The party was a bore for Adrian but you know what....or who, was even more of a bore? His new fiancée, Daphne Rodriguez.
When his father first told him weeks ago that he was too be engaged, he resented the idea. Why would he want to be engaged? Why would he want to get married? And to a spoiled princess of all people? Why? Why would he want to tie himself down in a marriage? He was a rich, handsome man with the freedom to do whatever he wanted, why would he give that up for marriage? Why, why, why, why....?
A whole lot of whys.
For days, he postponed meeting with Daphne Rodriguez. He wasn't ready to face that reality yet. Until his today, when his father told him they would be announcing their engagement.
According to his father, "I've give you enough time to set up a meeting with Daphne and try to get to know her but you've refused, so, I'm going to do this my way. You are announcing your engagement today. I already sent the ring to her father."
Adrian was dumbfounded by his words. He was a grown man for goodness' sake! A grown man who was currently the C.E.O of various enterprises. He didn't need his old man making decisions for him.
But then again, when you old man has the power to convince the board of directors to vote you out of your C.E.O position, then, you tend to just go along with whatever he says.
So, Adrian grudgingly agreed. Not that he had much of a choice anyway.
His cousin, Ella, who had come over to help organize the party teased him endlessly about it. She knew how reluctant he was about the engagement and used it fully to her advance. However, she got serious at some point and asked, "Do you really not want to get married to Daphne Rodriguez? She's a beauty!"
He had glared at her and told her to fuck off, not giving her any concrete reply. Who cared if Daphne Rodriguez was beautiful? He certainly didn't.
However, when she saw her that night at the party, in the midst of all those people, even he had to admit to himself that she was beautiful with her black hair that fell to the back of her waist. That didn't mean he was glad about the stupid marriage arrangement.
In fact, he was even more pissed off when he and his parents got to Daphne and she began to flatter them. When he looked at her, all he saw was someone who knew how to sweet-talk her way into and out of anything. Someone who thought flatter could get her anywhere.
He disliked people who believed they could get on anyone's good side through flattery.
What more, it seemed like she had a sort of drinking problem.
Glass after glass, he watched as she gulped down alcohol, taken aback by the amount she could take in without getting drunk. He stared down at her, his lips twisting with distaste.
She glanced up at him, noticing the frown on his face. "What?"
"Do you have a drinking problem?" He asked. "I can't marry a woman with drinking problem." Please say yes, he thought. Please say yes. Tell me you have a drinking problem.
"I don't have a drinking problem," she answered. "I'm just nervous."
He snorted.
They said nothing to each other again until it was his time to make the announcement.
He was more than happy to get away from Daphne at that moment. As he climbed the stage to make his announcement, he avoided looking at her. Instead, he glanced around at everyone, his usual cold and offish expression on his face, as he spoke. Of course, people didn't mind that he was cold and arrogant. They never saw past his good looks.
"First of all, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who deemed it fit honor our invitation and attend this party. We are very grateful for your presence," he said. "This evening, I have a very important announcement to make." He paused. "I'd like Miss Daphne Rodriguez to join me on the stage."
He waited as Daphne strutted towards him in all her elegance. Even he couldn't deny that she was made for this life, for the parties, for the spotlight.
As she joined him on the stage, he turned back to microphone. "I am excited to announce that Daphne and I are now engaged." He was anything but excited. Inside him, he felt flat and emotionless and more importantly, he wanted to die. But the people around him we're excited at the announcement. They clapped and howled and hooted. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the crowd and his gaze fell on his parents. They smiled at him and it took all his power not to scowl back at them.
Forcing himself to look away, he turned to Daphne, moved closer to her, cupped her jaw and kissed her on her lips.
The plan was to kiss her briefly and pull away but Daphne obviously had other plans because she tightened her hands around his neck and refused to let him go.
When he finally broke free, they turned back to eh crowd who were applauding. He gritted his teeth as Daphne tucked her arms into his. He could see the happy smile on her face. This was obviously all she lived for. She was really basking in the attention.
The two of them climbed down the stage, arm in arm and as they did so, a number of people flooded towards them.
With a permanent smile on her face, Daphne graciously accepted their congratulations while Adrian stood, looking like he would rather be anywhere but there. He forced out a smile at the couple of people who came over to congratulate them.
After a while, Adrian got bored and he began to search the crowd with his eyes, looking for Ella. He eventually found her and he slowly detached himself from the group, walking towards Ella who already noticed him and had an amused smile on her face. His fiancée, Daphne, was so busy enjoying the admiration and congratulations of people that she didn't even notice when he left her side.
"Hey," Ella said as he approached her. She glanced at Daphne who was currently laughing at something someone was saying. "Daphne seems nice."
"She's annoying," he grunted, grabbing a glass of wine.
"I don't know what you are talking about dude, she seems amazing," Ella said, still staring at him.
"Whatever. Where is Kevin?" Adrian asked.
"Somewhere around, I honestly don't know," Ella answered with a shrug. "You should be with your fiancée."
"In the midst of all those people? Hell, no. I'd rather be here," he answered with a shudder.
Ella rolled her eyes. "Overdramatic, much?" She asked, still staring at Daphne but this time with a thoughtful look on her face. "You know what? There is this girl I know that looks so much like Daphne."
"Really?"
"Yeah, they could pass for twins even," Ella answered.
Adrian shrugged. "I guess there are some people like that and I honestly don't think Daphne has a peculiar face."
Ella opened her mouth to reply but stopped herself as soon as she saw her husband, Kevin, approaching them. He staggered towards them, his eyes bloodshot from probably too much alcohol.
"Hey babe," he drawls, as he stops beside Ella, giving her a kiss on her cheek. She stiffened at the action. He turned to Adrian. "Hey bro."
Adrian stared at his cousin's husband, his lips pulling together in distaste. He had never liked Kevin for any reason and he still never understood why Ella chose to marry the 'scumbag' – his words. "You look hammered," he observed with a frown.
"Okay," Ella interrupted before Kevin could say anything. "We should head home, Kev."
"Speaking of going home," Adrian said, "Can I come with you guys?"
Ella frowned. "What? Why?"
"I don't know." He glanced backward at Daphne who was still so thrilled with all the attention that she didn't somehow notice that her supposed fiancé was absent. "I don't think I want to be here when she realizes I'm not beside her again."
"Dude, this is your party. You should be having fun and basking in all the attention."
"Oh no, that's not possible. We already have one Daphne Rodriguez here," he answered and Ella laughed. "Come on, Ella, please, do this for me? You know I really want to see Joe and Phyna too."
A smirk appeared on Ella's face. "Really? Adrian, are you begging me?"
Adrian glared at her and snapped, "Don't get used to it? Now, am I coming with you are not?"
Ella rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, whatever. Wait in the car while Kev and I go say goodbye to your parents."
"Oh, thanks, Ella, I owe you one." His gaze turned to Kevin who still looked so, so drunk. "Speaking of Kevin, are you sure you want mum and dad to see him like that?" he asked, distaste written all over his face as he stared at Kevin.
Ella turned to her drunk husband and groaned. "I'm so lucky he is a quiet drunk," she said. "I'll manage. Go wait in the car, Adrian."
"Okay. And, remember Ella, if my parents ask about me, you don't know where I am."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."