Chapter 3: Nice To Meet You Devon... For The First Time

One Week.

One week had gone past since the incident at the hotel, but still he hadn't received any strange texts or calls from an unknown caller.

Devon felt a bit relaxed now, knowing that the stranger from the bar— whoever he was, had no way to contact him. Because if he did, he most definitely would have contacted him by now, making one reckless demand or the other due to his status.

"Happy birthday, Devon." A middle-aged woman said, as she approached him, along with her husband.

Today was indeed his long awaited 26th year birthday, and also the engagement ceremony of him and Anabelle Lawson.

Father had thrown a lavish party to celebrate it— one too lavish for his liking however, and had invited a reasonable amount of highly reputable guests from the business world. Some of the city's politicians and some government officials were also in attendance too.

"I brought you a gift." She added, showing him a relatively small rectangular box, before extending her hands to hug Devon.

"Mrs. Caspian," Devon said as he too stretched out his hands to hug the lady in front of him. "Are they the usual?"

"You bet they are," She said curling her lips, as if she was speaking to some little child. "You know your aunty never misses."

"Oh, of course I do." Devon replied and they all laughed.

"Happy birthday once again, and happy engagement. Anabelle is such a good girl, how come you never mentioned her to me?" She said lightly slapping his arm. "Anyways, you made a very beautiful choice."

Devon could do nothing both smile when she made that statement. They all thought that his soon to be wife had been his choice? He thought.

"Yah! Happy birthday, lad." Her husband said smiling, with his unmistakable Irish ascent as he too stretched out a present to Devon.

"And of course, engagement." He added, as he hugged Devon, patting him on the back as he did.

"Thank you, Mr. Caspian. I am more than honoured."

"Oh please..! How many times do I have to tell you? It's Andrew." He said smiling then turned to leave but then returned almost immediately as if he had forgotten something important, holding a finger up as he did.

"And oh! Welcome to the hell." He whispered with a wink before leaving.

Devon didn't get the joke at first, there were too many things crowding his mind at the moment, so he just feigned a laugh. But when he did get the joke some moments later, he laughed harder.

How ironic? He thought.

This was indeed what he was walking into at the moment— Hell. He was about to be married to some 'beautiful' girl picked and arranged for him, by his dear beloved father. A girl he knew nothing about, except from the fact that her family was wealthy— well, barely as wealthy as they were.

Oh, wow! He knew two things about her, not just one.

He scanned the large room for his father— considering he was standing right in the middle of the hall, Like some goods on display, waiting to be sold to the right buyer, and saw him standing at a corner with some guests.

Everyone gathered here was either his father's business associate or a person of importance, all there to witness not his birthday, but his engagement to a Lawson - an arrangement to strengthen the two families.

Such unions, whether arranged or otherwise, brought families closer together. He reckoned.

Currently, he was surrounded by a mountain of gifts in various sizes, wrapped in colorful paper, the accumulation of presents he'd received since the evening began."

Just then, he saw Madame Evelyn Carter coming his way, her son walking together with her as she did. Hands interlocked in a couple-like manner, with a bigger man who wearing sunglasses behind the pair.

"Oh, Devon!" She said kissing him by the cheeks. "Happy birthday.

"This is your 26th, am I correct?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Devon replied, smiling.

"Ah! How fast you little ones grow, these days." She said with a chuckle. And oh! Where is your fiancée?"

"S—she must be around somewhere." Devon stuttered, obviously having no idea of where Anabelle was.

"Oh, poor thing. I had hope to see her." She said fanning herself. "Anyways, I will be taking my leave now. Got some business to take care of. Stop by the mansion sometime, would you?"

"Most definitely, Ma'am. I would."

"See you around then?" Bryan said, before turning to leave with his mother.

"Yeah, see you around." Devon replied.

"And before I forget," Madame Evelyn said, stopping midway. "The gray Porsche parked outside is yours. Don't go crashing her within a week, I know how you boys can get with cars." And with that she left graciously.

Devon couldn't help but smile as she did.

Well... that was enough standing for today. He needed to get a drink now. After all, today was his birthday and also his engagement to one of the most beautiful women in the city.

He walked down to the pub area where a live jazz band was and then ordered for a glass of wine. The musical band, a quartet with a cello, viola, and two violins, was playing a lively rendition of 'Fly Me to the Moon'.

Taking the glass of wine, he scanned the area once more. The smooth, soulful notes filled the air, mingling with the hum of conversation and clinking glasses.

Where was she? He thought, one hand in his pockets, the other holding the glass of Château Lafite Rothschild from which he took a sip.

Anabelle had indeed been with him earlier that evening, but had left after a while.

"Happy engagement." He heard someone say some metres away, with a "Thank you very much." accompanying it.

He turned to face the direction which the compliment had came from and he saw her. Dressed in a simple yet, beautifully tailored black dress, walking graciously towards him.

She was... beautiful, indeed. He thought, as he took another sip from his glass. He also noticed someone else with her, as she approached.

There were applauds from the crowd, as the live musical band finished their presentation, and he too turned to clap for them.

"Hey," Anabelle whispered amidst the clapping, on getting to where he stood, causing him to turn to her.

"Hey." He replied turning to her.

"Sorry, I was gone for long."

"It—it's totally fine, honestly." Devon responded as took another sip from the glass, still staring at her.

"Uhh... ok...." She replied, clearly she had expected to be a bit angry when she returned, but he wasn't. "You sure about that?"

"Yeah." Devon replied, nodding his head in agreement. "Yeah, I am."

"Ok. Well... meet my brother, then." She said shifting to the side to reveal the person standing behind her.

Devon almost choked on his wine when he saw who it was. Was this some kind of joke? He thought.

"Damian, meet Devon. Devon... Damian." She continued, her voice smooth as silk.

Right in front of him stood the man he'd met at the bar that fateful night. And what's more? He was his fiancée's brother.

"Hello, Devon." Damian said smiling, as he extending a handshake to him. "Nice to meet you...

...For the first time."