My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 122: Karsten Has A Girlfriend

(Arata)

We arrived at our destination with both of us casting covert glances at each other throughout the way.

None of us could keep our gaze to ourselves.

Getting out of the car while Caysir held the door open for me, I smoothed out my velvet dress; the texture was so soft against my fingers.

Karsten straightened his coat and adjusted his tie. The expressions he held while holding his tie told me he didn’t like wearing it.

I had drawn the conclusion that he didn’t even know how to knot it.

Offering me his hand, he asked gently.

"Shall we?"

I placed my hand in his large one and his fingers instinctively clasped against mine.

"Let’s."

We entered the grand residence of Azbial Wittal, who had organised this event.

Luxury and modernity blended into the design of his pearl-white villa. The vast gardens must be a sight during the day. A curvy path led to the main entrance, flanked by bonsai trees which must have cost millions of dollars. The man was rich beyond measure.

"Stay by my side, Arata," Karsten slowly whispered under his breath so only I could hear. I nodded as one of the security officials asked for our invitation while another scanned us for any electrical devices.

Karsten’s gaze sharpened when he scanned me and his face hardened like a million years old fossil.

I handed over the electronic card we had received earlier, he scanned it against his hand scanner and gave us a nod to enter through the glass door.

We were empty-handed; no phones were allowed at this event.

My eyes took in the grandiose of his place as we descended the marble stairs which seemed to have patterns of gold set into them.

The chandeliers that dripped from the vaulted ceiling gave the impression of frozen starlight. The walls shimmered with gold leaf patterns traced delicately into them, doorways and even on towering pillars.

The host made his way towards us, and I leaned in and whispered in Karsten’s ear while indicating a woman behind him.

"That’s his wife, Hukara Wittal."

I had come to discover that the women who failed to leave an impression on him—he usually forgot their names or even worse, their existence.

"Thanks," he murmured back, leading me forward and squeezing my hand in appreciation.

"Karsten, good to see you. Looking sharp I see." Azbial extended his hand and shook it with Karsten.

"My pleasure, thank you for the invite." Karsten offered his gratitude.

Azbial’s sharp eyes wavered towards me. The colour was so deep and magnetic blue. He asked.

"Who is the beautiful lady?"

"Mr Wittal, meet my girlfriend, Arata." Karsten made the introduction. Surprise flashed in Azbial’s eyes as he offered me his hand; letting go of Karsten’s, I shook it.

"Welcome to my humble abode, young lady."

"Thank you for having us, Mr Wittal," I graciously answered, pulling my hand away.

Hukara joined her husband in greeting us.

Donning an off-the-shoulder champagne pearl-hued gown, she had her hair tied back in a neat bun. Instead of his wife, she looked like his daughter. Karsten was right.

"Mrs Wittal," Karsten was quick to greet her as she offered him her hand with a sly smile, there was nothing innocent about her smile.

Karsten shook it briefly.

"Mr Chevalier, that’s our second meeting and you look as handsome as ever," she answered him in a sickly sweet voice, batting her extremely long and fake lashes at him.

Instead of answering her, Karsten placed his arm behind my back and pulled me closer as he made the introductions.

"This is my girlfriend, Arata." The flirtatious smile she had been offering him, dimmed out as her lips twitched. Her disappointed eyes scanned me like a laser as if looking for any hidden diseases I might be carrying and could infect her.

I wanted to deliberately cough at her, just to see her reaction but I behaved and put on my best smile and offered her my hand.

"Mrs Wittal, what an honour to meet you." My voice came out excited and bubbly and some of that irritation on her face ebbed away.

"Same feelings, help yourself." She spread her hand and pointed towards the tables.

We thanked them again and moved ahead.

"She didn’t seem pleased to see me," I commented once we were out of their earshot.

"Typical behaviour of these high-end vixens. They mostly marry old geezers and then look for quick shags from young men," he explained. Although I already knew of this sick mentality, having seen quite a few myself, it still sickened me.

"Well, she ain’t getting any from my man." I patted his thick arm and found him going very stiff as his startled eyes found me.

"Just playing my part," I quickly added, seeing how he had turned into a statue because of my words.

He seemed to relax slightly while I turned my attention to the surroundings.

Guests were littered all across the hall, some gathered around long banquet tables draped in champagne-hued satin.

We headed in their direction.

Gold platters laden with delicacies, glistening oysters on beds of crushed ice, towers of golden macarons, and tiers of frosted cakes dusted with edible gold, welcomed us.

Waiters in crisp white tailcoats wove through the crowd, balancing slender flutes of bubbling champagne, its pale gold effervescence catching the light with every move.

Karsten picked up two flutes and handed one to me. I graciously accepted and took a small sip while watching the man from the rim of the glass.

The place was littered with men but my eyes refused to budge from Karsten. The dominating aura and that snug suit had set him apart from the other minnows in this place.

More people made their way towards us; some I recognised from the pictures, others Karsten introduced me to, and some I reminded him of.

We worked perfectly as a team.

Some couples swayed on the dance floor to the rich melodies of a string quartet, their jewels flashing like scattered stars against the sea of shimmering gowns and masterfully crafted suits.

Laughter and the clink of crystal filled the air, mingling with the faintest hint of sage and pine from the perfumed candles flickering in gilded sconces.

Many curious eyes remained on us, and a few people murmured, too, but no one seemed hostile. They were astonished that Karsten had brought along a girl.

Another member of the board of directors greeted us with open arms and a charming smile. The man was in his late forties.

"Now that is a sight I don’t see daily," he humorously said, seeing me holding his arm. "Karsten Chevalier has a girlfriend."