IV

Alana

What The hell is he doing here? 

How did he even know I was here?

I'm pretty sure Ray can see my rage rising because he immediately came to my side and whispered softly "We'll take care of him, calm down and put this on." I looked down at his open palm to find a ring in it, I picked it up and spared Malia who was smiling softly at me, a glance. 

I slowly slid the cool ring on my finger and what caught my attention immediately was that It fitted my finger perfectly, as if he knew my size and maybe he did. 

It was a very simple ring except for the red diamond in the middle, looks like I'm going to be expecting a lot of surprises from Raymond Dalton. 

Ray extended his hand, waiting for me to take it with my gloved one which I did but it felt weird because I despised the human touch even though I am a human too but after what happened to me I just couldn’t bear it and I half expected myself to pull away or flinch but I wasn't uncomfortable in his hold because there is something different about Ray, something that makes me feel okay about being with him in the same place ever since Daniel…used to do what he did 

I shook my head, now is not the time for memories and regrets… Now is the time for a face-off. 

I looked over at Ray and nodded my head and I could see a smile forming on his lips because apparently, he doesn't like Daniel too, I mean who does anyways.

We started walking out of the Mansion with Malia, Nathan, and Ethan behind us until I came face to face with my tormentor, the man who was my downfall once but never again. 

"You wanted to see me, Daniel?" He was still moving his eyes back and forth between Me and Ray then went down to see our hands linked and I could see that he was angry or maybe even mad not just angry and that was never a good sign.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He said, face twisting with anger as he stepped closer to me, making me take a step back quickly because his actions reminded me of how he used to stalk closer to me before he hit me.

Yes, you heard right. Daniel Clifford didn't just hurt me emotionally but physically too and what's the worst thing about the case… It's that my father knows that, one day he was forced to pull him off me when Daniel completely lost control. 

So can you imagine how low it is for my father to side with that man when he saw what he's capable of and knowing what he did to me but thank god that Mom doesn't because even though I may not like all her actions but she would have a heart attack if she knew.

"The right question is what are you doing here?" Malia asked as she was walking to stand beside me and if it's not already obvious, she knows too.

"Hey, you stay out of it." Malia was taken back by the tone he used with her but I wasn’t surprised at all, he was always like that nothing has changed but I still glared at him and threatened “Don’t talk to her like that.” he turned his attention to me as he asked, “or what?” 

He was getting closer to me and the closer he got, the more uncomfortable and scared I got but I still had the guts to at least answer him without having my voice shaking. “Or you won’t like it.” and that was his final straw as he quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him, making my brain shut down for a second while memories spread through my mind just like a bath bomb does when it’s placed in the water. 

But this time I fought against my mind and brain, I have to snap out of this. Snap out of it.

The moment my brain was working again I realised that I was being pulled away from Daniel by Ray, who was now fuming with anger as he glared at the man standing opposite of him and it was obvious that Ray was holding himself back by force so he wouldn’t make Daniel’s face unrecognisable, but Malia who was now clutching my arm in fear didn’t think it was the same case with Nathan as she motioned for me to look at him. 

His fists were clenched, knuckles turning white and he was ready to attack any second while Ethan still had the calm facade on, some features of his face showed anger too but why were they so angry? I mean I understand the situation can make anyone angry but this is something else, something that goes deeper than me.

But now was not the time to be a psychiatrist so I focused my attention on Ray and Daniel who were still in the same position as before. “Don’t you dare to lay a hand on her again, now get the fuck out of my house.” The moment the words left Ray’s mouth, Daniel had already raised his fist to punch him and I could feel both the twins move beside us, ready to put Daniel down like mad dogs but their help wasn’t needed once Ray caught his fist in the air, squeezing it to the point where we hear Daniel’s bones crack causing my eyes to widen in surprise and maybe fear too while my ex-boyfriend’s widened in pain as he tried to pull his hand away.

“Get the fuck out of my house and don’t touch my fiancee again… also don’t make me repeat myself for a third time because you won’t like it when I do.” With that, Ray finally let go of Daniel’s hand who immediately clutched it and looked at us one last and said with his stupid threatening tone “You’ll regret this, you all will regret this, I promise.'' Then he started running away like the scared bitch he is. 

After he calmed down, Ray turned to look at me, “ Are you okay?” I just nodded my head and turned around to leave when I felt him pull me back by my arm making me flinch away from him in an instant and he immediately pulled away from me and raised his hands up in the air, telling me to calm down. 

I would always be fine if I'm the one who offers to be touched, like the day we made the deal, I was the one to offer shaking his hand so I was fine with it but the moment someone touches me with me offering that, I'll always react like I did.

“I just want to leave okay, I’ll talk to you later.” And no matter how much I tried, I knew that my voice wasn’t as steady as it always is but for all I care because all I want to do now is go home and try to cope up with what went down a few seconds ago. 

“Okay, I can drive you-” Ray started but I cut him off in a second because he too didn’t understand that I can’t be around anyone right now, the only one who might have an exception is Malia, she always had the free pass to me.

“No it’s fine Malia will drive,” I said then started walking towards the car without waiting for an answer, knowing that Malia will be right behind me, and thank god she always is. 

The moment I reached my penthouse, I threw myself on the bed and passed out to sleep.

When I woke up again it was because of the ringing of my phone which I picked up without looking at the caller. 

“Hello.” I barely said anything when I heard Malia’s voice say “Open the door.” and her tone wasn’t one that held good news so I got up from the bed quickly and went downstairs to open the door. 

As soon as I did she walked inside and threw her purse on the couch before she turned to me “Where were you?” Anxiety was dripping from her which also wasn't a good sign because it takes to make Malia anxious. What the fuck happened when I was sleeping?

“I was asleep, why?” 

“Your ex-boyfriend happened, Daniel leaked your engagement to the press and now the news is upside down and soon the press will be surrounding this penthouse like a swarm of fish.” That was something I never counted for, we were supposed to appear to the press slowly but this… this is a fucking bomb and I need to contain the collateral damage it’ll do before it’s too late.

I paced around the room while trying to think of a way to save myself when my mind drifted to Ray, making me stop in my tracks and ask Malia “Did Ray talk to you?” She nodded her head, saying “Yes, he wanted to make sure you didn’t react in anger or something, hell, that’s how I knew about this problem we’re in.” 

Okay, that’s bad. That’s really bad but if I want to get out of this calamity then I need to prepare everything with Ray, every single word of ours should be in rhythm to convince people and the press which means that we have to go now before the press arrives here. 

“Get your purse, we need to go to Ray.” Together we tried to leave as stealthy as possible so no one would notice and try to follow us.

====================

“Alright, so we need to make up a story on how we met at the very least,” Ray explained as he sat on the couch of his office while I was sitting on one of the chairs, both of us trying to solve this disaster in the best way possible.

 Then something crossed my thoughts, making me ask “Where were you about five months ago?” He was confused  by my question but he still thought about it and I’m pretty sure I saw a headline about him being in…”London.” He answered, confirming my thoughts and a smile made its way to my lips. 

“That’s it then, we both were in London at the same time and somehow met each other. I don’t know, maybe at a party or something.” By the time I finished he was smiling as well before he complimented me “You should smile more often, Princess. It suits you.”  

I tilted my head to the side giving him a silent ‘Is this really the time for your flirting?’ which he only shrugged at before he asked “Okay, first meeting check. When did I propose and where?” I let out a sigh and leaned my head back. What does the press like? 

Maybe something romantic like a beach or in the middle of the snow, right? Don’t judge, I’m the worst at romantic stuff. 

“I don’t know, maybe you took me to a beach and then went on one knee. The point is that I think that the press loves romantic and cheesy stuff.” Ray got up with that playful smile on his face while he sat on the chair opposite of mine then asked.

“And you don’t like this stuff?” I raised one eyebrow at him and fired back “Do I strike you as the cheesy type, Dalton?” 

“No, you are your own different type, Princess.” He smiled at me, making me automatically smile back even though I’m not one who smiles often but maybe I should take Ray’s advice.

A knock on the door interrupted us, followed by Malia and Ethan. “You guys ready to face the press?”  Ray and I looked at each other then back at them as we nodded at them.

==================

The moment we stepped one foot outside the gates, we were met with the clicks and flashes for the cameras and the voices of journalists until we finally stopped in front of them but they didn’t stop asking questions so I decided to talk first. 

“Everyone please just calm down, we’ll answer as many questions as we can.” And finally, the voices stopped but the same cannot be said for the clicking of the cameras but now wasn’t the time to remember why I hate being me sometimes. 

“Why did you keep your relationship a secret Ms Steel?” I let out a sigh before I pointed at them with a fake smile. 

“This, you guys but it seems that nothing goes behind your backs for long.” I chuckled even though I was burning on the inside when I remembered the person responsible for this whole charade we’re in. 

“How did you two meet, Mr Dalton?” Ray and I looked at each other as we faked the looks of love on our faces, earning some ‘Aww’s’ from the press before we looked back at them as he answered.

“We met at a party for a mutual friend we had and she just caught my eye from across the ballroom we were in because I mean whose eye wouldn’t be caught when they see this beauty.” Ray softly pressed a kiss to my cheek but it was obvious to me that he made sure to follow my body language to see if I was okay with it. 

“When and where did the engagement happen?” Ray pressed his hand more onto my lower back, telling me to be the one to answer this. 

“Well it was a big surprise for me when he took me to the beach and suddenly went down on one knee, it was all so romantic and beautiful just like Ray.” I explained then looked up to find Ray already looking at me.

“Have you chosen the wedding date?” I gave a nervous smile because I also knew that the press loves mysterious answers. After all, their papers and magazines can trend when we give vague answers. 

“It’s soon.”

“Very soon actually but I guess that’s about it for today guys.” Thank god they’ll go away and maybe we can take a rest from this whole thing for a few hours at least but no… they can’t let us go without making me regret I agreed to give them a clarification.

“Kiss.” Someone yelled and all the others followed suit while Ray and I only stared at each other, how did we discuss everything but not this. Damn it.

What are we going to do? I asked the question that was roaming in both our minds with my eyes before I saw him leaning towards me, eyes still on mine as he asked for permission and I knew he was more than ready to pull back and make some joke to cover up for it. 

But the question is, Do I want him to pull away?