Chapter 47: Meeting someone

Sienna paused.

The host continued speaking, "Every year, we recognize our primary patron based on the highest private donation made to the foundation.

This year, however, we’d also like to acknowledge the highest contribution made through our auction.

It gives us great pleasure to announce the presence of our esteemed guest, the young heir of Hawke Corporation, Mr. Callahan Hawke."

The ballroom stirred as every head turned toward the man seated among the VIP guests.

Kira’s eyes widened before a smile crept across her face.

Callahan Hawke?

Everyone knew how aloof the man was. He rarely attended social events, let alone participated in them, and there were persistent rumors that he and Sienna Qing had never seen eye to eye.

Whatever their relationship might be, Kira was certain Callahan wouldn’t go out of his way to stand beside Sienna in public. Nor would he give her any face.

Perhaps luck was still on her side tonight, after all.

Callahan rose from his seat, and made his way toward the stage.

The conversations around him faded as he passed, his composed expression and imposing presence drawing attention without the slightest effort.

The host, who had clearly prepared for little more than a polite acknowledgment, hurriedly offered him the microphone.

And surprisingly, Callahan accepted it, "It’s an honor to contribute to a cause that matters," he said, his deep voice carrying easily through the ballroom.

His gaze shifted to Sienna, who stood beside the host, and lingered for a fraction of a second. "And it’s a pleasure to share the stage with Miss Qing. Her mother’s legacy is in good hands."

That was all.

He handed the microphone, leaving the stunned host to recover with a smile and invite them to stand together for a photograph.

Sienna turned toward Callahan, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes as her heart skipped a few beats.

Suddenly, the small and simple act of sharing a stage and getting a picture clicked felt intimate.

No one in the crowd would ever think they were married.

It felt like they were in a bubble of their own, sharing a secret that belonged only to the two of them.

Callahan tilted his head and met her gaze, a hint of smile lingering in his eyes.

Realizing that she had been staring at him, Sienna quickly looked away.

The crowd, on the other hand, was anything but calm.

Whispers rippled through the ballroom.

Several women exchanged excited looks, while others openly admired the notoriously reserved Hawke heir.

His brief words had been enough to set the room buzzing, and the photograph of him standing beside Sienna was certain to become tomorrow’s favorite topic of conversation.

Kira’s smile had stiffened long ago.

She found the sight or the mention of Sienna so repulsive that she looked away. But after looking for a while, she couldn’t see Seth anywhere.

Finally, she found Seth near a quieter corner of the ballroom, standing beside a table littered with empty glasses.

He had been drinking, and judging by the unfocused look in his eyes, far more than he should have.

Kira approached the man and grumbled unhappily, "You always told me your brother was detached from everything and everyone.Yet, he just... treated sis so differently. Or, maybe he was just being a gentleman...?"

She trailed off when he failed to respond.

Instead, Seth reached for another glass.

Kira immediately took it from his hand, "What are you doing? How much have you had to drink?"

Seth stared past her, his face drained of color. When he finally spoke, his voice was so low that she almost missed it.

"It can’t be possible..."

Kira gripped his arm, "What can’t be possible?"

"They can’t be..."

His words dissolved into an incoherent murmur, and before she could get another answer out of him, he slumped against her.

"Seth!"

...

Callahan led Sienna away from the ballroom and through a private corridor, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back as he guided her toward a secluded room.

She glanced at him once, wondering who he intended to introduce her to, but decided against asking.

With Callahan, some questions often led to answers that only created more questions.

Like, just earlier, she asked him whether their decision of inviting him to the stage with her had something to do with him.

The man responded with an ambiguous: ’What do you think?’

What could she think about something like this? Maybe he was bored or messing around.

When they entered the room, the atmosphere felt different from how it had been outside earlier.

The room did not have much of a crowd.

It was occupied by a handful of people, most of whom Sienna had never met.

Yet their unhurried manner, impeccable attire, and the authority with which they carried themselves told her that they were no simple people.

"Callahan!"

A man near the window rose with a broad smile, and Sienna turned to see an elegant couple approaching them.

The woman wore a graceful evening gown, her dark hair swept into a polished updo, while the man beside her carried himself with the easy confidence of someone accustomed to being listened to.

They appeared to be in their late thirties, and the warmth with which they greeted Callahan suggested they had known him for years.

"Look at you," the woman said, giving him an affectionate once-over, "You actually came to a gathering without someone having to drag you here."

"I was invited," Callahan replied.

"How reassuring. We were beginning to think you’d forgotten how invitations worked," The man laughed, then turned to Sienna with an unmistakably curious smile.

"And who is this lovely young lady?" he asked.

"I’m Sienna Qing," Sienna introduced herself.

"Georgina," the woman said, taking Sienna’s hand warmly, "And this is my husband, Charles."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you both."

"The pleasure is ours," Georgina replied, though her gaze had already wandered from Sienna to Callahan and back again.

A knowing smile gradually appeared on her face, and she gave her husband a subtle nudge.

"Oh, I see."

Sienna blinked, "Pardon?"