Engagement Night

SIA POV

"You've been so happy all evening, Elise. Didn't you say that it's only our girly dinner night? " I eyed her as her driver pulled up the car outside a luxurious hotel.

My best friend threw her head back in laughter.

"I've worked my ass off week! Why shouldn't I be excited about some fun time?" 

"I have work to do at home. I don't want to be—" I whined.

She cut in, placing a single finger on her lips, "Hush, Baby Girl! You're here now. Let's go in there and have some fun!" 

Her eyes shone with excitement as she spoke. She giggled like a kid who seemed to be hiding something and it made me uneasy. 

I forced a small smile at her as we stepped out of the car and into the hotel lobby.

 Something didn't feel right. As Elise chatted about how she was ready to stuff herself up with food, I reminded myself to relax a bit. Elise was only trying her best to make me forget how stressful the week had been. 

"Come on, let's go," Elise said, practically bouncing towards the elevators.

I trailed after her, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the mirrored elevator.

Damn! I looked very pretty.

 My long, dark hair cascaded down my back like a waterfall, and my strapless red gown hugged my curves in all the right places. The diamond necklace my mother had given me sparkled around my neck, and my high heels made me feel like a million bucks.

We reached the third floor and walked into a dimly lit hallway. 

Elise pushed open the doors to a grand ballroom, and I gasped as the lights flickered on. 

The room was filled with my family, friends, and even the paparazzi!

 I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

"Surprise!" everyone shouted in unison.

I scanned the room, trying to take it all in. 

Roses and petals adorned the tables and floor, and a giant banner hung behind the podium: "Will you marry me?"

My heart sank as I saw Nathan standing at the far end of the room, a smug smile plastered on his face. 

He was holding a microphone, and his eyes locked onto mine.

"Sia Stanton, at this point, it is clear that we can't escape being together," He said, smiling at me.

I frowned.

I knew exactly what he was talking about. Our parents had been on our necks to get married to each other as a way to seal the ties between both families.

"Our destinies align, Sia, and in the presence of everyone we care about, I want to pop the big question" He continued, his voice booming through the room.

My hands flew to my mouth and I bent over. 

"You f*cking liar!" A small voice in my head mocked.

I felt like I was going to vomit.

 This was it – the moment my family had been forcing me towards for months. Elise rushed to my side and helped me up.

"Don't you dare mess this up!" She hissed with a fierce whisper. "Everyone's watching you."

I sniffed, as I raised my face and stared at the ceiling, worried that my tears would slip down my cheeks and ruin my makeup.

A loud wave of clapping swept through  the hall and I drew in a sharp breath. 

I steadied myself and took slow, calculated steps down the red carpet that had been put out down the walkway.  Within a minute, I was already in front of Nathan. He leaned close to me and placed a soft kiss on my cheeks.

 I stiffened.

This was all for the media! I knew it. 

From the cold stare in his eyes, I could tell that all he wanted was to get this over with as soon as possible.

I didn't feel any different as I watched him get down on one knee, pull out a small box, and hold it up in front of me.

A hush settled on the crowd and I held my breath, waiting.

"Sia Stanton, will you marry me?"

Silence fell in the room.

I exhaled, "Yes, Nathan. Yes, I'll marry you," I said, smiling at him.

He slipped the ring on my finger, jumped on his feet, and wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

As we embraced, everyone clapped and cheered. I caught my mother's eye. Her lips were curbed upwards in a large grin.

Finally, I was doing what she wanted. The look of pride on her face was so obvious that I was sure I'd throw up within seconds. 

 I flashed a smile at her, forcing myself to hide my tears. 

I was breaking down and this wasn’t the right place and time. 

Soon, the party was in full swing, with champagne flowing and loud music blasting through the hidden speakers in the hall.

It wasn't long before Nathan excused himself, saying he needed some fresh air, and I watched as he headed for the exit.

I sat at the table with Elise, munching on a piece of cake that one of the ushers had given me. 

She was ranting about how my arranged marriage with Nathan wasn't as bad as I had feared. I was getting married to one of the most eligible bachelors in the state's capital who was also a billionaire. 

"I'll be right back, I need some air too," I said to Elise, interrupting her speech.

She smiled at me before she turned around to face my mother. 

I picked up the end of my dress to avoid stepping on it and I made my way out of the hall. 

I took the elevator and went to the ground floor. A lump formed in my throat as I tried to shrug off how unhappy I was. 

I was getting married to a man I barely knew and didn't even love, just because my parents would rather die than see me single and happy. 

I scoffed, making my way to the.  swimming pool at the side of the building. The area was dimly lit and the moon reflected in the water below.

I walked out to the pool area, the cool night air hitting me like a slap in the face. I shivered, my strapless red gown clung to my curves in the chill as my high heels clicked on the marble floor, echoing through the silent night.

As I walked, I noticed a movement in the semi-dark corner and I halted in my tracks. I squinted, my eyes making out the figure.

It seemed familiar.

I whipped out my phone and directed its flashlight over to the corner.

A deep male voice rang out, "Who the hell is that?"

My heart stopped. I recognized that voice.

It was Nathan, the man who just proposed to me. The view became clearer as I drew closer.

 His arms were wrapped around a woman whose face I didn't see clearly. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut all over again.

"Nathan, what the...?" I started to say, but my voice trailed off as I realized what was happening.

He was cheating on me while our engagement party was ongoing.

I felt like I was living in a nightmare.