“So you say you don’t like this girl in question?” asked Caleb as he passes Dimitri his bowtie.
“Nope, not even her beautiful brown eyes could captivate me to look deeper into her eyes and know more about her” Dimitri answered absent-mindedly.
Caleb and Aiden exchanged the same look of surprise, and Aiden nodded his head at Caleb, indicating that he would continue.
“How did you say she looked again?” Caleb asked.
Dimitri paused with tying his bow tie and looks at himself in the mirror in thoughts.
“Brown eyes, golden locks, petite, beautiful smile...curvy, pink lips you know her eyes lit up when she is happy or laughing, I noticed that when we were first introduced, she is quite polite and--” he furrowed his brows in a frown “wait, what the hell am I saying?” he asked in a slightly angry voice.
He turned to look at his friend and cousin to see them giving him knowing looks, which he hated. Why was he saying all those things about her? Why did he remember every detail of her? 'You never remember anything about a woman since her, Dimitri.' He reprimands himself. He wasn’t sure what was about her that made him so drawn, he had seen women way prettier and curvy than her, then why did he remember all those details? Why was he anxious and giddy to see her?
She was supposed to dislike him, even hate him. He was planing on annoying her till she detests his presence and so it would be easy to forget her and all. Why is he feeling all this?
“What?” he asked annoyed by their look.
“Nothing,” Caleb said.
“It’s just that a guy won’t give every detail you just gave about a girl he doesn’t want to have anything to do with” Aiden shrugs “It could be you need to get laid or you are actually liking this girl” he states matter of factly.
Dimitri just rolled his eyes and continued tying his bow tie.
“I don’t like her,” he said after some time.
“Yup, we heard you,” Aiden said sarcastically, earning a scowl from Dimitri.
“Let’s be quick and get this over with,” he finished tying his bow tie and wore his black jacket.
***
“It was supposed to be our special day and he left so early, without giving me any note, he sent me a message a few hours ago telling me to stay home and he wouldn’t have sent it if I had not been calling” Patricia complained to her friend as she wore some of the dresses Moana brought. “How about this?” she twirled and struck a pose.
“Uh… no try this,” Moana said handing her a red sleeveless dress with a little opening at the back. The glitters on it made it shine so bright “Patricia dear, don’t overwork yourself because of this. It was just a mare mistake, forgive him already and show me that inner supermodel I have for a friend” Moana shooed Patricia into the closet to wear the dress.
She bent to pick up the silver shimmering Jimmy Choo heels.
“This will go” she muttered to herself.
“I don’t hold a grudge against him, I am not just pleased with what he did today,” Patricia said from inside the closet.
“Calm down girl, I am sure he would definitely make it up to you,” Moana said arranging the clothes that were scattered around the ground and bed of the guest room.
“Yeah, he better” she stepped out of the closet “How about this?” she asked.
Moana looked up at her friend and smiled at how the clothing hugged her curves. ‘He definitely will love this’ she thought to herself.
“This is perfect” Moana clapped her hand. “Now sit, let me get your hair and makeup done”
“Hello designer, that’s my job...and where are we going?”
“Well there’s a function, Kingsley is with your husband and I don’t want to go alone, that’s why I decided to come here to take you along”
“Okay, this is a really nice dress but I don’t think Donald will like me wearing this to a function he won’t be there,” Patricia said looking down at her outfit and going to the mirror to look at the back.
“Oh come on, he has a good-looking wife and won’t mind this dress at all, it isn’t showing much skin and your cleavage is hidden.” Moana grabbed Patricia by the hand, they walked back to the dresser and sat Patricia down. She took out a cape and wrapped it around Patricia.
“I might not be a professional makeup artist but I can do a bit magic here and there” she wore an apron to prevent stains to her dress.
***
“Holy pasta! I gotta go” Sofia exclaimed making Audriana almost choke on what she was eating.
“What happened? Why did you startle me like that?” she asked patting her chest.
“Oh sorry, I totally forgot about my Aunt’s surprise wedding anniversary...it’s happening in thirty minutes and I made a promise to Caleb I would come. Audri, don’t be mad at me...I should have told you before”
“Oh! Okay my greetings to her then and say hi to Caleb and Aiden”
“Okay, but let me at least assist you with dressing up, come on let’s go” Sofia finished up the ice cream and dumped the container in the trash can so did Audriana.
“Wow, I love your dress,” Sofia said when she zipped her dress for her.
She was wearing a spaghetti strap gold shimmering body-hugging dress the reaches the ankle, she was pairing it with her gold Jimmy Choo heels and a gold purse.
“Sexy” Sofia wriggled her brows “Mum did a great job here” she passed her purse to her. “Here. Now gimme your best posed I need some pictures.”
“You said you’re late for your Aunt’s Anniversary party, shoo go…” Audriana told her friend and took a seat “and thank you for making me look good”
“It’s no problem dear, I will still get my pictures and do me a favor and let that man drool over you” Sofia added with a wink.
Audriana threw a bored look and pointed at the door “Bye!” she said.
Sofia just laughed and went out the door “Bye girl”
“Don’t stuff meat in your bra!” Audriana shouts.
“I will” Sofia yells back.
“Such a girl” Audriana muttered under her breath “Audrian you can do this,” she tells herself with a sigh.
***
“Now let’s go, quick or we will be late” Moana yells from the bottom of the stairs while checking her purse.
“Okay, okay I am here” Patricia descends from the stairs “Are you sure about this dress?”
“One hundred percent sure, now let’s go” they both walked out of the house to the car where the driver waits for them.
***
“Okay man, are you going to go pick this lady or you’ll both meet at the event?” Aiden asked when they came out of Dimitri’s penthouse elevator and walked towards the garage where their cars are parked.
“I am going to pick her up and since we want people to believe that we are in love” Dimitri cringe at the love part.
“Okay, I wish you luck on this journey...I just hope she is your match and can’t be controlled by you” Aiden said.
“Amen to that” Caleb said and unlocked his car “Aiden is coming with me, so we will meet there” Dimitri nods and unlocks his car also.
Just as he was about to enter his car Aiden spoke up.
“Remember to tell me how the slap went” he looked confused and asked.
“What slap?”
“The one she gives you when you try to kiss her,” he said with a wink and entered the car.
“Asshole” Dimitri said and earned a laugh from him before entering his car and driving off.
***
She heard a knock on the door and grabbed her bag before going to answer it.
“Good evening Dad” she hugged her Dad.
“My princess” he holds her in his embrace not wanting to go. “You look beautiful” he compliments when they part.
She blushed at his comment “Thank you Dad” she hugged him again. They stayed like that for some minutes. She felt something wet on her shoulder and parts from the hug to see her Dad wiping his eyes.
“What happened Dad?” she brought out her tissue and wiped his face. “Is everything okay?” she asked taking his hand in hers and they went to sit on her bed.
“Oh don’t mind me, Ana, I am just a bit emotional here and sad... I am sorry he isn’t your dream man, I got you into this mess… I am so sorry” he apologized.
“Oh, Dad” she hug her Dad once more and began rubbing comforting circles on his back “Don’t feel bad, I understand you might feel emotional because your baby girl is getting married soon but don’t be sad or sorry…” sh sighs and looked up to find the right words “this is a blessing in disguise” she whispered.
Kingsley parts from the hug to look at her “What do you mean?”
“We are uh...we are...we like each other,” she said quite uncomfortable, and tried her possible best to mask her discomfort talking about how cool she was with the marriage. Because honestly, she isn’t.
“Like each other? The first time you met you almost had each other heads in your hands” her Dad exclaimed.
“Yeah, Dad...uh we had met before that day in a not too good condition so we tried um...talking it out and...we uh...just sh---we are cool now and happy with this union.” her Dad raised one of his brows barely believing what his daughter just said. “He looked me up online, asked for my number, and asked me out on a date to apologize for that day and we...co-” she gulped “connected, so here we are,” she said trying her very best to sound convincing.
“You are sure about this?” he asked not looking anything convinced.
She nods confidently “Yes Dad, he is the one,” she said.
“Okay I believe you, but please tell me if he isn’t treating you right and we will call this off,”
“Oh no Dad, don’t worry...he’ll give you his word” she rests her head on his shoulder. He puts his arm over her and rubbed circles on her arm.
“It is emotional for me as a Dad seeing my baby girl grow up to be a strong and powerful woman in her field, and now soon married...I am proud of you my girl”
“Thank you Dad, I am glad you are proud of me,” she said