As I stepped out of the shiny limited edition Rolls Royce - courtesy of my date, of course - and onto the red carpet leading to the grand entrance of the prestigious charity gala, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. I looked around and I saw all the glittery dresses scattered around the red carpet.
The flashes from the dozens of cameras awaiting my arrival was getting into my eyes but I had to keep on a smiling face. No one would help a school whose proprietor looked like she had been through a zombie apocalypse and back.
The media people took a lot of pictures of me before I got tired and made my way to the grand hall. I just hoped those photographs captured my good side.
As I observed the surroundings slowly and making it less obvious, I realized this was a far cry from my usual weekend activities of grading papers and planning lessons for my fifth-grade class.
With Ellen's help, I was able to find a gown that could fit the theme for the day's event. Dressed in a simple yet elegant dark blue gown with white shiny crystals, I looked like the embodiment of the night. Dark sky housing the beautiful stars on a warm summer night.
I took a deep breath and entered the grand ballroom, my eyes wide at the sight of the opulent decorations and the well-dressed guests milling about. I felt a pang of nervousness at the thought of having to mingle with people I had only read about in the newspapers.
I was also nervous because what if I did something that messed up this opportunity? I might never get this chance again.
My phone buzzed and I brought it out of the matching clutch purse I had come with. It was the Sterling's secretary. I put the phone to my ear.
"Have you arrived the hotel, Miss Sanders?"
I wondered why this secretary behaved like an AI, always going straight to the point. I would sure like to ask him that sometime. "Yes, I've just arrived the Jade Hall."
"Alright, I am coming to get you, my boss is in the middle of a discussion right now." I heard him say.
Soon, I saw a tall lean man in his late twenties dressed in a sharp crisp suit walking toward me with his phone pressed to his ear. He must be the secretary.
He led me through the crowd, and I noticed another tall, impeccably dressed man standing amongst a group of people. He had a brooding air about him, his dark eyes scanning the room as if searching for something – or someone.
As soon as I had heard he was my date to this event, I had done my research to touch up what I knew about him.
Ethan Sterling, 32, single billionaire bachelor and hot as hell. With his chocolate brown hair that sat in curls on top of his head and his midnight blue eyes, he had the capacity to make any straight woman drool.
He was the third most successful CEO's in the country and the youngest most successful businessman for five years in a row. He was in short, amazing.
As I came closer and eventually stood before him, I couldn't help but be drawn to him, curious about the air of mystery that surrounded him.
Approaching the man with a warm smile, I braced myself for an introduction. Better to make a good first impression because he was a potential sponsor for my school.
The man raised an eyebrow, studying me so intently it felt like an x-ray.
"You must be Leila Sanders." he offered his hand for a shake. Internally, I desperately prayed to God that my palms weren't sweaty.
I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah. But actually it's Leia Sanders. Your secretary called me the same too."
His eyes narrowed a bit at my words. Then he sighed. "I'm sorry about that, Miss Leia."
I shook my head as I waved it off with a smile. Why would I be mad at my potential sponsor just because he got my name wrong?
"Oh don't worry. It's nothing really."
The man's lips curved into a faint smile. Then he went on to introduce himself.
"My name is Ethan Sterling, CEO of Sterling Holdings."
I nodded. Even a year old toddler would know who this hunk was at first glance.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Sterling." I said in a cheerful voice as we shook hands. He however didn't look too excited to see me. But then again, why would he be?
He offered me his arm which I took as it was customary. Before the event started properly, we had a bit of time to meet and greet.
A couple came our way to greet us. As I saw them, my breath hitched. I could scarcely believe my eyes. I knew from the onset that this place was for the stars of the city, but meeting them up close was simply unbelievable.
"Mr Sterling." A woman in her early twenties called in a sing-song voice. It was none other than Antonia Gareth, popularly known by her stage name, Toni-A. Being one of the best musicians in the country with twenty seven different awards at such a young age, she could only be described as legendary. The man beside her was her step father and manager.
Ethan Sterling looked up like he was being forced to.
"Antonia. What a pleasure." He greeted cordially. If I hadn't see his previous facial expression, I would think he was genuinely happy to see Toni-A. I however couldn't hide my smile.
"It's so nice to see you finally attending one of these. Maybe you have a shot at having a social life after all."
My head snapped quickly toward the singer. What did she just say to Ethan Sterling? Even he didn't react to the taunt. I realized that maybe they were familiar with each other.
"And maybe if you mind your business, you might have a shot at winning the Mikeys."
I blinked trying not to gape at the harsh comeback.
The Mikeys was a popular and prestigious award ceremony for different genres of music. Toni-A might have twenty seven different awards, but none of them were Mikeys, even after being nominated for it so many times.
Antonia flinched ever so slightly. Wanting to say something more but having nothing to say, her eyes shifted to me.
"Who's your date Mr Sterling? Her face doesn't ring a bell."
If it was a normal person who said this on a normal day, I would have been offended. But I wasn't. My parents weren't all that famous and even I deviated from their career path and was disowned. I guess you can't gain much popularity for that.
"I am Leia Sanders. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Gareth." I pleasantly extended my hand for a shake and she took it. I noticed her palm was warm and soft. Looking at her face, she was so beautiful that I was intimidated.
Her lips curled into a smile as she recognized my name. " My goodness, you're Leila Sanders!" She exclaimed.
There goes that mistake again. "Actually, it's Leia-"
"I'm one of your biggest fans. You look a bit different on camera though. But your work is a huge hit."
"They...are?"I asked in confusion. I know I was trying to do some good and make a difference, but I never knew that people paid attention to what I was doing.
Antonia looked at me with interest in her warm brown eyes."What new projects are you working on right now?"
This was my chance to raise awareness. The reason why I was here in the first place
"Well, right now I'm trying to raise donations for my school of underprivileged kids. It's pretty underfunded and there is only so much I could do by myself."
"Oh," Antonia said looking a bit disappointed. I wondered why she was. But then she brightened up almost immediately.
"You're into philanthropy too. That's amazing. Give me a call sometime, I'll like to do something for the underprivileged kids of your school too."
If felt my whole world brighten up immediately. This was a big step in the right direction. If I get more offers like this, I might even be able to renovate the school.
"That would be wonderful." I said gratefully.
"Anything for a talent like yourself." Antonia said. Then someone called her attention and she left with her father.
What a weird but wonderful conversation. Now if I could just speak to a few more people...
"I never knew you had a school for underprivileged kids." In the rush of the moment, I had almost forgotten the man who stood beside me, who's arm I was clutching onto right now.