Chapter 2: Chapter 2

ELIZZE

"We're happy for the decision that you made, dear."

I am now once again sitting inside my Father's office while my mother was constantly rubbing on my back in happiness.

Sitting opposite of me is Mr. and Mrs. Williams. They have the same expression as both of my parents have. Davien isn't here because according to Mr. Williams he had other matters to attend to.

"I will assure you that you won't regret it." Mrs. Williams said. "My son may seem tough but he's a good man, Elizze."

I really hope so, Mrs. Williams.

I'm not really fond of watching television but I caught glimpse of him on it. He does look tough. He always stood like a proud CEO who ocassionally wears a small smile and eyes who glints nothing but professionalism and pride.

Davien Williams is handsome. Really handsome. That's why he is popular among people. Even though he don't appear in movies, he looks like a celebrity and not the CEO of his company.

My parents and Mr. and Mrs. Williams  talked about the marriage with excitement. They are planning everything. From the day of the wedding to the merging of both companies.

I was quietly sitting there. Nodding and smiling half heartedly. But I'm satisfied and I don't regret this decision of mine. I know I did the right thing just by looking at both of my parents hope filled eyes.

THE NEXT DAY, I was wearing a simple red dress. Davien and I will meet in a restaurant today. We need a private space to talk about matters about the marriage and get to know each other. It's the least thing we can do in this situation.

When I arrived in the restaurant, there were no single customer except for a young man in a full suit, who is currently having a talk with someone on the phone. He's very well dressed with his hairstyle completing his outfit.

His eyes caught me and he automatically ended the call. I was taken a back when he curved the corner of his lips upward. A smile that he don't even show infront of the camera.

The beating of my heart because of nervousness calmed down a bit.

He stands up, pulling the other chair and let me sit before turning to the other side.

"Have you been waiting?" I asked with a little bit of awkwardness.

It's too shameful to admit but in the 25 years of my life, I have never been into a date. So this kind of thing. Meeting a guy in private and having dinner is new for me. I don't know how this one goes.

"No, I just arrived too." he said before motioning the waiter to come in. We both ordered a steak and also a bottle of wine.  "The red dress looks beautiful on you." he suddenly complimented me and I couldn't help but to get all shy. My lips formed a wide smile.

"Thank you."

"But I think.. white suits you better."

The moment he said those words, I feel the burning on my cheecks. He is pertaining to me in white gown. He's talking about the wedding. Our marriage.

This guy does really know how to go with his words.

"That's silly." I joked and he chuckled.

Mrs. Williams was right. His son is tough but is a gentleman within.. or so I thought..

The steak arrived. When the waiter positioned it on top of the table the savory aroma envaded my nose.

"This restaurant makes the best steaks. You need to try it." Davien said while holding the knife and fork.

The waiter also poured our glasses with wine before leaving.

I got my knife and fork and started slicing the beef. I didn't have a hard time cutting it since it was so soft. I inhaled the smell before putting it in my mouth. The moment it envaded my taste buds I can't help but get wide eyed.

"It is good." I said, nodding.

"Told 'ya." Davien smiled proud and took a bite of his steak.

While munching, something suddenly caught his eyes while he was staring at me.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked him, confused and wondering.

But instead of answering, Davien reached for the corners of my lips and using his thumb he removed the sauce that was stuck in there. I, once again, was shocked by his actions.

"You're a sloppy eater." he said before putting his thumb inside his mouth. Cleaning the stain from my lips.

It took seconds for me to respond.

"Thanks." I showed my gratitude for the action he had done.

We continued eating and in the past minutes both of us were silent. I didn't  know how to start up a conversation anymore after what just happened.

"I thought you're against the marriage." he opened up and I looked up to him. His tone was a bit different from earlier. I can sense something.

"Yeah, I was." I admitted. "But I realized that,  it is the only way to save Elegant Force. The only way to save the company my parents built with hardwork."

He slowly nodded. "What a good daughter you are."

I chuckled in his remarks.

"What about you?" It was my turn to ask him the question he threw at me earlier. "Are you not against it? I mean, your a big time CEO, I'm sure you have a beautiful lady on your side, waiting for you to propose to her and not to me."

"You don't have to be jealous about a non existent being, Elizze." he joked at me.

He just confirmed that he doesn't have any girlfriend.

"Well, seriously, I'm not against it." he stated. "As long as the marriage doesn't get on my way, It'll be fine."

I sensed something in between those words.

As long as the marriage doesn't get on his way? What does he mean by that.

"Let's have a shot." he raised his glass of wine and I did the same too. "For the sucessful collaboration of our companies. For our marriage."

I smiled. "For our marriage." I repeated his words before bumping our glasses against each other. We both took a sip of the wine before placing it on the table again.

"Okay, I think that's enough." Upon letting go of the glass, his whole tone suddenly changed. He grabbed his phone and called someone. "Did you take the pictures well?" pictures? what pictures? "You caught the one when I reached for her lips?... Good. Make sure to make it look like it was taken by a paparazzi. Release it on the media next week."

What's going on? Who is he talking to?

He ended the call and turned to me. The color of his eyes earlier were gone. It was now the same orbs from the first time I saw him. The same blank stare.

"It's the photographer." he answered as if he read my mind. "Our parents wants to make the wedding known to public and in order to not cause suspicions from the media, we need to show them pictures from our dates and so on. To make it look realistic and we really are inlove. That's how showbiz works."

I was having a hard time understanding what he said and before I can comprehend all of those, he revealed a small velvet box and placed it on the table near me.

"It's our wedding ring." he said. "Wear it on your hand and take a picture. Make sure you upload it on your social media accounts. I have already posted mine. That's gonna start the rumors." he tells me as if I was only one of his servants.

"Got it." was all the words I can say.

He looked at his watch. "My apologies but I have to leave first." Davien said as he arranges his coat. "I have already paid the bill and you can leave whenever you want. You drove here so I don't have to take you home, right?"

"Yeah, no need." I smiled awkwardly.

"Good." he finally stood up. "I'll get going." and those were his last words before leaving me all alone, clueless about what's going on.

His personality suddenly switches in a split second. Was all the compliments, chuckles and smiles he showered me all for the pictures. To make the relationship realistic?

But then again, I shouldn't be amazed nor wonder anymore. He wouldn't be the CEO of LM Entertainment if he doesn't have those tactics and acts.

At the end of the day, I don't have any other choice but to leave too. I will look like a pitiful lady sitting all alone in this luxury restaurant. It will look like I was dumped.

I reached my condominium in less than twenty minutes. I opened the door to the veranda and decided to sit there for the time being. I grabbed a bottle of wine before positioning myself on the chair.

From my view, I can see the busy street and the huge buildings of the city. The big billboards lighting up all over the place filled my eyes. There were tons of them that I couldn't even count with my hands but only one got my attention.

That one huge billboard that showed Davien William's face wearing his signature blank face that screams power and dignity.

Seeing his face, I remembered the ring from earlier. So I fetch it from my bag and opened the small velvet box that holds a precious ring. It's not the simple one that you can see in the movies but an elegant one. It was designed by shiny diamonds.

I know this ring is costly.

Like what he instructed, I wear it on my ring finger.

It perfectly fits in there and for a moment, I totally forgot that this was all for the better future of companies. That this was all for show. If only this was given from the man I truly love, I would be in tears. Unfortunately it's not so I can only make a smile. A sad one.

I positioned my hand in the air. Right in the angle where Davien's face from the billboard could be seen in the blurry background. I adjusted the focus on the ring and took a picture.

I was pretty satisfied of how it came out and so without editing, I directly posted it on instagram and typed hearts for the caption.

I only have barely a hundred of followers since I'm not that active in the app. All of them were probably from my costumers in the cafe and some old classmates from the university.

But once my marriage with Davien is out, I'm sure people will begin investigating and they will eventually see this.

Speaking of Davien, I searched for his account to see if he really posted a picture. I easily found his account with the blue check mark and scrolling down, I found his latest post. It was a picture of the velvet box. It was open, revealing the two shiny rings inside. It was liked by millions of users.

Because of my curiosity, I decided to check the comments and like I expected, everyone was shock. I mean who wouldn't be? The great CEO who did nothing but work has now posted wedding rings on his social media account indicating he is engaged.

'Oh Gosh! Is this really happening?'

'This post has broke a million of girl's heart'

'OMG! Who's the lucky girl?'

Those were some of the thousands and thousands of comments. Some are also having a discussion and sharing their assumptions about who struck Mr. CEO's heart.

Some are mentioning possible actresses under the entertainment and even some famous daughters of his business partners.

No one of them even think about the name Elizze Michaels. It's understandable though. I mean who would even think of a daughter of an almost closed business getting engaged with the famous and handsome CEO?

Days went by and both our families got busy with the wedding. They were the ones who get to choose the theme and even the location. I spent the next few days measuring for the gowns and nodding my head to all of their suggestions. My mother and Mrs. Williams were the ones who are extremely excited.

They shower me with compliments of how fitting the gown is but the next day they would change it again.

Just like what Davien commanded, the pictures of us smiling at one another in the restaurant was released in the media on the next week. It trended all over the nation and everyone was shock.

Some were mad, a lot of people criticized me and giving assumptions like where did I get the love potion for Davien and all of those bad stuffs.

They couldn't believe that someone like me struck Davien William's heart. I never would have expected this too.

Even my two part timers in the cafè were shocked too. I didn't tell them the truth that this was all for the company because it's too confidential and I don't want to take the risk.

Just like how I expected, my instagram account followers increased and everyone saw the picture of the ring in my hand that I posted.

Ever since the dinner at the restaurant, me and Davien have never met again because he was busy. It's not an issue though because it's not like we really are inlove.

Days went by so fast and before I even knew it, here I am…

Wearing my beautiful wedding dress and holding a bouquet of white flowers while walking slowly in the middle of the aisle.

There were tons of people in the huge church which I don't even know who. They are probably all of my family's friends and business partners. They were all wearing white while looking at me.

The best part was even though, I don't know them there were still smiles of happiness in their faces. I envy them because I couldn't do the same.

Yes, I am smiling, just like what we rehearsed before the wedding but it wasn't genuine.

From this day forward, my whole life will be changing. No matter how I try to convince myself, I know it's never gonna be the same.

I brushed off all of those things in my mind and focused on what's infront of me.

At the end of the aisle, I saw Davien. He is smiling and if only I haven't seen the same smile he showed me at the restaurant, I would believe it's genuine. But I know it's not.

Halfway to the altar, I met my father and I hook my hands to his arms.

"Thank you, darling." he said and without further words, I know what he meant. I smiled at him as a response.

He lead me the way and took me right infront of Davien. Dad handed my hand to him.

"Please take care of my daughter, Dave." he said.

"I will, Mr. Michaels." Davien responded with a reassuring smile.

Even though I'm still nervous, I smiled at my future husband too. He gets my hand and he positioned it himself on his arm.

And together, like a real couple, we faced the altar and towards the priest.

The mass started and just like how a real wedding goes, we exchanged vowes and rings. Those words were rehearsed and I couldn't feel any hint of feelings and emotion as we face each other.

".. you may now kiss the bride.."

My hands begin to tremble by those words. I have never been kissed nor kiss someone so I couldn't help but get nervous. We also didn't rehearse something like this.

Davien gave me a meaningful stare. He opens and removes the white veil, and the moment he saw my face clearly, I don't know if it was just my imagination but I saw how his eyes  glints with a little bit of emotion. Some kind of hidden happiness that I'm not sure if it's true.

The moment he held both of my cheecks, I know I won't be able to step back anymore. His face slowly went closer to mine. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew his lips were ever so gently landed on mine. In that split second, a tear left from my eye.

After the kiss, cheers coming from everyone filled the whole church. Davien, upon seeing the tear that slid to my cheeck, he wiped it using his thumb and smiled at me. I can only smile back.

We faced the audience and their claps and screams were defeaning. I can hear their genuine happiness. My eyes landed on my family and I know that they are feeling a mix of emotions unlike Emily, my sister, whose lips were smiling but eyes glaring at me with hate.

I switch my eyes to the audience once more.

I guess this is it. There is no turning back anymore. I don't know if I will regret this decision or not in the future. The only thing I know is this is not going to be easy. Now that I am entering a new world.

Now that I am officialy MARRIED TO MR. CEO..