Nalani slowly opened her eyes to find a pair of gentle eyes staring at her in fascination.
''My love, have we reached our destination'' She asked, her eyes dazed and not fully conscious. Smiling, Davian gently caressed her face and replied, ''Yes. You were too tired so l let you rest for a while".
Nalani looked around and realized she was in lying in bed in a nicely decorated bedroom. Surprised, she turned to Davian and asked,"Where are we?"
"A nice place for you to relax" He replied. Davian leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"Come, let's go out". Nalani nodded and extended her hands out to him with a coquettish smile. Davian laughed at her childishness "Come here my baby girl". He bent down and easily carried her in his arms. Davian groaned and relaxed his arms a little, pretending to drop her. Startled, Nalani yelped and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Oh dear, you're so heavy. What have you been eating because I can't carry you" Davian teased,feigning pain. Not falling for his trick, Nalani angrily bite his earlobe without letting go but not hard enough to actually hurt him. Davian stiffen, his eyes glazed with desire. He held her body tighter as his. That was a sensitive spot of his. Feeling Nalani's soft tongue and teeth gnawing gently on his earlobe made his body burn with passion. Unaware of that her action has turned him on, Nalani snorted.
"Are you calling me fat? Get used to it because you'll have to carry me all the days of our lives. You need to work hard to get stronger arms" Davian looked at her and smiled dangerously,'" Are you saying that I'm weak. Do you want me to prove to you my prowess?"
Sensing danger, Nalani didn't show fear but instead looked back at him with a challenging gaze.
Challenge accepted. Davian smirked.
Nalani quickly jumped out of his arms and made a run for it. "Catch me if you can" she shouted, skipped away, her joyous laughter followed her, echoing and bringing life to the quiet atmosphere.
Davian followed her with a smile. Nalani run outside the room and stood shocked and surprised at the view of the magnificent sea. She was in a ship, sailing out at sea.
Her eyes lit up with joy at a romantic setting of a candlelight dinner for two, prepared especially for them. Rose petals were scattered all over the floor, paving a way for her to walk on. Davian slowly walked up behind and hugged her in his embrace, his chin on her head. Two male violists were standing and playing a nice and calming tune, setting off the atmosphere.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
Nalani turned around to face him and replied with a smile, "Yes. I like it very much".
He led her by the hand to the table and they sat down to enjoy their meal. After they were done with their meal, Davian offered her his arm, ''Will the lady dance with me" he asked with a charming smile. "My pleasure" Nalani laughed, taking his hand and standing up to face him. Holding onto her soft waist in his hands and her head leaning on his shoulder, the lovebirds swayed slowly in each other's arms, dancing to the song.
"If this is a dream then l don't want to ever wake up from this dream" Nalani whispered softly. Davian held her tighter and replied,"It's not a dream. We'll be together forever. No matter what happens, you'll always be mine".
"Yes. Yours only. No matter what happens, I'll always be yours, Davian. Only yours". Nalani smiled.
Little did she know the implication of her words and the consequences awaiting her.
A group of men struggled to carry a large barrel made of glass to an empty warehouse. Then they started connecting it with tubes and wires. Watching coldly on the were Jessica and her two friends Sandra and Vicky.
"You've already seen everything. Let's leave this place and go. Everywhere is filthy and smelly. Trust me, nothing will go wrong",Sandra said, her eyes filled with disgust and disdain of her surrounding.
She looked pleadingly at Jessica so they can go. Vicky also nodded, shaking Jessica's hand and looking at her with fear, "Jess, please let's go. It's late. I'm scared". Annoyed, Jessica rolled her eyes, shook off her hand and huffed.
"Let's leave" She said coldly.
They followed her and left that place. By the time Jessica returned home, one of their house maids informed her that her father wanted to talk to her. She head towards the study where she found her father, Senator Weller sitting down and reading some documents. He was a middle aged man with grey hair and fine wrinkles on the edges of his face but he looked healthy and sophiscated.
"Good evening, father " she greeted. Mr Weller eyes turned dark at the sight of her. He got up from his chair and with a few strolls he was standing in front of Jessica and then without a word, he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.
Jessica staggered back at the impact, holding her cheek and looking at her father with teary eyes.
"Don't you dare cry",Mr Weller warned sternly. Jessica bite her lip, stubbornly restraining her tears, preventing them from falling. Her eyes filled with grievance.
"I've given you the best of everything in life since you were a child, the least you could do for me is to hold down a marriage. Did you know that that brat Gerard came to me to call off the engagement?" Mr. Weller ranted angrily. Jessica's eyes widened with shock and then fear at the thought that Gerard really wanted to end things with her.
The tears that she was holding back finally fell down her cheeks. She bite her lips so hard that she tasted blood in her mouth. Unsympathetic, Mr. Weller sneered, "What good is your tears?. Make sure that boy doesn't break up with you. I still need the Lujan family to sponsor my campaign for this year's election. If anything goes wrong, I'll skin you alive".
Jessica wiped her tears, nodded and assured her father, "I will not disappoint you, Father. I'll surely marry into the Lujan family and bring glory to your name"
"Now that's more like my daughter. Make that boy marry you by the end of the month" Mr. Weller said, his expression more relaxed.
Once she was outside the study, Jessica's red eyes turned venomous."Nalani Soren, why don't you just die" She cursed, gritting her teeth.