UNEXPECTED GUEST

{At 8:35pm}

On entering his office, I found him still working on his laptop.

"Mr Damion?"

I called his name but his eyes were still glued to what he was doing as he answered.

"Yes, Arleen?"

"It's a few minutes left to the start of the celebration and you're yet to be ready," I reminded him and that was when he looked at me.

Because of how nervous I was, I held my breath and waited for a reaction from him on my outfit.

He squinted his brows at me as if he couldn't see well but it was the opposite.

"Arleen, is that you?"

At his question, I smiled brightly and answered cheerfully; "Yes sir."

"Now this is what I call transformation."

Once he said that, he stood up and closed his laptop before walking in my direction with his eyes glued to mine.

When he finally got to where I was, he openly admired me.

"You look…what's the word?" He paused and I felt on top of the world for making him not know what to say for the first time.

"You look dashing."

"Thank you, Sir."

He nodded in appreciation before walking past me. However, when he got to the door, he gave me an instruction.

"Wait for me in the car outside."

*

{At 9:22}

We arrived the given address and I couldn't help but gush at the extravagant decorations. There was even a red carpet with paparazzi taking several pictures of invited guests.

As if to get my attention back, Damion held out his elbow to me and I didn't hesitate to slip my hand in before gripping his arm.

We wore matching colors but I couldn't be compared to him.

I ended up wearing the gown Isaac selected for me while Clara set my hair in a voluminous half-up ponytail and gave me a light makeup. Her words were; "simple but capable of turning heads."

While walking along the long red carpet, I could hear them call out to Damion for his attention while taking shots of us. It was a dream.

Soon enough, we stepped into the building and I let my eyes openly admire the place without holding back.

"She's here."

I brought my attention back to Damion and gave him a quizzical look but instead of answering, I followed his line of sight and noticed he was looking at Beverley Coleman.

My heart dropped instantly and to make things difficult for me, he let go of my hand.

"Get acquainted but don't go too far," saying that, he left my side.

I felt abandoned and heartbroken at the same time because Damion had never let me leave his side whenever we went for any occasion. This was new.

My eyes followed him until I saw him stop right next to Beverley and when she noticed him, her smile stretched and he smiled back.

It was too heart wrenching to watch so I left where I stood to another direction.

I knew I should get used to it but it was painful to watch the man I love look at another woman with so much interest.

Without warning, a glass cup was brought in front of my eyes and as I turned to see who it was that offered it to me, I went still due to how close he was to me.

"It's really nice to see you again."

It took me five seconds to recognize who he was and I gaped at him in astonishment before slowly blurting out his name to be sure.

"Clifford…Edson?"

His smile stretched in delight.

"You remember my name. That's a big step," he joked and I smiled although I was still in shock.

I had to take a step back to scan him up and down because it was strange to see him in such a place…well, don't blame me, after all I've known him as a delivery guy.

"Were you invited too?" I asked a polite question rather than saying; 'what are you doing here?'

"Yes I was," came his answer and I blinked twice at him as if to elaborate more.

Surprisingly, he also wore navy blue but a darker shade. Someone might even mistake it for black.

"Are you here on your own or…?" I left the question hanging and he filled it in.

"I'm here with someone."

"Your girlfriend?" I assumed while giving him a playful look.

It was strange to see him in such a place but I still appreciated his presence because he took my mind off my boss for a while.

"Not at all, I came with a friend."

"Shouldn't you be with your friend?"

At my question, he smiled and it also made me smile back effortlessly.

"She's busy at the moment and I need some time alone."

"Is she someone I know?" I looked around as if I would instantly find her.

"I guess so, she's over there," he pointed in a specific direction and my countenance fell.

It was Beverley! Again!

"Beverley Coleman?" I couldn't help but ask even after knowing it was her he was pointing at.