Seraphina
"Are you sure this looks good?" I asked Blair who was presently fussing with my hair and makeup.
"Of course! You look so gorgeous!" She gushed excitedly, having instantly thrown herself into the task of making me look my best tonight before I even got off the phone with Alec. I was still feeling a little unsure about attending this party with him tonight, because I'd undoubtedly stick out like a sour thumb. I never used to attend important parties despite being the child of well known celebrities, cause of wasn't allowed to by my parents.
But Alec had assured me tonight was gonna be perfect and that he'd be by my side throughout. He definitely had no idea how much those words strengthened my insides.
"He's undoubtedly gonna do a double take!" She swore as I spinned around before the mirror to check out my dress. It was silver and reached my knees. It was slim and hugged my body, but it was also modest while sexy. The white patches of my vitiligo made my grimace a little. My skin condition was my biggest insecurity and despite how much I've tried convincing myself that I was beautiful regardless, I never used to feel beautiful whenever I look at my reflection.
At that moment, a car honked outside and I stiffened, my heart accelerating fast. After quickly bidding Blair goodnight, I walked out of her apartment on slightly shaky legs, nerves jumping through my system.
Alec was already waiting for me outside, standing by the sleek car, a bold red color. He was in a silver suit; which was completely coincidental. His hair was slicked back and his sharp features seemed more outlined right now. He filled out his suit so well and my stomach clenched a little as I dropped in front of him.
"Hi." I whispered, feeling shy and flustered because his gaze slowly raked over me, making tingles settle in my stomach.
"You look beautiful." He murmured lowly, and I wondered why the air felt thick and charged right now. My cheeks were flushed when I slid into the car after he held the door open for me.
After he got into the car from the other side, the driver pulled into the road, then he ordered the driver to roll up the partition, and at once, my breath quickened. This was exactly how we sat behind his car right after exiting the club some nights ago, but back then, he had me pinned underneath himself in the car as he kissed me senseless and teased every inch of my body with his fingers.
As those thoughts rushed into my head, I felt too shy to meet his gaze, while wondering if he was also thinking about that.
"Seraphina?" His low voice called out, making me jump a little before facing him. He was watching me, his back leaning into the leather and his head tilted sideways.
"Yeah?" I mumbled, my heart racing.
"Tonight is gonna be… intense. Brace yourself, okay?" He spoke and my eyes widened for a moment before I nodded, a slight wave of panic replaying all those hot images in my head moments ago.
"How intense? Is there anything in particular that I'm to expect?" I asked carefully and he hummed, eyes still locked on mine.
"My family are a bunch of psychos, so expect a lot of chaos." He revealed after a few moments and I swallowed emptily, my heartbeat accelerating even more. I hated that I got no warning whatsoever before preparing for this party, cause I'd have tried to research them first.
"You aren't a psycho though, are you?" I asked, glancing over at him and watching as the side of his lips twitched before he snorted.
"Darling… I'm the worst of them all." He responded, and I had no idea what to think anymore.
As soon as we pulled up in front of a towering building decorated with blinding lights, I quickly realized why Alec suggested that we announce our engagement here. The amount of media representatives gathered at the entrance was quite baffling, and this is more than enough proof that our l announcements tonight would be on every social media headline tomorrow morning.
The driver got my door open, then Alec offered me his hand once he smoothly walked around the car.
"Just follow my lead and stay by my side at all times, okay?" Alec ordered as I slid my hand into his, feeling nervous and also excited because I've never attended anything like this before. I breathed in a lungful of his heady cologne.
I nodded. "Okay."
The fact that Alec isn't acting like being sighted in public with me would bring him shame, was the icing on the cake in this arrangement.
As we were let in through the reverence when Alec flashed the security guards a card, I noticed that the media representatives barely spared us a glance, because to them, we were clearly not important. But all of that would change tonight.
As soon as we stepped into the large hall where the party was being held, a breath caught in my throat at the sight of the sheer crowd gathered right now. The hall was tastefully decorated in a grand, luxurious style, and I felt like dirt on the ground right now.
"Wow." I whispered underneath my breath, unconsciously inching closer to Alec after starting to feel overwhelmed.
Alec was looking around when I glanced up at him, an unreadable but cold expression on, and I felt chills run down my spine at how murderous he looked right now.
Was he mad at something? Or someone? Or was he mad at me? Did I do something wrong?
As those thoughts traveled through my mind, I was abruptly pulled back to the present when I was suddenly shoved by a body harshly knocking into mine. That hasn't felt like a mistake, it felt like it was done on purpose, and after stumbling and regaining my footing, I blinked at the person who just knowingly ran into me, then my mouth dried up at the sight of Asia, famous fashion designer and daughter of the country's senator.
She was as popular as Alina, and they were close friends. Presently, she was clinging onto Alec's arm, holding it against her chest as she pouted up at him, her fake batting eyelashes resembling two lonely umbrellas.
"Baby, I've missed you! Where have you been? And I thought you said you weren't attending this party? How come you're suddenly here?" She spoke in a high pitched voice. Her daring, revealing, body hugging train of dress was bold red, as red as her lipstick, and her dark hair fell off her shoulders in silky texture. She is flawlessly gorgeous and my heart hurt a little from jealousy at the sight of her right now.
As I looked between her and Alec, I wondered if there was something going on between them and if he was gonna embrace her or something. However, to my utmost shock, he grabbed her arm and maneuvered her away from him, a stern expression on his face as he stared down at her.
"Asia, didn't you see the beautiful lady standing right beside me moments ago?" He demanded sharply and I sucked in a startled breath.
Asia had a bewildered expression on as she blinked up at Alec who still looked annoyed. The sight of his scowl sent a slight shiver over my arms.
"The beautiful lady? Was that some kind of joke?" She demanded slowly before glancing at me, then she threw her head back and laughed, making me flush in embarrassment.
A few people were starting to stare, but thankfully most were occupied with accepting drinks from servers and conversing with themselves in groups.
"I— I thought she was a hideous maid or someone who lost her way in here. And besides, I didn't see her at all beforehand." Asia continued as she faced Alec again. As she spoke, she began to step closer to him again, her hands settling on his chest.
The scowl on Alec's face deepened and he wrenched her hands off, pushing her further away from him this time.
"You pushed her away on purpose. I saw you, so don't lie." Alec growled but Alec still shook her head.
"I really didn't! But what's so important about the ugly women anyway?" She demanded, starting to pout again as she continued. "Aren't you gonna respond to my previous questions though? If you knew you were attending tonight's party, you should have informed me, then we'd come together…"
"Stop referring to her as that." Alec snapped, and my cheeks flushed again. I wasn't sure I'd ever been defended like this before.
Asia glanced at me one more time, scowling at me. "But why? She is ugly. And who is she anyway? Why was she with you?"
Alec finally glanced at me, an unreadable expression on, right before he held a hand out to me. I instantly grew still, then I hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to accept the offered hand. As his large hand closed around mine, he tugged me right into his side, making a startled gasp leave my parted lips.
His voice filled my ears as he spoke next. "This woman is my date for tonight, Asia."
Asia's mouth fell open, her eyes bulging out as she kept looking between the two of us.
"What? How? And why? You never used to agree to accompany me anywhere as my date! How dare you bring this ugly woman here tonight and shove her in my face?!" She demanded through clenched teeth, clearly trying to keep her voice down.
"Asia." Alec warned sharply, his cold eyes on her as he continued in a low voice. "Are you deaf? I said you shouldn't call her that again."
My entire insides were fluttering so hard, it felt like I might faint right now. To be defended like this, with so much passion, has always been one of my dreams before I married Heathen. But Heathen never did that. He even hated being spotted with me in public, always claiming that it would ruin his image.
Although I was certain that Alec wasn't passionate about this. He didn't care about me or anything because we're literal strangers, and yet, my stupid heart kept fluttering pathetically.
Asia flinched at Alec's sharp words, then she folded her arms and stepped back, a relaxed expression on as she slowly grinned at Alec.
"We'll see what your mother has to say about this, shall we?" She crooned, grinning maniacally, then she picked her dress up, spinned around demurely, then she disappeared into the crowd.