Word count: 2472

Kisses :-*

Angela's POV

*

The sermon had just ended and almost everyone had left after giving condolences but the four of us still gathered around Derek, deciding we would still stay with him for a while more to offer our silent comforts.

I was supposed to be at the Del Peiro household tonight and grandpa Luca already confirmed my attendance twice today but Brody's burial rite was equally important and I couldn't just leave them to it.

Derek was a part of us now, since he was a good friend of Maddy. They liked each other but since they weren't ready to take the next step or admit their feelings for each other we would look on from the sidelines.

I didn't want to leave since Brandon and Rocky were still here as well, and I already ended Eros's call twice in the past twenty minutes.

Still, whether we wanted to or not, we couldn't stand in Derek's backyard all afternoon.

"I think the best thing would be to stay with him for a few days." I suggested and looked from one person to another.

Maddy nodded. "I intend to do that, just help me get some things from home. I'll send the list through a text, okay?"

My phone started ringing for the third time just when I was about to reply her and from the look she gave me, she knew who the caller was.

"We'll be fine." Rocky insisted. "Thank you for being here. It means a lot."

Rocky patted Derek's shoulder and he hugged each and every one of us without a word. That gesture was enough to pass the message across. He was grateful for the supports.

"Take care of yourself Derek." I whispered in his ear with a sad smile. Brody meant so much to him, and to us from the moment we got to know him. He'd practically grown up with the dog but since the eleven year old Brody had to go, Derek would have to adapt his buddy's sad absence around him.

"I will. Thank you for everything Angela." Derek hugged me again and I dabbed at the sides of my eyes. This was too emotional for me.

Rocky left with me while Brandon said he wanted to have a quick chat with Derek before leaving.

I stepped out of the house, walking to my car but instantly halted in my steps when I was greeted by the sight of a white Lamborghini.

My eyes went wide.

"Woah, woah! Who came in that?!" Rocky pointed at the Lamborghini. "Who's the big shot?" She whistled as the car packed a few feet from us.

We both exchanged questioning glances and I shrugged.

"Does Derek know someone's visiting? It's probably a stinkingly rich man judging from the car brand they're bringing to a dog's burial-" I began with a roll of my eyes when a gasp escaped Rocky's lips.

"Oh my goodness! Look who it is, Angela. Just look!" Rocky hurriedly walked past me with a wide, awestruck grin and that was when I noticed Eros was the man alighting the car- with an elegance I'd never seen him exhibit since we'd met. He had his 3 o'clock shadow, looking all handsome and sinful in a way that made me stare in an awestruck gaze.

Not knowing exactly how to react, I merely stared numbly and watched Rocky make a fool of herself as she practically gaped at the man who'd obviously come to fetch me.

How did he even know I was here? I didn't tell him where I was going this morning. Yes I told him I was going for Brody's funeral but I didn't give him the location.

Ever since that night at the RedLady club house, things had slowly progressed between us.

Eros would always send me sweet messages in the morning, ask how my day went at noon and then send me good night texts at night. His text messages were always so cheesy but easy to turn my heart to mush and we'd been chatting occasionally.

I blinked back to the present when I realized Rocky had moved closer to Eros, who was also looking down at her with a charisma I had only before guessed he possessed when I didn't know who Eros Del Peiro was. He just never acted like this with me.

Rocky rushed out a question I didn't catch and Eros replied her in an equally hushed tone but immediately I started making my way towards them, Eros's eyes flew towards me.

His eyes slowly took in every inch of me, giving me that lightheaded feeling as always. The burn that gaze left on me was full of promises, and I knew he really wished to fulfill each and every one of them one day.

He made it obvious he was looking at me like I was his and he was mine. Pride was glinting in his eyes.

"So, I guess you've met each other?" I raised a questioning brow at Eros since he didn't speak to me

He was in dark blue tux, which suited him perfectly and gave him a reserved look. His hair had been trimmed on the sides and he was looking as handsome as ever.

"We haven't. Do the honors." Rocky stated quickly in a tone she usually used when she just met someone and wanted to act as if she was a proper lady. Which she totally wasn't. She sliced me a warning glare, which I chuckled at.

"Okay. Eros this is my long time good friend Roquel who we often call Rocky, and Rocky, this is Eros Del Peiro. My infamous fiance."

I noticed a little quirk on one side of Eros's lips and rolled my eyes because I knew he was smirking because of the title I used in referring to him.

Well, he was my fiance since we already signed the papers and the lawyer already took them for processing.

"It's nice to meet you Eros. I've heard a lot about you and I can't believe I'm meeting a celebrity today!" Rocky stretched her right hand out.

Eros received her outstretched hand and gave a handshake. "The pleasure is all mine. I apologize for my manners as I would be stealing your friend right now because we are a little late for our event." Eros said in elegance, his voice rich and pleasant like sweet melody to my ears.

I was wowed, mainly because Eros had never been so formal and comported with me. He was always touchy, or staring googly eyed, and very free compared to the man standing before me right now.

This one oozed of so much manliness and had everything in control. At the snap of his fingers, people would immediately fulfill his commands.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." She smiled up at him, then turned to face me. "Call me." She mouthed at me but there was no need because Eros still caught it anyway since he was looking at her.

"I'll do that." I gigged and she left for her car. Then I faced Eros. "So, you found your way here. How?"

"Rocky." He nudged his chin towards Maddy.

"Rocky- you called her?" I squinted. "How did you get her number and how come I still had to introduce you two to each other?"

"I only spoke with her on phone. I got her number though legal means. I've missed you, come here." He leaned in and captured my lips for some good seconds. I didn't even need to ask how he got her contacts. No wonder she'd been sneaking to the back to make calls while the burial ceremony was going on. "Let's go. We'll be late."

I looked up at him and frowned. "I need to go home and quickly change. And I didn't take my make-up out with me..."

"There's no time. I ordered something for you already, my assistant will meet us on the way."

"Do you know my size?" I smiled wryly.

He spanned my waist and brought his hands to firmly move me closer to him. Leaning in, he whispered in my ear, "Yes I do. It's impossible for me not to."

"O-okay." I stuttered and avoided his eyes, unwilling to accept his effect on me as I took a step back to get my irrational thoughts in place.

We got into the Lamborghini and he immediately called someone to come around and pick up my car and drive it back home.

The car stopped at a mall. But it wasn't just any shopping mall, it was an international one. Benjamin Coquito.

I gave him a look. This place was always booked even from the beginning of the year and only in January because the orders were always enough to cover the end of the year but Eros wanted to just casually walk in.

"Are we meeting someone here?"

He leaned in and pecked my forehead. "Benjamin is waiting. Let's go."

"Wait, which Benjamin are you talking about?"

"The CEO and owner of this mall."

"You know Benjamin Coquito?" I gave him a look of bewilderment. As a model, I was familiar with several international make up stylists and fashion designers but I was more surprised now that Eros personally knew Benjamin Coquito, popularly referred to as B.C.

He was the owner of this mall and several bug malls all over the world. He had his clothing company, perfume company and makeup company as well.

"Yes, baby. He was once a class mate and also a seat mate of mine." Eros replied gently and caressed my cheek. "I've told him who you are so just be your natural self. And don't look at him with an awestruck expression."

I chuckled and slapped his arm. This man was acting so cool, yet why did it seem like he was jealous?

"Whatever. Are you jealous?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"Yes I am, future Mrs Eros Del Peiro. Would you like it if a woman gushed over me and stared at me all through a meeting with love or lust practically pouring from her eyes?"

My smile faltered, something Eros caught on to and his expression instantly shifted to one of contentment.

"Let's go. I love you." He alighted the car and I got down after him.

I almost sputtered as he made this confession. If I remembered correctly, this was the second time he would be telling me he loved me.

He wasn't even saying it as something so huge, just casual as if we'd been married for ten years and had gone through a lot together. And so it was in two ways. Either he was used to randomly telling women he loved them or he really meant it and it often came so natural for him to just say it.

Wordlessly, I followed him in and he held my hand.

I was caught off guard by the clicking and flashing of lights that instantly flooded us.

"What the hell?" Eros murmured, looking around.

"I didn't expect the paparazzi to attack us this way. Did you do any interview recently and hinted it that you would be coming here?"

"No. I don't give the public information about us, that's private. But someone leaked it that we were coming here... maybe I was spotted and followed from your friend's house." Eros's eyes narrowed and he pulled me impossibly closer against him.

They approached us immediately, but didn't come too close. Also, they acted as if Eros wasn't even present, cautious not to ask him a single question while firing questions at me.

"Miss Angela Alfonsi, is it true that you're now dating the business mogul Eros Del Peiro?"

"Yes, or are you just using him as the flavor of the month? Research has it that you've dated three men in the past but never really cared about their feelings. You even encouraged them to have relationships with other ladies. Is that true?"

"Could Miss Angela clarify the rumor that has been spreading on social media about a man proposing to you on his knees in front of a famous club? According to a verified source, it was later discovered that this man is none other than the rumored businessman, Mr Eros himself. Could you clarify this?"

"Miss Angela, please answer us. The media would like to know about this."

Eros whispered, "Don't say a word."

He slowly led me out of there while some shoppers watched from close by, putting a hold to their purchasing. However, the reporters were closing in on us as if ready to go violent until bodyguards came to safely escort us out of there.

"Don't let something like this happen again." Eros commanded the man whom I guessed was the leader of these bodyguards very strictly.

"I'm sorry boss. We had a few seconds of distraction." The man's face was stoic.

"Who?"

"Nate."

I turned around quickly when I heard that voice. I didn't even try to hide my surprise. "Nate?"

Nate was my bodyguard and friend who had been with me since I was in university. He even took the same courses with me, we were almost inseparable for the past few years before he changed his line after my mom told me I wouldn't be needing his help for a while. It was after this that I learnt I would be getting married through arranged marriage.

I liked Nate, he was cool and rarely spoke. Over the time he'd been my bodyguard, he had let down his guard but Nate was still the kind of person that would tell you some things about him and still make you understand that you still didn't know him.

"Miss Angela." He nodded and I smiled.

"You changed your phone number and house address." I accused.

"You had my personal contact and I told you to call me whenever you need me." The side of his lips quirked up at his response. I truly had it, I'd just decided not to call him and give him time to himself.

"He'll resume his job as your bodyguard from now on and only take orders from us both." Eros told me and held my hand. "We'll be alone for now, I'll call if I need you."

The bodyguards all left after nodding firmly and with that, Eros walked me to the door which had 'Coquito' boldly engraved on it.

"My mom said I wouldn't need him for a while."

"Yes. Then the stalker thing happened and I spoke with your family. I'm not comfortable with you being alone until we're married and we re-strategize your security situation."

*

I didn't update for long because I was really busy. But now that I've started typing again, I'll do my best and be constant.

ILYSM.