CHAPTER NINE.

DANIELLE'S P.O.V

"Welcome New York's latest couple, the newly wedded Mr and Mrs Adrian Valentino." the master of ceremony's voice reverberated.

   The applause and hooting that followed was deafening. The groomsmen, which consisted of Umar, Adrian's best friend; Michael Smith, Mason Walls, and George Burrell, his friends from college; and the bridesmaids which consisted of Layla, Janelle, Sofia, and Alisia; danced into the room while I looked around the reception hall as Adrian led me to the head table which we were designated to seat at, trying to see if I recognized some of the faces present.

  I saw some familiar faces from the times when I would visit Dad at work while I was a college student. They waved and smiled at me as I passed and I smiled back.

Adrian held on to my hand as I sat and dropped it immediately my behind was firmly planted on the chair. He sat beside me awkwardly and looked around the hall. I had a feeling that he was avoiding me. He had been behaving awkwardly since the kiss at the chapel. The tell tales of his awkwardness being his fidgeting when our hands brushed each other's while taking wedding pictures, and sitting at the extreme end of the vehicle that transported us to the reception venue.

   His odd behavior made me wonder if he felt the same spark I did when our lips meshed into one. I shook off the dirty thoughts that began to sift through my mind and focused my attention on the event taking place.

"As we settle down, the bride and groom shall have their first dance as a couple" the MC declared.

   I looked at Adrian, doubting his patience with continuing this charade. He adjusted his bow tie, stood up and faced me with his right hand outstretched.

"Dance with me, my beautiful bride" he said.

I looked at him, surprised at the compliment. He was not the type to compliment just anyone, and from my encounters with him, I knew he was too much of a egotistical man to compliment any woman without getting something in return.

I hesitantly placed my hand in his palm and let him lead me to the dance floor.

A slow song that I did not know played from the speaker and I wished I had my phone with me so I could Shazam the song.

"Don't get too comfortable" Adrian said coldly as I placed my head on his chest.

"I wouldn't dare!" I replied, venomously. I knew his niceness was all part of the charade.

"I cannot wait for the frivolities of this night to be over and done with" he scoffed.

"I wish this were just a bad dream too. This Belle and the Beast story is no fairytale" I retorted.

I felt him squeeze my hand harder than necessarily needed, in anger.

"Careful, we don't want to break any of my bones, do we?" I teased.

"I couldn't care less" he said without feeling.

His coldness made me wonder if I had read right his intentions after the kiss in the chapel. The song came to a halt and the guests gave us a round of applause as Adrian led me back to the head table.

"We will now listen to the opening speech by the bride's father, Jack Dawson" the MC announced.

Loud applause ushered Dad to the center of the hall, where the master of ceremony stood.

The applause died down as Dad collects the microphone from the MC.

"I welcome everyone of you seated here today, to the wedding ceremony of my beautiful daughter, Danielle Dawson, and the intelligent Adrian Valentino, son of Alfredo and Alvida Valentino."

The guests clapped and cheered in response.

"I sincerely appreciate your presence here today. Thank you for honoring our invitation to celebrate the marriage of our children. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the wedding banquet." he concluded.

Dad returned the microphone to the M.C and sat on his spot at the table specially reserved for Adrian's parents and mine.

"We shall now proceed to the banquet. While the DJ plays us some nice music, we should remain seated for dinner as the meals are served" the MC said.

After a few minutes of eating dinner while listening to some classical music, the MC returned to the center of the room.

"It is time for the maid of honor and best man's speeches."

Loud applause echoed in the hall as Layla, my maid of honor, and Umar, Adrian's best man, stood up from where they were seated at the wedding party's table, and came forward.

"Good evening everyone. My name is Layla London, and I am the maid of honor. I would love to use this medium to appreciate the bride, my best friend, Danielle Dawson, for giving me this opportunity. She honestly had a hard time choosing between myself and our other two best friends..."

Sofia and Janelle waved; Layla waved back.

"...but we all ended up doing it the political way. A ballot was cast."

The guests laughed at this.

"Now I am here as the representative of our circle. Danielle is a wonderful person with a heart of gold, and this makes her a beautiful friend. I am sure she is going to be an even better wife. Congratulations on your wedding, my darling Danielle."

The guests applauded as Layla returned to her seat after handing the microphone to Umar.

"A wonderful evening to you all. I am Zayn Umar, the best man, and I stand before you to tell you great things about my best friend."

The guests cooed and clapped.

"Adrian, my man, is a wonderful pal, a wonderful friend. He had always had my back and I have done my best to reciprocate. I wish you all the best as you venture into this new journey of life." Umar said and returned to his seat.

"Let the groom's sister lead us in a toast"

Alisia stood up with a flute of champagne in her hand.

"A toast to the newly wed. May they live long together in peace, joy, and harmony. May all the days of their lives be free of pain and suffering. May their union be blessed with little versions of themselves, and may their bond never thin out but continue to grow stronger. Cheers" she said.

"Cheers" everyone replied, raising their flutes of champagne and drinking from it.

"It is now time; the moment has arrived for the Father and Daughter dance. Please join me in welcoming the bride and her father to the dance floor."

The guests cheered as Dad walked up to me.

"Let us dance, my sweet." he said as he stretched his hand to me.

I dropped my champagne flute, took his hand and walked with him to the dance floor as Camilla Cabello's 'First Man' plays from the speakers. I placed my head on Dad's chest as he maneuvered us across the dance floor while the guests watched.

"You look like an angel. My angel." Dad said.

"Thank you, daddy."

"You remember what I told you in the morning?" he asked.

I nodded in consent.

"Be strong, my butterfly. Keep your chin up and let your wings help you soar. Do not let anything and anyone break those beautiful wings"

"I won't let them bring me down. I'll be strong, daddy."

"That's my good girl. You're safe with the Valentinos. Alfredo has promised to care for you like he would his own daughter, and he is a man of his word"

I buried my head further into the folds of his suit jacket.

"Be the best wife and daughter in law you can be, my sweet. For as long as I live, and even in death, I will always love you, protect you, and care for you"

"Thank you, daddy."

"I have a wedding gift for you."

"Really? What is it?" I asked curiously.

"It's a surprise. I'll have Robert send it to your new home."

The words 'new home' irked me and stroke a chord of sadness in me, but I waved it off, determined to stick my chin up and get through the rest of the reception party without breaking down.

The song came to an end and dad kissed my forehead. I watched him dab at the corners of his eyes and he gave me a smile before leaving me on the dance floor. The guests continued to clap while some wiped away the emotional tears that had run down their cheeks while watching us dance.

"The mother and son dance"

Adrian stood up and headed towards his mother's table. He led her to the dance floor and I, along with the guests, watched as he gently held and guided her into a slow waltz. This was the first time I had ever seen him smile so brightly, and I must say he looked even more handsome with the sweet smile plastered on his face.

Their dance came to an end and I joined the guests in cheering for them.

"That was so emotional, but it doesn't beat the father and daughter dance" the MC commented.

"It is time to determine the next lady in this room to be married."

Every lady in the room started to chatter excitedly.

"The bride shall now throw her bouquet.

I picked up my bouquet which consisted of white and peach colored roses and went to the middle of the hall while the female guests lined themselves up behind me.

"Let us all count with the bride. One. Two. Three."

I threw the bouquet as far as I could on the third count and heard the squeals of the ladies as they struggled for it. A delicate hand held up the bouquet at the back and every other person gave way for her to pass.

   Alisia held unto the bouquet with perfectly manicured fingers, a grin on her face.

"We have a winner! It would seem the groom's sister is next to be married" the MC announced.

I laughed as Alisia wiggled in excitement.

"Now that that's done, the DJ will lead us all into dancing. Let the fun begin!"

The DJ started to play upbeat hip-hop and guests started to move towards the stage. I returned to my seat at the head table; Adrian was not sited and I wondered where he could be.

I requested, from a waiter, a refill of my flute and after a few minutes of solitude, I heard someone clearing their throat. I looked up at the person, the familiar face made my throat go dry.

"May I have this dance?"

Chase stretched his hand and his smile stirred in me an uncomfortable and eerie feeling.