“What of Mum?” She asked when she raised her head from resting on his shoulder.
“Oh she went out for an assignment that was why she told Sofia to make sure she dresses you up for this evening, Dimitri’s parent’s an-” he was interrupted by the knock-on Audriana’s door. “Come in”
“Good evening sir, Miss Audriana has a visitor waiting for her downstairs”
“Name?” Kingsley asked but Audriana already knew who it was.
“Dimitri Lorenzo, sir,” she replied.
“Okay, you may go, tell him we will be with him in a moment. ” Kinglsey dismissed the maid.
The maid turned and left.
“He is here, if what you just told me is correct he will definitely love what you are wearing, your Mum knows how to captivate me with little things. It is the love I have for her that makes little things seem more” Kingsley kissed her on the forehead and there Audriana wished she had a union like her parents “I will meet you at the event” he stood up and took her by the hand taking her along with him.
They both descended the stairs with her hand hooked to his arm, they saw him sitting down on the single sofa and slightly tapping his knee.
“Dimitri son” Kingsley called out to him when they were behind him.
Dimitri sat up properly and stood up adjusting his suit jacket, before turning to the voice that called him, and oh boy his mind and heart did not prepare him for what is in front of him.
‘She’s gorgeous’ his inner mind said to him and he agreed, the spaghetti strap gown she wore hugged her curves so well, her skin glowed and he wondered what was her secret, her hair in a neat bun with tendrils at both side of her head exposing her inviting neck and a light nude makeup.
She was carrying a handy gold purse and wore gold stilettos to complete her outfit. She made whatever she was wearing beautiful. Seeing her was more than enough to weaken his entire system for the night.
‘How perfect can she get?’ he asked himself. He hoped he would be able to hold himself and not do something stupid.
He didn’t know he had his mouth hung open and looking at Audriana until he felt a light tap on his shoulder, it was like he was taken from whatever planet his mind traveled to. He looked to his right and saw Kingsley looking slightly up at him with a smile on his face.
“I know that look boy, take care of my princess. If you don’t see how I treat her Mum, I will tell you” he took his hand off Dimitri’s shoulder.
“I treat her like a queen, as my precious treasure, and I expect better treatment from you to my daughter. She’s an amazing girl and I don’t want her to be hurt. Do I have your word that you won’t hurt her?” Kingsley asked the last part, looking at him with all seriousness.
Dimitri tore his eyes from looking at the blushing Audriana to her father who had a serious look.
“You have my word, sir,” he said and Kingsley let out a sigh of relief and looked back at his daughter and nodded at her then back to Dimitri before leaving them in the living room.
“Thank you for coming to pick me up, ” she said, feeling too conscious of herself.
‘Be bold baby, be bold’ her inner self cheered her but she doesn’t know why she is feeling all shy when he looks at her, lots and lots of handsome looking men has looked at her, even some undressing her with their eyes, but she paid them no attention ‘so why become conscious because of him?’ she asked herself.
He was looking good in his black suit and champagne gold button shirt, his hair was neatly gelled to the back. Like he knew what she would be wearing, she blushed some more at his stare.
“Let’s go,” he said, offering her his hand, she looked at that gesture in surprise. When her eyes met with his, he gave her a warm look and a nod to take his hand.
She put her hand in his warm hand and he brought her closer to himself wrapping his arms around her and still looking into her eyes, she gulped at their closeness and looked down when she couldn’t continue looking at him.
“Let’s go,” he said again and began walking with her hands locked in his.
She is surprised by what just happened, they were alone and all that affection was for the public eye not when they are alone.
He opened the door for her and she got in before he closed the door and went to the driver’s seat and closed the door after he was settled. She was fidgeting with her hands and purse as nervousness took over her.
He looked at her from the side of his eyes and saw how she was fidgeting, he needed to clear the air and what happened in there. That closeness did more to him than he could imagine.
“Your dad was watching us, that was why I held you in that manner, don’t put too much meaning in it, you look needy,” he said quickly and started the car.
She turned her head immediately to look at him when those words left his mouth. ‘You look needy’ her face was contorted with anger and she was seeing red.
‘What the hell is his problem?’ she thought, yes she agreed his touch earlier did some things to her but that statement he made was provoking, she didn’t want to seem proud but she had never needed or asked for a man’s attention in her entire life, it was the other way round, and this annoying child calling her needy is a blow to her lady pride.
‘But did I look needy?’ she asked herself, ‘was it obvious I enjoyed those brief moments we shared? did I really seem like I needed his touch or attention? Or was it my clothes?’ The last question that passed through her mind made her so conscious and she looked down at the dress her Mum made. It was quite decent and even her Mum assured her it was okay to wear knowing how uncomfortable Audriana gets when she exposes just a little skin.
Her cleavage isn’t showing, he took note of that and was pleased with it. He knew what he said was hurtful and unpleasant but he just had to clear the air around them. He was nervous but didn’t show it, he hoped the night would go well.
***
“Wow, this seems like a huge function, I love the decorations” Patricia comments when they get into the building the event will take place.
“I know right, I know you’ll love it,” Moana said looking around for the main door to the hall. “Here, come. I guess it’s here” Moana took Patricia’s hands in hers and walked to the entrance. “Oh, I need to use the bathroom, go ahead I will see you soon” Moana quickly left Patricia in front of the door and turned to the right.
Patricia sighed and opened the door and noticed it was slightly dark, just a few lights could be seen. She wondered if the function had started, she walked in a little more and looked around her and saw nothing.
“Maybe it hasn’t started” she turned and began walking towards the door when she heard a big surprise! and the lights came on.
Startled, she turned around sharply and saw her husband, Kingsley, Moana, some of her workers, friends, and some other guests all with big smiles on their faces.
She still had her hand to her chest to calm her fast-beating heart, then Donald walked up to her and gave her a hug to which she reciprocated with a smile on her face and slightly teary eyes.
“Donald” she hugged him tightly.
“Baby, I am sorry for this morning,” he said when they parted from the hug ” I had to make sure nothing went wrong, I wanted to make everything perfect for you,” he said and wiped the tears on her face before giving her a kiss and they were cheered by everyone.
“Where are Dimitri and Audriana?” she asked.
“They will be here soon, now let’s greet our guest” he held her hands and they walked to their family and friends to thank them and greet them.
“Moana, you!” Patricia and Moana hugged each other.
“I just had to play along, he was the one who picked your dress,” Moana said, “didn’t I say he would be okay with it?”
“Yeah, thank you… I feel so alive and it still feels like we just met and we are announcing our engagement” she looked at her husband that was talking to Kingsley but he was already checking her out, when he noticed her stare he winked at her and mouthed ‘i love you’ that made her blush and giggle.
“He is so cheesy,” Patricia said and let out a laugh.
“I thought my baby was,” Moana said and they both laughed.
“Aunty,” Sofia came along with Aiden, Caleb, and Emily.
“Sofia, oh my GOD where have you been?” She hugged her so hard.
“You guys know each other?” Moana asked when she heard Sofia call Patricia Aunty.
“Mom,” she hugged Moana and she accepted it. “Yes we do, my Mum and Aunt Patricia are step-sisters” she replied.
Moana was quite shocked about the revelation.
“Congrats Aunty,” Caleb said and gave her a hug, so did Emily.
“Thank you so much, Caleb, Emily how are you doing? How’s the baby? Kicking?” she asked the blond lady with a slightly producing stomach.
“Yes, Aunt” she replied with a smile.
“Oh my, you look, gorgeous Ma’am,” Aiden said and hugged her.
“Aiden, you never fail to melt the hearts of the female gender” she laughed.
“Of course Aunt, women are great and beautiful creations of GOD, we need to take care of them and make them feel good about themselves, just as much as we feel good staring at them,” he said and Patricia just gave him a weird look.
“Okay I actually don’t know what you’re implying but okay”
“Good evening ma’am” Aiden and Caleb greet Moana with hugs and a kiss on the cheek.
“How are you both doing?” she asked when they part from the hug “Emily dear how are you?”
“We are fine, and planning two weddings now,” Caleb said.
“I am doing great ma’am, how about you?” Emily asked, rubbing her stomach a bit.
“I’m fine, thank you.
“We can make it three if you have someone you want to marry” Caleb looked at Aiden.
“No thanks I am fine”
“What of Dimitri?” Patricia asked, looking around.
“He went to pick up his bride to be” Aiden answers.
“Dimitri is getting married? Oh my, what an unlucky girl” Sofia said with sympathy.
“I think he likes her, he couldn’t stop talking about her” Aiden adds.
“More like his other sense was talking,” Sofia shrugs. “I wish that lady luck,” she said.
Donald came to meet his wife and held her from behind.
“Hi Sofia, Caleb, Aiden, and Emily” he greets and they greet him back.
“Babe, we are going to be announcing Audriana and Dimitri’s engagement in a bit, we just need to wait for them” Donald whispered to her ears, she turned to him and smiled.
“Donald, are you sure about this union?”
“Yes, Pat, they seem like they’re in love” he nods to the main entrance.
Dimitri and Audriana can be seen walking into the hall with their hands entwined, they both had smiles on their faces.