Chapter 2 The engagement II

Reina's POV

Present day...

Now I'm 18, Anderson's 23 and we are gathered at the Freeborn mansion for the engagement.

I was nervous extremely nervous because it had been two years ago since I've seen the Travoltas, Anderson included. I went abroad to further my education and thus our separation.

I was wearing a pink gown with petals around it. I saw from upstairs how many distinguished guests had come to witness the engagement between the Freeborns and the Travoltas... business partners of both.

Soon, I heard a loud noise and I just knew that Anderson had made his arrival. If I felt nervous before, I felt even more nervous now.

I know I shouldn't be but this is a guy I haven't seen in two years and contacted either.....a decision made by both our parents.

He was wearing a blue suit with a white shirt underneath it. His jet black hair as usual was combed to the back. His shiny black shoes stepped on the carpet before him as he made his way inside the mansion.

A lot has changed with Anderson. He somehow exuded the aura of a mature, educated, intelligent yet ruthless business man. He was a born leader and so, carried himself as such.

He looked up from downstairs and just like that, our gazes locked. We stood still for some minutes before Mr Travolta said something to him which made him chuckle a bit.

But I felt something was wrong. Something was missing. The butterflies that would appear in my stomach anytime I saw him, the way my heart would beat wildly by just looking into those eyes of his, the way I would feel shy and run away anytime I felt like this.....all of it seems to be gone. Or perhaps_

"Reina, it's time for you to make your way downstairs" a maid distracted me from my thoughts.

"I'll be there in a minute. I just need to do a touch-up of my makeup" I said.

"Okay hurry up then" she told me.

"Sure" I gathered myself and proceeded to make my way downstairs.

While walking down the long corridor, I caught sight of a lonely figure.

He was wearing a gray tailored trousers tucked with wine shirt and a gray jacket. He was looking at a portrait. A portrait my dad bought years back. Even though it was just his side view I was seeing, I could tell he was a really handsome guy. If Anderson exuded a charismatic aura, this man exuded a rather cold and distant aura.

He must have sensed the presence of someone so he looked in my direction. Now that he was facing me completely,I could see him clearly and God....this man was beyond handsome. He looked refined and intelligent in those tailored suit, his perfectly shaped brows and those eyes....those brown eyes..they reminded me of someone.

He walked in my direction and I couldn't help but get nervous. Why was he walking up to me? What does he want to say? Just when I thought he would stop in front of me, he brushed past me and went to the living room where the party was. Ah right! He wasn't walking up to me, but rather, he was going to attend the party.

..............

I made my way to the event. There was loud music and at the same time loud noise but it was nothing compared to the loud thumping of my heart. I tried putting myself together, to get rid of the nervousness that this ever-so familiar man put me through. I drank a cup of water then made it to where Anderson was.

Ever since I walked in, his gaze hasn't left me. He seemed infactuated all over again. My eyes skimmed past the guests. It caught my dad talking to his business associates, my mom looking at me with her ever-so loving gaze, Mr Travolta busy with business associates as well and then Mrs Travolta. Just when I was about to look past her, it caught sight of this familiar man again.

There he stood in gray suit looking dignified and noble. He looked like a piece of art that had been carefully carved from a painting. He seemed to sense someone was looking at him and so, looked in my direction. His deep brown eyes bore into mine. With butterflies in my stomach and my heart feeling like it had been tethered with honey, I looked away with fluttering lashes and my heart beat came back to normal. After a few seconds I looked at him but he had already looked elsewhere. But what was he doing with Mrs Travolta and then, a sudden realization hit me. No wonder he looked familiar. He was Dane. The lonely, shy and boring brother but somehow he didn't seem like that anymore. He just seemed distant....very distant.

Myself and Anderson were about to exchange our engagement rings but here I was fantasizing about the younger brother.

Sigh!! What do I do?!!