1: I fancy you

The silence woke her. She opened her eyes to the unfamiliar ceiling of her bedroom, rising from the bed she started to wonder. "Where am I?"

She clasped her head over her hammering head. Trying to make sense of her memories of what happened. To figure out how she ended up in that room. 

"Aryanna!" 

A loud echo of her name echoed in her head. The events from the previous day started replaying in her mind. She felt dumbfounded. 

~Flashback~

Aryanna carried a bouquet of white roses, adorned in a pink off-shoulder dress paired with white heels. The moon was shining brightly as she strode down the manicured lawns of the Deluxe Hotel. 

Her boyfriend's company was hosting a party to celebrate overtaking a rival company. He was getting a promotion as a result of his hard work. Aryanna felt over the moon for his achievement and wished to congratulate him. 

She took steady steps up the stairs of the entrance of the hotel. Her heart beating rapidly from the excitement of seeing him. She imagined a million ways their interactions would go, they all ended up with their clothes scattered on the floor of their apartment. 

Naughty thoughts flooded her mind as she thought of ways to celebrate his achievement after the party. 

"Excuse me, " she called out to one of the attendants. "I'm here for the Devonte event. "

The attendant gave her directions to the elevator with instructions of where the party was being held. Aryanna thanked him and walked up to the lift. 

She went up to the third floor of the hotel. Her pulse racing the closer she got to the party. It was the first time she was attending one of the official parties hosted by her boyfriend's company. 

Devonte being one of the exceeding companies in the beauty industry, she delighted with her boyfriend's achievement. 

"Invitation please," the security by the door requested. Aryanna reached out into her purse and took out an invitation card. She handed it to the security man. 

While she was at work, she received a mail with the invitation inside. She felt it sweet of her boyfriend to invite her to the exclusive event. It said a lot about their relationship and his commitment to her. 

The security man took one look at the invitation, his eyes went wide for a split second, he shot his gaze into the room and waved over one of the waiters. 

"Escort her to the VIP area, please," he instructed the waiter. 

Aryanna's jaw dropped. She could hardly believe that her boyfriend got her a VIP invite, one that promised a regal treatment. 

She's never had the honor of being a VIP at anything. Aryanna feared she wouldn't know how to act. Her hands trembled, cold sweat trickled down her spine, and she was nervous. 

The waiter directed her inside, through the elegant brown doors that led to the magnificently decorated hall. The auditorium was filled to the bream with guests mingling among each other. 

Aryanna has led away from the crowd and the loud music. The waiter ushered her to a hallway, with serene music playing in the background. She sauntered down the hallway and up the stairs at the end of the corridor. 

She ascended the stairs to the restricted area. Unlike the open auditorium, there were fewer people and the music was slow and soothing. The atmosphere calmed her nerves and gave her a chance to take a breath. 

"Would you like a drink, ma'am?" the waiter awarded the respect she'd never had in her life. Being in a position to have someone talk to her so politely gave her goosebumps. 

"I'll take a glass of water," she let out not to be rude. It was her first time at a big event and didn't know what to order. She went with the safe choice. One can never go wrong with water, as everyone drinks water. 

"As you wish, " the waiter took her to the counter of the screened bar. "What type of water would you like, distilled water, bottled water or sparkling water?"

Aryanna felt short of words, in her world, water was simply water. There were no options for what type of water one should drink. She was out of her depths and in uncharted grounds. The situation had her heart in her throat. 

She looked around nervously, her eyes searching for her boyfriend. He would know what to say and save her from the uncomfortable crisis. 

"Sparkling water for the lady, " a young handsome man approached her. His glasses caught Aryanna's attention, they had the most exquisite frames she had ever seen. They gave him a commanding presence that screamed of great intellect. 

He looked like the smartest person in the room. His Italian-made suit and his messy hair gave him a darkish mafia existence. His unruly curls framed his piercing jade eyes as he traced his eyes on her. 

Aryanna took a step back, threatened by the stranger making contact with her. 

"Aryanna Valle, it's nice to make your acquaintance, " the man's soft melodic voice sounded. Aryanna gulped, the man knew her but she had no clue who he was. The way her name flowed out of his lips felt so right, it scared her. 

"Are you friends with my boyfriend?" 

She meekly raised an inquiry to the stranger. It was the only explanation as to how the man knew her. It was a party for his office and all of her boyfriend's colleagues were in attendance. 

Aryanna assumed her boyfriend spoke of her to his friends and colleagues. A formal introduction before he holds her hand and goes public with her. 

It warmed her heart to see the effort he was putting in for her. Aryanna clutched the bouquet in her hand closer to her chest. Awaiting the moment she gifts it to her boyfriend. 

"Boyfriend?"

The man's question forced her head to shoot up at him. He seemed utterly clueless about who her boyfriend was. Which got her pondering how the man knew her. 

"How do you know me?" she asked. 

"I fancy you, " the man confessed bluntly. "I invited you here tonight to get us acquainted with each other. "

Aryanna blinked in confusion, she was under the impression that her boyfriend sent her the invitation to the party. To hear the strange man taking credit for her presence at the party got her mind racing in all the wrong directions. 

Her head was cast down. Staring at the short knee-length dress she put on for her boyfriend and the flowers she bought to congratulate him. When the man didn't bother to invite her to the party. 

"Enlighten me, who is your boyfriend, and is he here with you? " the man inquired. 

He placed a tender hand on Aryanna's waist and ushered her to the open indoor deck that gave a clear view of the auditorium. 

Aryanna didn't fight him and followed his lead. The man spoke softly and treated her kindly but she could sense the darkness that hides behind his gentle eyes. She paled, her mind coming to terms with the truth. 

"Are you alright? You look a little pale, " he pointed out. 

The waiter came over with the glass of water Aryanna requested. He handed her the cup and headed back to the counter. Aryanna traced her eyes to the other guests in the VIP area, they had moved to the other end of the room. As though avoiding breathing the same oxygen as the man next to her. 

"I didn't think that you were taken. Tell me, who is the lucky man that gets to take you home every day?" he pressed on. 

Aryanna was devoured with the thought of locating her boyfriend. She needed to create distance between herself and the stranger. 

She searched the bodies of people at the party. After a few minutes of glancing around, her eyes landed on the figure she was looking for. 

Her boyfriend kept company with his colleagues. He chatted the night away and let out wide smiles. Aryanna's eyes melted as she watched him. The happiness in his eyes lifted her bad mood. She was back to floating in the clouds of love. 

A frown formed on her flawless forehead when her boyfriend was interrupted by the most gorgeous woman in the room. She leans in next to his ear and whispers something to him. 

Aryanna watched as the man she loves excused himself pulled the woman aside and walked out of the auditorium. 

"If your boyfriend is who I think he is. I'm afraid that this isn't your night, dear, " the man let out his opinion. "Go on, go to him, " he freed her. 

Aryanna turned on her heels to rush out. Her feet halted a few steps away, she shot her head back to glance at the generous stranger. "Thank you for the invitation. Let me treat you to a meal sometime soon, to thank you, " she expressed sincerely. 

"I might cash in that offer sooner rather than later, " he uttered in a pained voice.

Aryanna didn't understand his words. She pushed them to the back of her head and rushed off to find the love of her life.