Chapter 14: The Engagement Party

Fauna Kent's POV

And here was the dreadful part of the day, it was time for the party and all of my parents' investors and business associates will be there. I don't think I would love it because I was such an awkward girl, plus I was kind of anti-social at some point in my life.

"Are you okay?" Adam asked as I was gripping his arm that I wrapped my hand around. I turned to look at him as I was looking at the ground as we descended the stairs.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked me as he was whispering to me. I took a deep breath and before I was about to tell him what was on my mind, someone approached us and talked to us.

"Fauna Kent? you were engaged to Adam Florenz? This is great news!" I listened to that voice before I closed my eyes as my forehead wrinkled.

"wait, you know her?" Adam's voice was surprised. I cannot bear to look as I know Danial would be smiling wickedly at me right now.

"Well, we have some history—"

"that was not interesting. moreover, I was surprised to see you here, Danial. trying to woo my sister?" I asked him as I looked at his blue eyes. His blond eyebrows were up as if not expecting that I would be talking back to him.

"woah, you got yourself a wild cat, Adam," he said as he was elbowing my fiancé. Wait, how they know each other?

"wait, how do you—"

"well, he was my brother when I was doing my exchange program back in Portugal and he stayed with me when he exchanged to Harvard," Danial said as he was putting his arm across his shoulder. Adam dismissed it instantly.

"yeah, no. he was my friend back in college, not brothers," he said before Danial smiled wickedly.

"Well, brothers in arms anyway,"

"enough, why don't we say hi to your parents then, Danial?" Adam said as Danial's face changed into something like a scowl. I don't think he would scowl because he was much more a happy-go-lucky guy.

"well, you can do that without me, I'm gonna get some champagne. But it was nice to see that you have someone else other than your job, Adam," he said as he was messing Adam's hair, making it more disheveled. He grunted before Danial went away.

"well, you guys seem tight," I said as we were moving toward the backyard. Adam smiled at my comment.

"you can say that. He has helped me more than I can count," he said as we were greeted by the lights from the backyard and the music that played.

it was nice and soothing as if it was a party for old people and I can say that because my mother planned it.

"there they are! The guest of honor for tonight," my mother said as her booming voice was penetrating through the guests. Everyone turned to look at me before they smiled and clapped. Some of them also talked amongst themselves as we were making our way to our parents.

"Congratulations, honey. We cannot wait for the wedding this upcoming weekend," Adam's mom said as she was smiling happily at that thought. I smiled back at her just to be polite.

so, it was near than I expected. This weekend. oh, what would I do?

"well, that was nice. I'm sure Adam can hardly wait for it now," my dad said as he was patting his shoulder. Adam smiled charmingly that made something in my chest.

no, control it, Fauna. You cannot afford to lose it.

"well, let's introduce you around then," my mother said before she paraded us toward our business associates and investors. surprisingly, Adam knows them very well.

maybe he was more than I expected him to be.

He might be the mysterious lieutenant that just got promoted. Maybe he has something under his sleeves after all.

"hey, what are you thinking about?" He asked me as we were getting out of the way after we were done with meeting the investors. I was drinking champagne as I was thinking about him.

"huh? oh, nothing just something that you asked me before," I lied.

"oh, have you decided?" He asked me as he was sipping on his Champagne as well before he focused on me.

"uh, yeah. I think I can help you then," I said quickly before I can process the information.

"really? I think you would mind that. Has your boss tell something about it?" He asked me as his slate orbs were focusing on me. It was stormier than last night. I gulped.

"well, I don't think he needs to know about what I do outside of office hours, right?" I asked him before he chuckled.

"True indeed. I have the tapes at my house, will you come to look at it tomorrow, if we ever get enough sleep with where did party was going," he said as he sipped on his champagne and changed it as the waiter come in front of us. I was not finished with my first glass yet. He chugged it on instantly before he put it on the tray.

"Dance with me?"

"me? But I hardly know how to dance. And I think you would be embarrassed if you dance with me. I have two left feet," I said as I was sipping on my champagne. Adam chuckled before he took my glass and drank it.

"hey!"

He put it on the tray and turned to look at me. He has this wicked smile on his lips and I gulped at that sight. He looked like a devil in disguise tonight as he had changed into a black Armani suit that no doubt his parents asked him to wear. And I kind of like it.

"well, no more excuse. I will be the judge of that. Now dance with me," he said as he pulled my hand into his and dragged me toward the dance floor.

"Adam!" I hissed at him as he did not stop until he reached the destination. The people that were looking at our way, was parting to let us through. ugh, how can he have that commanding aura that made people do what he wanted?

Then, he pulled closer as my chest was about to crash his before I stopped him. He chuckled at that movement.

"well, I think you might love it if you were a little bit closer, Fauna," he whispered huskily. I shivered. Has his voice changed as he was because of tonight's event?

"look at me," he instructed me and I looked. I could not dismiss the look that he has on his face right now and emotion in his eyes. He was showing it for a moment and I think I know what it was.

Lust.

He was lusting over me as his stormy orbs were stormier than last night as we shared our coffee at my house. Tonight, he was making a bold move.

"you look beautiful, princess," he said as he instructed me to put my left hand on his hard chest. I never thought that he was fit as his body was lean and muscular. But now, I can confirm it alright.

"you as well," I said as we were slow dancing at the center of the dance floor. Everyone then joined us but kept their distance from us, the lovebirds.

"well, you think I'm beautiful, princess?" He asked me as he was amused by my statement.

"stop calling me that," I said as I was looking down from his eyes.

"calling you what?"

"princess, you know I was not," I said as I was gripping his right hand. He squeezed as well.

"well, you are one, don't you? Kent Tech has been one of the multinational IT companies that have been spreading out across the globe and by that right, you are a princess as you are one of the 1% of the world," he said as he was twirling me around before I looked into his face again.

"that is why I don't want to think about it. I was an insignificant existence," I said as I was sighing.

"you are not," he said. I looked at him as he was looking at my face with his unreadable facial expression.

"you just being kind to me,"

"it's the truth. You can have a better lifestyle living but you refuse to use it to your advantage," he said as we were moving to the corner of the backyard. We were still dancing as I let him lead me.

"what do you mean?" I asked him as I was confused with his statement.

"well, you don't use hot water when you know it was costing much more of the environmental issue in the States. And then you refused to wear a designer brand and such as you were comfortable with a sweater and jeans and sometimes summer dresses. You are not insignificant," he said as he was holding my face in his hands. He was looking at me deeply and I think my heart would burst.

because they were beating so hard.

I gulped as I was trying to avoid his hot gaze as I was focusing on the grass instead.

"look at me, Fauna, meu amor," he said as he was caressing my cheeks with his thumbs. I looked at him and he was focused on me.

"don't look at me like that,"

"like what?"

"like you want to kiss me," I said timidly.

"and maybe I do," he said before he pulled my face closer as our lips touched.