The weekend rolled around quicker then I had thought, and tonight was the day of Eloise's fundraiser.

During the time away from the lovely Eloise, I had Lenard, my butler, go out and buy me one of those portable devices everyone has these days, a mobile phone, and with it I had kept in contact with her every day since.

We'd 'text' mostly during the night as I tried to sleep as much as I could during the day- despite not needing it, I find that sleeping made me feel somewhat human to rather than the monster I really was inside.

Eloise's latest text informed me that I could just 'dress casual' which meant no suit in my mind, so with that information in hand, Liam had came over and offered to 'dress me like a proper gent' for tonight, to- and in his words, 'impress the lass.'

I didn't need to impress her, I was already fully aware how infatuated she was with me, she thought a simple thing like this house impressive before she even stepped inside it, I didn't feel worried about impressing her, not at all.

The only thing that kept poking at me was who was going to be there, her father- whom we both do not share a kind word for each other, because quite frankly I outbid him for my family's house, the Von Strass's entire estate.

It had always amused me until he had tried to mess with my public image by digging into every person who knew me for information on my life, whereabouts for the past 10-20 years and details of my personal affairs.

The man was infuriating, and I think he thought the same as me.

"Will Mariella be coming tonight?" Liam asks beside me in the car, making me turn to look at him, an eyebrow raised.

"No." I said, his disappointment clear on his face. "She sends her regards to you."

"You saw her?" He asked, like a puppy, wagging it's tail.

"Two nights ago." I said, absolutely zero interest in Mariella right now as I open my phone device to check for any more messages from Eloise.

"So." Liam starts. "It's going well with the daughter?" 

"Do not call her that." There were no more texts from her, her last one twenty minutes ago. "But yes, I think it is going quite well."

"We're dating." 

There were so many buttons, each one I clicked opened something different, it was truly amazing to see technology advance the way it has, having had a front row to it happen before my eyes, yet have no personal interest until now.

"You're... dating?" Liam asks, making me at him, seeing as he's blinking, confused.

I have gotten that reaction twice now, and it was starting to really get on my nerves, what was so wrong with me that I was a bad suitor for Eloise? I had wealthy to look after her with, I was attractive from the female view and I had a talent.

What more could a woman need?

"It's just... I didn't think she was your type, she's very..." He pauses. "Young."

Young? Perhaps... I was older than my actual age, but my body was still 30 years of age, and surely her being 24 wasn't such a large stretch of an age gap.

"I'm six years older, what are you trying to say?" I glare at him, my eyes challenging him to say the wrong thing so I can throw him out of the moving car.

He scratches his neck and avoids my intense stare. "I didn't mean it like that." He groans out before looking at me.

"You need to understand that girls her age only want one thing, Rowan, and that's commitment!" He cringed out. 

"You're dating now, but then she's looking at rings, and then houses, god forbid she stares at a child for too long, next she'll be pinning you down with both claws and then controlling your life with her mad ideas." 

I could do nothing but stare at this absolute idiot, who would not know of commitment, having avoided it his entire life as a grown man who still got paid an allowance from his family, despite having his own company.

The car slows down to a stop as I look out the window, seeing that we have made it to the venue of where the fundraiser would be- my donations should've arrived this morning from my storage, and Mariella and I spread the word around to those with deep pockets.

From the looks of how many cars are here in front and behind us already, I'd say it's going to be an interesting night.

"No more childish talk, Eloise is not like your one night stand women." I told her sternly, his response being a single huff.

The door opens on either side and then me and Liam get out, I go to the guest list and say my name, watching as they tick my name off, and then Liam's name before we head inside the venue that was brimming with people I recognized, and some not.

The inside was thriving more so than the outside, yet despite just arriving, I had been spotted by a few faces which made me sigh internally as they made their way over to me and Liam, who had helped himself to a glass of champagne from a waiter.

"Well if it isn't Charles Grant, looking handsome as ever." Mrs. Carol Smith, linking her arm in her sons, Daniels.

"Mrs. Smith." I greet her with a smile, whilst nodding to Daniel as he nods back.

The alcohol coming from Daniel was hard to ignore, having my senses ten times as advanced as humans meant it was almost impossible to avoid in these scenarios.

"I saw one of your pieces is up for grabs." She giggled, making her son roll his eyes. "I do admit I'm going to be keeping my eye on it, after all, I've been dreaming of owning something from your private collection."

I clear my throat as she pressed her hand against my chest in a rather sultry way, making me very uncomfortable, even though I should be used to this, she has not changed in the year that I have known her, or her family.

"I wish you luck." I smile tightly, wanting to go and find Eloise. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

I did not wait for a response as I walked away, Liam had long left me the moment the Smith's caught me by the door, I ventured further through the bodies to try and get a view on Eloise and where exactly she was.

Someone had walked into me, making me stop and glare towards them, only seeing who it was once they turned around, bringing an instant disgusting taste on my tongue as he looked at me, no doubt with the same distaste I shared for him.

"Oh, it's you."

"Fancy seeing you here." He gruffly said, looking over me. "You somebody's plus one, Grant?"

What I would not give from my collection to sink my teeth into this man and rip out his throat, but I was going to be on my best tonight, just for her.

I held back a smile as I accepted a drink from a passing water. "Yes well, I do love a good cause." I take a sip of the sparkling champagne, not missing the look of hate in his eyes.

"Your daughter actually invited me." I finally said, breaking the tension in his vein on his forehead. "She's done quite a fantastic job, wouldn't you agree?"

His face was turning red, as I took another drink, and finally- ignoring the hard glare from William, I finally found her making her way through the crowd, talking to people as she passes, before her eyes finally meet with mine.

"I did not know you had a daughter, she's quite impressive." 

"How do you know Eloise?" William demanded, my eyes shifting back to him. "Whatever you're doing I want you to stay away from her, do you hear me?"

"Stay away from my daughter, or you won't like the consequences, Grant." He spoke harshly, making me hum.

"Is that a threat, minister?" I ask but he says no more as he scoffs out, looking away from me.

William Ruthenvolt...

Why are you making it so hard for me to not kill you where you stand? 

All you had to do was act civil, I see that he is now incapable of controlling his already rude manners, perhaps it is actually time I knock some manners into him...

"Rowan, you made it." Eloise's sweet voice reaches my ears as she comes to stand in front of me and a very angrily looking Ruthenvolt.

"Anything for you." I said bluntly, making her blush scarlet and making her father turn purple at the face as the glass in his hand cracks.

"I'm pleased you invited me, the place looks great." I say to her, making her happy.

So, his daughter is his weak spot? Amusing. 

Oh how I'd love to play with him, but given who his daughter is to me, I couldn't bring myself to do it, as much as I disliked the man, Eloise deserves better than to be a chew toy.

"Do you both know each other?" She asks, her eyes skipping from mine to Williams.

I finish the remaining of my drink before putting it on a passing server's tray, and as William was not saying anything, I became the better man and answered sweet Eloise's question.

"We're acquainted." I simply said, not going into details of how I wish for nothing but to actually kill her father with my bare hands.

She was dressed well this time, rather than wearing something that drowned her figure like at my birthday party, she was wearing a tight dark black dress that hugged every curve on her body.

Normally I'd be very put off by this type of attire on a woman, but it's doing wonders for me right tonight, I'm liking this look on her a lot, the only downside was that I couldn't take her to a nice shiny corner and show her how incredible she looked with my hands, and my tongue.

"Oh." I smile at her. "It looks like it's going to be quite a successful show up, I expect every piece will be bought."

"Yeah, I think so too, and it's all thanks to you, I can't thank you enough for helping me out, all of us at the charity appreciate you helping us out." She said with a happy smile, her hand reaching out to touch my arm.

"How did he help you out?" William asks, his eyes glaring at her knuckles brushing mine.

"Mr. Grant spread the word and because of him it looks like we not only have enough for the children's hospital, but enough for all of them." She laughed, causing her father to frown.

"You could've told me, I could have helped." He said, making her shift uncomfortable on her feet. "Eloise you can depend on me more, with my connections you wouldn't need to do a damned fundraiser with scraps of art." He snapped out, his tone annoyed.

"I wouldn't call a 2.6 million pounds piece of art scrap, William." My temper was now getting the best of me as I looked him dead in the eye.

I was growing tired of him being around, it was time for him to leave. 

"You look tired Mr. Prime Minister, perhaps you should call it a night?" I suggested, holding his gaze with mine.

Under my influence his expression turned stoic as he nodded his head,. "Yes... you're right, I do feel quite tired all of a sudden..."

Drunk on my illusion he turned around with his glass still in hand and continued to walk towards the exit of the venue, his bodyguards tailing after him once he steps outside.

Good riddance.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that." Eloise said, embarrassed from what just happened. "I didn't think he'd act like that with you, I don't know what his problem is tonight, he's usually nice."

I did know, however there was no point in going over it when tonight was her night. 

"It's fine, I've already forgot all about it."

She nodded her head and looked around shyly before looking me over with her lust filled eyes, and even in a crowd full of people, I have never wanted to influence so many people at once just so I could ravish her mercifully on the floor.

I lean forward and press my lips to her cheek, giving her a kiss, ignoring those around me looking on curiously to whom I was kissing, being who I was, with the money I owned, people grew a fascination in my life, it was something I couldn't avoid, even as a child.

Yet it didn't bother me, tonight was all about her.

"Show me around?" I suggest, and she finally comes to her senses and nods her head.

"S-Sure, of-course, please." She gestures for me to follow her.

Before she leaded me through the crowd, I clasped my hand in hers, making her look at me with wide eyes, filled with surprise, to which I simply played innocent and smiled.

"I would hate to be separated from you." 

A tap on my shoulder stops me, and makes me turn around to see who it was, making me look at the two faces staring in front of me.

Well would you look at this? What a surprise indeed. "Officers."

"Can I help you?" I ask, as both offices smile at me politely, both looking very uncomfortable.

"Are you Rowan Grant?" A police officer asks and I look around to see that their being here has caused quite the stir.

"I am." What did they want? And I had to wonder if anything else was going to ruin my night, first her dreaded father and now this, although count me curious.

Why would they be coming to me in a place like this.

"Could we speak to you for a moment please?" One asks. "Preferably somewhere else, sir."

This better be important, it seems my patience is wearing thin tonight.