without warning, keeping enough pressure on her perfectly curved hips as they danced.

“You didn’t…” She smiled at his audacity and in response, she pressed her body to him tightly and closer than he anticipated.

“….But you wanted it. Don’t you President Hawk?” She was too close that Hawk could not act oblivious of her glittering silver gown that had displayed the two ripe curves in her chest to such a glorious advantage. Her skin brushing against his was burning hot, sending him sensations he never thought he was capable of feeling in public. In retreat, he twirled her around in time to the sweeping music just to make a gap of distance from her.

They danced for a little while and every time, Hawk had to make sure their bodies had enough distance that would keep him from being sane and composed because the girl was raging hot and he might not be able to control himself from devouring her in front of everyone, worst in front of his fiancée whom he had totally forgotten at this point. Everything about her was so alluring, that Hawk wanted to sweep her away all for himself because he can’t stand anymore the other men at his engagement party, lingering their gazes lustfully on the woman he was dancing with.

In the midst of their dancing, the girl suddenly landed her high stilettos in the wrong place and got out of balance. She stumbled but Hawk had caught her in his arms right away, keeping her from falling right through the dance floor.

“Careful,” he exclaimed as his arms dug deep into her skin, very unwilling to let her fall.

“Thank you,” She said and laughed at her own gaffe “O my, I didn’t quite expect how hard it is to keep one’s composure under the arms of a handsome gentleman”

Her raw laugh caught something in Hawk. He had heard this laugh before, but he couldn’t remember when.

Seeing that the man didn’t respond to her words and just kept staring at her, she hollered on the top of the music “Didn’t your kindergarten teacher ever taught you President Hawk that it is very impolite to stare?”

“I skipped kindergarten,” He answered with an audacious grin “But I guess any teacher would agree that staring at a beautiful woman is an exception”

“You haven’t seen my face yet,”

“I’m sure it could make the entire population kneel at your feet,”

“Including you?” She smiled the wildest when their entire verbal chess ended with a checkmate on her favor “That would be one of a beautiful sight to see”

Hawk was caught silent at her words. It was a long time ago that he had conversed with a woman with an outstanding wit that it became exhilarating to counter her words.

Does this woman know who she was playing with? Hawk wondered.

“You are aware that you are in my engagement party,” He hated to break it to her but perhaps she should be warned not to make fun of the fire she was trying to light.

“I don’t see a wedding ring,” She pointed and moved slowly to whisper into his ears “And I find men more interesting when they already belong to someone else,”

Hawk swallowed a lump on his throat with her daring words. For once he began to doubt the force that drove him toward the strange beautiful woman that was obviously trying to mislead his genuine intentions with Han’s heiress.

Had he not waited twenty years and spent millions just to get this engagement possible?

Surely, not a random woman, no matter how captivating she was, could destroy his plans of getting tied.

However, the force she had trapped him with was rather too strong that Hawk could do nothing but become her willing prey.

Trying to redeem his broken self-esteem, he attempted to dismiss her with all the righteousness that was left on him.

“And what makes you think I would be willing to take the risk?” his expression hardened as he tried to put up a face before her enigma could drown him.

“You already had” She threw back her head and gave a mocking laugh. She looked at him incredulously with her perfect set of upright eyes looming over behind her mask.

She raised her hand toward his face and slowly toyed her prey’s lips with her smooth fingers. Touching it, she saw how he swallowed a mouthful, making his Adam’s apple visible.

“But if you still have doubts, I’ll let you have a taste and see how far you bites,” She said with unfeigned confidence before she slipped herself away from Hawk’s reach.

She walked far across one corner of the hall, with the least of guests roaming around. She halted at the far end, looked back with grace at her dance partner, and saw how Hawk’s gaze followed her just as exactly as she expected him to.

‘You cannot resist me, Hawk Monsanto, I’ll make sure of that.’

Without warning, she let loose the ribbon of her mask and let it fall flaunting her last ace card—her heartbreakingly beautiful face.