The Engagement

Chapter 6

Several days had passed and it was finally the day of my engagement with Felix Gray, the CEO of Gray Corps.

Just a week ago I was your average college student. Living in a nice and cozy apartment with her long term boyfriend of three and a half years. Now in less than a few hours, l would be the fiancé and future bride of a rich CEO man l had never even met up until recently.

Under normal circumstances, getting married to a rich man would have been every girls dream. But not for me. Not when l had spent three and a half years of my life living and being in love with another man. A man l wasn’t even going to get married to.

After Felix Gray and l had left Malibu. Chris had suggested that Felix and l meet up occasionally during the week that led up to our engagement. In order for us to get more acquainted as a future couple.

Although I had agreed to the engagement. I was completely disgusted at the insinuation of Felix Gray and I as a couple. Because l was still indisputably in love with Dylan.

Despite the fact that he had cheated on me. For God knows how long. I found myself idiotically wishing he would call me and tell me that he had made a mistake. And that he had realized how much he loved me and how he wanted me back.

But he never did. And everyday as the day of my engagement neared. I found myself walking past Armani complex, foolishly hoping l would run into him.

Finally it was the night of my engagement. And l couldn’t help but feel nauseous as l applied my makeup in my one bedroom apartment.

Here l was getting ready to get engaged to a man l knew absolutely nothing about. Not even the things he liked or something simple like his favorite color. It was all so very daunting and l had no one to comfort me during this dark hour. Perhaps if my mother had been present here with me l would have felt differently about the situation. I just know she would have been so supportive and kind l would have been able to face the situation head on.

With a heavy heart, l wiped the stray tear that had unlawfully escaped my eye. And finished applying the rest of my makeup.

I arrived at the engagement ceremony in the most exquisite looking dress l could find. It was a long and halter topped, scarlet satin dress that hugged my figure tightly and accentuated my curves perfectly.

I paired the dress off with black stilettos and a beautiful silver neck piece that used to belong to my mother. Wearing it gave me a strong sense of comfort and made me feel closer to her.

The Gray family had sent a driver to pick me up in one of their many extravagant limousines. I could feel that all eyes were on me as l stepped out of the magnificent car.

“Leigh! You look stunning!”, Harper squealed as l stepped out of the limousine and approached her.

“Yeah, you clean up good”, Qinn teased. As she folded her arms across her tiny chest with a satisfied look on her face.

“Thank you, ladies”, l replied with a warm smile.

Seeing my twin baby sisters had suddenly relieved all the anxiety and stress I had felt just a few minutes ago. And all the negative emotions that had previously threatened to consume me immediately vanished like the last droplets of morning dew underneath the morning sun.

“Leigh”, a deep and husky voice suddenly called out from behind me.

I turned and my eyes instantly collided with a bright pair of emerald green orbs. It was Felix Gray. And l marveled at how his eyes seemed to glow faintly underneath the moonlight as he walked towards me.

“Miss Ellis, glad you could make it”, Felix said with an impassive look. As he casually reached forward to grab my hand. Before he placed a gentle kiss on its back.

A little surprised. I took a step back before l answered. “Well Mr Gray, this is my engagement ceremony, is it not?”, l replied with more confidence than l actually felt.

Felix simply gave me a narrowed look. As he lowered his steady eyes, slowly trailing them over me. Before he quickly reverted his gaze and said, “We are expecting you inside”. And with that he quickly turned and walked back inside.

“We are all gathered here today, to announce and celebrate the engagement of our beloved Boss, son and friend Felix Gray to the beautiful and lovely Miss Leigh Ellis”, a bald middle aged man l had never seen before announced once we were inside the mansion.

There was a brief moment of silence in the room. Before it erupted into a series of hushed whisper’s and curious chatter.

I lowered my head bashfully as l had been stood next to Felix in front of everyone in the room. I could feel the piercing gaze of a thousand beady eyes as they all stared at me. And l immediately felt uncomfortable underneath their scrutinizing gaze.

A young redhead girl finally brought the engagement ring forward as everyone else watched. My hands were shaking as Felix placed the engagement ring on my finger. And l was afraid l would drop it. But l didn’t and soon after we finished and the entire room erupted in applause.

“Congratulations you two!”, a older looking brunette woman said jauntily as she approached both Felix and l.

“Thank you Manon”, Felix replied with a polite smile.

“You are welcome my dear. It’s about time you found love and settled down. Soon we will be expecting little grandchildren”, Manon smiled warmly as she turned her friendly gaze towards me.

Immediately, l felt disgusted at the absurd insinuation of Felix and l having children. Felix and l weren’t even married yet and people were already bringing up children.

It was at that moment that l realized if Felix and l really did end up getting married. Having children would be something expected from us. And even though l had always wanted to have children of my own one day, l had never dreamed it to be with a man l did not love.

“Don’t you think it’s a little too early to be talking about children Manon?”, Felix asked the brunette dame with a warm smile.

However, despite his calm and collected front, l could tell by the tone of his voice that the suggestion had bothered him too.

“It’s never too early to start putting the bun’s in the oven”, Manon laughed before she turned and winked at me.

I reciprocated the wink with a polite smile. Not sure what l had to say and if l should have said anything at all. Manon turned and began to walk away with a contempt smile.

“It was a pleasure meeting you”, l finally half shouted as Manon walked away. She turned and gave me a warm smile in acknowledgment as she disappeared somewhere into the crowd of guests.

“She used to be my nanny when l was a child”, Felix suddenly said solemnly.

I was surprised that Felix had actually spoken to me. And was about to reply him when we were suddenly interrupted and separated by a mob of guests. As they probed Felix and l curiously as well as passed their congratulations.

After an hour of interacting with the Gray family’s guests. I was extremely exhausted of seeing and speaking to unfamiliar faces. So much so that l wanted to slip out of the ceremony unnoticed. But it was almost impossible considering l was the star of the ceremony.

I was starting to feel sick and anxious as more and more unfamiliar faces continued to surround me. Some congratulating me and others asking me personal questions like what l did for a living or how l had met Felix. Finally l saw a familiar face emerge from the crowd. And even though it was just my father Chris, l still felt relieved.

“You look amazing Leigh”, Chris said with a soft smile on his forever tired face. “You look just like your mother”, he whispered his eyes suddenly saddening as he spoke.

“Thank you”, I whispered in reply. As the very mention of my dead mother always made me doleful.

“She would have been so proud of you”, Chris continued.

“Yeah”, l hummed in absent mindednesses.

Although l had been engaged in a conversation with Chris, l was now barely listening to him as he spoke. As my attention had been grabbed by something else.

At the other end of the room, l could see Felix my now fiancé, conversing with another girl. A tall, lean and beautiful blonde girl. A girl who was too pretty to ignore. With her large honey brown eyes and long slender legs that were visible from underneath her short purple dress.

I watched as she leaned into Felix and whispered something in his ear. I couldn’t see Felix’s reaction as he had his back towards me. But judging from their shared proximity, it seemed like they were really close.

Suddenly the blonde girl turned and caught me staring. I panicked and tried flashing her a friendly smile. But she sneered at me and gave me a dirty look before she turned her blonde head back to Felix.