Mesmerized

**************

CHAPTER 26

Staring at them was an elegant rose gold sequin mermaid long train fashion formal dress with off-the-shoulder straps and a side thigh-high slit.

"Wow!" Kiera's eyes lit up.

"It's beautiful," Skai praised as she admired the shimmering gown before them.

"Who sent them?" It was now that the million-dollar question resounded in their minds. 

"Skai, umm… Let me check the tags," she responded and immediately went searching. After some time she found nothing and shook her head. 

"Hmm, I bet it is from Damien," Kiera pointed out, her gaze looking thoughtful.

At the same time, his words resounded in Skai's mind. 

'…and probably haven't gotten it yet.' Her mind ran back to what Damien had said over the phone.

There was no doubt that he was the one who sent it.

"Skai?" Kiera's concerned voice pulled her attention back.

She blinked, trying to get herself. "Huh, you said?"

"Quick put it on. It's way better than what we planned for," Kiera urged. "Besides, I bet Damien can't wait to see you in them."

Giving her a wink, Kiera helped open the boxes while letting Skai get changed.

Skai did not bother pondering further and nodded. Immediately, she picked up the dress, admired it once more and walked into her closet to change.

By the time she was done with her hairdo, light makeup and dressing, Kiera beamed at her, clasping both hands in front of her face. 

"You look magnificent, Skai! When was the last time you dressed this way?"

As soon as Kiera mentioned that, Skai's smile dropped. 

Frankly, she could hardly remember the previous occurrence of such an event. And that was her elder brother's silver jubilee.

Since then, she'd been cut off from the family and missed out on several occasions. 

 "Oops. I'm sorry. I completely forgot." Using one hand to cover her lips, Kiera's eyes raked over Skai's face.

Being one of the best and closest friends to Skai, Kiera knew everything about her family and how she was treated. 

Not only that, she had got so busy that she forgot about her father's birthday and her brothers in total. Raising her head, Skai heaved out a sigh. 

"My bad."

"It's okay. What's passed is passed." Skai's gentle reply still did not satisfy Kiera.

"You sure? Still, I shouldn't…"

She lifted her palm to stop her. "It's nothing," Skai dismissed, giving her a tight-lipped smile. "I'll…"

Ring! Ring!

Both ladies darted their heads in the direction where the phone was. At the same time, Kiera averted her gaze to the clock in Skai's room.

"He's here," she announced. "I…" Skai inhaled, placing a hand on her stomach. Reaching for her phone, she picked it up and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"I'm here." 

That was all she heard when he ended the call. His lack of interest irritated Skai. One moment he acted interested, and at another, he behaved as though he were being forced to communicate.

"Ki, it's time for me to go." 

Kiera gave a nod. "Me too, but I'll help you clean up before leaving."

She beamed and smiled at her friend, thanked her before exiting the house. 

********

Three minutes passed and she still wasn't down. Having arrived on time, Damien waited patiently for Skai's arrival. Not used to being kept waiting, he frowned as he glanced at his watch.

"How long does it take for someone to leave their house?" 

No sooner had he complained than his eyes caught ase gold figure in the distance. Although Damien picked her outfit himself and could envision her in it, seeing her in reality was something else. 

The second Damien laid eyes on her, his heart skipped a bit, knowing full well who she was. Narrowing his eyes, he took a long glance at her.

Standing at the entrance of the tall storey building where she lived, Skai glanced around in search of him. The moment she felt eyes on her, she lifted her head in his direction. 

A small smile broke out on her lips. Ever since she knew Damien, this was the first time she saw him look at her differently. 

There was longing in his eyes, something primal, something deep. Before she could save herself, Skai found herself transported to the first night when she met him. 

"Gorgeous," Damien muttered under his breath. The shade of his eyes turned darker as Raphael tried to take over but as quickly as he sensed it, he blinked, using his powers to force him back. 

If it was prior, his only worry about letting Raphael attend such occassion would be about him ruining business for him. 

However, as it stands, a big part of him waned to be by Skai's side as her date more than anything. 

To the point that thinking of Raphael made him jealous.

The rose gold sequin mermaid dress hugged her body in the right places while accentuating her sexy curves and making her look like a young goddess.

Without waiting for an invitation, a small smile broke out on Skai's lips which were adorned with a red-coloured matte lipstick, giving her a bloody glow and making her look intimidating in her outfit as she took the very first step towards his direction.

Damien's jaw dropped when she stepped forward. Every step Skai took forward was with precision and as she inched closer to where he stood, the slit which ended at her mid-thigh on her left leg, exposed her milky legs to his radiant emerald eyes.

By the time she raised her head, only to see him standing beside his car with a face mesmerized by what he saw.

For the first time since their meeting together, Damien took a good look at her from her head to her toes, taking note of every single added accessory on her being. 

From her pearl earrings to the hand which was clutched at her purse and was equally adorned by a tin gold bracelet with a similar pearl to match her earrings, everything seemed perfect. 

Her hair was neatly tied into a bun, with a few strands left to cascade down the right side of her face, allowing her exposed back to be viewed and admired by anyone who laid eyes on her.

The backside of her dress had a low cut design that revealed her fair skin and at the same time did not expose much.

Her dress was complemented with a nude handy purse, designed intricately with white coloured stones, further adding to the glitter on her gown and making her look like a pearl of shining gems.

It felt as though each step was making the distance to Damien shorter, and Skai took huge steps in her silver heels, towards him.

She looked simple, yet classy.

Damien did not know when his lips curved upwards with a satisfied smile in place as his gaze lingered on her.

It was not until Skai got to where he stood and he complimented her that Damien noticed he held his breath all through her walk to him.

"Wow!"

He had single-handedly picked out her outfit and everything was in sync but never would he have imagined she would drop-dead gorgeous in it.

"You are..." he blinked several times, trying to get the right words to describe her but his words failed him. "You look like a goddess. A goddess of beauty," Damien complimented.

Skai's smile widened at his compliment. Her heart skipped a beat, her smile mirroring her happiness. 

It had been a while she was genuinely complimented and it felt great. 

"Thank you. You are looking handsome as well."

As much as he would have loved to believe it, Damien brushed it aside. He knew he got the looks and anything he wore, he only further enhanced the beauty of it.

But Skai's transformation was on a whole new level.

From daring shy girl to office lady, to classy charming damsel. 

He wished she dressed like this often and he wasn't so sure now if he would be able to keep his hands…eyes off of her.

"Sorry to keep you."

"Y-Yeah, no problem."

Now that she was close, Skai got a good look at his eyes which seemed to find a hard time peeling away from her chest.

"Umm, shall we?" 

Breaking from his trance, Damien cleared his throat and led her to his car at the passenger's seat. 

All through the ride was quiet. After Damien locked the door for her and got in, his previous demeanor returned.

Perhaps he found it too embarrassing and lacking in character and professionalism with the way he ogled her.

On the other hand, Skai did not bother much about anything and took the silence to think about the past. 

It wasn't until they arrived and Damien opened the door for Skai that she took note of her environment. 

'You've got to be kidding me.'