My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 176: What’s She Hiding?

(Karsten)

The next time I saw Arata, I didn’t even know how to approach her without having to confront my feelings for her. Being a coward, I was not ready for that conversation.

The event kept me extremely busy, too, and I decided to put a hold on whatever was going through between us.

While Halima badgered me and stylists insisted on adjusting my makeup, Ranold joined in with his latest updates on how the event was going so far and how it was buzzing on every social media.

By the time I had untangled myself from them, Arata had disappeared but Caysir was still standing by the door.

I glanced in every direction but I couldn’t locate her.

"Ten minutes, Sir. You and Arata are on in ten minutes," Halima’s voice came as I hurried over to Caysir, amidst the mayhem of the backstage.

"Where is Arata?" I asked with my eyes narrowed. My voice came out a tad annoyed. I had told him to stay by her side at all times.

"She stepped out for a breather," Caysir said with a bit of hesitation.

I shook my head. "You should have gone with her."

"I tried but she wanted to go alone." Caysir now seemed hyper-alert and tried to grab the door handle to step out.

"No, let me fetch her." Opening the door I hurried outside, my eyes darting in all directions for her.

It was then I caught sight of her, running towards me while her head was turned in the opposite direction as if she was escaping something. She collided with me and I caught her before she crashed to the ground.

"Arata!!! What happened?" I asked in my heavy voice so if someone was chasing her they would know I was here.

She frantically turned, her free locks swirling in the air as she faced me with fear and horror etched on every inch of her face. Her eyes were saucer-wide in fright as she tried to scramble away from me but I held her tight, afraid she might collapse.

"Kar...sten!" She stammered, trying to reel in some of the emotions which so openly flashed on her face.

"Was anyone chasing you? What is it?" I asked, confused and angered at the same time, glancing in the direction she had come running from.

The backdoor to the hall opened and Halima popped her head out and said in urgency.

"Sir, we are on the clock. You are next, hurry."

Arata seemed to have gained some of the composure back. I didn’t care about the damn runway walk at that moment, I just wanted Arata to be safe.

"We are coming," Arata answered in haste, and finally, her eyes found mine.

Such terror I found in her blue orbs, the one I had never witnessed before, not even when someone had left a dead bird in her purse. The tears she had wiped away had left marks on her face.

Someone made her cry...the anger surged through me like a twister of fury, wishing to devour whoever it was.

I was going to get to the bottom of this.

"We don’t have to do it. I can send Ranold, in my place. Tell me what happened?" I rubbed her back in tender movements but the fear in her eyes didn’t ease.

Shaking, her whole body was shaking as if an earthquake was rumbling through her.

"Later, we have to do this first." She was barely holding on to herself and was clearly hiding whatever had rattled her.

Halima called us again and I had no option but to follow through.

I led her inside, but somehow, she seemed distant, closed, as if she didn’t want me to touch her.

The makeup artist rushed towards her, fixing the smeared mess on her face.

"15 seconds," Halima’s voice rumbled out and Arata forcefully put a smile on her terror-stricken face.

I wanted to console her, wrap her in my arms and just take her away but she wasn’t even looking at me. Her mind seemed to have shut down.

"You are on," Halima finally announced as the makeup artist stepped back, and we began to move.

"You have to talk to me after this. Whatever it is, just tell me. Okay?" I said under my breath as the dazzling lights and thousands of flashes welcomed us on the ramp walk.

She didn’t answer but focused on her walk, keeping her head straight and that forced smile plastered on her lips.

The crowd cheered as we made the style statement but I didn’t care about the world at that moment. My eyes wouldn’t leave her face.

"Mr Karsten!!! Smile for the camera, please."

"What a couple!"

"Are they a thing?"

"Are you guys dating?"

Questions were hurled at us, left and right but my focus wouldn’t shift. free𝑤ebnovel.com

I did force myself to smile and thank everyone for coming to the event, but in reality, my head and heart screamed that something was awfully wrong.

On auto, I gave the rehearsed speech, thanking everyone for attending and welcoming them to visit our open house for more winter collection and dinner.

Arata remained by my side, waving and flashing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Her family was here too, so I guessed she would at least relax seeing them.

On one occasion, she froze. Since her hand rested on my arm, I felt her body stiffening beside me. I tried to follow the trail of her gaze, but she quickly averted it, and I couldn’t figure out whom she had seen.

This much was obvious to me. Someone was here, who had put her on the edge and made her cry. Someone she recognised.

But who?

Could it be her stalker?

Had he revealed himself to her?

So many questions tortured my brain cells.

I patted her hand so she would relax a bit but she didn’t.

We headed backstage, and I tried to speak with her again, but she shut me out.

I needed to attend the after-events, but now I had no intention of doing that. Once we crossed the curtains, I found Ranold and told him to handle the guests. He understandably nodded and scurried away.

My only focus was Arata so I guided her towards the room we had gotten ready in earlier.

As soon as I shut the door and locked it, Arata let go of my arm, putting as much distance between us as possible.

She hugged herself with her arms twining around her, her beautiful face etched in pain and agony as she asked.

"I need you to be very very sincere with me in every question I am going to ask you today. Can you do that? If you lie, I will walk away and won’t ever return."

My heart skipped a few beats but I nodded. Did she know my secrets? Could it be?

I wondered what she was going to ask me.

"Did you hire me on purpose or was the message by your company sent randomly?" She questioned in dead seriousness.

Never had I seen her in such a mood before.

Seemed like someone had told her something and now the truth I had concealed needed to be revealed.