Staring at my reflection in the mirror once more, and feeling that everything was perfect. I was wearing a pink sleeveless dress that was slightly puffy at the bottom, with prominent floral embellishments.

In dress, I don’t really like sexy clothes and too many open parts here and there. My mom smiled with a gleam on her face, I looked at her with my cheerful smile but actually I was having an extremely nervous bout.

“Mama can’t wait to see you get married, put on a wedding dress and be the prettiest,” she said, and the melancholy started to come out, I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes seeing her teary eyes. I got up from my seat, then turned around to face him, I hugged him affectionately.

“Mama will surely see that day and be happy too,” I comforted, but my heart suddenly became restless. Marriage is not on my list right now. Unraveling my embrace, then we both went to the living room.

“Sean, sorry for taking so long, take good care of my daughter huh?!” Mama ordered with a smile, Sean smiled reverently, I, who had been standing next to Mama, was stunned by the beautiful scenery that was presented at this time. Mama nudged me in awe, then nervously walked over to Sean, as we were about to pass through the door her hand touched my waist.

I felt like I was electrocuted by that touch, so we headed to his Mercedes Benz. As I sat in the car, I pressed my chest as if it was about to explode from my pounding heart, then Sean appeared and sat in the driver’s seat.

Silence fell over us, but I didn’t want to start a conversation either, because I didn’t know what to say in this situation.

“Sorry to surprise you with this engagement.” He opened the conversation between us by apologizing, I looked down at my fingers that I was slowly twisting.

“I-I don’t want to rush things,” I stammered nervously.

“Me too,” he said, the silence taking over us again, until we reached our destination. Instantly, I stiffened in my current seat, a large number of press crowding in front of the entrance. I don’t want to bring up news that shocks everyone, I’m not ready for this.

“W-whaat!? There’s no other entrance??” I asked nervously mixed with panic. Oh, my God! Please save me, I bit my inner lip from nervousness mixed with worry. If the media manages to see me with Sean, nothing will be able to save me from the news that will spread, and I don’t want that to happen.

“We’ll go through the side door of this building,” he answered then turned towards the side of the very grand building, there was an entrance where there were no crowds at all, only a security guard. Sean parked the car, then got down first and opened the door for me. My body seemed to lose energy, stretched out his hand to me, I looked at his hand doubtfully then looked up at him, he gestured for me to return the helping.

Nervously, I put one of my hands in his, then he grabbed it and I got out of the car. His grip was warm, then he pulled my waist close to his body and entered through the door that was guarded by security. The two men guarding the door bowed respectfully to us, I bowed as we entered the building. This ballroom is very spacious, and many people of course, This atmosphere is increasing my nervousness closer to the highest level.

“Sean! Come here!”

Someone called Sean, I lifted my face to look at the caller. A beautiful Middle Eastern Indian woman was smiling, we approached the woman. When we almost arrived in front of the woman, she seemed to cover her mouth with both hands, with a look as if she saw an amazing thing.

“Oh, Sean, you’re so lucky,” she said loudly, she came over and hugged me hard as if he wanted to squeeze my body, I gasped and confused with this woman’s treatment, when she opened her arms she kissed one of my cheeks.

“Mama is right and you are not wrong, you have to mingle and show off your affection, I want the world to know that this handsome but stupid Sean will marry a beautiful girl with a golden voice.”

I held back my laughter at this woman’s comment. How dare she say a Sean is a stupid man, she must be someone very close to Sean.

“Ranila! Come here!” someone called, and the woman in front of me turned around. I also got an explanation out of my curiosity. So this is Sean’s brother, I didn’t expect his reaction to me like this, I was nervous because I knew what Sean’s family was like, rich and classy, while I wasn’t included in that list. I am a singer, but my fame is not comparable to Sean and his family. The woman called Ranila said goodbye before leaving us to approach a handsome man, they kissed for a moment before embracing each other. I’m guessing it must be her husband.

“Would you like something to drink?” I turned to look at Sean, then nodded smiling, I’m very thirsty now, it’s the result of my excessive nervousness. My Inner Goddess fanned her face with her hands, her nails were red, several people in this room were staring at us and it made me nervous.

“Follow me,” he said combined with an order, he bent one of his elbows, I looked at him confused, he motioned for me to take him, hesitatingly and shyly I took his arm and walked to the dining table.

“What do you want to drink?” He asked again, I looked at the stemware which was filled with red and clear liquid, there was also a dark blue color. I know it’s wine, but I don’t drink alcohol.

“I don’t drink alcohol,” I refused, I formed my lips in a straight line, do I have to die of thirst during this party?? That’s ridiculous, I don’t want to be in the news with the embarrassing topic ‘Our newcomer singer Ariana Alexandra was found dead of thirst at a party’. My Inner Goddess put on a look of disgust at what I had just thought of, while my senses spat forcefully to the side as a sign of humiliation and repulsion. I saw Sean take a glass filled with orange liquid, I think it was orange juice. He also handed me the drink, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief when I smelled the citrus aroma from the drink, thanks God, I’m not dying of thirst here. When I drank my juice, I looked at Sean who was also looking at me with his eyes that managed to make my heart skip a beat. Can this man not look at me like that?? There were many things in this room that he could gaze at and that were more interesting.

“Excuse me, are you Ariana Alexandra?” asked someone who cut off our stares, I took the glass away from my lips and turned to look at the questioner, I nodded and smiled. A rather handsome man, a fan(?) I was a little proud of that, but turned disappointed after he said who he was.

“Hi, we’re in the same management now, my name is Ariel,” he explained then reached out to me and shook it for a few seconds.

“Hi, Ariel, nice to meet you,” I replied, trying to be friendly, Ariel turned to look at Sean and greeted him friendly, Sean smiled lightly, after talking for a while with Sean, the man left. The man seemed familiar, but I chose not to think about it any further.

“Want to dance?”

Sean turned my mind, I looked nervously at a group of people dancing with their partners near a group of musical instruments in the corner of the room, I nodded weakly then Sean grabbed my hand and held it, I followed him to dance. He put his hands around my waist while I wrapped my arms around his neck. My face must be blushing right now, my cheeks feel hot, we move slowly left and right.

“Have you ever danced before?” I know he’s trying to make small talk, I’m currently looking down at him. Oh, God! Really! He is very handsome.

“Never,” I whisper embarrassed but honest.

“Really? With a man not though??” Sean looked disbelieving, I smiled shyly and shook my head, how ignorant I was. We stared at each other in silence, I was like lost in his golden net and unexpectedly he kissed me oh no! He took my First Kiss, right here in the crowd.

At first I was surprised, when he teased my lower lip, I was lulled and returned the kiss with a movement that I know is very amateur. It was so sudden and also intoxicating, his hand pulled my waist so it pressed against his body, one of his hands pressed against the nape of my neck to deepen our kiss. I felt a strange sensation inside of me, flowing like water, vibrating me from within and reacting to my groin.

“Do you guys want to just get married without getting engaged? It seems, you guys are impatient.”

The voice stopped our kiss, I looked down in shame and awkwardness, Sean snorted in annoyance then sighed heavily.

“C’mon Mom, what’s wrong?” Sean asked with a little annoyance in his tone, I peeked at Aunt Ramia from behind my eyelashes. The elegant woman in the black dress sighed.

“Your wedding is next week.”

Suddenly I immediately raised my face to look at the woman, I was just about to protest but Sean preceded me.

“It’s up to you, Mom,” said Sean.

Wait. WHAT??

Has he gone mad?? Oh no! What should I do?? My tongue is dry, I can only swear in my mind.

“Okay then, Mama will talk to Aunt Alina again to cancel the engagement and replace it with marriage,” concluded Aunt Ramia seriously, I saw her smiling happily, when the woman passed from in front of us, I turned to look at Sean.

“Why don’t you refuse?” I asked with a bit of annoyance. Why am I just a little annoyed?? What is wrong with me??

“I want you, Ariana.”

I’m in shock, what did he say?? He wants me?? But I don’t know him?? It’s like bringing up a new puzzle for me.

“Why??” I asked again, he smiled.

“You’ll find out later,” he said and I felt there was something behind his smile and words.

Since Sean’s confession that he wanted me at Ranila’s birthday party, I’ve been getting more and more restless, even more so I still vividly remember that intoxicating and passionate kiss. Three days since the party had passed, and yesterday Aunt Ramia and Uncle Valentino came to the house to turn the engagement plan into a wedding, my mother was very happy about it, and again I couldn’t move.

Meanwhile, Caroline was very surprised by the news about me and Sean Valentino. No matter how hard I tried, the media would find out in the end and what frustrated me even more, the photo of me kissing Sean at the party that time had gone viral in the media. Everyone out there is talking about it, and I don’t have the balls to show my face in public. My phone chimed indicating an incoming message.

From Sean

Get ready, I’ll be in five minutes until we’re out for lunch.

After reading the message, I immediately got up from my lying position and walked languidly to the wall in closet and chose clothes.

“Where are you going honey?” Mama asked as I passed the living room.

“Lunch with Sean,” I replied, my mother smiling teasingly. I chuckle when I see my mom teasing me like that. Sean’s car horn sounded from outside.

“I’ll go first, Mam,” I said goodbye, walked over to Mom, gave her a short kiss on the right cheek and then ran a little to the front yard. My heart beats again every time I want to meet that handsome but cold man. Sean waited while leaning next to his car opposite the entrance of my house. I give my cheerful smile, when does he look ugly?? Is he really human?? He is as perfect as the depiction of the Greek gods.

Sean just smiled a little then when I approached him, he kissed my forehead then opened the car door for me, I smiled shyly at his sweet treatment, my heart melted like ice cream because of his treatment.

Sean POV

She always looks sweet and beautiful in my eyes. Her innocence captivated me, I didn’t expect to see her again after so long, maybe he forgot about me but not me. I was so happy when mama decided to turn our engagement plans into a wedding, she would be mine. I know she needs time to adjust to me, and that’s understandable.

When she’s near me, I don’t know what to say but stare at her, I love to see her smile, the blush on his face when she’s embarrassed. And I wanted it even more when I felt her plump lips, it was the strongest kiss I’ve ever felt in my life, although I was surprised because she didn’t seem to be an expert in kissing, I thought of an assumption that it was her first kiss, but I don’t think it’s possible, it’s different when with Atika, my ex-lover, although until now I still think about it.

We arrived at a fancy restaurant, I saw her amazed face which was very cute and innocent, it made me want to smile.

“You like?” I asked interrupting her admiration, she awkwardly nodded, smiled shyly and her cheeks were flushed red, so beautiful. I grabbed her hand which was small enough for mine and held it, we entered the restaurant. When we entered we heard soft whispers from either side of us, I put Ariana’s body close to me when a waitress greeted us, then ushered us to the table I had ordered earlier.

I saw Ariana looked nervous, it could be seen from the way she held the menu book, she tightly gripped the edge of the book upside down.

“Honey, the book is upside down,” I whispered softly while holding back my smile so as not to laugh, this girl is very innocent and adorable. Ariana immediately corrected the position of her menu book. After ordering food, I looked back at Ariana who was downcast.

“You must be uncomfortable with the news that spreads about us,” I guess, she looks up at me and nods, I take a deep breath. I am one of the easy targets of the media because of my undeniable reputation, plus Ariana’s currently rising reputation as a rising female singer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything so it won’t be a problem in the future,” I promised, then our order arrived a few minutes later.

When we were about to leave the restaurant, there were a lot of men’s eyes that seemed to openly strip Ariana, it made me want to give a raw punch to their faces one by one, plus several people greeted her, maybe they were fans so Ariana smiled kindly and that smile was able to melt my bones. We were forced to stop to serve his fans’ requests to take pictures, hug and even kiss him. I held back all the emotional turmoil seeing my girl being treated like a doll.

Wait, did I just call Ariana my girl?? Am I wrong?? She is my future wife.

Instead of decreasing, there were more and more people taking pictures with Ariana, finally me and the restaurant security team stepped in, relief filled me as we stepped out of the crowd and the restaurant.

“After we get married, I want you to quit the world of Entertainment,” I said, not wanting to be denied, I glanced at Ariana who looked at me in surprise.

“What??? But....”

“I don’t like being denied, Ariana,” I hissed sharply.

“But I-“

“Stop it, or I’ll destroy your career myself,” I threatened, gripping the steering wheel of the car to hold back the waves of emotion that were swirling inside of me. I can’t imagine if we got married later, those damn fans just treated my wife, who do they think they are?! I just want to kiss and hug her, only I have the right to do that.

The whole way, we just sat in silence with each other, until finally Ariana broke the silence.

“Where are we going?” she asked a little panicked.

“To the villa, our wedding party will be held at my villa,” I replied. Ariana rolled down the car window as we passed the ocean view, she looked beautiful with her hair blowing in the wind, don’t forget the smile on her seductive luscious lips, I could have stopped for a moment to kiss her but I had to endure that wild attitude.

Arriving at the villa, the guard greeted us in a friendly and courteous manner. Ariana is constantly amazed by the state of this villa.

“All of this is yours?” She asked in disbelief, I nodded proudly showing off mine, and we headed to the backyard where our wedding will be held.

“Why do you want me to quit from world of Entertainment?” Her eyes looked at me questioningly, I pulled his waist so his body pressed against mine.

“Soon, you’ll be mine I don’t like it when someone else touches mine like your damn fan did,” I said then kissed her like at Rani’s birthday party, when my kiss moved to her smooth white neck, one of my hands traveled to her body. Her front wrapped in a bra, Ariana gripped my arm tightly. I seemed to lose my mind when I inhaled her scent that smelled of Jasmine, there was a sexy sigh in my ear, so that my desire quickly shot up.

“Young Master, Madam wants you to meet her at Mrs Rani’s boutique soon.”

I chuckled when the villa guard interrupted our activities. I looked at Ariana who was looking down with her cheeks as red as a tomato, I smiled then took her out of the villa to the car.