ORION.
The day of my father's birthday had finally arrived, and as we stepped into the grand ballroom, a collective gasp swept through the crowd. All eyes were on us, drinking in the sight of our unconventional group. I couldn't blame them for staring – we were a mesmerizing mix of individuals, being seen together alone defies convention.
Athena and I, once engaged and now separated, stood side by side our presence sparking whispers of surprise and curiosity. The rumors of our failed engagement still lingered, and our joint appearance was a bold statement, a declaration of our newfound freedom.
But it was Azalea and Harro, standing next to us, who truly stole the show. Their radiant beauty and effortless charm drew admiring glances and awestruck whispers. "Wow, beautiful!" someone breathed, while others asked, "Are they models?" The air was filled with curiosity, and I could feel the weight of their gazes on my skin.
Athena had initially hesitated to attend, still wary of the gossip surrounding our failed engagement. But Azalea, ever the rebel, had declared, "Fuck it! Let's all just attend the damn party. I'll be your date, Athena." And so, here we were, a clique of confidence and beauty, shining brightly in the spotlight.
Athena looks absolutely stunning in a backless gold dress, the metallic fabric shimmering like liquid sunlight on her skin. Matching accessories adorned her neck and wrists, casting a warm, golden glow around her. Azalea, on the other hand, dazzled in an elegant black armless dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, showcasing her toned physique.
I wore the gray suit that Harro had insisted was his favorite look on me, feeling dashing and confident in the tailored fabric. And Harro... Harro looked like a celestial being, his white suit radiant against his snowy hair, his piercing blue eyes sparkling like sapphires in the light. He seemed almost otherworldly, as if he'd descended from the heavens to bless us with his presence.
As we stood in the ballroom, guests naturally gravitated towards us, drawn in by our collective beauty. While some were curious about our unconventional group, others were unmistakably attracted to us – and by "us," I mean mostly Harro. It was as if he emitted some kind of irresistible pheromone, drawing people in with an unseen force. Why did everyone want a piece of him?
I politely excused myself from the group of ladies asking me about my failed engagement with Athena, taking Harro's hand and leading him away from the cluster of women who were fawning over him. They whined in protest, their disappointment obvious, and Harro chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You just ruined the most entertaining part of their evening," he teased, and I chuckled, feeling a surge of possessiveness towards this captivating, infuriating man.
"They'll be just fine," I said with a smirk, "I'm sure they'll find someone else to lust over pretty soon." Harro's laughter was music to my ears, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he teased me.
"You took me from them because you were jealous, weren't you?" I didn't dignify that with a response, but my silence only made him smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Of course, I was jealous! Harro was mine, and those women had no right to look at him like that. I felt a surge of possessiveness, my heart beating a little faster at the thought of anyone else trying to claim him.
Just then, my father boomed out a hearty greeting, "Ah, Orion my boy!" He beckoned me over, his arm sweeping wide as he introduced me to the group of men he was chatting with. Harro and I exchanged a look, our eyes meeting in a flash of understanding. Why did my father sound like we were buddies all of a sudden?
As I shook hands with the gentlemen, my father proudly introduced me as the CEO of Stone Pharmaceuticals. I maintained a polite smile, but inside, I was surprised. Since when did my father care about my accomplishments?
"And this is Mr. Bishop," my father added, sparing Harro a polite smile that seemed to cost him some effort. I wondered what his agenda was, what he hoped to gain from this sudden display of warmth.
As the men asked us questions about our business secrets and the new drug, I tried my best to maintain a polite smile and converse with them. Harro stood beside me, his presence a steady anchor in the midst of this chaotic evening. Eventually, we excused ourselves, leaving my father looking satisfied, but me feeling like I'd just played into his hands.
"That was weird!" Harro exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper, once we were out of earshot. I nodded in fervent agreement, my brow furrowed in confusion.
"I've never seen my father like that before," I admitted, my tone laced with perplexity. Harro's expression was thoughtful, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the mystery.
"At least he didn't ignore us completely," Harro pointed out, his voice tinged with optimism. "I think he's getting the idea that we're not going anywhere." I nodded, feeling a sense of solidarity with Harro.
As we walked, Harro cast me a questioning glance. "Where are you taking me?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. I smiled mischievously, tugging on his hand to urge him to walk faster.
"We're almost there, come on!" When we finally reached our destination, Harro's eyes widened in amazement.
"Wow, is this your room?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the space. I nodded, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me.
Everything was spotless, just as I'd left it. My father's wife hadn't gotten rid of my belongings, and for that, I was grateful. Harro wandered over to my old bedside, picking up an action figure and examining it with a smile. Then, his eyes landed on a photograph – a picture of a teenage me with my mom. His gaze softened, and he looked up at me, his eyes filled with love.
"Look at how cute you were," Harro said, his voice tinged with amusement, as I moved closer to him. I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.
"This is my mom," I said, pointing to the woman beside me in the picture. We were both smiling, our teeth gleaming in the photograph. Harro's gaze softened as he looked at the photo, his eyes filled with a deep affection.
"She was beautiful," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have her smile." His words sent a warm sensation through my heart, and I smiled, feeling grateful for having him here with me. Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other's eyes, the world around us melting away.
After a while, Harro broke the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity. "I can't believe a teenage you slept in this room. Did you bring girls here?" I chuckled, feeling a sense of amusement at his question.
"Why are you curious about something like that?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.
Harro's eyebrows shot up, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as I deflected his question. "So, there were a lot of girls, then?"
I shook my head, laughing lightly. "I didn't bring girls over as a teenager. The only girl who ever set foot in my room was Athena, and we were just friends, even after we kissed." I noticed a flicker of possessiveness in his eyes at the mention of that single kiss, and an idea sparked in my mind. I walked towards him, cupped his face in my hands, and pressed my lips against his with an intensity that took our breath away. Pulling back slightly, I whispered, "That kiss didn't mean anything, but this? This means everything," as I playfully nipped at his lips.
His response was instinctive. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer, our lips crashing together once again. In a swift motion, he pushed me onto my bed, straddling me, our mouths reconnecting as if magnetized.
After a passionate moment, Harro rolled off me, settling beside me on my small, familiar bed. I grinned as we locked eyes, his satisfied smile illuminating his face.
"You and your jealousy," I teased, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear. His hair had grown so much since the accident, a testament to how much time had passed.
"It's not jealousy if I'm just claiming what's mine," he replied with a cheeky grin that made me laugh, my heart fluttering at his playful tone.
"Alright, you win. I'll always be yours, only yours. Happy now?" I asked, my voice softening.
"Very!" he declared, his gaze brightening as he licked his lips. I was drawn in once again, leaning in for a deep kiss before pulling away.
"Let's get back to the party," I suggested, only to be met with a dramatic groan.
"Can't we just stay here?" he whined, the hint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he tugged at my pants. "We could have our own fun in here..." A rush of warmth coursed through me at the enticing thought, but I shook my head, pushing back my desire.
"We can't leave the girls to fend for themselves in this den of wolves," I insisted, trying to sound more resolute than I felt. He reluctantly nodded, his playful demeanor fading a little as he followed me out of my old room.
"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of fun after the party," I promised softly, my words trailing like a promise in the air as we made our way back to the crowd of elegant individuals, each passing minute intensifying my anticipation to whisk my boyfriend away and show him just how much he meant to me.