Temporary bride for the demon overlord-Chapter 27: The new arrival

If Karma thought this she was accustomed to corporate parties, she was proved wrong.

This was different from anything she had ever attended.

Never did she think everyone here would each have an ulterior motive, sharp claws and veiled words.

Her dress was a blue lace with an overlapping silver chiffon. It was the prettiest dress she’d ever worn.

It was paired with a teardrop diamond and a silver heel. Her hair was styled into a ponytail with soft wisp left to frame her face.

Alphonse had been speechless when he saw her. He cleared his throat several times and averted his gaze.

"This party is hosted by me." He said gruffly.

"What?! Why didn’t you tell me this?" Karma demanded, irritated.

"I’m telling you now."

"It’s fine. I guess I should be prepared enough by now. I’ve been attending parties like this all my life."

"Everyone is invited," he looked uncomfortable by this fact.

Karma shrugged, "As long as you haven’t invited the president of the country or anything like that." she joked. Expecting a chuckle or even a smile.

She panicked at his serious face. He really couldn’t have invited the president now could he?

His agitation rose and he sighed.

"What? Don’t tell me the President is invited?" Karma’s eyes bulged.

"Sure. I won’t tell you." He added unhelpfully.

He couldn’t hide the small smile on his lips.

Karma felt overwhelmed, excited and frustrated all at once. It really wasn’t a pleasant combination. Her mind boggled at the scale of her husband’s influence.

This man wields influence to invite the President?

This was the man she’d married. This was the man she had at her disposal. Perhaps she wasn’t using him to his full potential.

After all he had been her first choice because of how powerful he was. Perhaps...

Her train of thought was jolted abruptly by the realization that he was a demon. Normal mortal don’t take advantage of demons and live to tell the tale.

She swallowed nervously and darted a glance at him. His eyes had return to their impassiveness, blank and scary.

She took a tentative step towards the car. Perhaps she was getting ahead of herself. She’d been known to do that sometimes.

And here they were an hour into the party. Which wasn’t really a party.

Their presence had been announced as Mr and Mrs Li and Karma felt a jolt deep inside her belly.

She really was tied to this man and the world was learning of this fact today.

How would this work? In her favor? Against her?

People were found of quickly attributing a woman’s success to her husband’s influence. She had steeled her spine and descended the stairs, into the sea of people watching with morbid fascination.

Each one wondering about how special she had been to have capture the heart of the infamous Alphonse Li.

They would learn soon enough.

As they approached the end of the stairs, Alphonse hand sneak to the curve of her back. And rested there.

It made her face turn crimson.

His touch was possessive, his eyes stared at her. It was a giddy thing, being the sole reciever of his intensity.

The party resumed, people mingling, future deal placed, alliances were being formed.

A whisper here, soft laugh there. Covert stares, and handshakes.

Yet Karma couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was being watched by everyone present in the room.

"Mr Li." A sturdy man garbled in a black suit, pranced towards them.

"Mr Gardner. So nice to see you here," Alphonse greeted.

The man’s oily smile seem to rival the glittering light from the chandelier.

"I hear felicitations are in order. Congratulations on your marriage." He stared at Karma indirectly sending a jab.

"This is Karma Li. My wife." Was the simple yet weighty introduction.

"I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to be introduced to her." Karma stretched out her hand and he bowed low over it.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance Mrs Li. I’m Felix Gardner."

"Karma Li." She echoed Alphonse word.

Even though theirs was a sham marriage, it was necessary to play their roles when they were outside.

She placed hand on Alphonse, watch his eyes focus on her and smiled.

"My husband had told me a lot about you." A lie if there had ever been one. She’d never heard of him.

He seem to be aware of this fact and just smiled. Something about that smile was creepy and it sent shards of misgivings down her spine.

This was someone to steer clear of.

Another hour passed much like this one. Introduction after introduction, Karma enduring their perusing glance and watched as they came to the conclusion of dismissing her.

Some people think perhaps befriending her was going to get them into Alphonse good grace.

"I thought you said the president is here?" Karma whispered from the corner of her mouth.

She was tired from all this smile that never reached their eyes. Tired of being examined and scrutinized as if she were a lab rat.

"I said invited him. I never said he’ll be here." He replied in a low timbre.

Karma sighed.

"You’d better tell me now, if there are more guest I should take special note of." She gritted out.

"I don’t think there is..." his words trailed off at the new arrivals.

Seraphina draped over Ethan’s shoulder like a shrug.

The sight made dread drop low and heavy into Karma’s gut. She had no energy left to trade veiled insult or tolerate Ethan’s idiocy.

She glared at Alphonse only to find him gripping her almost painfully.

"Shit shit shit." He muttered rapidly.

Karma held back her complaint. What was it?

"I should have known. I should have known this bastard would pull a move like this." He growled, eyes flashing with anger.

Karm

a was about to send him a sharp retort when her eyes found the man. Whisper died in the ballroom, the shuffling sound stilled.

Everyone stared at the new man who was descending the stairs.