"Ni… Nicholas..." Vivian stuttered. She opened the door wide and allowed him inside. He was just as handsome as she imagined.
Nicholas observed his surroundings. The sitting room was small with two couches and a small bulb illuminating the room. 'Small and uncomfortable,' he thought. He noticed she looked beautiful in the green dress she wore.
"Put this on," he said, handing the bag to Vivian.
"Is the dress I'm wearing not good?" Vivian asked.
"It is, but Vivi dear, we are not going to a church, and if you want to tell everyone that you are my fiancée, you have to dress like one, Nicholas said , tapping his fingers on the head of the couch.
Vivian opened her mouth to argue but shut it. She didn't have the time to argue, and somehow Nicholas was right. She went to the room, gently closing the door behind her, pulled the dress out, and put it on.
Checking herself in the mirror, she could no longer recognize the person in the mirror, the blue-eyed blonde. In a blue dress matching her eyes, the dress showed all the skin she was trying to hide behind the green dress. The gown, cupping her breasts and exposing her shoulders, flowed to the floor, with a slit showing her left leg.
"It's beautiful," she muttered. The thought of Nicholas buying the dress to match her eyes caused her to blush. She pinched herself and walked out of the room to Nicholas.
Just as Nicholas imagined no, better than he imagined Nicholas was so caught up in Vivian's beauty that he had the urge to gouge out any man's eyes he would see looking in her direction this night.
"Beautiful… you look beautiful," he said, heat building up in Vivian's cheeks, and she blushed.
"Let's go," Nicholas said, taking Vivian's hands and leading her to the car.
****
Nicholas led Vivian through the entrance of the event hall, his hands round her waist. All heads turned as the two entered. Everyone was surprised that Nicholas, the most eligible bachelor in the country, came to an event with a woman for the first time.
"Mr. Keaton, who is this lady with you? A reporter asked her camera raised to video Nicholas.
"Is this a new romance?" Another pressed the microphone towards him.
"Care to introduce yourself, young lady?" a reporter asked Vivian.
Nicholas ignored all these questions, leading Vivian forward. Vivian wasn't used to the attention; it reminded her of how low her status was compared to Nicholas. She clenched her fists, hiding her insecurities.Sensing her unease, Nicholas leaned in and whispered, his breath hot against her neck and his voice calming,
"Don't let them get to you," he said, squeezing her hand to reassure her. She looked up at him, staring at his calm, handsome face, and suddenly began to feel at ease.Inside, the hall was grand and magnificent; the chandelier cast a warm glow over the marble floor, and the air was filled with expensive fragrance. The wealthy, powerful, and influential mingled easily here, laughing and sipping champagne.
Vivian felt inferior, as though she stumbled into someone else's world, Nicholas's world.
"Good evening, Mr. Keaton, glad you made it," an older man in a suit greeted.
"Yes, Mr. Morris," Nicholas replied. The man raised an eyebrow at Vivian and then turned to Nicholas.
"And who is this, Nicholas?" he asked, his voice curious. With a simple reply, he said,
"Someone important." The man nodded.
"Enjoy your night," he said to Nicholas and walked away.
"Who was that?" Vivian asked, and Nicholas raised an eyebrow. He didn't know if he should be surprised or amused.
"Are you living under a rock?" Vivian shrugged; she has never been the one to care about celebrities.
"That's the governor," Nicholas began. He's the host of this event," Vivian hummed.
Soon people began approaching Nicholas, while Vivian was met with curious stares and death glares from ladies who couldn't approach Nicholas because of her presence.
"Nick, I thought you would never come," a young, handsome man in an ash-colored suit greeted. Beside him was another dressed in a random shirt and suit trousers, looking bored and tired.
"Go away, Alex. Rough day, Leo?" Nicholas replied. Vivian noticed the friendly tone Nicholas used and could tell they were friends.
"Now, now, who's the lovely lady in your arms, Nick?" Alex asked, grinning at Vivian.
"my wife-to-be." Alex immediately burst out laughing, and Leo's bored eyes lit up then he joined Alex laughing. They stopped when they noticed Nicholas was serious.
Alex cleared his throat. "When and how did it happe"n? He asked, "We promised never to get married; what changed?" Leo asked, clearly amused.
Nicholas shrugged. "Before that, Leo, what's with the tired look on your face? Rough times in the hospital or a woman?" Leo grinned but didn't answer.
"You too?!" Alex cried. Nicholas shrugged. "This is Vivian Bowes," he introduced. "Nice to meet you, Vivian," Alex said , taking her hand and kissing it. Nicholas frowned but made no move to stop him. Alex laughed at Nicholas's jealousy.
"So Vivian," Leonard started, "tell us, how did you manage to catch his fancy?" Vivian smiled.
"Something about being in the right place at the right time," she replied, getting comfortable with Nicholas's friends.
"Does your mother know about this?" Alex asked, and Nicholas shrugged, "She would find out sooner or later." Alex nodded, but Vivian's heart sank. She clearly forgot about his parents. She wondered what they were like.
"Good evening, everyone. I appreciate your effort in coming here…." The governor said, Get everyone's attention."Get ready," Nicholas whispered to Vivian. She nodded, but her heart was beating so loudly that she feared Nicholas could hear it. "…so enjoy your night," the governor ended.
Nicholas raised his hand before the governor left the stage.
"Yes, Mr. Keaton, do you have anything to say?".
Pulling Vivian to his side, his arm round her waist, he replied, "Yes."