CHAPTER FIVE.

   DANIELLE'S P.O.V

"Good evening, everyone" Alfredo Valentino's powerful voice carries in the dimly lit room.

Everyone turns towards the podium where Alfredo and my dad stand, microphones and champagne flutes occupying their hands.

"We thank every one of you for honoring our invite to join us in celebrating the partnership of our companies" dad says.

"They're about to announce your engagement" Sofia gushes excitedly.

I glance across the room at Adrian who stands with Umar, his hands in his pockets as usual. As if sensing my gaze, he looks at me and our eyes lock. I smirk, subtly wave my left hand and watch in smug satisfaction as his facial muscles strain into a scowl.

"We appreciate that you took time out of your schedules to felicitate with us and we would like to use this opportunity to announce a further alliance of our families." Alfredo says.

"The forging of our families into an eternal bond through the marriage of our children, Danielle and Adrian" dad finishes.

The entirety of the ballroom looks at us in awe and starts to clap. I and Adrian, taking that as our cue, walk across the room towards each other. We meet at the middle and Adrian, for the sake of our ruse, pretends to be a perfect gentleman by offering me his arm. I go along with the flow and take his outstretched arm. We then make our way to the podium where our fathers await us with beaming smiles on their faces.

  Pretending to be the perfect couple for the sake of the media is easier than I expected it to be. Adrian and I beam at the crowd and smile for the numerous cameras that flash. I even wave my left hand on which the slim band that holds the beautiful giant diamond sits. I watch as the female guests gasp and whisper. Some stare at me in awe, clearly wishing for the fairytale life they think I have, while others have jealousy painted boldly on their faces; they glare at me and scoff while I look each one of them in the eyes and give the sweetest smile I can muster.

"I think you're enjoying this a bit too much" I hear Adrian whisper beside me.

"When next will I have such fun?" I say, my perfect smile not once leaving my face.

"Tone it down a notch,will you? I'm starting to think you actually want this marriage" he says.

"I must be a very good actress,then" I retort.

Adrian scoffs as we step down from the podium. The guests start to approach us, taking turns to congratulate us.

Umar Zayn walks up to us next, a smile gracing his handsome face.

"Congratulations" he says.

"Thank you" I reply with a sweet smile.

"You're one lucky chap, Adrian, to have bagged this beautiful a bride" Umar teases.

  Adrian scowls at his best friend, obviously not appreciating the joke.

"Why, thank you" I say, laughing.

"I do not believe we have been properly introduced" he says.

"We do not necessarily need introductions now, do we?" I ask.

"I'd like to know you properly because I would like to be friends with anyone who torments Adrian"

"Then let me introduce myself. I'm Danielle Dawson"

  "Umar Zayn. Pleased to make your acquittance, my lady" he says.

He takes my left hand in his hand and kisses it as he gives a playful bow. I laugh as he straightens and gives me a dashing smile.

"We're going to be good friends, I can tell" I say.

"I wouldn't mind that" he says with a wink and walks away.

"Don't get too comfortable. This is all a ruse; you'd do well to remember that" Adrian whispers into my ear and walks away.

Of course, he always has a way of ruining my mood.

"We'll see about that, Adrian Valentino" I mutter as I sip from my champagne flute.

       CAMERAS CLICK and flash in succession. My jaws hurt from smiling for several hours at a time, my feet ache from having to try on different heeled shoes, and my entire body aches from been prodded with pins while changing outfits.

  I appreciate models a little bit more now that I have gone through the torturous activity that is a photoshoot. It's much worse when you have an uncooperative partner to model with. I glare at Adrian and he reciprocates the gesture.

"That wraps it off. You did great." Paul says, breaking our staring contest.

  Paul Hattaway is the head photographer and CEO of CLICKs, the best and most famous photography studio in the country. The studio is reputed for being booked all year long; anyone who wanted a spot would have to reserve it months before their shoot, but my father and Alfredo got a spot for our pre-wedding shoot with just a call.

"Thank you for your hard work" I say with a smile.

Paul had patiently endured the numerous banters myself and Adrian had engaged in during the course of the shoot. Unlike yesterday night, after the announcement of our engagement, where he portrayed himself as the perfect gentleman, Adrian had picked at every little thing I did in the photoshoot. He had made the activity a sour and miserable one. I guess he could only stand being civil with me because of his father's presence which makes me wonder if he fears his father.

"It's my job" Paul says, waving my gratitude away uncomfortably.

"Regardless, you've done well" I insist.

"Thank you" Paul gives in.

He smiles at us both and leaves the room.

"I see no need for all of this" Adrian says as he approaches me.

"Finally something we can both agree on"

"You didn't seem to have any issues with it"

"I was having the best day of my life, couldn't you tell?" I say sourly.

I fish for my purse in the bustle of the studio. A make-up assistant, who had been keeping it for me, gives it to me and I pick out my phone. I dail Robert, my driver's number.

"You can bring the car to the front of the building, Robert. I'm done."

"Okay ma'am".

I hang up the call and wait patiently for Robert's call to notify me of his arrival.

"I hope not to see you for the rest of the day" Adrian says as he exits the building, his secretary on his heels.

"The feeling is mutual" I scowl. 

He must think highly of himself if he thinks I want to see him either. His gorgeousness does not blindfold me from seeing the rottenness of his heart.

My phone vibrates and I pick up the call.

"I'll be right out" I tell Robert.

I once again thank the workers in the studio; photographers, designers, and make-up artists, for their work. I then exit the building and head for the black SUV that sits right outside the building in waiting.

"Welcome, miss" Robert greets.

"Thank you, Robert. Take me home, please"

"Okay, ma'am"

  Few minutes into the journey, my phone vibrates.

"Dannie!" Sofia shrieks once I pick up the phone.

"Jesus, Sofia! Are you trying to make me deaf?" I ask.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so excited about how today went. I want to hear every single detail" she says giddily.

"What do you want to hear?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

"Wait! Let me connect Layla and Janelle quickly" she says.

Of course, I have to deal with a conference call with my friends on my way home from a miserable day.

"What's up my girlies?" Layla says once she is connected.

"What's this about. I'm having a shoot in a few hours. I need as much beauty sleep as I can get" Janelle says.

"Dannie is about to give us juicy details of how her pre-wedding shoot went" Sofia tells them.

"I'm all ears" I hear Layla clap.

"My beauty sleep can wait for a few more minutes" Janelle says.

"There's nothing to tell, I promise you guys" I say, assuringly.

"There's definitely something" Layla says mischievously.

"How was it, being in close proximity with your husband to be? Were there any sparks?" Janelle asks and I can just tell she's wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"It was terrible. He nags at the littlest of things, you guys. I think I might have to run away again" I complain.

Sofia gasps in horror.

"Run? You can't do that Dannie. The wedding's just next week" she gushes.

"I was just joking, Sofi" I say.

"The invitations have been sent out, we're about to start planning the bachelorette. There's just too much invested into this wedding. It has to take place" she continues.

Layla and Janelle laugh at her logorrhea while I chuckle.

"Sofi, Sofi, Sofi!" Layla shouts.

Sofia stops talking. She pants gently as she has run out of breath.

"I was just joking" I clarify

"Oh!" she says and her end of the line goes quiet for a while.

"Good" she squeaks a few minutes later. This sends Janelle and Layla into another fit of laughter.

"You guys, I'm really tired. I had an exhausting day. I'll talk to you later?" I say.

  "Sure, no problem. Take a lot of rest. We don't want you looking like a Zombie bride on the D-Day" Layla says.

  The three of them laugh and I roll my eyes playfully.

"Have a nice day. And good luck with your shoot, Janelle" I say

"Thanks babe. See you girls later. Chow" she says and disconnects the call.

"I'll go off now. I'll see you guys later"

I hang up the call after Sofia and Layla bid their farewells. I sigh and put my head on the window on the left side of the car.

Within a few more minutes, Robert pulls into the driveway of my father's mansion and I alight the car. I head straight to my room with the intention of taking a very long and cold shower, having a full lunch, and sleeping with my clothes busting at the seams from overeating.

I am just about to undress when my phone vibrates, signalling a call.

I pick it up to see an International number is calling. I wonder who it can be.

"Hello?" I say as I pick up the call.

"Hello, Dannie" a voice says.

I freeze on hearing the voice. I can recognize that voice anywhere even though it's been ages since I last heard it.

"It's been a while" the voice says.

  "Chase?" I ask in a whisper.

"The one and only"

I drop on my bed, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion. Just when I thought my day could not get any worse.

Fate must be playing some sort of game with my life.