They got to Charles’ house, the Gomez Place and they all alighted from the limousine. There were no paparazzi lurking behind nor around them, so it was safe to leave the vehicle.
Out of all Damien’s friends, Charles had the lowest profile. He preferred to live a low-key life with his wife away from the radar of story-crazy reporters and journalists.
Charles’ house was like a palace. The white structure sat on a very large expanse of land. Despite the dim lights of the night, the beauty of the place could already be perceived. It was like an exotic resort right in the middle of the city.
Damien was grateful to Charles for offering his penthouse to him and Céline. His hold on her hand tightened as they walked through the large front doors of the big house. If he hadn’t known better he would have said he had walked into the reception area of some five-star hotel, but he knew better.
Charles loved to have the best things in his own home and at his own reach. When he got married to Mirilyn it became like an obsession to turn their home into a haven, so he didn’t have to ever wish to be somewhere else but home. He had a spa, a gym house, a bar, a game house, even his office was in the house. He truly didn’t have to go anywhere to receive luxury for luxury was at his finger tips.
The strip club was the only place he went to that was outside of his home. And he tried endlessly to change that too.
The four of them walked in comfortable silence till they got to the elevator area. Mirilyn and Charles stopped, Damien and Céline mirrored their action.
“I am sure you both are extremely tired, you can take the elevator from here to the last floor, that’s the penthouse, and I’ll send a maid up with food and refreshments.” Mirilyn announced like a proper hostess.
“Thank you so much Mirilyn.” Céline whispered, truly grateful for Mirilyn’s hospitality. If she were in her shoes, she would have just sent them off without having to said any maid nor food to them, but yes, Céline didn’t own a palace in the city.
Damien only nodded to show his gratitude to his friend.
“You don’t have to be thankful, Damien here is my brother. This is small compared to all the things I have done for him,” Charles joked and they all smiled.
Céline leaned slightly into Damien and he welcomed the soft feel of her skin over his chest.
“Now, Mirilyn and I have to go finish some business.” Charles gave a quick salute and held Mirilyn’s shoulders. His wife smiled, pulling at his fingers.
“Yeah, you guys go get some rest. Goodnight!”
“Goodnight!” Damien responded with a smile of his own.
Charles took his wife and they turned to leave.
Damien remained in the same position watching his friend long after they had disappeared into a door by the far end of the large room. He was truly regretful to have friends like Charles, Lucas and even Brian.
They were people he could rely on and never be disappointed. They had been with him through his worst, back when the old Céline ruined him in front of the whole college. His friends were the only people who gave him a reason to go on. And even today, Lucas had helped in bringing his Céline to him at that podium, he was almost losing it back there and Lucas rescued him.
Then again, there was his mother, who had put up that news on the tabloids about him needing a wife. Celine wouldn’t have applied and her file would have never reached his mother. Maybe he might have never found Céline again, if not for that same file.
Now, he had Céline. The woman that made everything she touched beautiful. The woman who made love seem less scary.
Céline, his mum and his friends.
His life was complete with all of them in it.
The elevator door dinged open and Damien jumped out of his thoughts, turning sharply to stare at it and wondering how it had opened.
“Did you-” He made to ask Céline but she spoke faster.
“Ah! You are still alive!” Céline exclaimed with sarcasm.
“I thought I had lost you there.” Her face carried the brightest smile Damien had ever seen and it contaminated him. He just stood there, smiling at her, grateful to the heavens for gifting him with an angel.
“Come on, let’s go check out the penthouse!” Céline exclaimed pulling Damien into the elevator.
She pressed the highest number she could find on the control panel, guessing it to be their destination and turned to Damien with her contagious smile.
“Oh my God! This place is so beautiful! It is like a palace!” She exclaimed, her eyes glowing with admiration.
“Is Mr Charles a prince? How did he get such a huge place!”
She ran her fingers along the walls of the elevator, smiling and giggling at the fine designs.
Damien couldn’t talk. He only stared at her. He wanted to memorize all the lines her face made whenever she moved, when ever she smiled or when she said a certain letter.
God, Céline was truly beautiful and she was his. Yes, she had accepted to be his wife.
He couldn’t believe it himself. When he had spoken those words back at the podium, he didn’t know where the courage had come from. His heart was partly in his chest and partly in his stomach. He was scared to the balls. He feared history would repeat itself and even this Céline would be married and would want to have nothing to do with him. As he brought out that ring, he thought he was going to be heart wrecked again. But Céline had accepted.
His happiness could not be measured when she said that one word, ‘yes’. He became so light weight at that moment, he could fly.
“Have you even been listening to anything I have been saying?” Céline said, snapping her fingers in front of him.
He pulled her fingers and her body followed them to land unto him. She crashed gently into him, placing her open palms against his chest.
“Nothing in this place, compares to your beauty, Céline.” Damien whispered.
Céline blushed and looked down. Damien followed her eyes and he saw that she was looking at her ring.
The diamond sparkled, reflecting the light above them.
When his mother had given it to him, he did think the ring would fit Céline perfectly. And he was right. The diamond sat on her finger like God himself made it for her right from its creation.
Damien took her hands gently and pulled them to his face. He then kissed the ring and looked up at Céline.
“I love you Céline Fayet.”
He placed another kiss on her forehead and like on cue the elevator’s door opened revealing their new home for the night.
Céline used the opportunity to run off into the house, so she could hide her blush.
Damien watched her move with a sheepish smile on his face. Lucas was right, he was utterly hooked to Céline for eternity.
He walked into the apartment and he pulled off his jacket. Slowly taking his time to stroll casually into the room. It was a king-sized bed with flowy white curtains, Damien smiled, for the image reminded him of Céline’s aunt words. She didn’t want her niece losing her virginity before the marriage. If that would make Aunt Elizabeth trust him to take good care of Céline, then he would wait. He would wait till they got married before he touched her innocence.
He heard shuffling behind him and he turned around, only to find Céline scowling at the bedroom decoration.
“Is there a problem?” Damien queried. He knew that just like her aunt, Céline must also be worried about spending the night with him in a bed that was made for love making.
“Errr- actually, the maid is here, I was wondering what you would like to have?” Céline asked her eyes still trailing on the bed.
“You.” Damien said with a smile. He was teasing her. He wanted to see her reaction.
“Okay, i’ll just- huh?” She stopped her babble half way and stared up at Damien.
“You want me?” Her eyes increased in size as she stared at him obviously not believing her ears.
“Yes.” Damien confirmed, taking slow steps towards her.
Céline was transfixed on the spot as Damien advanced. When he got to her, he pulled her into his hard chest. Her face was inches away from his. Her cheeks became red again and she bent her head.
Damien smiled. Céline was so predictable, yet so adorable.
He placed his finger under her jaw and pulled her face up so she was looking into his eyes.
“Never hide your blush from me again. I like seeing it. It’s beautiful,” Damien whispered before his lips met hers in a gentle but promising kiss.