"Darling, you simply must show me your dress! I know it is my wedding but I want to see yours anyway," said Damon cheerfully as he clapped his hands, showing how impatient he truly was.

Andin took a deep breath, then put her hands up. "First of all, please don't be mad."

"Oh, I do not like the sound of this," commented Damon under his breath.

"Just think of it like this, it is your wedding so you should be the focus. All eyes should be on you. The spotlight is yours so it is only right if I wear whatever dress that fits me regardless of how they look. It is not important," dismissed Andin with a shrug.

"It is important when Sebastian Freaking Summers will be there with you!" protested Damon, eyes widened in disbelief.

"Could you please stop calling him that?" She lowered her body and sat on the edge of her bed. "He is still my boss." Then she recalled her resignation letter and added, "well, at least for the next two and a half months."

"Fine. But show me your dress."

Andin stood and walked to her wardrobe cabinet then pulled out a plain white gown. "Here."

Damon's first reaction was a blink. Then his lips parted until they were too far apart and his jaw was on the floor. "Are you kidding me?!"

"Oh, come on," groaned Andin as she put the dress on top of her mattress and then sat next to it. "It's not that bad."

"It's worse! Are you the virgin bride trying to steal Tanner away from me or something? That dress looks like it belongs centuries ago!"

"You are exaggerating."

"Perhaps I am but nobody wears that many laces these days."

Andin was about to argue when there was a knock on her door. She blinked, confused. Who would be visiting early on Saturday afternoon?

"I will be back, there's someone at my door," she told Damon then strode to the front door. Surprisingly, there was a delivery man at the door. He smiles, tilting his hat back slightly when she swung the door open.

"Miss Andin Williams?" he queried in which she answered with a nod. "Got a special delivery for you. Can you please sign here?" He handed her the machine and she quickly signed it once she double-checked that the package was indeed directed to her.

"Who is it from?" she asked blankly as she could not find the sender's name on the display.

"I don't know. It is not stated here," the guys said, shrugging. "Perhaps it is a surprise for you." He winked then handed the package to her and left after saying, "Good day, Miss Andin!"

Then he was gone. Andin stared at the long, flat box that the delivery guy had given her, wondering who the hell it could be from and what was in it.

"What is it?" Damon who had followed her to the front asked curiously.

"I don't know," Andin replied truthfully as she turned over the package, looking for any written address or name. "There is no return address."

"Well, open it and see what it is!" Damon exclaimed. "Perhaps you just won a lottery or some sort."

Andin laughed at his remarks. Since she had never bought any lottery, she doubted that would be the case. Still, driven by curiosity, she grabbed a pair of scissors from the kitchen. It slid easily through the tape and she carefully opened the box. The first thing she saw was silky, rich dark red material, covered in delicate sparkles that reflected the light. She opened the box the rest of the way, revealing its content, and stared.

"It is a dress," she finally said, sounding a little disbelieved.

Not just any dress. It was an absolutely beautiful dress, and even just looking at it in the box, she could tell that it costs more than her weekly wage. It was a deep red with tiny sparkles tastefully dotted over the sheer, chiffon skirt. The underskirt is thick silk and the dress, as she pulled it out, was heavier than what she had been used to. She had never seen such fine material before.

"A dress?" Damon asked. "Well, just like me, I think your date wants you to be well dressed, Andin Mia Bella."

"Do you think Sebastian sent this?" Andin asked, still in shock.

"Who else would?" Damon asked rhetorically.

"Oh, there is a note," she said, seeing the white, folded note in the box.

"Read it, Darling! I sure hope it is something romantic!"

Andin shook her head. "I don't think so especially if Sebastian was truly the one who sent this."

She opened the folded note and began to read. "Dear Andin. Do you like it? If you do, then please wear it for the wedding tomorrow. I will pick you up at five o'clock. Shall we continue the ruse? I do hope Demon will regret ever letting you go. P.S. I hope you like the ring as well."

"Holy sizzle! Dio Mio!" Damon fanned himself with one hand. He tilted my hand so he could read the note himself. "I know he misspelled my name to Demon but I don't care. The dress, the note, and then there's a ring! How could I refuse?!"

Andin put the note aside and her eyes caught the small box inside the long flat box. She knew almost immediately that the smaller box would contain the ring. Damon grabbed it and yelled cheerfully seeing the gorgeous four-carat sapphire surrounded by small diamonds. "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever beheld!" He turned to face Andin, his eyes hopeful. "You are going to wear them right? The dress and the ring. Please tell me you will, Andin Mia Bella!"

Albeit the fact that the ring was breathtakingly beautiful with its gold band woven into a vine pattern, and exactly the sort of ring she would like to wear if she really was engaged, she was not sure whether she should wear it or not. The ruse should stop the minute Leroy walked out of that coffee shop.

Damon grabbed her hand and put the ring on her ring finger. "Seriously though, Darling," said Damon as his eyes met mine. "You need to marry this guy for real."

Andin was so taken aback by the ring that she did not even react to Damon's teasing.

* * * * * * *

Andin did not know how Damon's insides were that morning, but hers were very definitely on the fidget. Why did Sebastian Summers, CEO of Summers Entertainment, want to come to the wedding anyway? That man and his, I like weddings, Provided they're someone else's.

He wasn't remotely interested in this particular wedding. He just wanted to make her sweat, that was all. She was not too clear why he would want to make her sweat. What was clear to her was that she had never felt so on edge. She hoped he wouldn't come, that he would fail to turn up. There was no reason why he should. Although she must admit that he had indeed mentioned something about defending her honor that was beside the point. Why would he even care anyway? She was just his secretary.

As she sat next to her mother, waiting for the event, she thought about her ruse with her boss long and hard for the next ten minutes. Suddenly, though, Andin became aware that a tall man had strolled up the aisle and was standing at the entrance to their pew. She looked over to him, and her insides somersaulted. She was not sure her heart did not give a little flip too. He had come.

Their eyes met. He looked superb. Tall, immaculately suited, those fantastic blue eyes, not to mention he was extremely good-looking and sophisticated with them.

"Miss Williams," he greeted her.

Andin flicked her gaze from him for a moment and found her voice. "Sir, you came."

"Would not miss it for the world," he replied with a small smile. Then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Though forgive me. I should call you Andin. It would be more convincing that way."

Her reply was only a nod before she turned to her mother who had been listening and paying more attention to their brief interaction than any person normally would. It was clear to Andin that an introduction was a must.

"Sebastian," she put a smile on her face and continued, "I do not think you know my mother, Eleanor. Mom, this is Sebastian Summers, a fr-friend of mine."

"Pleased to know you, Mrs. Williams." Sebastian pleasantly shook hands with her and then moved into the pew to go in front of Andin and take a seat beside her. Whereupon he bent close to her ear, and asked, "Where's the ex-boyfriend?"

"Um," she began but was so overwhelmingly conscious of him sitting so close to her, and of what she must say to him, that she could get no further.

"Hm?" he prompted and her newly discovered thumping tendency was on the march again.

She would have liked to move her head away from the close proximity to his, but she could not afford to have anyone else hear what she had to say. "I, um, need to talk to you rather urgently on that subject," she said in a low voice.

"Shall we head outside?" he asked blandly, obviously picking up that she did not wish to be overheard.

Upon her agreement, they both excused themselves and headed outside the ballroom. "What is it?" he asked once they were out of anyone's earshot.

"Damon is not my ex-boyfriend."

"Okay," he drawled, eyebrows coming together forming a line. "Then who is he?"

"He is my best friend," Andin answered truthfully and immediately felt relieved. It was like a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Ah, that makes sense now. Thorny and I did find it odd that he has found a replacement and managed to get engaged in less than a week."

"Thorny?"

"I was referring to Tony, my brother. His wife likes to call him Thorny and we all call him that just to tease him." Sebastian chuckled at the thought then turned his focus back to her. "Why didn't you tell me that he is your best friend?"

Andin was not sure what to tell him. How could she tell him that she was merely doing that because he had condescendingly thought she was dating an accountant or tax advisor? That he had assumed she was boring. It would hurt her pride to admit it.

"What is it?" There was a tad of worry note in his voice when he asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"It is fine, Miss Williams. You do not have to tell me your reasoning."

"Thank you," said Andin gratefully. "I must warn you that my mother might think we are more than—" her cheeks heated. "Well, you know. She might think you are my boyfriend."

"Fiancé to be precise." Sebastian smirked and upon seeing her speechlessness, he added, "I was joking. We could call the ruse off if you'd like to."

"No, I think it is best if you pretend to be my boyfriend. My mom tends to introduce me around and I really am not in the mood for any blind dates she might have in mind." Especially after what happened with Leroy which she had met through one of the blind dates set by her mother.

They walked back to the ballroom, then to their seat next to Andin's mom. Once they had settled, his head came closer, and to her amazement, he brushed aside her hair and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Sorry, love," he murmured, "I forgot to do that when we said Hello."

Her insides were having a fine old time within her. He was playing with her; she knew that he was. And, having designated him her boyfriend, there was not one darn thing she could do about it! She moved her head out of range and gave him an icy look. He smiled.

She was left alone for one full minute before her mother nudged her ribs and whispered, "Is it serious?"

"What?"

"You and your man?"

Oh, grief. She could not even call someone like Sebastian her man. Andin found she had the utmost trouble in lying to her mother. "I'm working on it." She played for safety, saw and heard her mother smile, and then actually giggle, then the strains of Richard Wagner hit the air, and everyone got to their feet.

* * *

With everyone in happy spirits, time went by quickly. The guests were chatting and renewing old acquaintances until it was time for the meal and the speeches. But at no time did it seem the right time for Andin to have a private conversation with the man who was supposedly her boyfriend today.

Sebastian had been placed in between Andin and her mother at the meal table, and Andin had to give him top marks that he saw to it that her mother was not neglected. He was attentive to her too, pleasant and affable. Sometimes it surprised her how her boss, who was cold and distant, could be so caring.

"So," said Damon who had pulled her to the side once he managed to escape after being surrounded by families and friends congratulating him for the whole day. "How is it with you and Sebastian? Are you two getting chummy?" He wiggled his eyebrows teasingly, there was mischief in his dark eyes.

"Oh, please. We are getting along fine but there is nothing more to it."

Damon lifted one brow and stared at her in blatant disbelief. "Are you sure? He looked like a devoted husband from where I was standing. He even attended to your mom, did he not?"

Andin heavily sighed. After all, Damon was on point. "He did," she admitted. "But it does not change anything, Dee. He is my boss."

"And so what?" He shrugged his shoulders. "You are going to leave the company in two and a half months. And if he really loves you and you love him too, then there is really nothing wrong. You both are adults."

"Come on, Dee. We talked about this the other night. He and I will never fit."

"Why the hell not?" Damon put one hand on his waist and gave her a sassy look as if he was Sebastian's mother and felt offended by her statement. "If you are saying something about how you are not as pretty as his previous girlfriends then I am going to be really pissed because you, darling, are beautiful!"

"Yeah, right."

"Start believing it because that's a fact right there, Darling. I didn't just say it because I'm your best friend."