14 Party

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked him, still shocked.

"Expecting someone else, eh?" Tyler's eyebrows furrowed. Lanie just shook her head and opened the door widely so he could come in but he shook his head.

"Dress up," he said before scanning her body. Her face heated. She was wearing white dress sleeves, her sleepwear.

"We are going somewhere." Tyler continued.

"Where? Wait, just come in and sit, first." she offered. He came in and observed her apartment before sitting on the sofa. He's in a formal suit. 'He looks handsome as ever,' Lanie praised him in her mind.

"Where are we going?"

"Today is Kathy's birthday. She wants you to be there, that's why I'm here to pick you up." He said lazily.

Omg! She didn't know. She's been so busy these past few weeks.

"She said she was texting you but you did not reply." Lanie got her phone at the coffee table and scanned her inbox. She bit her lower lip when she saw Kathy's text messages.

Kathy Andres:

Hey, Lady! Tomorrow is my birthday! You are invited!

Kathy Andres:

I'm expecting you tomorrow. Please reply ASAP if you read my texts.

Kathy Andres:

Happy birthday to me! I have a party at our house, will you come? Why aren't you replying to my messages?

She put down her phone and looked at Tyler who's... looking at her, too.

"Formal party, right?" she asked. He nodded.

"Do you have a dress?"

"I think I have. Stay here," she said and went to her room to fix herself. She opened her closet and looked for the dress that she just bought last month.

"Found you." She picked the maroon off-shoulder flowy dress. It has a slit on the right side. She paired it with black high heels. She quickly took a shower and fixed herself. She just put a clip on her hair and applied light makeup.

While Lanie was in her room, Tyler scanned her apartment one more time. There was nothing special in here, well, except that her apartment was really clean. He stood up and looked around. He saw Lanie's pictures above the cabinet together with the pictures of her grandmother and her parents. When he turned to his left side, one thing caught his attention. That room had a grey door. He walked towards it but Lanie suddenly came out of her room.

After Lanie finished fixing herself, she came out of her room. And there, she saw Tyler in front of the other room, near the kitchen. Nervousness crawled into her system.

"Tyler!" she shouted. He looked at her. "L-let's go!" she said, panicking, and slightly pushed him away from that door.

"Wait, I'll just get my pouch," she said and let go of his arm. When she came back, his gaze fixed on her. He looks at her from head to toe before clenching his jaw. Lanie was too gorgeous tonight.

"Let's go. Kathy is already calling me a hundred times." While they are on their way, she keeps on looking for a store, she wants to buy a gift. She's shy about going there without a gift.

"What are the things that Kathy likes?" she asked Tyler, he was seriously looking at the road.

"She likes to collect bags. It's okay if you don't have a gift. Your presence is already enough for her as a gift." He said. But still, she's shy. She couldn't see anything to give her as a gift until they arrived at Andres' mansion. When they entered the hall, she slightly bowed her head because of shyness. They got people's attention. She saw some men checking her out. And some girls looked at the man beside her. And then, she felt a large and hot hand encircled softly on her waist.

"Happy birthday! I'm sorry, I don't have a gift. And I read your messages late, I'm busy." Lanie said when Kathy approached them.

"It's okay! I'm already happy that you're here! Let's go, I will introduce you to my parents!" She giggled and pulled Lanie to their table.

"I told you, Mom and Dad! I have a friend!" Kathy said when they arrived at their table. Lanie saw Kieffer wearing a black tuxedo. He waved at her and smiled. She nodded at him before looking at the couple who were looking at them, smiling.

"Lady, this is my Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad, this is my friend, Lady!" She said happily.

"Good evening, Ma'am, Sir." She greeted them. Kathy's Mom kissed her cheeks and Kathy's Dad just nodded at her.

"It's nice to meet you. You're beautiful. I thought Kathy's just joking when she said she has a friend. She's homeschooled since she was little." Mrs. Andres said.

"Nice to meet you. Kathy's a great woman, I'm happy that we're friends."

After that, Kathy accompanied her to get food. They sat at their table. Her parents are gone, maybe they are already resting. Kieffer stayed at the table, with a beautiful girl beside him and Tyler.

The waiter gave them wine. While Lanie's eating, they are talking about some things.

"Are you enjoying the party?" Kathy asked when she was done eating.

She smiled at her and nodded. "You should enjoy it, too."

"I am. This is my happiest birthday!" She said happily.

Minutes later, Kathy excused herself to greet and check on some visitors. Lanie looked at the people, her eyes glued on the people at the other table. Mrs. Hossler was there together with Mr. and Mrs. Wang. So, they were invited too. Andres is in the business world, too, after all.

Meanwhile, Kieffer and Tyler were watching Lanie. The two of them exchange stares as they saw how Lanie watched those people at the other table.

"Hey." Tyler got Lanie's attention causing her to take her eyes off them.

"Hmm?" she looked at him. He was staring at her, calculating her reactions.

"You want to go outside?" He offered but Lanie refused.

"It's okay," she said. She got another wine when a waiter passed by their table.

Tyler nodded and resumed talking to Kieffer who was observing them now. Lanie just drank her wine and busied herself looking at the visitors.