Transmigrated: Stealing the CEO husband-Chapter 66: Post Motern Social

"You look stunning," Were the words that rolled out of Lucia’s tongue.

The island was a remote location. There was no facility for a stylist there. How they appeared at the festival, their dressing and style, all depended on them alone.

"You don’t look bad either," Ariana replied smoothly. "Neither does President Luiss."

It was fine to think so regarding Luiss and Lucia. They were fine people who got a swarm of servants to prepare them. But for Ariana, possessing such means to cake herself up was something out of place.

Nevertheless, Lucia’s attempt to show Ariana her place crashed down.

After a while, soft music started playing in the background. In the evening, shrouded in golden lights, lovers took hands of their partner and headed for the stage for a dance. Ariana headed for Luiss, but to her surprise, he smirked in her direction and took Lucia’s hand, taking her to the stage.

Ariana was left speechless.

She was aware he was doing it on purpose. But why? Was it because of her involvement with Gerald? Ariana quickly opened up the stats for the relationship withe male lead.

Finding all the numbers with the same percentage, she was put a bit at ease.

’So it seems like he is deliberately testing me’

"A lady alone during such an event, especially as beautiful as you, doesn’t feel right." Gerald had taken a few shots. He had been observing how Ariana had headed straight for Luiss. It was right given that he was her employer, but she was here with him. He waited for her but found her staring at Luiss and Lucia dancing on the floor instead.

Finally, his patience snapped, and he made his way to her. "Might I?" He asked for her hand.

To his surprise, Ariana accepted his hand. "Why not?" With a smile, they headed for the stage. As if intimidated by their presence, the other people parted, letting them take the spot at the dance stage.

Ariana folowed the steps with Gerald with practised efficiency. Dancing was one of her hobby before she arrived in this world. So she knew her steps.

Along the tunes, there was a step where they exchanged partners. Ariana landed in Luiss arms and Lucia in Gerald’s.

Ariana had noticed Gerald and Lucia had no connection until now. It was different from the main story where Gerald had already developed soft feelings for the female lead until now.

"President Luiss seem to ignore me a lot," Ariana complained as they were dancing. She looked as if she had been wronged.

"It doesn’t feel good, right? To be ignored." Came Luiss’s response before he swirled her.

"Yes, it doesn’t. Might I ask, has any action of mine disturbed President Luiss?"

Luiss sighed. "The reason I’m here is that I’ve been very disturbed with your decision to leave without informing me."

"President Gerald saved me from Daniel Voss. I owed him one and he wanted to use some company on his visit to the islands."

"Is that the reason?" Luiss asked, his eyes searching hers for any signs of a lie. He found none.

"Yes," Ariana replied, firm as a stone. "I might talk to other people, but I remember the deal between us. That was something I had agreed on my own. I won’t betray your trust."

Luiss seemed to ease down a bit. Just then it was the turn to exchange patners again and their short conversation ended.

After the dance, Lucia approached Luiss. "President Luiss, the Witakker family own a few islands. If you ever wish for a leisure retreat, we welcome you to our property"

However she was totally shunned by President Luiss.

"There is no need. I only came here for my secretary, who seemed to run off after taking a few leaves." He told her off squarely on her face.

Still, she tried to coax him. "Doesn’t a few days away from work rejuvenate you?"

"I won’t be needing Whittaker family favour for that."

The interaction was witnessed by everyone at the party. If Lucia had an edge because of Luiss favour beforehand, it was lost now. He had gone back to Ariana.

Lost now, she quit the scene earlier, leaving the guests.

[Task: Make Lucia lose out in the music festival

Status: Completed

Reward: In inventory.]

Just as she left, the system tinged. Ariana was engaged in a chat with Luiss. She excused herself to check the status.

[Reward. Professional Level Piano skills]

Ariana felt a rush of knowledge enter her brain. For a moment, she was dizzy. When she opened her eyes, the knowlege had already assimlated and become a part of her permanant memory.

"I wonder what use that would be?"

...

Ariana arrived with Gerald but she left with Luiss. The next few days were spent busily, finalizing the project requirements.

"You look stunning as always." Katherine Voss remarked, cornering Ariana.

"I have to present the Luiss Groups. Of course, I have to keep up the appearance." Ariana replied cautiously, her guard had been up, realizing the Voss siblings weren’t here for anything good.

"Pretentious, I would say," Daimen remarked with a scoff.

Ariana hold over her clutch tightened. They had deliberately approached her in a corner, cutting her off from the main area.

Today was the closing ceremony. The project had been finalized, the paperwork had been over. Now the real work was to begin. Ariana had used the last one of the three perfect makeovers for today. Like always, she stole the limelight.

It was a Post-Mortem Social. Piano played silently in the background. Everyone was having some much-needed relaxed time. Ariana was enjoying her leisure time until Voss’ siblings decided to corner her.

"Earlier that evening, I noticed you dabbling with the piano. What is it, you also know how to play?"

"Brother, why are you underestimating her? People by President Luiss’s side are known for their exceptional skills. She might be a prodigy pianist."

"Why don’t you entertain us then?" Damien Voss smirked and clapped, gathering everyone’s attention. "Eveyone here, we have a prodigy amongst us who knows how to play. She is going to play for everyone." He announced, bringing everyone’s attention to Ariana.

Luiss looked like he was about to come to her rescue, but he was stopped by Steven. Gerald watched with cold detachment.

Ariana could either decline or admit.

She was put in a difficult spot. Declining would indicate losing, while accepting would land her in even worse trouble.

"Fine." She placed her punch on an empty tray a waiter was holding as she made her way to the centre of the crowd, where a professional pianist was seated.

Damien could not have expected for her to accept the challenge.

"It seems she is dumber than she appears to be." He laughed.

Piano wasn’t just any instrument. You need to have dedicated hours to practise a specific tune. A cooperate slave like Ariana wouldn’t find that kind of time. She was sure to embarrass herself and by connection the Luiss Groups via her action.

"Ms. Grey, step out of this situation," Steven approached her once she crossed them. "It’s not just your respect at stake here. You are connected to the Luiss groups. If you make a fool out of yourself, it would reflect badly upon us,"

Ariana sent a sideways glare in his direction. "Step aside, let me go."

"But..."

"Steven, step aside." Came Luiss’ resonant voice. "She knows what she is doing."

"President Luiss, your blind trust in her would one day land us in trouble."

"I believe in her," He said. "She knows what she is doing."

At this, Steven reluctantly let go of her. Ariana climbed up the stairs and stood by the Piano side. Her shoulders squared, her face impassive. There wasn’t an ounce of second thought or reluctance in her stance.

Smoothly, her voice flowed out. "The piece I’m going to play is Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23"

A collective gasp resounded in the celebration room as everyone was taken aback by the piece she had selected. It was a professional level piece by a polish pianist, Frédéric Chopin. It wasn’t something a novice could master.

"Is she really going to play this piece."

"If she pulls it out without any mistake, that would be marvellous."

"I think she is going to make a fool of herself."

By the other side of the celebration Hall, the Voss siblings were happy.

"We didn’t need to do anything to have her make a fool of herself."

"Are you relieved now for her going against you? She is going to make her look like a joke."

"I can’t just wait for hr too start and fill the celebration room with a chaotic mess of tunes."

"I would like to see where her arrogance goes to when that happens."