Chapter 10 - Bewitching

As they got out of the car, anyone who was on the way to the high end hotel stopped their tracks to look at them.

Who is that young lady with the young master? I've never seen her before.

Whoa, Calvin certainly upped his game this time. Where'd he find this goddess?

What is that skin? It's so smooth & unblemished!

Oh my god! He never brought anyone as a date to these events at all before! Who is she?!

Everyone had their own thoughts and Aila could feel all eyes on them. She thought that everyone seems to react exaggeratedly at them. It's like they are filming a drama or something.

"Don't be nervous. I told my grandpa all about you & everyone in the immediate family knows. We will announce our engagement to society at the start of the ball, so you just need to stay with me till then."

"Alright, I got it."

As they wind through the hotel still with people going dead on their tracks as they looked at them, they finally arrived at a private room where Calvin's grandfather was staying.

The old man is in his wheelchair, still looking quite dashing for someone nearing 80. She saw his eyes light up when he saw them.

"Ah my, is this the young lady you've been talking about Calvin?"

"Yes, Grandpa. This is Aila Carter." Calvin then ushered Aila closer to his grandfather.

"Time flies by so quickly does it? I remember the lady was still quite small then. How are you my dear?"

"Oh, a pleasure to meet you Grandpa. I'm quite well. Thank you for asking."

"I can see why Calvin easily jumped to getting engaged, if I was any younger I'd do the same thing. My grandson is a little reckless but I trust that he would take care of you well dear." Grandpa Harrison said, smilingly.

"You are still quite the charmer Grandpa. I'm sure ladies are still vying for your attention." Aila interjected. It doesn't hurt to get into the good graces of one of the most powerful man in the inner circle.

Grandpa Harrison laughed, quite pleased with her response.

"Calvin is a lucky guy to have you my lady."

Then grandpa turned to Calvin,

"Calvin, the immediate family has been aware of your engagement, the family branches though. Not so much. I'm sure you can handle the aftermath of this decision of yours."

"Don't worry about it Grandpa. I've prepared everything." Calvin said seriously.

Aila recalled a little snippet of Calvin's family background in the novel. It was said that their family was having an internal turmoil at the moment & Calvin was not proclaimed yet as heir to the Harrison Conglomerate at this timeline. Apparently Grandpa Harrison never married so it was a shock to the branch families & even the immediate family that Calvin showed up one day as the head's grandson.

All of them were waiting for the old man to croak & seize the massive fortune that he built. Since the head announced him as his grandson, they could not argue about it as they're relying on the old man for their bread & butter, besides Calvin was a spitting image of Grandpa Harrison when he was younger so they could not claim easily that he was some random ruffian on the street the old man picked up.

Since it was only written in passing to give Calvin some background, it wasn't elaborated since he himself is not the main male lead. At most he is male lead no. 4, just a shadow that protected the female protagonist.

"Alright, I'll have to talk to your parents as well in a little bit young lady. You may go with Calvin to prepare for the start of the banquet."

Just in time, Aila's parents came in. They made small chitchat & left the room.

Aila was worried that these engagement of theirs is quite serious. She wondered how they are going to have a clean  break off after a year.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"huh? what..."

"You seemed to think deeply of it. I told you, I'll handle everything. You just need to stay by my side."

Aila eyed him dubiously. She doesn't know him much to judge his capabilities. It was simply because he is one of the male leads in the story that she hoped he wasn't a simple hopeless playboy.

Resigning to her faith, Aila sighed. It doesn't matter anyway. She shouldn't butt in to his life & should not be too curious of it. They will part ways soon enough.

"I believe you, I'm sure you have it all planned out."

Calvin raised an eyebrow, was surprised she even had some level of faith in him while most just took him for granted.

"I'm glad my honey has faith in me." then he suddenly kissed her again on the cheek.

"Whaaa..."

"Shhh dear, my friends are here..."

Just then, a group of people consisting of one woman & three men came into view. They seemed used to seeing Calvin kissing women in public but at the same time seemed confused since he never brought a date especially on banquets held by the Harrison family.

ahh, this must be the female lead & her cronies.

Aila thought amusedly, she looked at the group carefully and found why these men seem to revolve around the female lead like satellites. Hanna Snyder, the female lead, came from a wealthy family as well but not as much as those of the Carter's. These people met during high school & had been inseparable since then. The female lead has the innocent look with doe like eyes & petite frame. Her fringed long hair cascading on her back, wearing a soft pink cocktail dress which accentuated her fragile & delicate appearance. A beauty that will certainly awaken a male's protective instinct.

Aila took a glance at Calvin to see what his reaction seeing the female lead again. She was surprised to find that he was looking at her intently the whole time.

"???!!"

"Hey Calvin! good to see you buddy! can you introduce us to your female friend?" Dalton said as he winked playfully at Calvin.

Then a light breathless voice said:

"Hi Calvin, uhhmm...how have you been? I'm sorry if I was out of touch for 2 weeks. Hi, how are you? my name is Hanna Snyder, I'm Calvin's childhood friend."

Aila raised her eyebrows internally. To emphasize to her that she's a childhood friend means she's trying to establish hierarchy.

This female lead is not as innocent as she looks, huh?

As a woman, her instinct tells her this Hanna is not pleased that Calvin brought someone to a such a special event. She must be used to being the only woman Calvin is close with that does not include strings attached. Immediately she feels that she does not like her at all.

Oh my, this should be fun.

As someone who was from a world more competitive & dangerous than this one. Aila smiled like she found a new toy to play with. It's been awhile since she felt this inner rebelliousness in her. She simply enjoyed annoying people she does not like to death.

Unbeknownst to her, her change of demeanor & aura gave the people around her a start. She looks like a queen bestowing them with her most bewitching smile.

Aila raised her hand to take that of the female lead for a handshake.

"Pleasure to meet you, I am Aila Carter. Calvin's fiancée." She said, smilingly wickedly while eyeing Calvin's reaction.

The sudden bomb of a news shocked the male lead trio, the female lead was trying hard not to crack as well.

hahahaha...well, well, well...let's have a good year ahead, shall we?