A Devil's Kiss

IVORY

I woke up at the loud sound I was hearing, only to find out that it was my phone ringing.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, wondering who owns the unknown number I was staring at.

I swiped the decline button and tossed the phone back on the bed and quietly laid down on my bed to continue with my afternoon nap.

My phone rang again and I let out an annoyed groan before picking up the call.

"Hello, who's on the lin.....," I couldn't even finish my sentence before I was rudely cut off by the caller.

"Get ready by 7pm this evening. You're following me to a dinner party. My driver will come over to pick you up." I rolled my eyes when I realised who was on the phone.

How can I forget his annoying deep sultry and sexy voice that could make your insides erupt with fire. 

"A simple 'hello' would've been nice but what do I expect from an annoying asshole like you." There was silence from the other end of the phone before his voice boomed again.

"I'll meet you by seven, Angel."

That was it. The call went dead after that sentence and it took all my willpower not to smash my phone against the wall, imagining it to be his head that I was smashing.

How can one person depict so much arrogance?

'But you find him attractive and sexy, don't you?.'

I screamed at the voice inside my head to keep quiet as I let out a deep sigh. It's really alarming that I'll have to deal with his arrogance for a year.

It's been three days since I last heard from him and then he decides to grace me with an impromptu event.

Ugh...my life is going to be harder than I thought. I also stopped working three days ago courtesy of my supposed husband. 

I had tried going to the restaurant the next day after signing the contract but I was politely sent home by Mr Sebastian. 

And it has been as boring as hell for me because Ava herself wouldn't let me help out in reestablishing her bakery. The process has been fast paced and a success so far, as she got a new location for that; a little bit far from our apartment.

The whole thing has been going smoothly and I believe in merely two weeks, her bakery will be restored.

I let out a little huff when my stomach grumbled and I realised that I haven't had anything since morning as I've been sleeping the whole day.

I hopped out of my bed and exited my room before walking towards the kitchen.

*******

"Isn't the make-up a little bit too much?" I asked Ava while looking at the mirror vanity in her room.

She had returned home thirty minutes ago to help me dress up after I had texted her. 

"Oh please, you're attending a dinner party that would be filled with elites and you want to go there looking homeless. I wouldn't allow that. In fact, Alexander will instantly reject you if you show up looking like shit. And he's such a perfect gentleman, he got you a dress, shoes and bag for the party. I'm jealous, Ivory." I rolled my eyes at her sulking face.

Ava and her drama tactics. I looked down at the dress to admire it for the third time this evening.

A delivery man had showed up earlier with a box that contained a wine red dress, a pair of silver coloured high heels and a silver bag to match.

The dress was silky, strapless and long. It was slit from my left mid-thigh downwards. And did I mention that my back was exposed.

This is the most revealing dress that I ever have to wear. I had wanted to change into something simple and not revealing but one glare from Ava made me remain in this sophisticated dress.

"I wish I was invited too. Hey, you! You really have to tell your husband that you have a beautiful best friend, so I can get invited to parties too." She flashed me a grin in the mirror as she coiyed my hair. 

She tied it up into a slightly loose bun with some curly strands falling down my face.

"Yeah, sure I will. He's not my husband yet, Ava," I corrected her with a playful glare.

"He's your husb...." She was interrupted by a loud car honk that came from downstairs.

"That should be the driver. The time is 6:59," I said after checking the time on my phone.

I stood up and glanced at myself in the mirror. I must confess, I look quite exquisite. I can't even really recognize myself. I smiled at the mirror a little bit before exiting the room with Ava who kept blabbing about how beautiful and magnificent I look.

"Have lots and lots of fun, baby," Ava said as we stood beside the black sleek car. I nodded at her and she pulled me into a brief hug.

The driver ushered me into the back seat of the car before moving around to enter the driver seat. Ava continued to wave as the car zoomed off.

The back door of the car opened after we had arrived at the venue and had packed properly. 

Alexander stood outside the car with his right hand stretched towards me. I arched a brow at him before placing my hand on his as guided me down the car.

He was dressed impeccably in a tailored black tuxedo, complete with a crisp white shirt, a black bow tie, and shiny black shoes, leaving me in awe of his elegance and sophistication.

He looked at me for a few seconds before dragging me towards the entrance of the venue. I was immediately blinded by lights from cameras at different angles. I hadn't even noticed that paparazzi were everywhere till now.

Alexander's grip on my hand loosened and I felt his hand on waist as he pulled me close to himself before whispering into my ear.

"Loosen up and smile." I looked at him confused but still complied. I tilted my chin up and raised my shoulders a little bit before giving the cameras around me a faux smile.

I let out a deep breath as soon as we got into the hall of the venue. We managed to narrowly escape the paparazzi with the help of Alexander's bodyguards.

If this is what I'll experience whenever I'm out with him then I'm not ready for any of it.

My heart jumped into my stomach when we entered the hall and all eyes fell on us. When I say all eyes, I mean every pair of eyes that was in this hall.

I felt Alexander's hand on my waist tightening a bit. I glanced at him and he flashed me a smile that I knew was a fake one. He turned back to look at everyone in the hall before he smiled and nodded curtly.

And just like that everyone averted their eyes from us except for a few who kept glancing at us or rather me, either discreetly or openly.

I saw Mr Marco approaching us with a woman. The woman immediately engulfed me in a hug as soon as she got to where I was.

"I finally met you, my dear. You're so much more beautiful in person", she uttered breathlessly after she had disengaged from the hug. I raised a confused brow at her. 

"Oh, I'm Alexander's mum." I gasped in surprise turning to look at Alexander, Mr Marco and then back to the woman.

This is Alexander's mother?

She looks so beautiful. She has grey eyes just like Alexander. No wonder Alexander is insanely handsome, he has parents with an unearthly beauty.

She was dressed in a long, flared emerald-green gown, her black hair flowing freely down her back. She was adorned in gold jewels, making her look like a goddess.

Mr Marco was just dressed in a simple brown coloured suit. He was looking as handsome as always.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were his mother." She smiled at me and touched my cheek.

"She's so adorable. Are you all sure she isn't an angel? She has such an angelic face. My beautiful daughter-in-law." I let out an awkward laugh before muttering a little thank you.

"Mum, dad, we'll love to excuse ourselves now," Alexander said, without waiting for their reply and dragged me away with him. 

I stood in an open area while glaring maliciously at Alexander who left me to go greet some people.

"Wow, it's our Angel." I turned to look at the owner of the voice. It was Clark, Mr Sebastian's son. 

"Hi, Clark. You're looking exquisite today," I complimented him.

"Don't flatter me, Ivory. Your beauty is so radiant that I was almost blinded when you entered this hall." I let out a loud laugh at his words. He smiled and took my hand and gave it a kiss.

I heard a loud groan behind me before my hand was forcefully snatched from Clark's hold. I whipped around to reprimand the person who would be so rude only to come face to face with Alexander. He pulled me towards him and gave Clark a glare.

"Take a chill pill, buddy. I was only complimenting her." Alexander glared at him again and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Take your compliments somewhere else. Keep your hands away from my fiancée." Clark narrowed his eyes, smiled widely and nodded his head slowly.

"I can see my parents approaching, Alex. If they ask, you haven't seen me this evening." With that last sentence, he left us.

"You know it's really rude to yank at people's hands as if you want to shift it from its position," I said glaring at him and he smirked at me in response.

"You're really an arrogant brute!."

"Would you care to dance with me? I suppose I could make an exception and allow you the opportunity to dance with someone of my superior dancing skills," he said, staring directly into my eyes.

"Well, if this is your nicest way to ask someone for a dance, then no!," I replied, not looking back at him in the eye.

"I'm sorry but you do not have a choice here, Angel." Before I could protest, he pulled me towards the dance floor.

"I do not know how to dance," I gritted out.

"You'll learn", was all he said. As the music began, he put my two hands on his shoulders. His left hand coiled my waist and his right hand rested on my mid back.

He locked his eyes with mine and this time, I couldn't look away. I was instantly captivated by his undeniable allure. I didn't even notice when he started gliding me across the dance floor. 

"I'm going to propose to you now," I heard him say as he spinned me around. He pulled me to himself before releasing me and going down on one knee. He brought out a ring from his suit pocket and opened it. People around us gasped and those that were dancing had stopped. We were in the spotlight as all eyes were on us.

I looked down at him confused. I didn't have any idea that this was what he was going to do. I noticed the cameras flashing and then it dawned on me that he was doing this probably for the media.

"Will you marry me?" I swallowed hard, smiled and stretched my left hand towards him. He immediately slid the ring into my fourth finger and slowly stood up. I heard loud cheers around me but I tuned them out as my focus was only on Alexander. 

I felt his face lowering towards mine and my heart began racing rapidly when I realised what he was about to do. I slowly shook my head at him but he smirked in return before his lips came crashing down on mine.