03.

Eros’s POV.

‘Sir, I brought your coffee.’ I snapped my hand up and nodded at my secretary. When she left, I turned my attention back to the papers before me— the partnership documents between my company and MELT’s. My team and I had been planning to approach them before they made the move, and the terms of the agreement were quite favourable. A memory of what happened that night popped up into my head and I grimaced. The lady from that night was undeniably attractive, and the short red gown she wore hugged her curves so well. It was so unlike me to lewd over a woman in that manner and a  business partner. 

That was quite an unfortunate situation and would never repeat itself. I loosened my grip on the table and took a swig of my coffee. What if it got out to the public? I couldn’t have that. A knock came from the door, ‘May I come in, sir? It's a Mark.’

‘Yes, come—’  my PA barely waited for me to complete my sentence when he barged into the room. He had with him his notepad and a bunch of documents. His eyes roamed the room in a quick second, rested briefly on me and returned to his notepad. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week and I wouldn't be surprised if it was so. ‘Sir, about the partnership, the media is already circulating rumours about the deal. The more time we wait in announcing it, the less the impact of the news—’ I waved my hand and said, ‘I know, I have decided to announce it at the party. Make the preparations. I want it at Baccarat hotel.’

Mark jotted furiously on his notepad and looked at me through his thick lenses. ‘And the invites?’ I glared at him and he gulped, ‘Is this your first party?’

‘N-No sir. I just wanted to confirm.’

I motioned for him to leave, and when the door was shut, I exhaled sharply and tightened my tie.

I kept checking the calendar to be sure I wasn't panicking for no reason but it had been 3 weeks already since the trip to Paris. My period was 2 weeks late and this had not happened before. I had been trying to convince myself that it was stress but there wasn't anything remotely new at work.

‘Why are you stressing, dalia. Didn’t you use protection?’ Emily asked. She had gotten my distress call and came to see me at home before going for a shoot. She lay on my bed, her black tresses all over the place, fanning her face. When I didn't answer, she sat up, her eyes wide with shock. ‘No way…you didn’t?’

‘I'm not sure we did. I can barely remember that night but i don't think so, it happened so unexpectedly. And after Paul, I took the pill.’ I replied quietly, I couldn't believe how careless I had been.

‘Oh no, don't start hyperventilating before me. Calm down. Deep breathes, honey, in—’ she held my shoulder and rodded me to inhale with her. ‘ —and out’ i fell into her arms sobbing, ‘what if i'm pregnant? What am I going to do, emily? I can't have a baby? What have I done, my life is ruined!’

‘Ssshhhh, it’s okay. You’re not pregnant, it’s probably just stress. You’ve been feeling bad about that whole incident no matter how you lie to me, I know. I'm your bestie.’

 She was right, I kept thinking about what would happen if news of what happened between us got out.

‘Yeah, I guess so.’ I said while sniffing. ‘And we have to attend the party he’s throwing at Baccarat on friday. Did you get an invite?’

Emily threw her head back and laughed, ‘of course I did. You have nothing to worry, she reassured me while squeezing my hands. I hoped so, I hoped so.

When I got to work on Monday, Jeffrey reminded me about the party on Friday, ‘I don't want whatever happened in Paris to repeat itself, Dalia. And that party is going to be covered by the media, this is one of the biggest fashion collaborations in history, even bigger than louis vuitton and supreme.’

‘All eyes, Dalia,’ he emphasised, raising his hands and flashing them about, ‘all eyes will be on us. Appearances are important.’

Jeffrey took the media and appearances very seriously. ‘Yes, I understand.’ he looked at me for a long second and removed his gold-rimmed glasses. ‘What’s wrong? Ever since pais, you’ve not been yourself’

He had dropped his glasses on the table and stared at me with rapt attention. ‘Nothing at all, i've just been really excited and got drained afterwards.’

‘Hmm, if you say so then. oh, and don't forget to get my suit from Deroile. ’