Were you mine?

Chapter 69 Paris air

Lea's POV

Lisa and I touched down in Paris and were immediately greeted by a chauffeur holding a sign with my name on it.As we stepped into the sleek black car, which whisked us away to our hotel we saw the streets of Paris buzzing with life.I felt a thrill of anticipation despite the exhaustion from the flight.

"Lea, you’re going to knock them dead tonight," Lisa said, giving me an encouraging smile right after she gasped at me a couple of times. I laughed, shaking my head. "Let’s just hope I don't trip in these heels."After a much-needed rest and a refreshing shower, I had already started getting ready. Lisa had arranged for a stylist to help me, and when I slipped into my dress, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a floor-length, midnight blue gown that hugged my curves and shimmered every inch. The off-the-shoulder neckline and subtle sequins made it both elegant and striking."

" I am not bragging but you will definitely steal the show! " Lisa was already getting everything ready as we prepared to leave the hotel to go to the venue.

"Let’s hope it’s in a good way," I said, smoothing down the fabric and giving myself a final glance in the mirror. My makeup was flawless, accentuating my eyes, and my hair was styled in loose, glamorous waves. I felt like Cinderella heading to the ball.Except , I wasn't going to hunt for a man.

As I stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet, heads turned. "Is she a movie star?" I heard someone whisper."Who is she? She must be famous," another murmured. Lisa grinned at me, linking her arm through mine.She was dressed in a black suit and looked more like my bodyguard than my personal assistant."Ready to make an entrance!" She announced.

We walked into the party, and it felt like a scene from a movie. Eyes followed us, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of confidence. Almost immediately, a group of well-dressed men approached, their eyes wide with admiration."Bonsoir, mademoiselle. You look ravishing tonight," one of them said, extending his hand.

"Thank you," I replied with a polite smile, shaking his hand briefly before turning to Lisa. "Let’s find our table." No sooner did I turn someone came right at my face."Excuse me, are you an actress?" asked a particularly persistent man, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Just a writer," I said with a playful wink, moving past him towards the sitting arrangements.Lisa chuckled as we made our way through the crowd. "You’re a natural at this, Lea. They can't get enough of you."

"I’m just trying to survive the night," I said, though I couldn’t deny the thrill of the attention.We reached our table, and I was finally able to take a breath and look around. The room was filled with the crème de la crème of the business world, and I knew that tonight was crucial.

"Can I get you a drink?" A suave man with a charming smile approached, holding two glasses of champagne. He handed one to me before I could respond."Thank you," I said, taking the glass. "And you are?"

"Julien Dubois," he said, his French accent making his name sound even more sophisticated. "I couldn't help but notice you as soon as you walked in. Are you here for business or pleasure?"

"A bit of both," I replied, taking a sip of the champagne. "Mostly business, though."

"Ah, a woman who knows what she wants," he said, raising his glass to me. "I find that very attractive."

"Well, thank you, Julien," I said, feeling a slight blush rise to my cheeks. "But I'm afraid my focus tonight is on business only."

"Of course, of course," he said, not missing a beat. "But if you find a moment to spare, I would love to hear more about your work."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said with a smile, then excused myself to speak with another group.

As the evening progressed, I found myself engaged in conversation with several influential businessmen, each more eager than the last to discuss potential collaborations. One particularly persistent gentleman, Philippe, seemed determined to monopolize my time."Lea, you have a rare charm and intelligence. I believe we could do great things together. " He was insistent. A little too much but I understood I had to retain their attention.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, Philippe," I said, maintaining my polite demeanor. "But tonight will be too busy to talk business.I guess a formal meeting would be more appropriate if you are truly interested in collabs. "

"Of course," he said, leaning in slightly. "Or perhaps we could discuss future projects over dinner sometime?"

"That sounds lovely," I said diplomatically, "but we'll have to see how things unfold."

Throughout the night, Lisa remained by my side, guiding me through the introductions and ensuring everything went smoothly."You’re doing great, Lea," she whispered from time to time to me between conversations. "Just keep that smile going."

I nodded, taking a sip of my champagne. "I think I’m starting to enjoy this."As Lisa and I mingled, the initial wave of introductions began to taper off, and I found myself a bit more at ease. The grandeur of the venue, with its glittering chandeliers and elegant décor, was now a backdrop to the lively conversations and clinking glasses. I took a moment to enjoy the atmosphere, savoring the delicate bubbles in my champagne."Lea, over here," Lisa whispered, pulling me gently towards a group of men who had been eyeing us earlier.

"Ah, the mysterious writer returns," Julien said with a charming smile as we approached."Hello again, Julien," I said, matching his smile. "Enjoying the evening?"

"Immensely," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "But it just got better."Before I could respond, Philippe, the persistent gentleman from earlier, rejoined the group. "Lea, I believe we were just starting a fascinating conversation about future projects."

"Yes, Philippe, we were," I said, giving him a polite nod. "Julien, this is Philippe. Philippe, Julien."

"Pleasure," Julien said, extending his hand. "The pleasure is mine," Philippe responded, shaking his hand firmly.

Lisa leaned in, whispering softly in my ear, "Philippe runs one of the largest publishing houses in Europe. His connections could be invaluable."I nodded slightly, understanding the importance of keeping Philippe engaged. "So, Philippe, tell me more about your current projects."

Philippe's eyes lit up as he started discussing his publishing ventures. Julien, not wanting to be outdone, interjected occasionally with witty comments and subtle compliments directed at me. It became a playful tug-of-war for my attention."Lea, your dress is exquisite," Julien said during a lull in Philippe's monologue. "It perfectly complements your natural elegance."

"Thank you, Julien," I said, feeling a slight blush rise to my cheeks. "You have quite an eye for detail."Only when the subject is worthy of attention," he replied smoothly.

Just then, another familiar face approached. It was the man who had asked if I was an actress. "Bonsoir again, Lea. I’m Nicolas. I couldn’t resist coming back to speak with you."

"Bonsoir, Nicolas," I said, smiling warmly. "It’s nice to see you again."

"Lea," Lisa whispered, "Nicolas is a tech entrepreneur. His startup is valued in the billions. Definitely someone worth knowing."

"So, Nicolas," I began, turning my attention to him, "tell me about your startup."

As Nicolas launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his latest innovations, I noticed Philippe and Julien exchanging glances, clearly not wanting to be sidelined."Lea, you must join us for dinner tomorrow," Philippe said suddenly, as Nicolas paused for a breath. "I would love to discuss some collaborative ideas in more detail."

"Julien, Philippe, Nicolas," Lisa whispered in my ear, "they're all heavyweights in their fields. This could be huge for you."

I smiled at Lisa's strategic thinking. "Dinner sounds lovely, Philippe," I said, then turned to Julien and Nicolas. "What about you two? Will you be joining us? "

"I wouldn't miss it," Julien said, his smile widening.

"Count me in," Nicolas added, his eyes sparkling with interest.