Chapter 7 Athena Gomez

“You are looking gorgeous, Raya.” I thanked Jordan for his compliment as we sat in his car. 

He was extremely happy that I accepted his proposal to accompany him. 

Riley chose a black off-shoulder evening gown for me and decorated me like a sexy diva. Her words! 

We headed to the party venue and entered the big hall crowded with rich people cladded in branded attires taking a high and dominating aura around. 

The cameramen threw flashes at our faces and I instantly tensed. 

“Relax! These big people like to boast about themselves so they always call the Press and paparazzi.” Jordan murmured before holding my waist and guiding me inside. 

I inhaled deeply and raised my head confidently ignoring everyone. 

“By the way, why is this party being held? Is it some special occasion?” I asked him, looking around and identifying a few familiar faces. 

“That's because McMillians Corporation has been in the top five biggest companies winner list of New York this year and on most creative Billboard ads. It's a fortune to work under McMillians, Raya. I hope they hire you.” Jordan said. 

Then my chance is equal to zero. I sighed. 

We heard the commotion around and all the cameramen and paparazzi raced towards one specific direction. I turned to them and saw a couple entering the grand hall elegantly. 

“Finally Mr McMillian has arrived..”

“Is she Athena Gomez again…..”

“Why not? She had been his only girlfriend for years so she would definitely come to his important event…”

I heard the words jumping out from all directions and I squinted my eyes when people cleared the path for them to walk ahead. 

And there he stepped forward with his almighty overbearing and dominating existence with evergreen void and stiff expressions. 

He was wearing a black two-piece tuxedo with his gelled hair swept to the side and his shady silver eyes were like frost balls staring ahead nonchalantly. Ready to swallow the place. 

I rolled my eyes, snorting but the woman beside him caught my attention. She clung to him closely, wearing a red long dress with red stilettos and a sleek bun. She looked familiar. 

I blinked up. Wait, where have I seen her? 

“She looked beautiful, as always. Mr McMillian didn't fall for her beauty for nothing. She is the top model diva in the whole New York. A perfect role model and a perfect match for him.” I heard two women talking behind me, admiring the couple. 

Top model. 

Athena Gomez. 

Gomez….

Ever so slowly my eyes widened in shock as I recognised her. The ugly flash swiped through my vision at once. 

‘Athy is my pride, you can never become like her ever.’ 

My inside churned as my throat turned dry suddenly but I forced myself to calm down. 

No Raya! They don't matter to you anymore. She doesn't matter. 

Ignore her! 

But my heart already betrayed me as it started beating painfully. I felt my blood pressure shoot up due to a familiar health problem. 

“Raya, are you alright?” Jordan pulled me out of the misery I was lost in. 

“Huh!”

“You looked pale and lost. Are you feeling well? should I fetch you water!” He almost walked away but I grabbed his hand and shook my head.

“I'm fine, Jordan. Please don't leave.” He blinked and looked at me with a worried expression.

"I am here. I won't leave, okay!” He reassured me. 

I nodded and was about to speak when his friend Denver came there with his girlfriend Nia and greeted us. 

“I think I have seen you somewhere!” That girl stated and my smile faltered because I had also seen her. She was studying at the same University I left. Her father used to know mine. 

“Yes. You are Raya… Stewart. Daughter of Johnson Stewart, the man who went bankrupt years ago. Ah! have been thinking where I have seen you…”

My body turned cold as I stiffened hearing the name of the man who pushed my life into a dark cave. 

“How is he? Did you guys manage it or not?” she asked further ignoring how ridiculous and inappropriate she was sounding at that moment. 

These wealthy people are just so insensitive. 

I felt Jordan was about to say something but I squeezed his arm stopping him. 

“I apologise, Ms Nia but my name is Raya Storm. You might have mistaken something. I have no father. My family and I are doing very well. And I don't know why you are asking these questions.” I shrugged my shoulders with a smile. 

She seemed flushed in embarrassment  but wasn't convinced by my words. 

“But I am sure I saw you when I came into your company with my father…”

“Nia, stop troubling her. If she said she is not Stewart but Storm then why are you fussing about this?” Denver came to my rescue and I threw a polite smile in his way. 

“Raya is my childhood friend and we are living in the same building. She doesn't have a rich father or something like you are talking about.” Jordan participated as well. 

She stared at me with a straight face, trying to see through my soul. I ignored her and excused myself for a drink.

My blood ran cold as I walked away hurriedly. My evening had already been ruined by seeing her and now this. 

‘I shouldn't have come here!’ 

I whispered and practically jogged to leave these stupid people’s circle. I was about to take a left turn towards the washroom when I bumped into someone. 

I stumbled back with the impact. A gasp left my mouth and I squeezed my eyes tightly. I was ready to fall onto the floor, inviting a big humiliation for myself. 

But someone pulled me up through my waist and I hit into something hard. I opened my eyes and gasped to see a man’s chest. 

“I'm so sorry Mr…” I apologised while looking up but shut my mouth instantly seeing Him.

Not again! 

I just wanted to cry out loud right now. Why my life is so fucked up!

His silver eyes zoomed on my eyes. 

“Always clumsy!” He stated, before steadying me. 

And Always arrogant! 

I gulped my saliva before clearing my throat. “I’m sorry, Mr. Mcmillian. I was not looking straight. I apologise deeply for the trouble.” I bowed slowly. 

“You should be!” 

I looked up at his frigid features as he nodded. His gaze went down at my hands on his shirt which I caught abruptly and unknowingly in the fear of falling back. 

I pulled back my hands instantly and stepped back. 

I cleared my throat and inhaled deeply. “Thank you for saving me!” 

“If you can't walk properly, either you abandon those heels or walk with eyes ahead, Ms Storm.” He commented through a nonchalant gaze.

I drew a deep breath and nodded. Ignoring him, I walked past him when he called me. 

“Ms Storm!” I stopped and turned my head to him. He stood straight, still facing his back at me.

“Are you going to check something in the men's washroom?” I blinked up confusingly at him and looked ahead to see I was going in the wrong direction. 

Just great! 

My cheeks burned in embarrassment as I turned to the women's side hurriedly with head down, avoiding his gaze which I knew was boring hills on my back. 

Once I was inside, I rubbed my chest where my heart was beating fast. This man always put my mind haywire. 

Even his proximity was suffocating like him. I wanted to splash water on my face but I knew it might ruin my makeup so I tried to cool myself. 

Coming here was a bad idea. Now how to escape from here? 

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

“If that woman Nia recognised me then there might be others, it would be problematic for me. Not to mention that…” 

“Are you alright?” 

I heard a female voice and looked at another reflection of a woman in the mirror. 

Athena Gomez.