Aspen held her waist gently and moved skillfully to the music. He was impressed at how she moved so seamlessly without missing a step.

Her face was turned away from him, allowing him a good view of the side features of her face.

Her brunette hair balanced on her shoulder, and it glistened under the bright chandelier lights in the room. He wanted to see the rest of her face. They had been dancing for a minute and the side of her face was the only thing in view for him to see. Surely, it was intentional.

Aspen could tell he had interrupted a serious business of hers when he pulled her suddenly to the dance floor because she kept throwing glances at the corridor where they had collided.

He refused to lift his leg when he should and watched Cara fall right into his trap as she stepped on his feet and turned to him, taking a sharp breath. Her eyes were now looking directly into his. Goal achieved.

"Sorry." She said politely as they kept moving gently to the music.

"No, I missed my step," he said, finally having the opportunity to take in the full picture of her face up close. Her brown eyes, delicate and soft, matched perfectly with her hair. She looked modest, unlike how he would classify the other ladies who came around him — wild and flashy.

Carla wondered why he was staring at her. Didn't he realize she could see him looking so intently? A part of her so desperately wanted to pull herself away from him and sprint to grab her weapon, but another more silent part of her wanted to enjoy the dance with this stranger who, though looked cold as his icy blue eyes, exuded an aura that made her feel warm.

The music slowly faded, bringing the dance to an end. The fairy tale was over. Her eyes immediately darted towards the corridor. A man in uniform was bending down to pick up her purse. Her heartbeat went into a panic run.

Aspen took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

"Thank you for the-"

Her hand slipped away from his hand as she began walking away briskly, leaving Aspen's hand halfway in the air. Embarrassment poured over him like a splash of water. He refused to look around to see the reaction of anyone who could have seen them. He cleared his throat, straightened his black suit jacket and walked back to his table.

"That was a plot twist."

Liam said with a smile and amusement on his face. Aspen didn't find it amusing. He took a seat beside his friend.

"She sure surprised me," he said, showing no emotions as he looked straight to the stage. "I've not been embarrassed like that in a long time."

"And by a woman too," Liam said, laughter in his eyes.

"No, she's not any different," Aspen said, immediately questioning his statement as it left his lips.

"Hm, I don't think so."

"So, what are you saying?" Aspen asked, tilting his neck toward Liam, who shrugged in return.

"That she didn't hold on to you like a treasure chest that she had luckily caught."

Aspen scoffed and grabbed a glass of wine from the table.

"Nah, she probably doesn't know who I am. If she knew, she would do what the others have done."

"Which is?"

"Warm their way in and when the treasure chest has refused any other offer, they sneak out, not like I care anyway."

"Ah, I see." Liam nodded, drinking from his glass of wine. He had heard these words very often. "Maybe you need to stop being a treasure chest then."

"Can I stop being the son of one of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles and the only heir to Goulding's group of companies?"

"No. What you need to be… is a man with a heart."

Aspen stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Not again. Ivana took that opportunity from them."

"From them? What about from you?"

Aspen smiled, his eyes still on the stage.

"I don't need to love anyone. You can see I've been doing great."

"Well, you seem to be enjoying your adventure with these women. But are you really going to keep this up? Aspen, It's been three years."

"I'm not complaining." Aspen said, as they both went silent and listened to the Anchor speaking on the stage. His eyes flickered toward the corridor, and he saw Carla standing in the corridor, tactfully searching for something on the floor.

Carla thought about the fact that she had been standing there for over a minute. Would she not start to draw attention? She had picked her purse and found everything in it.

Except the gun.

Necks were beginning to turn in her direction, making Carla's anxiety to rise. She smoothened her dress and walked back gently to her table.

"Carla, where have you been?" June asked with a high-pitched voice.

"You missed the dance," Max said with a smile that told her they had both danced also.

Did they really not see her dancing with that mysterious man?

"Oh..." She whispered, settling into her chair. From the side of her eyes, she could see June staring at her.

“Is there anything on my face?"

"No, nothing. Just sweat," June said, passing her a handkerchief and turned her gaze back to the stage.

The dinner felt like it lasted a whole day. Carla looked at her wristwatch for the fourth time in the same minute.

The event finally ended, and the three friends headed back to Max's car. As soon as they sat in the car, Carla opened the door.

"I forgot something in the hall. I'll be right back." She raised her leg and was about to put it outside when June grabbed her arm firmly.

"Is this what you're looking for?" June asked, opening her bag to show her something.

Carla's eyes widened and she went mute.

* * * * * *

Aspen handed over the car keys to one of his male staff as he got down from the car and walked into the mansion.

As he began to head up the stairs, he spotted the shadow of a familiar figure in the dark living room.

"Marcus?"

"Ah, you're back," Marcus said, turning to him, a glass of wine in his hands.

Aspen walked down the stairs toward him.

"I didn't know you wanted to see me, I would have waited at the hotel."

"Nah, I didn't want to spoil your evening with stressful news, especially seeing that you were having a good time with a beautiful lady on the dance floor." Marcus gave him a mischievous look.

Aspen's lip curved up in a little smile as the picture of Carla's face flashed before him again.

"Sebastian says he's been calling you."

"Yeah, I've been avoiding speaking with him, his presence brings up something unsettling."

"Well, unsettling is what he called to tell me this morning.”

“What?” Aspen took his hand out of his pocket.

Marcus sighed.

“It's time to read your father's will."

Aspen felt cold air hug him from head to toe at that instant.

He took a deep though unsteady breath. Silence lingered in the air.

"So it's time already..." Aspen said, slowly tapping his feet on the sparking floor, trying his best to keep his voice calm.

"Yup." Marcus dropped the glass on the table and stood up.

"One thing I can tell you though, is to expect surprises. My brother was good at taking unexpected turns when it came to things like this."

That statement tripled Aspen's initial worry about his father's will.

"Will my father still give me unpleasant surprises even in his grave?"

"Oh, Aspen." Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder, "Pray he won't ask for the impossible." He tapped his shoulder and walked away, leaving Aspen in the intense surge of worry that had just been inflicted on him.