Chapter Five

Astrid stiffened as she sat. She didn’t know which one to react to first—the chaste kiss, which set her heart on fire, or the fact that Darius would propose to her earlier than planned.

“I don’t get it. You said you would propose when we go out for dinner.” She finally chose which one to talk about.

“I know. But after this banquet, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere else, so let’s get this over with right here.” He gave her a smile. Through the smile, she found out that he had this planned. There was no way he would propose here if he didn't want to. She narrowed her eyes at him.

Their food was served at once, filling the table with colourful dishes of seafood, spaghetti, rice, all kinds of salad, and five bottles of wine and champagne. Astrid didn’t get to eat breakfast at the house, so she ate little portions of almost everything on the table. She just drank water, since she was a lightweight with alcohol.

She watched different people talk, make toasts and donate to various foundations. She started to realise how much she didn't fit in. It was a crowd of some of the most elite people out there.

Soon, curtains fell all over the place, making it almost impossible for the sunlight to penetrate. It no longer seemed like brunch as it looked like night had fallen. “What’s happening?” Astrid turned to look at Darius, but he was no longer on his seat.

The lights dimmed, and everyone turned to someone under the spotlight in the middle of the hall. It was Darius.

Astrid started to freak out. Surely he wasn’t serious about proposing to her then and there, was he? He started a long speech, welcoming everyone to the banquet. As he kept talking, Astrid wondered about her mother. Was she still angry at her? What would her father say?

“Astrid?” She flinched as Darius called out her name. Another spotlight brought her into focus as he gestured for her to come over to him.

She stood up slowly and walked toward him. It was happening. She couldn’t believe it. He smiled, watching her approach him. “You’ve been with me through all of the tough times and the good ones, as well. Would you like to continue this journey with me as wife, forever?” He went down on one knee and opened the small box in his hand containing a diamond ring.

Astrid’s face exploded in made-up elation as she nodded. He slipped the ring onto her finger and stood up. There was commotion as any and every paparazzo found a way to burst through the doors.

“What does this mean for the future, Mr Titan?!” One of them screamed, extremely happy to be getting some ground-breaking story first hand.

Darius didn’t answer any of their questions, as usual. He just placed his mouth against Astrid’s. All the butterflies in her stomach had turned into cavemen, destroying the walls. She didn’t expect a kiss. Especially one from Darius Titan. Who would have thought?

Screams and cheers from every place in the hall deafened them. “Let’s get out of here.” Darius told her as people rushed towards them in an attempt to congratulate them. It was a stampede.

They rushed out of the building, not without being pulled by people who wanted to touch them, especially Darius.

.

“What was that all about?” Astrid asked as she entered the living room with Darius. She made sure nobody was around to hear what they would be saying.

“What do you mean?” Darius asked, frowning.

“We agreed on a proposal, not a kiss.” She said, her cheeks turning red.

“Excuse me for trying to make it look real.” He scoffed, undoing the two top buttons on his shirt.

“You should have warned me beforehand. I wasn’t prepared. What if I had pushed you away?” She asked. He walked towards her, tired of the small talk.

“You didn’t push me away. That’s all there is to it.” He explained with finality.

“You don’t just go around kissing people like that. I never gave you my consent. Apologize.” She crossed her arms. She didn’t know where the confidence came from. It must have come with the ring and the proposal, for all she knew.

Darius tried to control himself, but this woman standing in front of him was loosening the strings without knowing it. If she undid his patience, there would be no going back.

“I’m sorry.” He managed to say for her to leave.

“Good.” She smiled triumphantly and walked upstairs. Darius found himself excited. He gave himself points for apologizing before things could get out of hand. What remained was taking care of his erected member.

He walked upstairs and passed his room to the last room further down the hall, which only he had the key to. He entered and locked the door, where he found his soft bed.

He wasn’t so proud of the number of women that had been in the room. That was the main reason why his mother had left his house to live alone. The reason why Astrid was there.

Astrid...

Darius didn’t understand how that woman had mesmerized him in just a day, but she had. He sat on the large bed and unbuckled his belt. He let his trousers slide down his legs, along with his boxer shorts.

He remembered how the dress she wore had accentuated her hourglass figure. With images of her pouring into his mind, he pleasured himself. He wanted her. Right then, he made a decision to have her no matter what.

He flexed his neck far back, staring at the ceiling. He had allowed himself to be enchanted by her. He knew the consequences of it. He would stop at nothing to have her for himself, without letting his mother know about it. Even she had to want him for herself, at least. He was quite sure about that.

.

Astrid sat in her room, watching the TV absent-mindedly. She was still recalling the kiss. His lips were so soft and warm against hers, she wanted to do things to him that she never thought she could.

He left her wanting more of that kiss and probably what followed after. It wasn't going to be easy living with him if she continued to have such thoughts.

She spent the remainder of the hours talking to her parents on the phone until they all got tired of the conversation, which all ended in them always asking her if she was okay and safe. It was like a back and forth discussion without any progress.