"Twenty Five glorious years together" I read aloud from the banner that was being placed overhead the stage in the large open air banquet hall on the fifth deck. It was almost time for the celebratory dinner with their family, friends and business associates.

I haven't since Eugene since our time together in his room, I blush as my mind traces back to the moment we had mid-afternoon, still feeling his touch and the way he caressed me all over. I walk back down to my suite and find chaos as V dresses herself up and Rose at the same time.

"Chill. It isn't your anniversary." I say looking at V.

"I still have to look good if I want to grab a certain someone's attention."

I look at her with a wide smile. "Really? Jake?."

"Who else. After what you told me, I realised it's about time I start grabbing his attention rather than sitting and doing nothing while he still hangs over his ex-girlfriend."

I yell as I grab her by the waist and lift her tiny body off the ground "Now that's the Vivian that I know and love."

She smiles "A girls gotta do what she gotta do."

I let her off so that she can get back to doing her makeup and I make my way to the wardrobe, taking the dress and placing it on the bed.

I take a while adoring the dress and wondering how would it look on me.

"He sure knows how to flatter someone" V says while looking at me through the mirror.

I smile "Only for me."

I take the dress and slide it over my body and to my surprise, it's a perfect fit. All the curves in the right places, the bust size and the length with my black silhouettes. It just made me fall in love with the dress more and the person who arranged it.

"O.M.G. You look stunning." V screams in my ear as she pulls me in hug.

I step back and look at her in a low neck, spaghetti strap, and shimmering jet black backless gown with embroidery all over. My jaw drops at the sight, honestly there would be no one who can pull this off other than V.

"A lot of heads are going to turn this evening." I tell her.

"You and me, both." She chuckles.

Matty enters our room with a grey checked suit and grey hat. "Jake and Eugene went off ahead and told me to get you guys." He says.

"Well you look handsome" V compliments him and he blushes. He was never a kid who could ever get used to girls complimenting him; he would shy at my mom as well.

"Okay lets go." I say as I take my clutch in my hand and walk out with Rose wearing a cute red lacy frock.

Matty and Rose walk ahead of us and the hallway is filled the sounds of our heels clacking the marble flooring. We take the elevator to the fifth floor and are welcomed by two staff member in white shirts, black pants and bow tie with formal shoes.

We see Jake as he waves at us and we make our way towards him. He was looking dashing with a navy blue tuxedo and I watch him as his jaw drops when he looks at V. I notice all heads turn as we make our way towards them, I look at Eugene a few feet further Jake and in that moment, our eyes meet.

He makes his way towards me between the crowds and places his hand on my waist, pecking me on the cheek.

"You look gorgeous." He says.

I blush and take in the white tuxedo he has on. I hear a few murmurs so we move away from the center, towards Jake and the others.

"Well" Jake stammers "You look beautiful."

"Not so bad yourself" she says smirking.

"May I have your attention everyone." We hear the MC and focus on him.

It started with a few good words from the MC who was his father's best friend; awhile later the couple came in holding hands as cheers erupted from the crowd. Eugene's father recited a self-written poem for his wife and she in return sang his favourite song, they exchanged new platinum rings and even cut a cake. It was like witnessing their real wedding.

His father wore a black tuxedo and his mother wore a white, lace short dress with balloon sleeves and white flats. They had their dance as they did on their wedding night with the same song and the projection of their wedding night 25 years ago along with the years earlier of when they were dating.

After a while, the rest of the guest s joined the couple on the dance floor with their own better halves. Eugene reached his hand toward me and I gladly took it, I followed him to the dance floor and swayed to a beautiful ballad song.

I looked towards Jake and V and found them sitting with Matty and Rose instead of dancing. Suddenly I see a guy walk up to V and ask her for a dance, she looks at Jake who ignores and she takes the guys hand and follows him to the dance floor. Jake then stares at her back as she leaves and gets up and walks to the bar.

After a while, the dance floor gets empty as people move towards one side of the hall to relish the luxurious spread of the buffet. We get back to our table and see Jake on his fifth drink in just an hour.

I sit on the sofa and drain the vodka needed after the intense dancing with Eugene, V and the new guy Damon. He was definitely a smooth talker and was Eugene's classmate in middle school. His parents are the ones who own most of the five star hotels in the country.

"Let's meet my parents" Eugene says as he takes my hand and drains his whiskey.

I nod and follow him towards a special seat designed for his parents to sit and enjoy their day, which reminded me those seats that royals used to sit on. His mother notices us and her face brightens.

"Jade! So good to see you." She says pulling me into a hug.

"Good to see you too." I smile.

"Well if its isn't the pretty girl who has everyone's heads turning." His father says while exchanging air kisses on the cheek.

I blush "Hello to you too."

"Right. Shall we get you ladies something to drink?" Eugene questions and after our nod of approval, he and his dad make their way towards the bar.

His father is such a simple sweet man, and gave me the warmth that I was missing from my own father. In some ways his father reminded me a lot of my own.

"I see you have brought company with you." His mother says.

"Yes I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all honey. It's rare that Eugene ever wants to bring friends to such gatherings. I'm sure you know he isn't the type of ever mix up his friends and family."

I nod. Now that I do think about it, he rarely is around his friend when I'm with him. He mostly roams around with us and never asks me to come with him then he does hang out with them.

Eugene gets back with a cocktail for his mother and we get back to our table.

"Well Jake definitely doesn't like Damon." I look at Eugene and then at Jake so seems to be glaring at the sight of V and Damon sitting across him and having inside jokes.

"I got it." I say.

I walk towards Jake and grab his hand "Let's go dance."

"No." he says but despite his refusal, he walks along with me anyway. He places his hand on my hips and I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Don't like Damon?" I ask.

"Hate him, Hate him with her and hate how she gets along with him, laughing away and getting overly comfortable."

"You talk a lot when your drunk." I chuckle.

"I know. I'm trying hard to just not grab her and ravish her in bed."

I laugh "Relax. Your inner author is coming out." He laughs back at my statement and relaxes his face after a while.

"Well I'm going to tell her."

"Really?"

"Can't afford to lose her. Not after everything I did to keep her away from prying eyes" He says looking at me.

I smile "Go! Go now." I say pushing him towards our table getting excited by myself and at the thought of new love blooming tonight.

As we get close, the conversation between V and Damon get clearer.

"So then Thursday?" Damon says taking her hand.

She nods with a blush.

He smiles back "It's a date then."

I look at Jake and feel my heart drop at the sight of the sadness in his eyes.