Chapter 7: Engagement party

Sophia's POV:

"You're late!"

My head automatically snapped around as soon as I heard his voice. If it's not for his cold stare, I would appreciate his looks. Craig was right, this man standing in front of me is truly devilishly handsome and oozing with sex appeal. But of course it's wrong to say that to him, 'cause I don't want him to feel like a king and a heartthrob. That would only boost his ego.

"As far as I remember, the party will start at three o'clock in the afternoon. But I checked the time and it still has ten minutes before three o'clock, so that means I'm not late. I'm actually ten minutes early for the party." I give him my most charming smile despite the feeling I can't explain inside my stomach.

"You really emphasized that you're ten minutes early." I gulped when his eyes landed on my cleavage.

"Because I am. By the way, my eyes are here." I pointed my two eyes. "And don't look down on my cleavage because it wouldn't help you.

I saw how he was taken aback with my bluntness, but it's better to show myself early. Let him adjust with my behavior and not just me who's adjusting with him, especially with his insults and judgements.

I walked past him towards the entrance but he grabbed my arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a scowl.

I rolled my eyes. "Where do you think I'm going? Of course inside, we can start this party."

"Next time make sure to come thirty minutes early! Because my time is too precious to wait for you!" he said through gritted teeth while taking my hand. And my mouth dropped when he put it on his arm.

"And who told you to wait for me, Mr. Kelley? I didn't tell you to waste your time waiting for me."

We started to step towards the entrance, but when he stopped walking, I also came to stop and looked up at him.

"You don't know what I can do with your sweet and smart mouth, Sophia."

Gosh! Why does my name sound so beautiful and sexy when he mentioned it? And because of that, I asked the question which was supposed to be just inside my head.

"And what are you planning to do with my sweet and smart mouth, Daniel? Are you going to kiss me?" I saw the look of surprise on his both eyes, and it's too late for me to take it back.

He smirked and his eyes looked down on my lips as he lifted his palm to my left jaw.

"I didn't know you're a mind reader, sweetheart."

My breath hitched when I heard what he called me. He lowered his head slowly until his face was only three inches away from my face.

"What if I do that, would you mind?" he asked in a different tone.

I can hear my rapid heartbeat inside my chest. It's deafening that made my ears numb and didn't notice the people from the entrance who were now watching us. He didn't lose eye contact with me as he lowered his face again. But before his lips touched mine, and before I lost my first kiss, we heard a familiar voice from the entrance.

"I'm sorry to disturb your sweet moment kids, but we were about to start the party. But don't worry, you can still continue inside." Mrs. Kelley said and he winked at us.

-'What was supposed to happen? Are we really going to kiss?'-

I can feel the color of my face turned into crimson red. I didn't know that Andrew and Mrs. Kelley was watching us and they are now both grinning widely.

"Let's go." he grabbed my hand and put it back to his arm.

I didn't say anything I just let him drag me inside the huge living room.

He introduced me first to some of his business associates with a smile and extra sweet gestures that even ants would be shy with his sweetness. I tried to calm myself the whole time and smiled at whoever he introduced to me. But when it comes to his friend, he just told him my name and then he left me.

"Hi, I'm Jack." a man in his late twenties offered his hand in front of me.

"Sophia." I accepted it and gave him back his sweet smile.

"I'm sorry for my best friend's behavior, maybe he's just stressed with their company's problem." he said giving me a glass of wine which he got from the waiter who offered a tray.

I chuckled while accepting it from him. "Stressed? I don't think so. I'm sure even if he has no problem like that, his behavior wouldn't change, cold, arrogant and rude."

He shook his head and smiled at me with pure amusement written in both eyes.

"I like you." he blurted out suddenly.

My head instantly snapped at him. "What?"

"I mean.. I like how you handle yourself in front of him."

"You mean how I managed to give him my snappy comments and call him arrogant and rude?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, and how you act the exact opposite of what other girls do in front of him."

"Hmm.. flirting?" I asked nodding.

"Seducing."

As soon as my ears caught what he said, I laughed out loud in the middle of more than fifty people gathering inside the venue.

"I would never do that Jack. Even if he's the last man on earth, I would rather die than seduce him." I said rolling my eyes.

"Oh! I really like you, Sophia. You're different!"

We were both laughing when I saw Daniel standing near the entrance with Andrew. His eyes were throwing daggers on us, but I'm not sure if it's for me or if it's for his best friend. I decided to ignore him and back my full attention to Jack. And I didn't know that he already left Andrew alone and walked his way out of the venue.

"How long have you been friends?"

"Daniel and I?" I nodded. "Well, since college."

"Hmm.. that's why you became the best of friends."

"Yeah. We are actually four in our group. Me, Daniel, Ryan and Alex. You will meet them later, because I'm sure they won't miss this event in Daniel's life."

"Even if it's fake?"

He looked at me directly. "Even if it's fake."

I just nodded.

"How about you, what do you do? I mean, are you working, studying or---"

"Working. I'm a dance instructor."

"Wow, that's great! So, you're teacher Sophia?"

"Yes, in some of my students, but for the rest they're calling me Ms. Sophia."

"Can I visit your studio sometime?"

"Why not? You can go there anytime you want."

"Can you give me a free dance lesson?"

"Sure."

I felt easily at ease with him, unlike his best friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel's POV:

-'You really know how to play your game, woman! Huh! Flirting with my best friend!'-

I formed my fists as I walked outside the venue. I need to go out and calm my nerves before I can find myself dragging one of them out of the party.

A black sports car stopped in front of me and when I saw my sister came out of the car, I immediately masked my anger with a smile.

"Hi, baby sis." I greeted her and her eyes widened when she saw me.

"Ohh, hi my big brother. I missed you." she ran towards me and hugged my waist tightly.

"I missed you too. Thank you for coming."

I kissed her forehead before hugging her again. I really missed her actually. But of course even I can't ask her to live with me, I'm happy that she and one of my best friends Alex, finally admitted their love for each other. They've been married for four years but they're still living separately.

"Alex, bro." I turned to him with a knowing smile.

"Daniel."

We hugged each other in a manly and brotherly hug.

"Congrats bro, you're finally settling down!" Alex patted my shoulder.

"Tss! I wished!" I snorted as I shook my head with what he said. I didn't miss how they shared a look but I just ignored them.

"Uhm.. Dani, why are you here? It's your engagement party, you should be at your girlfriend's side."

"Girlfriend?" I looked at my sister with disapproval written on my face.

"Ohh, I mean 'fiancee'. I'm sorry." she smiled and took my hand.

"Tss!" The word itself makes my head swirl in annoyance. The image of her flirting with Jack keeps on dancing inside my mind.

"You seemed not happy, Dani?"

"And who would be? She's just into my money!" and that's the other reason why I can't feel close to her.

"Dani, you're judging her already."

"You haven't met her Rian. Just go inside and find her." I said in a not-so-interested mood.

"Wow! Daniel! You're not even going to introduce us to her?" she asked mentioning my name.

If I really don't know what attitude my sister has, I would just let them go inside on their own. But no, she's ten times more stubborn than me.

"Fine! I'll go with you!" I said rolling my eyes and leading the way inside.

We entered the mansion with different expressions on our faces. They were so excited to go inside and to meet my so-called fiancee, while I am silently praying that she's no longer with Jack, or I swear I'll tie her on my hips.

"Wow! Honey, did I paint the wall red?" We heard our mom's voice from the corner and Rian smiled at her.

"Yes honey, you also painted it with love and happiness." Dad is with her and smiling at the couple while his arm rests around mom's shoulder.while the other one has a glass of wine.

"Mom, Dad." Rian hugged them one by one, and Alex also copied her action.

They congratulated the two and talked about their married life. I just stand there listening to their conversation.

"Now that you two were leaving together, I hope you can now give us a grandchild." Dad patted Alex's shoulder.

"Don't worry Sir, we're already in the process." he said confidently.

"Good. Because my son here has a lot of effort to do to produce one."

My face turned sour after hearing Dad's comment. I know he's referring to me. I really wanted to interrupt them and say 'That is very impossible to happen', but I just remained quiet even though my sister is almost dying in laughter.

When they finally got an opportunity, they slowly escaped out of the conversation.

"What's the name of your fiancee, Dani?"

I heard my sister's question. "Sophia."

I answered while looking around the few people because I couldn't find her around.

"Are you searching for her?" she asked me again.

"Yes." But I was surprised when her voice sounded irritated.

"Can you at least form even a single or a simple sentence, Dani? God, you're so annoying!"

"And how do you want me to answer your questions? Her name is Sophia. Yes, I'm searching for her. Is that what you want?" I asked her back with the same level of irritation, especially that I can't even see a glimpse of that woman.

I turned to her when she giggled. "Yes! That's exactly what I want. And thank you for completing your answers."

"Tss!" I just snorted and continued to search from the crowd.

They both chuckled at me but my attention was too focused on searching Sophia and Jack in the middle of the guests that were gathering inside the venue. And I clenched my jaws when my eyes landed on her, but now I added Andrew beside her.

"I found her."

I pointed my finger at her direction. Her back is facing us but I'm sure she's Sophia, because aside from my mother, she's also wearing a purple dress tonight.

I noticed Rian's frown getting deeper on our way towards her.

"Oh, God!"

And I looked at her confused when she gasped and covered her mouth.

"A-Are you sure.. she's your fiancee, Daniel?"

"Yes. Why?"

I asked for my eyebrows. I don't know why she's acting strange all of a sudden.

But she didn't answer my question, instead she walked immediately towards Sophia. While Alex and I followed her. When she's standing a few steps away from her, she called her with a different name that made me crunch my whole face.

"Belle?"