He pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket and swiped to decline the call. My call.
"Hello Fiancée." I heard his smooth deep voice beside my ear and it made me shiver slightly. "I see you were calling."
I was stunned seeing him here where I didn't expect him and momentarily forgot how to speak. I dropped the phone from my ear and tried to articulate what to say.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
His forehead was creased as his handsomely shaped brow was lifted. "Why wouldn't I come?"
Heat radiated from my back that was pressed to him. "I don't know. You didn't respond to my text."
"You texted?" He asked, looking genuinely confused.
I nodded.
"Did you just get here then?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I just got out of a last minute corporate party. You look amazing, by the way."
I blinked, caught off guard by the compliment.
"Thank you Mr Sterling." I tried to hide my smile. "You look great yourself."
Great was an understatement. Dressed in his usual tailored suit, with no ties tonight and two buttons let down, he looked like a stray vogue model. His hair once combed back, now had strands falling to his face.
But what was this shiny piece of... I reached out, standing on my tippy toes to be able to reach his hair because he was just too tall and I picked out a silver piece of confetti. He really was at a party.
I showed him the confetti piece and he just sighed.
"Eh hem! Sorry to interrupt the lover's moment." I turned and saw Justin standing at the side with a mischievous look on his face. Wondering what that was for, I took in my position with Ethan.
His hand was on my waist and one of my hands rested on his shoulder from trying to get the confetti out of his hair. It looked so intimate.
I quickly moved away from him, but Ethan didn't let go of my waist.
"The play is at the final scene, Miss Leia. We need you for the ending remarks." Justin informed me.
"Yes of course." I agreed. But I couldn't leave immediately. "I'll be there." I said and shooed Justin away with my eyes. Lucky me, he left without a fuss.
I turned to Ethan. "Come backstage with me, Mr Sterling."
"About that, don't you think it is unusual for you to call your fiance by his surname? I don't have much dating experience but I know that's not how it's done." He pointed out as we walked to the auditorium.
"Oh right." I mouthed. "I'm sorry. It's out of habit. What would you like me to call you? Babe? Baby? Dear?" I watched Ethan's face scrunch up at the names I called.
"I see you're not a fan of pet names."
"I'd rather we stay on first name basis. That's safer and more convenient." He suggested.
"Fine by me."
We stood by the side until the play was over. When the curtains were dropped, it was time for my ending remark.
"Thank you all for watching our silly little play. We might not win an Oscar for this performance-" and the crowd roared with laughter at that "but we hope we have won your hearts. Special thanks to you all for your time, I see the mayor of F-City, Mrs Millie Martinez and so many other people. Thanks to the media teams who came to cover this event.
"I would also like to specially thank my bold and beautiful actors and actresses - could they come up stage please."
The little kids came and stood in a single file just as we had taught them and there was a round of applause for them.
"and my wonderful teachers, I don't know what I would do without you."
They all came up stage and there was an applause for them too. They all bowed and left the stage.
"Finally, I want to thank someone special to me, who was a huge support and helped to make this day happen." I looked to the left where he stood. He shook his head, he didn't want to be upstage.
"A round of applause for my fiance, Ethan Sterling." There. I said it. The word was officially out. Now, their reactions.
First, there was complete silence, like pin-drop silence. Then the applause started and when it did, it was hard to die down.
"Thank you all once again, I'll see you at the opposite hall for light refreshments." Another applause as I took a bow and left the stage.
Walking to where Ethan stood, I saw him nod in approval.
"You did well. The crowd love you."
I smiled in appreciation. I felt a pair of small hands wrapped around my waist. Then I saw Emma and Julian, two of my little actors beside me.
"Miss Leia. I did it." Julian announced. He seemed quite proud of himself, as he should be. I bent to his height and gave him a hug.
"Yes you did. I'm proud of you, Jules." I looked on to an expectant Emma and gave her a hug also. "You were wonderful too, Emma."
Julian turned to Ethan. "Who's he?"
I wondered how to explain to Julian. "He's my fiance."
Julian wrinkled up his nose. I bet he didn't know what that was. And to confirm my thoughts, he asked. "What's a fiance? Is that like bodyguard or something?"
My laughter came so suddenly that I coughed. Ethan just gave me a small side glare.
"No silly." Emma said to Julian. "A fiance is someone who you're getting married to." she informed him. His eyes widened at the knowledge.
"That's right Jules." I said to him
Suddenly, he frowned. "Don't get married, Miss Leia."
I was taken back at that. I also didn't miss how Ethan's eyes narrowed at the request. "Why not Jules?"
"My Dad got married after he left us and now he doesn't have time for me anymore. Please don't get married." He asked with glossy eyes.
I crouched to his height and squeezed his hand.
"You don't have to worry Jules, even if I get married, I'll still have time for the school." Actually the school was the reason I was getting married in the first place, I thought to myself.
"Right Ethan?" I asked, glancing up at him. Three pairs of expectant eyes were on him, waiting for his response.
Ethan finally nodded. "Sure."
"You see. So cheer up." I said to Julian. He nodded.
"Come kids." Mrs Reynolds called them. They were about to leave to the other hall with the other kids.
"I'll see you guys in a bit. Go on." I urged them and they waved me goodbye, which I reciprocated. Then they went with Mrs Reynolds.
I stood to my feet and met Ethan's curious stare.
'what?' I asked with my eyes.
"I see why you didn't think twice about my offer." He said.
"Really? why?" I asked.
"They need you here." He commented. Then he offered me his arm. "Come now, let's go greet the crowd. They must be expecting us."