- 3 1 -

"Well at least you look hot." Jane commented as I looked in the full length mirror once again.

"Yeah but my heart's just not in it anymore. I feel so suffocated and all I want is out." I said sighing and Jane came and gave me hug.

"What's the hug for?" I asked wrapping my arms around her.

"You look like you desperately needed it." She mumbled, making me hum in response. A knock was heard on the door and we both pulled away.

"Is he going to be there?" Jane asked me and I nodded.

"Yeah." I answered, noting her pursed lips.

"And did anyone from the office recognize you later?" She asked me again, making me shrug.

"I don't think so." I replied honestly, feeling hot remembering what took place in the ladies room at the office.

I can't lie though, it was pretty good.

"You don't look like you're appalled." Jane pointed at me after spritzing some perfume on herself and I bit my lip.

"I don't know what to think Jane. Part of me wants this but then the other part is screaming at me to stop before matters become worse, and I just... I don't know what to do." I spoke plopping down on my couch as Jane came to take a seat beside me.

"Hey, it'll be okay. You'll figure it out. Let's get through tonight first, and then we'll think about tomorrow, yeah?" She said rubbing my hands and I nodded, taking in a deep breath.

"Yeah. Thanks Jane." I gave her a small smile which she reciprocated with one of her own warm ones and pulled me off the couch, handing me my clutch and my strappy heels which I quickly wore and twirled once more in the mirror.

"Huh. I do look nice." I told myself.

"Yeah you do. Now let's get our asses down there." She exclaimed, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the room. I shut the door behind me after checking if I had everything once again and went down the stairs and into the dining hall where I assumed everyone would be.

Once I reached the dining hall, my eyes swept over the three suited and dressed men in front of me. Dad, Alex and Ivan were all wearing black suits and Ivan was wearing a black tux, looking handsome as ever.

I cleared my throat to get their attention and sure enough, all three of them turned, smiles taking over their faces as they took me in. My dad came forward first and hugged me tightly.

"You look so beautiful sweetheart." He whispered in my ear, making me smile widely and melt into his fatherly embrace that assured me everything would be fine.

Hopefully.

Alex came up after him and gave me a quick hug and then kissed my forehead.

"You look amazing, Thea." He gave me a grin.

"You look good too." I complimented him and he gave me a smug smirk.

"I always do sweetheart." He said, making me roll my eyes at him playfully. Ivan came forward next and gave me a small smile.

"Beautiful, as always." He whispered kissing the top of my head and offering me his arm.

"Let's go, shall we?" He asked me and I nodded, hooking my arm through his and we all walked out towards our cars.

I was to go with Ivan in his car and the others would follow behind in theirs. We reached the hall in nearly half an hour, which I mostly spent fidgeting around and thinking of worst possible scenarios in my head.

"It'll be alright. I'll be right with you the whole time." Ivan assured me when he noticed I had made no move to get out of the car once we had parked in front of the hall which was swarming with security.

"You have the ring?" I asked him looking out at the glamorous space and he hummed in response, opening his door and walking over to mine.

He held out his hand and I took it after staring at it for what seemed to be an eternity. With our arms linked with each others, we walked into the beautifully decorated hall.

Chandeliers sparkled and guests chatted about, drinking happily, dressed extravagantly. The women were literally overflowing with jewelry, wearing clothes that barely seemed to cover up their bodies and ogling at the man next to me.

The men were dressed up in expensive suits, their eyes wandering at every woman who was not with them until they settled on me for longer than necessary, making me overly conscious, even though my dress wasn't even that revealing. I looked like a nun compared to all the women here.

I spotted my family and Jane settled on a table and assessing the people around them, most of them who came to my brother and father to kiss their asses and some men who were eyeing Jane up and down while she gave them filthy looks.

"Where to first?" I asked Ivan who seemed to be looking around for someone until his gaze stopped at someone in particular.

"Let's just say hi to some important people." He answered, making me nod in return as we took rounds of the room meeting different people who were either business partners or potential business partners or just important people. We spent nearly an hour mingling around and drinking champagne from expensive glasses.

"When's the ceremony?" I asked him again and he gave me a brief glance before looking over at Alex.

"Now." He spoke gesturing to Alex who gave him a nod and stood up from his seat after excusing himself and so did my dad, making their way to the stage.

Dad walked over to the stage, taking the mic and turning it on, which made all the people stop whatever they were doing and look at my dad questioningly.

"Good evening everyone. I know everyone's been waiting very patiently for some unexpected news to be revealed tonight. Now without further ado, Ivan, my son why don't you come on over?" My dad gestured to Ivan who pulled on his usual cold expression and walked up the stage as everyone clapped for him lightly.

"Now it has been rumored that the Russian King has found his queen, and I'm here to tell you that those rumors are true. Dearest Heather, why don't you join us up here?" As soon as dad said this there was pin drop silence in the room as all heads turned to look my way.

Shit.

I forced one of my fake smiles on my face and walked over to the stage slowly, feeling everyone's gaze on me but one of them stood out in particular, burning me completely as I walked over to the stage slowly.

As soon as I reached the step of the stage Ivan held out his hand for me to take. I hesitated at first before taking it. He pulled me up and made me stand to his side with his arm around my waist as my eyes scanned the room and stopped at one in particular.

He looked so handsome standing there in all his glory, dressed in a full black suit, his hair combed back perfectly and his emerald green eyes like an intense forest.

He had his eyes on me, and it was like there was just us, and no one else, at least until my father's voice brought me out of my temporary haze.

"I wish them a happy life ahead as they rule together!" He cheered, raising his glass as Ivan tugged me towards him so that I was facing him and took out the same velvet box out of his pocket and pulled out the ring from it that I handed him a few hours ago.

He asked for my hand which I held out as he slid the ring onto the ring finger of my left hand, marking me his. At least for now.

Cheering and applause was heard as people came to us to congratulate us with best wishes. The next hour was gruesome, listening to people rant about their married lives and telling us what to expect and what not to, although Ivan found it rather amusing.

"Where to now?" I asked him warily feeling my feet about to fall off from standing in heels for so long.

"The Angelos." He replied, making my heart beat faster than normal at their name as he tugged at my hand and led me through the crowd and towards the table where the Angelos sat.

"Congratulations!" Maria came over to me and hugged me tightly, making me freeze for a moment before I composed myself.

"Thanks." I replied politely as she pulled away and I shook hands with Gabriel and Enzo, smiling at them when they congratulated us because Ivan couldn't even bother a polite smile.

Roman came forward next, one hand in his pant pocket and then other stretched out towards Ivan, who shook it firmly before he turned to me, his eyes running over my body, making me hot all over until they settled on my eyes.

He stretched his hand out and I took it, feeling its warmth that made me want to hold it forever.

Get a grip Heather.

I quickly pulled my hand out of his grasp, noting Ivan's furious gaze directed towards Roman.

"How about a dance with my lovely fiancé?" Ivan suddenly grunted making me turn towards him in confusion.

"Uh.. sure?" I said unsure and he quickly grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the people and to the middle of the dance floor just as music began to play. We swayed to the rhythm and I notice Ivan's straying eyes glaring at someone in particular.

I tried to look in the direction of his gaze to see what had him so annoyed but he was quick to twirl me, making my dress flare out, making me spin and land into someone else's arms.

I collided with the man's chest with an 'oomph' and looked up, gasping in surprise.

"After everything, you come back to me." He whispered huskily and swayed me to the music, his hand settling on my waist and pulling me flush against his body.

Our hands intertwined as he twirled me round and dipped me low, running his hand on the length of my bare leg and throwing a devilish smirk my way.

He pulled me back up quickly and pushed us together, inching towards my ear and whispering huskily.

"You look gorgeous amore." He whispered, making me blush furiously and bite my lip as he squeezed my waist lightly when the pace of the music increased and he spun me around once again, making me spin away from him and then pulled me back into his chest.

He lifted my feet off the ground and spun around as I dipped my head back, enjoying the feel of his arms around me and let a laugh fall out of my lips, and when I returned my eyes to his, I saw them sparkling and the hint of a beautiful smile tugging at his lips, showcasing his dimples that made him look a million times more beautiful.

As the music came to an end, he dipped me once again, pulling me back up with his signature smirk as my hands settled on his chest lightly, my heartbeat ringing in my ears as I let him move me like a puppet and the truth was, I didn't mind it.

At all.

Behind him, I caught Jane's eye who was looking at us wide eyed and right next to her, my dad who was watching us with confused look and then Alex with a grim expression on his face.

Shit.

I quickly moved away from him, my eyes darting around the room frantically and noticing every person's eyes on us. On me.

I just danced with the enemy, just when I got engaged to someone else. Even if it was fake. The room seemed to get smaller as I tried my very best to control my breathing, convincing myself I was just imagining the expressions of the people around me, until it seemed like the scenery was changing and I was at a similar event, just a different time.

I danced leisurely with the man I loved so dearly and everything seemed to be perfect until- it was not.

Their sneering faces, their false allegations and their boos all echoed in my head as I tried to find escape, to run for dear life until silence. The sound of gunshots echoed in the quiet hall five times.

The screams, the blood, the deaths. It was pure hell.

And then I blink once, twice, and look at the concerned emerald green eyes as I'm pushed against a wall, his hands caressing my face gently and uttering soothing words into my ear, making me give in to him as I hold onto him for dear life, crying to my heart's content.

His hands run through my hair and he kisses the top of my head, telling me everything's going to be fine, and for a split second, I believe him, clutching onto his shirt and letting his comforting manly pine scent lead me to complete darkness with the promise of something worse to come.

But for tonight, I let myself rest in his arms before I snap back to my cruel reality.

Just for tonight.