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I watched in confuion as four bodyguards amble towards me. they formed a barricade with their bodies around me, shielding me away from the media.

I stood at the beginning of the red carpet and in the middle of a muscle cage. Despite the four huge men obscuring me from the mob of reporters, some determined fellows managed to get their microphone to my face.

We walked slowly than i would've liked because i was being bombarded with overlapping questions.

"What is your name ma'am?"

"Excuse me over here"

"Who designed your dress?"

"Are you a celebrity?"

"Please answer the questions ma'am"

"Who are you?"

"Do you know the CEO of stellon?"

I used my forearm to shield my eyes from the flashes, ignoring every question.

We walked farther and finally into the building. Dozens of people in beautiful clothings and some over the top, were dispersed across the red carpet. The huge men suddenly stopped, making me halt along with them and three of them walked away to God knows where, leaving me with a brown haired mountain of a man.

"Stella is in the backroom, with the make up artists. She's expecting you." he pointed his index finger to a hallway.

"Wait, you didn't even ask my name. How did you know it was me?" i quirk an eyebrow, expecting something like 'i was given a picture of you' or something but he gave me a look and said

"you're really hard to miss" and ambled away.

I stood in the middle of the red carpet, an overwhelming anxiety surged through my veins as i looked around, finding a decent amount of people staring at me.

Fear for an unidentified reason made my heart race. All my words of encouragement earlier were forgotten in an instant. I suddenly felt self conscious. What if they can see through my facade? what if ...... what if what? i don't undertand why i'm so frightened.

I turn around,looking around for a farmiliar face but the search ended up futile. I should just go to stella. Isn't she the boss of whole thing? she should be here, welcoming guests.

I turn around to the direction of the hallway to find stella and just then, something caight my eye. I slowly turn back around, praying to the heavens that i didn't see what i thought I saw.

Ethan.

I pick up my dress and moved my feet. They feel like blocks of cement, i'm not moving fast enough. I don't bother lookiong behind. I will see him again.

what is he doing here? and who was that woman i saw him with?

I stop again.

Maybe i was mistaken. what will ethan possibly gain from coming here? he doesn't even like stella.

  I made up my mind to look back again and there he was, drinking and laughing in a grey suit, his arm around the waist of a woman who's back is turned to me. what can he possibly gain from coming here?

Just then, as if sensing my gaze on him, ethan slowly tilted his body, his eyes settled on me.

I froze.

My heart dropped to my stomach. What am i doing? why am i not running? i can't do this right now, i have to get out of here.

I picked up my dress and not so subtly dashed across the red carpet and towards the backroom.

Two reporters rushed my way and stopped me .

"ello miss w-"  i didn't even acknowledge them, I continued to push my legs.

I finally got to the hallway. The narrow sapce was illuminated by a florescent bulb and there are rows of door on the sides. I see a door with a "main hall" sign on it and ran to it.

  I opened the door and the main hall immediately came into view. I stood at the threshold and marveled at the embellishment for a second before I sprinted towards the stairs that led to the stage.

I manoeuvred my way through chairs and tables and finally got to the stairs.

"Wait!." like an icecold water dumped on molten lava, i halted.

"Wait. why are you running?" the voice said.

I want to turn around but stopped myself. what if it's one of ethan's men. Did he recognise me?

Instead of turning around to see the face that possesed that voice, i dashed across the stage and into the backroom.

Darkness enveloped me before the light came into view. I found alot of people and mirrors and dresses but i didn't stop to marvel at their beauty, I went straight to a woman in a red cotton robe who was looking around her for some sort of help, She looked like she could sprint away any moment.

"Where is stella?" i rushed, swallowing saliva, my throat feels dry.

"There." I whipped my head to the direction she pointed and sprinted towarsds it.

I slammed the door open and hurried inside. Stella and lyla were in there with freda, the make up artists and two other people i don't recognise. 

I slammed the door shut and pressed my back against it, My chest heaving and my head spinning, i closed my eyes and dropped to the floor to collect my breath.

"Jesus girl, what happened!?" lyla pushed herself off the chair she was sitting on and rushed to my side.

"I....I....I....saw...I saw" i was suddenly aware of the audience watching me. I felt naked under their scrutinizing gazes.

I gulped and returned my eyes to lyla's face. She seemed to understand then because she nodded and pulled me up and away from the door.

"Can you guys please give us some privacy?" They all nodded and hurriedly filed outside. Stella and freda remained in the room.

"Stella? please?" lyla pleaded. Stella looked like she wanted to put up an argument but she reclined and walked out the door reluctanctly.


"Freda?" lyla asked exasperatedly.

"I'm sorry but no, i'm not going anywhere lyla." freda persisted.

"Freda? please." i raised my eyes to meet hers. she stared at me, telling me she's not leaving with her eyes but i blinked and nodded. An understanding passed through us before she nodded and also walked out, shutting the door behind her.

The room was silent, I closed my eyes, trying to calm my raging heart.

Lyla pulled me to a chair and sat me down. She then crouched down in front of me to meet my eyes. I exhaled heavily, trying to keep my eyes dry.

"What happened?" she asked softly, like she's talking to a wounded animal. She's not too far off.

I don't reply, my eyes are still closed and my damn heart wouldn't stop trying to escape my chest.

"Nessa? what happened?" she asked again, using the same somber tone.

I can hear the sound of the air conditioner working, the plop......plop sound of water leaking from a tap somewhere,  the sound of someone shifting behind the door trying to eavesdrop. the sound of lyla breathing, the sound of my raging heart...

I don't want to be here anymore, i just want to go home and curl under my blanket and never face anyone again. Why did i have to come here? what ridiculous reason did i come up with to convince myself to attend this event? why didn't i think about the consequences that might follow if ethan happened to spot me? what should i do?

what should i do?

I felt two thumbs under my eyes and opened my eyes to find lyla wiping away my make up stained tears.

"Do you want to talk about it?" lyla asked.

I shook my head in refusal looking anywhere else but her face.

"Do you want to be alone for a while?" She stared at me with soft eyes full of pity.

Pity...... i don't want pity.

For some reason, that look enraged me. I stood up, pushing the chair back in the process, my heels squeaked on the marble floor.

  Lyla moved back slowly and watched me walk to the mirror to use some wipes to fix my make up.

I am terrified, hell, terrified is a mild word and i am possibly not going to survive this night if i was recognised by ethan but i refuse to be pitied. I refuse to be given that look tonight.

I fixed a smile on my face and turned around to face lyla who is staring at me with outmost confusion. I almost laughed despite the situation.

"Will it be okay if i go home instead?" i asked, looking around for the first time to register my environment. There are  four mirrors, all placed parallel to each other on the white coloured wall with a ton of make up on the stands in front of them. And in front of each stand, is a rotatable white chair. The floors are white and marble. I look away, towards the door and walked towards it. it's hardwood, i don't think there's much to hear when eavesdropping with this door.

I look down and found a shadow moving, probably away from the door. Smart eavesdropper.

"What?" she asked after a stretch of silence.

"I asked if i could go home." i placed my hand on the door knob.

"Are you sure you're okay Nessa?" she walked slowly towards me and the door.

"Why wouldn't i be?" i beamed at her.

"Well...you...i....Em...you.....what?" She held her forehead in her hand.

"Are you okay lyla?" I placed my hand on her shoulder. Noticing her dress for the first time. it's a peach coloured, hand embroided a-line shaped dress. Its very beautiful.

"Me! what! " she started pacing across the room and yelled. "You can't just come in here looking like you just saw a ghost then walk away and pretend like nothing happened!" She stopped in front of me with tears in her beautiful gray eyes, bringing her tone down to a soft octave "What happened Nessa? who did that to you?" she sniffed.

I stared at her for a moment, tempted to tell her everything. I don't like seeing tears in her eyes, she's too beautiful to cry, tears are not meant for her. But i sucked in my tears and fixed a fake and shaky grin on my face. I placed my thumbs under her eyes to wipe the tears away like she did mine and hugged her. She felt stiff at first but she brought her arms around me and hugged me with double the force. I raised my head to her ear and whispered "i'm fine." before i pulled away and walked out of the room without a second glance.

"I'm fine." i repeated it over and over again in my head. Sadly, i can lie to everyone by wearing heavy make up and laughing and placing a smile on my face but ....."I'm not fine."

I walked out the back room and into the main hall. I stood on the stage and looked around, trying to find a place to hide, where i can stay without anyone finding me.

Lyla will not let me go without getting some answers and neither will stella, I didn't bring my phone with me and there's no way for me to call james, He will only be here after the event. I can't walk 20 miles to the mansion. I don't know anyone here except him.

I found a spot in the far back close to a column on my right. people were already filing in. It gave me the perfect oppurtunity to hide. I picked up my dress and carefully walked down the stairs and towards the back, ignoring the stare of the few people who are already in the hall and in their seats.

  I reached my destination and skillfully hid myself behind the column, away from scrutinizing stares and intimidating gazes. My anxiety, despite that i'm away from prying eyes, did not decrease one bit.

I sat there uncomfortably, praying that time would speed up so i can get out of here faster. I close my eyes and took deep breaths, something i do when i'm stressed but right now, it did nothing to help.

I shifted in my seat and leaned back, half of my head poked over the top of the chair. I decided to hum a song, one that my mother used to love playing. Fur Elise.

"Fur Elise, nice." said a booming voice from beside me. I open my eyes and turn to look at the intruder.

"What...........who are you?" I shift in my seat to take a good look at him.

He's wearing a maroon suit with a white dress shirt and black tie. a sturdy chin that could probably cut through glass and.. Bloody hell. Beautiful blue-green eyes that look breathtaking under the lights, I could just stare at those eyes until the end of eternity, they're so, captivating. How can eyes look like that? Is that even possible?

I fought the urge to touch them. They can't possibly be real, can they? Of course they are, I'm staring at them right now dammit!

His lips, pink and pretty lips curved into a one sided smile.

"Carter, Lucas Carter, nice to meet you......." He trailed, stretching his hand towards me.

I tentatively took his hand and immediately regretted it. This all screams cliche romance novel. i felt it, i felt that part i thought was already broken when i was thrown on the floor and broke my left arm on the second day of my honeymoon. Sparks they called it? No it wasn't a spark. That was definitely not a spark.

I hurridely took my hand out of his, looking anywhere else but his face or his breathtaking eyes.

"Uh...sorry, is something wrong?" He asked, i can hear the confusion in his voice.

"I'm sorry, i have to go to the restroom" I stood up, looking around but it was useless, that bloody huge column is in the way.

"Okay, i'll be here. waiting." he said matter of factly.

I walked around the huge column and looked around for someone who has no idea whatsoever about me, someone i can ask for directions to the damn toilet.

I maneuvered my way through the chairs and stopped in the middle of the hall. I don't know why i looked towards the threshold but i thank the heavens i did. Ethan walked in with the woman i now recognise as Gabrielle. what are they doing here, together?

I have to go back.

I pick up my dress and speed walked back to the column. sure enough, Lucas Carter was still there, waiting.

"Back so soon?" He asked when he saw me come from behind.

"Yes, i realized i didn't need it anymore." I said nonchalantly and ploped down in my chair with an exasperated sigh, kneading the space between my brows.

"Are you okay? you seemed disturbed a while ago" He asked.

"Yes, i'm fine." i nodded

I'm not fine.

"I still don't know your name." He said.

"Why should i tell you? i don't even know who you are."

"Yes you do. I told you my name ten minutes ago." He shifted in his chair.

I don't reply, the only thing i could think of was how i would escape from this night.

"Okay, i'll guess your name. is it Lucia?" he asked.

I shook my head

"Halsey?"

I shook my head

"Becky?"

"why do you want to know so bad?" I snapped .

"Cause i want a name to put on your beautiful face." he shrugged.

I scoffed.

"I'm married." i stated.

Suddenly, everything was quiet, he was quiet. I could hear the sound of his strained breathing.

"How long?" he asked, his tone somber, as if talking about the death of someone.

"Three years." I said and strangely found myself embarassed at the fact.

"Do you have kids?" he choked.

"No."

"why?"

My Abigail.

My heart constricted.

"Can you please mind your own business?" I snapped. I'm on the verge of tears and i refuse to cry in front of this prying stranger.

"I'm sorry if i went too far." He said, sounding truly sorry.

"Just try not to ask anymore personal questions. Frankly, i don't know you, you could be a serial killer for all I know, my life is already miserable, maybe you could do me a favor and end it.  Bloody hell why did I even say that!" I put a hand on my forehead.

"I don't owe you any explanations, please keep your prying questions to yourself ." i looked away.

I still haven't met his eyes since i stopped looking at it earlier.

"I'm sorry." he said.

"I have to go." i stated and stood up. He stood up too

"Where are you going?" i asked, narrowing my eyes at him

"I'm coming with you. I'm guessing you didn't come with your husband so i'll take you home." He said nonchalantly and put his hands in his pockets

Little does he know that my husband is actually here but he can't recognise me.

"You're not coming with me." i said matter of factly

"Yes i am."

"You can't do that." i shook my head

"yes i can."

I groan.

I walked around the column and subtly found my way around the chairs and tables. I felt a prescence behind me but i don't bother looking back, i know its him.

Everyone suddenly started clapping. I looked up and found stella on stage in the most beautiful burgundy cocktail dress i've ever seen.

"Welcome everyone, i want to th-" Her eyes found me.

"Vanessa?" she said into the microphone.

Everyone turned around in their chairs to look at me, everyone including Gabrielle and Ethan.

"Vanessa. nice name." Lucas said behind me but he's not the one i was focusing on.

I felt the heat of Ethan's stare as his eye widened in recognision. Gabrielle's jaw was practically sweeping the floor .

I have to get out of here.

Without thinking, i grabbed Lucas's hand, ignoring the feeling it immediately resurrected and pulled him with me to the threshold of the main entrance of the hallway.

"You're taking me home." i stated firmly despite the overwhelming anxiety.

"Yes i am." He replied and took the lead, pulling me away from the scrutinizing stares of every single person i've been trying to avoid since i arrived.

What happens now?

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He's finally in the book,  I want you all to meet him, the love of my life that may or may not exist only in my imagination but I love and will marry anyways, Lucas carter.

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