ENGAGEMENT

"I'm finally done with this task!" Kaye raised her hands and stretched her body after submitting all her works. It was her evaluation day as an assistant manager before she could leave the store and proceed to the company to work with the sales and marketing department.

"Great work boss." her bodyguard gave her a thumbs up for a job well done.

"Thank you, Steve." Kaye said to the chief guard and the closest one she has. Before he became her bodyguard, he was one of the best guards that her father kept beside him.

After an hour or so, the manager and the supervisor finished their evaluation and went outside to talk with Kaye.

"It's a job well done." said the supervisor as she clapped her hands together with the manager.

"If I didn't know you're doing this for the company, I would think you're here to replace me." Kaye laughed to the manager's statement. She's really happy that she passed.

"Thank you so much for looking after me." Kaye bowed her heads to show her gratitude. She gave them a small token of gratitude before she left the store premises.

"Where to boss?" asked Steve who was walking beside her to the parking lot. It was still early so Kaye thought of going somewhere but she was kind of tired so she gave it a pass.

"Let's just go home directly. I'm a little bit tired today and there's party tomorrow that I need to attend." Kaye said without stopping on her track. She walked briskly towards her car and get on it as soon as she arrived.

Steve didn't say anything to her but drove her home safely with the other guards following them.

The next day which was Saturday, Kaye has prepared her evening dress for the engagement party that she will be attending.

She chose a dress that was from spring-summer collection of Chanel. It was a black long-sleeved dress that hovers about four inches above her knees. It's neckline was just right to cover her hideous scars. She paired it with a black and gold hand bag from Chanel and a low heeled black sandal from the same brand. She's obviously a walking Chanel in her get up.

The party will start at 7pm in Hyatt Regency hotel, so Kaye was preparing early since it would take her an hour to arrive on the said venue. Her mother and father was doing the same.

Kaye and her parent left the house and arrived at the hotel not so early and not too late as well. Just about time before the couple went up to the stage.

"Lexi and Gabbi are finally deciding to take their relationship into the next level. How about your daughter? I haven't heard her getting a boyfriend." a friend of her family asked her mother who was sitting on her left side. She just ignored their gossip without any care in the world.

"My daughter is still young. At the same time, the company needs her so she's kind of busy." her mother answered honestly. It may sound like an excuse to everybody else but that was the truth.

More and more people came to inquire about her status and more people were asking if they're willing to send their daughter for a blind date. Good thing, her mother declined their offers.

Kaye stood up from her seat and approached the couple to give a perfunctory message.

"I'm glad you came. I thought you won't since you hate this kind of event." Lexi told her with a big smile plastered on her face. She gave her a tight hug before giving her an unbelieving look. "I can't believe you're walking with dollar signs." she joked at her.

"Come on Lex, these are the cheapest I could get." she answered back before proposing a toast. "Congrats! I'm glad that you've handled all the obstacles." she raised her glass in Gabbi's direction. "Must've been a tough time."

"It's worth it." Gabbi smiled before clinking his glass with her.

Kaye and Lexi were classmates back in college and the only person that she talked to as well. Aside from being a classmate, she's the only person she considered her real friend.

They talked for a while with all kinds of things while Gabbi exchanged messages with the guests.

Mrs. Harley saw Kaye standing beside Lexi, talking about only-god-knows-what that made them laugh.

"Kaye! I didn't expect to see you here." Mrs. Harley said with a shock and surprise written all over her face.

"Good evening Mrs. Harley. How have you been?" Kaye turned towards the lady with all the formality she could muster.

"I'm doing great. You look as beautiful as ever. No wonder your friends with Lexi." Mrs. Harley said before giving Lexi a good look.

"You knew each other? That's great. Auntie Grace, why don't you introduce Ivan to Kaye some other time. You know, that idiot has been single for a while now." Lexi joked at Mrs. Harley but on the other side, Kaye was horrified. She was ghostly pale with their idea.

"Excuse me. I need to use the powder room." Kaye smiled at them faintly before walking away from them. It was inevitable that she would meet the Harley couple in no time.

'His parents were affiliated to the orphanage, my friends were also close to them. My god! This is horrible. What kind of punishment is this?' Kaye's thought made her crunch her face. She massaged her temple due to a sudden headache.

She stayed inside the CR for a while before deciding to go out and bid farewell to the party hosts and to some guests that she knew.

'It's better to avoid unnecessary conflict with that idiot.' With this thought Kaye left the venue together with her parents. She didn't get to tell the Harleys that she met Ivan a few months ago.