It was time for the inauguration ceremony. The sparkling bulbs on the ceiling illuminated the corners of the already decorated spacious hall, presenting a classic sight of the wealthy guest in small groups on every side and angle, chattering about business among themselves as they enjoyed the champagne in their hands offered by the servers at work while they were waiting for the ceremony to begin.
From the entrance, Zane was striding into the occupied hall as his domineering and magnificent aura caught the attention of the guests close by, admiring him.
He wore a sophisticated black suit. He brushed his medium-length dark hair in a slicked-back hairstyle, exuding the best charm among the other young men present.
As he walked farther and stood alone on the side of the room, darting his gaze across the guests, he felt a sudden presence beside him, approaching him from nowhere.
"Am late right?" Jane asked, grinning at him, but his eyes didn't meet her brightened face.
"You are a bit late for the ceremony but it will commence in the next twenty minutes," Zane answered in his usual sultry voice that was cold like winter and devoid of warmth while he glanced at the time on his Rolex submariner wristwatch adorned his firm wrist.
"Something came up, and I have to be late," Jane explained, and Zane stared at her briefly before he looked away.
"I thought you wanted to shop for the Louis Vuitton trendy brands. So, what happened?" Zane inquired.
When he was still out of the country a few days ago, he remembered her endlessly disturbed on call that she needed a luxurious brand for his ceremony, which he sent to her one hundred million dollars to purchase whatever thing she needed.
Now, seeing her by his side in a different brand of dress surprised him, as he knew how persistent she was.
Jane's smile slowly dissipated when she recalled the ugly incident that happened a few hours ago at the department store.
She was not brave enough to tell him the actual reason she could not get the dress, knowing how much he despised hearing a matter related to Selina.
"I was unlucky because someone else got the dress before me. I have to get another brand of dress from a different store, which is why I'm late." Jane lied.
However, Jane didn't look satisfied with the dress she was wearing because it was not as unique and attractive as she expected to wear for his inauguration ceremony.
She wore a sequined gold V-neck gown that exposed her flawless back, drawing admiration for her nurtured fair skin. She adorned her neck, ears, and wrists with luxurious ornaments.
Zane slid his hands into his pants' pocket and complimented her dress. "This dress still looks great on you."
Hearing Zane's compliment for the first time, Jane's heart beat fast and her cheeks turned pink. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach because he rarely stared at her or complimented her, even though she looked outstanding.
"Thanks for the compliment. I put so much effort into looking pretty for you tonight while I stand by your side this evening in your inauguration ceremony." Jane said as she enfolded her hand in his arms possessively.
"You should stand three steps away from me," Zane reminded her. He hates being in a close distance with everyone because it makes him feel uncomfortable.
"C'mon, Honey. It will not look good if we are standing a distance from each other at your inauguration ceremony. We are official couples and you should stop being aloof to me." Jane tried to convince him, hoping he wouldn't pull his hand from her arm any time soon.
As they stood alongside each other, Zane heard the guests complimenting them on being the best couple.
However, he ignored their gossip, maintaining his usual stern expression, while Jane blushed at their praises because everyone now recognized her as being in an official relationship with Zane.
"Zane and Jane look great together." A male guest complimented.
"I can tell they are couples made by heavens." A first female guest praised.
"I bet they will make a splendid home together."
"She is so lucky to be his Fiancee. He is so charming." A second female guest admired Zane with dreamy eyes, who looked hot in his attire as she felt her knees going weak at his charm.
Jane gave a warm smile at the guests, who were admiring them, before she diverted her gaze to Zane, saying.
"Everyone speaks about how great we are together as a couple. You cannot keep me waiting any longer. Let's get married quickly." Jane stated.
"I just got into the country two days ago after four years. There are so many responsibilities and reports recently in the company I have to go through. Also, I have to settle the needs of fifteen thousand RIS group employees, so we can't rush things between us." Zane spoke assertively.
"I know about that, but it won't stop us from becoming one. Since I have joined the RIS group, I will assist you in running the company smoothly. I'm here to lessen your burden, Zane." Jane said sincerely, staring at him with interest, but his eyes didn't meet her gaze.
Zane heaved a sigh. He is 34 years old and needs a trustworthy lifetime partner to run the company with him, as he never doubts Jane's competence and loyalty to keep her by his side.
He never intended to become so deeply connected to any woman, yet the approaching wedding, strengthened by his grandmother's influence, seemed impossible to escape.
In the middle of their conversation, a female server approached them from the other side while carrying a tray of two glasses of champagne.
The female server flashed a smirk at the couple, whose attention was somewhere else, while she first gave Jane a glass of champagne.
When Zane noticed, the server was still waiting for him to take a last glass of champagne. He took the glass of champagne from the tray before the server walked away from their spot.
"Jane, you know the reason we are getting married, and it is for business purposes." Zane reminded her in a soft tone not to be harsh towards her.
"Yes, I haven't forgotten about it. I will wait as long as you will forever love me and you will promise you that you won't have another woman between us." Jane was scared at the thought of how his first marriage fell through, which she never wanted for hers with him.
Jane acknowledge how those wealthy young women tried to tie the knot with him and how they yearned to have him on top of them.
With his glacial gaze fixed on a spot, Zane raised the half-full glass of champagne to his lips and leisurely sipped the champagne, savoring the refined taste of the vintage flavor.
"I don't make promises. Those who waited for my promise to be fulfilled only ended up miserable." He remarked, seemingly to be in a trance, when his eyes fell on an alluring figure in another group of guests ahead.
"I know you won't let me end up in misery," Jane said with full assurance as she sipped the champagne causally.
Jane knew how much Zane cared for her since he never did for other women out there, even though he was sometimes cold with her.
Zane didn't utter a word afterward as the attention was still on that same alluring figure. He observed that she wore a black elegant strapless-slit gown, and she packed her loose braided hair into a bun below the back of her head, and a strand of hair fell across her face.
From the distance, Zane stood. He also observed she had the prettiest smile among the other women in the hall this evening.
"I will be back, Honey." Jane excused herself and left him as she caught sight of her client on the other end.
However, Zane didn't know when she left his side, since he had been staring at the slender figure for a long time now.
Zane tried to look away, but she captivated his eyes and held his gaze on her.
He couldn't decide whether it was the heavy makeup on her face or the pretty smile she flashed out to those around her, which made his soul long to continue staring at her until his soul felt contented.
He was at a loss about why he felt drawn to this mysterious woman who was some distance away from him.
Despite she looked breathtaking with the radiant smile lingering on her lips, his eyes didn't brimmer any excitement. Rather, curiosity outweighed his heart, racing rapidly the more his gaze remained on her.
He placed his hand on his heart's position and his eyebrows creased at the weird feeling playing in his heart.
"What is happening to me?" He muttered and gulped down the champagne once while he placed the empty cup on a table close to him.
He suddenly felt a heat surging inside his body, getting intense with each second that passed.
He loosens his classic necktie to let air find its way into his suit with the hope it calms the strange feeling burning inside of him as he glances away from her.