Burning Passion

CHAPTER 248: CHARITY BALL: THE DRESS

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CHARITY BALL 

Wearing a dark green sheer overlay gown, a fur shawl wrapped around her shoulder. Nina watched her reflection in the mirror. 

She is ready to go and waiting for Greg to pick them up. Tonight, her cousin will be her date, not Steven or Albert. 

Both men called her this morning to volunteer as her date tonight. But she realized. It's better to choose none of them to avoid any circumstances in the eyes of the media and the guests in that Charity Ball.

Ever since her name got dragged into Albert's rumors, the media already marked her as an important person in Albert's private affairs.

Hearing a soft knock on the door, followed by a head peeping, Jessica said, "Miss Nina, Greg has arrived."

Glancing in the door's direction, she beamed and replied, "Okay. Thank you, Jessica. I'll be down in a minute!" 

Nodding, Jessica remained gaping at her Miss with admiration. Scanning her from the head down to her cream stiletto. "You are so beautiful, Miss Nina." 

Even though her attendant complimented her all the time. Nina would still blush upon hearing it. As her eyes glimmering above her beautiful sheer gown, it gives more shine to it after she wore a Classic Gaff Emerald and Diamond Butterfly Chandelier earrings. 

Arriving at the Palace where the Charity Ball was held tonight. Steven is waiting patiently at the Dance Hall entrance door.

Meanwhile, Nina calmly walked down the red carpet and let the present media take a photo of her. They were taking her a hundred photos of her stunning gown tonight. 

The gown is owned by a famous designer of a famous clothing brand in Europe. 

The dress was made of tiny emerald gems, and the more it glimmered when the light touched it. Two days before the Charity Ball, while relaxing inside a Hair and Nail Salon, Sarah told Nina that a certain famous brand was looking for someone to wear the gown to the event.

At first, Nina refused to wear such a gown that cost thousands in pounds. But Sarah makes her agree later on. She reasoned out; it was for the charity, and she is the only one who would fit on the dress.

Now she has to smile pleasantly, pose for a little more and display the gown that will be put in the Auction later.

After fifteen minutes of beaming in front of the photographers, Nina resumed walking toward the Dance Hall with Greg. 

Now they could spot Steven, who quickly meets them halfway. But because Nina chose Greg as her escort tonight, Steven would be Sarah's date inside the Dance Hall. As for Jessica, she heads for the separate door for a guest company such as attendants, assistants, or royal servants. 

"Nina!" Sarah opens her arms wide and hugs Nina tightly. "Look at you! I know it will look glam on you!" 

"I was quite nervous wearing this dress with gems on." 

Sarah giggled and encouraged her. "Can't you notice it? It looks like it was made only for you! I tried fitting it, but it stuck in my waistline! It won't close the zipper, gosh!" 

Hearing this, Nina laughs and complains about nothing furthermore. 

"Let's go inside?" 

Nodding, Nina turned her head to call Greg, but her eyes met Steven's intent gaze instead. She gulped. Steven's gaped burnt her cheeks, drowning her to fill her head with thoughts. 

In a flash moment, she felt it was Harry who was looking at her. After she blinks, instantly, reality wakes her up. It wasn't Harry, and upon remembering him, her heart filled with frustration and sadness… Because even after the fact Harry has someone he loves, her heart longing for him. 

Steven's profound gape was full of affection, but it saddens her she could not return the same affection the guy offered to her. 

Coming back to her senses, Nina pursed a soft smile before she withdrew her gaze and shifted to Greg, who was currently talking to someone he knew at this Ball. 

After the introduction, Greg and Nina descended the grand stairs and joined the guests in the Dance Hall. Every pair of eyes in this room landed on Nina's sheer gown. 

The famous designer drops his jaw, watching his gown flowing every step made by whoever this beautiful girl is wearing the dress. 

"Oh, my!" The famous designer remains speechless, covering his mouth. But once he regained his shock, he uttered, "I am fabulous!" 

For everyone, this man is a genius when it comes to clothing and that they would agree with him even if he carried his chair. His contribution to the Fashion World is incomparable.

"Who is that beautiful lady wearing my gown?" He asks his assistant afterward. 

The lady doesn't know who the girl is. But then, someone from the other table recognizes Nina. He told Val, the famous designer. 

"I think she is the rumored girlfriend of Prince Albert, Princess Sarah's best friend." 

"Oh. Then the princess chose her best friend to wear my gown. Splendid!" Val couldn't stop himself from clasping his hands tightly. "Now I have a new idea for my next project! I will hire more Asian models to walk my runway!" 

The assistant quickly noted what the famous designer uttered. She has known her boss to recall what he was saying out of his excitement. If it was a productive phrase and the assistant remembered it, she received a reward and praise from her boss. 

Meanwhile, awkwardness began creeping into her chest when all the eyes were observing her. Although they were looking at her gown, however, she has no confidence in herself as to how she would carry the gown according to its purpose.

"Jessica, do I look pretty?" She couldn't help to doubt her appearance tonight after Sarah whispered she would introduce her to Val later. Nina doesn't want to disappoint the famous designer that she is the one wearing his gown.

Jessica who's dumbfounded by her Miss question. Her eyes muffled with amusement. Her miss is truly a woman now. She cares about how she looks now and starts giving attention to her appearance. 

Serving her for two years already, she witnesses how Nina less cared about the expensive things surrounding her, and she never put care to show off how fortunate she is. 

But tonight, she wants to look charming and admirable.

"Miss, you are lovelier tonight," Jessica honestly replied.

Nina always takes Jessica's judgment to heart. She believed her and trusted her perception. Hearing these words made her relaxed. Casually wanders her eyes to the entire hall, she receives a lot of recognition; either raise a glass toward her direction or nods from the other guests with admiration in their eyes. But most of them are male guests. So, Nina tried to stay composed and return the greetings with warm smiles and nodding slightly. 

In the corner of this hall are two men keenly observing these male guests, who keep scanning Nina's body. 

Steven wanted to stand beside Nina. But the Chinese Ambassador took him away and introduced him to certain personnel. Since Shang made a name in Asia and South America, he gained attention from a few business executives that were also invited to this event.

They were inquiring about the performance of the foreign investments in Asia, where Shang is the major investor in these projects. Good thing that he started giving attention to their businesses, and he could answer their queries. 

Fortunately, he and Harry began their internship last November to their US sister branch company. It helps him look like a business person himself and appeared to be knowledgeable about their company performance in the business world.

Steven pursued a smile in the corner of his mouth. It seems like he is three steps ahead of Harry, which he is determined to show off to his father and grandfather that he will be more reliable than Harry. 

After he will create a name under the impression of the European Business Association, Nelson Li will contemplate that he was a suitable husband for his daughter and a reliable son-in-law to entrust his business affairs in the International Market. 

Now his visit to England became more fruitful than he imagined. So he must bear to be away from Nina, although his chest has been furious seeing those men joining Nina and introducing themselves. 

Meanwhile, Albert has been restless as well. He wants to go to Nina. But his mother dragging him around, introducing to every father of this Ball, and then talking about their daughters. Albert attempts to roll his eyes, but his mother keeps shooting a secret glare at him when he is not paying attention, but his gaze is toward Nina's direction. 

His mother would tighten her grip on his arm every time he frowned and not paid attention. He could only clench his fist inside his front pocket while gritting his teeth. He couldn't help hardened his expression watching Nina talking to the other male guests. He badly wanted to steal her attention, but Albert noticed that his mother was taking him away far from her. 

That is why he needs to excuse himself. He needs Sarah to help him out. 

Nina was now suffocating from the guests that came and went to chat with her. Gladly, Greg didn't leave her side who helps her converse with these men. He made sure to introduce himself as a cousin while scrutinizing them with a measured gaze. 

Later, both Steven and Albert froze where they stood.

'Where is Nina!?'