Chapter 43 - The Party Had Started

The murmuring inside the hall stopped when the host announced the start of the program. He asked everyone to settle down on their respective tables.

Selene felt relieved when the attention of the crowd was diverted to the host. They were not looking at her anymore. The guests faced the front stage where the host was talking.

He greeted and acknowledged everyone, mentioning some of the special guests who traveled far away coming from the other cities just to attend this party. 

Arthur already booked their hotel room here at De La Sierra Hotel. They would sleep there for one night after the party. They would just leave the city in the morning.

The host was still announcing the names of the guests one after another when Renz and Selene reached Arthur's table.

"Hello, guys. Sorry, we arrived a little bit late. We caught up in the traffic," Renz apologized and explained to his friends immediately.

Renz's friends were so quiet, especially the men. They were still trying to recover their wits after seeing Selene's breathtaking beauty.

On the other hand, the two women had different reactions. Meghan remained apathetic about Selene's presence. She just nodded at Renz, not even looking at Selene.

Meanwhile, Samantha immediately stood up on her seat, inviting Selene to sit beside her.

"Selene, right? You are Renz's fiancee. Come, sit here," Samantha greeted Selene with a smile, pointing her finger at the vacant chair next to her.

Selene nodded her head and flashed her charming smile. She felt a little bit shy but thanks to Samantha, she didn't feel out of place anymore.

"Okay guys, just in case you forgot. I will introduce you again to my fiancee. Selene, these are my friends, Samatha, Meghan, Noel, Declan, and the Birthday Celebrant tonight, Arthur."

"Hello, guys. It's nice to see you here." Selene tried her best not to sound awkward while greeting them. After that, she turned to Arthur and said,  "Happy Birthday, Arthur."

The men finally snapped back to reality when they heard Selene talking to them.

Noel let out a soft chuckle while scratching his face. 'Did I just space out moments ago? She's more beautiful up close.?'

"Nice to see you too, Selene. Hope you will enjoy the party with us!" Noel finally found his voice to talk to Selene.

Declan also recovered from the dazed and greeted Selene. "Hello, Selene. We are glad to have you here tonight."

Arthur was the one who spoke up last. "Thanks, Selene." That's the only word he could utter as of this moment.

It did not take long when a soft giggle of a child was heard. Eros was laughing dryly after seeing Arthur's reaction. Selene reflexively looked at her left side to see Eros.

She wondered why he suddenly laughed. When their eyes met, she gave him a questioning look. Eros just shrugged his shoulders, keeping his mouth shut once again.

'Seeing Arthur's dumbfounded expression is priceless. He always looks down on Selene, badmouthing her behind her back. But now, he was speechless, dazzled by Selene's beauty.' Eros thought to himself, his eyes staring coldly at Arthur.

Meghan just said a simple "Hi" to Selene. 

Renz smiled inwardly after witnessing his friends welcoming Selene warmly. Soon, he guided her to their seat, pulling a chair for her. He let her sit next to Samantha since he noticed that Samantha was very eager to know Selene more.

Selene wanted to reserve a seat for Eros but rejected the idea right away as she thought that Renz and his friends might think that she's weird.

As if Eros had read her mind, he let out a soft chuckle, squeezing Selene's hand to catch her attention. When she looked at him, Eros had spoken.

"Don't worry about me, I can stand for so many hours without getting tired. Just relax and mingle with them. I will just be here watching over you."

Selene appreciated Eros so much. She simply nodded her head and smiled at him.

When they finally settled on their seats, the host called Arthur to come to the front stage to say some messages to his guests. When he reached the stage the band and the singers played and sang a Birthday Song first to greet Arthur. Everyone in the hall sang along with them.

"Thank you everyone for coming here tonight. As you've noticed, this party is specially made for us, youngsters!"

His remarks gathered a peal of laughter inside the venue. Arthur just called them youngsters. Well, no one above 30 years old was present so they could be considered young adults and not yet old.

"Let's forget about work in the meantime and let's party all night! Eat, dance, and drink to our hearts' content!" Arthur declared, raising his wine glass.

Everyone's cheers, laughter, and applause reverberated in the venue. This was what they came for… a lively party filled with beautiful single ladies and handsome bachelors, drinking and dancing all night. Just having all the fun!

After his short message, Arthur went back to their table. The host signaled the band to play lively music. The dinner was now being served at everyone's table. 

There were also two long buffet tables with plenty of food at the back corner of the venue so that guests who wanted to eat more would just go there and get some food. Everyone began enjoying their meals.

Renz was very attentive to Selene, putting food on her plates and asking her what food she wanted to eat. Selene was so happy with the attention Renz was giving her tonight.

She thought everything would go smoothly tonight. She finally got the chance to mingle with Renz's friends. She wished that she could get along well with them.

But unknown to Selene, there were two people at their table who were planning something against her tonight. The first one was Meghan whose heart was filled with jealousy. 

She hated it, seeing Selene getting so much attention from her male friends. She thought they would show Selene that she didn't belong to them but they were acting differently now.

The other one was Arthur, who was silently observing Selene and Renz. He smirked wickedly, his eyes were focused on Selene's lovely face.