"I''ve been looking for you everywhere." She heard a voice behind her. She doesn''t need to turn around to see whose voice it was because she was certain it''s Marcus.

    The hall become increasing loud but she still heard the man''s voice. However, she chooses not to say a word in response. Her eyes were still on the paintings. The images that her mind recalled a while ago threw her in confusion that she didn''t want to be disturb.

    "Jade…" Now he touched the woman''s b?r? shoulder. She''s cold. Only then did the man realized that the temperature inside was way too chilling and Jade must be freezing cold. So he took off his suit and placed it around her. That moment, Jade jerked and looked at the man, surprised.

    The man''s presence is not a surprise, of course, but his kind gestures kinda shocked her.

    "It''s cold. I don''t want my secretary to get sick." He reasoned out as soon as he saw the woman''s stunned face.

    "Ah, thank you." She forced a smile before getting back on the painting.

    "You like paintings too?" He asked when he noticed her unusual interest to the work of art displayed in front of them. Seeing the painter''s name, he smiled a little. He suddenly remembered some certain people in the past.

    If only they were all alive then what a happy life it could be! He thought.

    "I don''t think so, but this piece of art is something…." She nonchalantly replied but didn''t finish her sentence.

    "Amazing, right?" He smiled as he stared at the woman whose eyes are stuck on the painting. Looking at her, a sudden image of a little girl appeared in his mind.

    His childhood friend. And he must admit that they have some similarities. If only she was alive then---- ah! The resemblance is way too impossible! He wagged his head for having some weird imagination. Dang! He sneered within him and cast off his absurd thoughts.

    "Ehm…" the woman softly muttered. "And it''s beautiful. There must be a story--- a very sad and painful story behind this art." Her face softened up and her eyes were about to burst in tears.

    He couldn''t reply instantly since he was too focused on the woman''s pitiful face. Now that he thinks about it, the way she passionately looks at the painting was very similar to the woman who painted that piece of art. Passion… sadness… longingness…. Those eyes contain it all.

    "You look exactly like her." The man muttered unknowingly with a painful expression painted all over his face. The look on his face was not hidden in Jade''s attention.

    "Who?" She asked confused. Whoever that person must be a very important individual in his life. That pain in his eyes tells her so.

    "Saphira Hawkins… This, this painting was her last piece before she died."

    "She must be very special to you."

    "Yeah. Very."

    "Could it be her first love?'' Jade thought for a while.

    "If only she was alive…" he muttered.

    "You must have loved her that much."

    "Ehm, more than anyone in my life, even more than my mother. She has the purest heart that she can sacrifice her own life for the sake of others."

    Jade suddenly felt a sting in her heart. Was she jealous of a dead woman? Probably, since his eyes tells her how much he loved her despites the absence of his word.

    Poor Marcus.

    Jade was in deep thought when Marcus suddenly raised her hand. His gestures seem to be asking her for a dance.

    Is he? She''s dumbfounded.

    Marcus smiled as he looked directly in her eyes. "Wanna dance?" He was shining that Jade couldn''t help but take his hand.

    "What happened to your make up?" Marcus suddenly asked while they were heading to the center aisle.

    "Uhm…"

    "You washed it off?"

    She faked a smile. "Ehm. It''s irritating so I have to wash it off. Do I look ugly now?"

    "Nope. You''re stunningly beautiful even without it, don''t worry." He must have said it casually but to the innocent woman beside him, her heart was beating abnormally fast.

    Marcus'' words made her heart leaped with joy. She''s more than glad that she was able to hear the man complement her beauty.

    What a simpleton woman.

    Just an hour ago, she''s brokenhearted, the next minute she''s fine. Only because of the man''s heart whelming words. Was she that in love with him? Guess she is.

    They''ve reached the dancing floor and Marcus placed his other hand on the woman''s waist. His simple touch sent shiver all over the woman''s body. She jerked momentarily. Now she inches closer to him and can smell the man''s cool and manly scent.

    She''s not dreaming--- It''s totally Marcus.

    ''Ah, this kind of peace.'' She smiled within her as they start to dance along with the soft melody being played by the hired musicians. Their eyes were glued at each other, no one even dared to say a word. Both hearts were beating abnormally fast, not sure why though. Jade, per say, could feel the man''s minty breath against her ear. It tickles her to the bones.

    She''s enjoying the moment and she could say Marcus feels the same way too. He didn''t say it though but at least, his actions tell her. Or was it the only thing she wants to believe at the moment?

    Peace. Security. Comfort. She feels safe around him.

    Familiarity. That kind of feeling where her heart and body seemed to know the person beside her for long. But her mind---- she couldn''t find any trace of him in her memory.

    Unknown to the two, someone from the crowd is throwing daggers at them. If looks can kill, then she might have already killed the two who are sweetly and romantically dancing together.

    "Are you okay?" An old man wearing a luxurious tuxedo came and stood beside her.

    "Do I look okay to you?" She''s beyond irritated. A furious smoke can almost come out from her nose.

    "Do you want to go home instead?" the old man offered.

    "No freaking way! Do you really think I would go home doing nothing after seeing my man enjoying the night with someone unworthy?" She fumed. "How dare him look at that woman that way after knowing about my condition!"

    "Rachelle… Don''t you dare make a scene here. Don''t throw away your career so easily just because of him." The old man warned. "Remember how you came this far… don''t waste it."

    "I''m not throwing anything away. I might even become a lot famous than before." She smirked evilly.

    "Rachelle, don''t you ever mess with Marcus. You, of all people, knew what kind of temper he has. You might truly lose him for good."

    Rachelle paused for a few seconds before staring at Marcus then to Jade. After a few considerations and plan alteration, she smirked mischievously.

    "I never planned to mess with Marcus anyway…." She leered.

    "But I don''t think you gave up on harming the woman." The old man stared at the devilish woman.

    She faced him and gave an evil smirk. "I won''t do anything to her either."

    The old man raised his brow in doubt.

    "I''m not gonna put a dirt in my hand by touching her so let other people do that kind of job."

    ************************

    "I''m done with the bid and guess what, I got all her paintings except for one. Ah, I wish they could tell me who bought that masterpiece!" Peter Black exclaimed as soon as he reached the woman whose eyes were fixed onto someone.

    Zenia didn''t hear the old man since her full attention was on the strikingly gorgeous man who is busily dancing with his lady.

    Though the woman isn''t wearing any make up, she could still be considered as one of the most beautiful woman inside the hall. Her one of a kind beauty gave justice to the dress she''s wearing at the moment. Too good and too pure to behold.

    And she envies her.

    Is it possible to replace the woman whose beside Marcus at the moment? Her thoughts made her mind imagine a scene where she''s wearing a beautiful white dress while dancing with the man whom she thinks she loves.

    "Zenia, is everything okay?" Peter Black tapped the woman''s shoulder. Only then did Zenia came back to reality.

    "M-mister Black…?!" She exclaimed surprised. But then the old man eyed her suspiciously.

    "Did someone finally caught your attention among the crowds?" He teased.

    "Who knows." She replied before she leans her back on the chair.

    "Who is it? Let me check who that great guy is. I wanna know what kind of man stole the heart of the icy queen." He may have chuckled teasingly but Zenia knew he truly mean it.

    "Don''t bother checking him out. He''s gone." She lied.

    "Awww, that''s unfortunate. I sh--------"

    "Mister Black, have you heard from Zion?" She cut him off or else he''ll press more questions about the mystery guy.

    "Zion? My phone kept on ringing a while a back but I couldn''t answer it. What did he say?"

    "The old man is already dead."

    "What? Who''s dead?" Peter Black was beyond shocked. Seeing how Zenia lowered her head in sadness, his heart was filled with anguish.

    "No… my old friend…" He muttered in grief.