Chapter 19— A grand deception

Diana’s POV

"You didn't tell me this was going to be an introduction party," I said angrily

"Come on, Diana, calm down I wasn't the one who planned this, besides, if I had told you I know you wouldn't have come"

"But at least you should have given me a heads up. Look at what I am wearing; how do you expect me to climb up that podium looking like this."

He lifted my hands and turned me around slowly. "You look good to me, though, there's hardly anything you wear that you wouldn't look good on." He said calmly

I was about to blush but I immediately looked away.

"But if you are so bothered about the way you look, that can be arranged" Immediately, he picked up his phone, did some typing," and there! Your new dress should be arriving a few moments from now,"

"Is there even enough time?"

"Come on, we have a lot of time before it gets to the introduction, so just stay calm, maintain your elegance and composure", he paused, moving closer to me with a straight face", he said. He used his index finger to raise my jaw. "And most importantly," he came closer to my ears. "Look sexy", he said almost in a whisper.

I almost choked up on spit.

He chuckled

"Why are you laughing?" I asked

"What's the matter? I didn't laugh I just chuckled." He replied smiling.

Gosh, his smile was doing something to me that I didn't quite understand. The position I was in at that moment didn't even give me enough time to consider what I was feeling.

****

So I woke up later in the morning and got into normal office wear because I thought that it was an introduction to business partners and company workers at the Lorenzo dynasty, but apparently, it wasn't.

I had worn clothes that fitted the office introduction, only for me to get an address on a text message from Raphael early in the morning, around eight, to meet him there.

He didn't even give me a heads-up; he said he would have come to pick me up himself, but he was busy with arrangements.

I wondered what kind of arrangements.

I didn't know the place was an event centre, so I went with the clothes I was wearing, thinking that whenever we were done, we would head to the company for the proper introduction, but I was disappointed when I got there.

Coming down from the cab, I was shocked to see myself standing in front of a luxurious event centre; it was a mini one, but from the way it looked, you could tell that this could only be rented by billionaires and no one else.

I was welcomed in like a very special guest. I double-checked the address to find out if I was at the wrong place. I even asked passersby, and they all said this was the place.

I refused to go in with the person who was receiving me; I picked up my phone and called Raphael.

"Hello, I think I am at the wrong address"

He laughed.

"This isn't funny, Raphael Lorenzo," I said angrily.

"Okay, calm down, look ahead you will see Me."

I raised my head, and there he was, wearing a fancy silver-coloured suit; never seen a suit this beautiful before.

Never have I ever seen a suit look this good on a man.

"What's this? Why am I here? Why are you here?"

He said nothing, he only smiled.

I felt like slapping him at that instant but I couldn't.

He led me inside, and I was stunned by what I saw, what had been prepared; I saw people, strangers, they all dressed so well, I guess I was the only one who didn't get the info.

I turned to look at him, anger and frustration evident in my eyes.

"What's all this?"

"In my defence, I didn't plan all this."

****

"Who planned this if you weren't the one, and whose idea was it."

With a big smile on his face, he pointed in the opposite direction.

There he was quietly seated on his luxurious couch, set aside

"Gramps?" I muttered under my breath.

"Yeah, gramps, he insisted we do this in a grand style you know"

"And you agreed to it? Without trying to let me know?"

"It's a surprise for you; besides, Gramps can be really convincing, too; he wouldn't let me say anything."

"Oh, that's good, perfect," I said, hitting my palms on my lap "Now I get to disgrace you by looking like an office secretary."

"I told you already, you look good this way."

"I am not going to go up there looking like this."

Raphael seemed to be engrossed in his phone.

Could he be talking to his girlfriend?

I wondered.

Whatever, he could be talking to a thousand girls, it's none of my business, as far as it isn't going to cause a breach of contract, I am fine with it.

But was I really fine with it? Seeing him text another woman?

"What are you doing?" I asked

"Uhm, I am replying to some clients?" He said smiling.

I scoffed.

What client could be making him smile like that?

"Lorenzo's and lies" I muttered under my breath.

"Did you say something?" He asked

""No, I didn't," I lied. "I am leaving this damn hall, do you hear me?"

As I turned to leave, I saw Ciara, she was all dressed up, holding a Marchesa clothing bag.

Marchesa is the biggest company brand in New York City that deals in female dresses.

She approached me smiling, stretching forward the bag to me.

"Please don't tell me you were in on it too?"

"Not until this morning, after we left to sleep, I got a message from Raphael telling me about the change," she said biting her finger

"What else did you do, Ciara?" I asked, knowing that whenever she bit her fingers, there was something more that she wasn't saying.

"I was kinda the one who suggested he didn't tell you,"

"But why?"

"I am sorry, but knowing who you are? I knew you wouldn't go anymore so this was what I could think of"

"What you could think of?" I scoffed "Was she the one you were texting?"I turned to face Raphael.

"Yeah," He smiled, showing me his chats.

I heaved a deep sigh of relief, I wasn't sure why I did that.

"Were you jealous? Thinking I was talking to another lady?”