My life has always given me unexpected surprises and that included Zearo expressing that he liked me. Of course, I was struggling with my feelings whenever I felt a pull toward him, but I wouldn’t bother telling him that, anyway. But since he expressed his feelings, something sparked between us. 

I got drawn to him even more and my heart started beating unimaginably faster whenever he came closer to me. Maybe it was because I started looking at him as my husband or I tried relating to him in many ways. But this didn’t feel right to me. There was this pain in my heart when I imagined we weren’t an actual couple, but bound by a contract. 

We had a completely different life, yet somehow similar. Maybe he started liking me because he loved the pure attention he got from my family? I couldn’t practically sum anything up and conclude. So I decided otherwise. 

I’d be normal and try not to bring that thing up ever again. I wasn’t sure if he’d bring it up once he understood. After he confessed to me, I didn't talk about it. But either way, I had so many things to look after that this matter felt like just the tip of the iceberg. 

“My company has somehow dealt with the losses in the past days.” I sighed over the phone when I was talking to Shan Li while dusting the powder off of my face. 

“Liara, you’ve literally doubled the income of the previous year. What else do you need? Enjoy the party.” He said and I could imagine him shaking his head and pushing his specs back to their place close to his eyes. I smiled and looked at the mirror struggling with the eyeliner. 

“I wish you were there today,” I said as Shan Li was supposed to attend today’s party but he missed the flight. 

“I will be there tomorrow when Chloe will be on the stage, don’t worry.” He said, and I sighed. My angel wings.

“And I had to plan the act efficiency for her to not recognize us.” He added, making me freeze as my eyes landed on Zearo, who walked out of the washroom like a model on the ramp walk. Taking his fingers through his damn hair, he smiled when he saw me gawking at him. He looked so hot in that. “I will talk to you later,’’ I whispered over the phone to Shan Li and hung up on him.

“Like what you see?” He said tauntingly, showing his teeth as he smirked at me. I felt the blood rush through my neck and my ears as I saw my ear tips turning red. Embarrassed at my act, I lowered my gaze and cleared my throat, stumbling on the makeup items on the table. 

“You look gorgeous, la mia Principessa.” I heard him whisper. His lips touched my ears, making me gasp as our closeness surprised me. He had unbuttoned a few of the buttons of his shirt and bent to my height, showing his broad chest. I was sure my cheeks didn’t need a blush, because I could feel the blood gushing through them. 

“You too,” I said, holding onto my last straw of dignity, contemplating the closeness would make me stutter. 

“I guess they are waiting,” I said slowly, raising my shaky hand, forgetting that I didn’t do any eye makeup as I was just finished with eyeliner and thought that was enough. 

“Yeah, Vikrant said to join them soon.” He answered as he flexed his damn chest while he was combing his hair. His muscles moved with his every stroke and my closeness made me feel delusional by how good he smelled. I was screwed, I thought, unable to control my thoughts around him. It must be just a physical attraction and nothing else, I said to myself and shook my head in an attempt to shake off the tingling feeling in my heart. 

“Liara, Chloe was just-“ I heard Agnes as she made her way inside our room, but stopped on her track when her eyes landed on me. 

“I wish I was a lesbian or bi! For God’s sake, don’t trample on my dignity.” She huffed when I stood glaring at her.

“You are making her husband jealous.” I heard Zearo as his voice was so close to my ear and then slowly I felt his hands on my waist. 

“You both look drool-worthy and I’m not joking here alright! Let me click a picture.” Agnes said excitedly and clicked our picture before I could deny it. I elbowed Zearo as his closeness tingled me. 

“Let’s go,” I said, clutching my purse and walking away from him as soon as possible. 

“You guys will overshadow the couple,” Agnes whispered as we made our way towards the function hall. 

“Oh, shut up.” I laughed at her comment and shook my head. 

*********************

“He’s been looking at you the entire time,” Chloe whispered when we were having our drinks after the rituals they had to perform. It was an enormous ballroom, but with minimal people for which I was grateful. Zearo mingles easily with the crowd with the help of Vikrant and Chloe’s brother. 

“Who is he?” I asked as I caught a man staring at me, giving me a weird creep. 

“My husband’s friend.” She said dejectedly. “Don’t worry, I am gonna teach my husband a lesson to bring such idiots into our functions.” She glared hard at her husband, who was talking to Zearo and the group. 

“Is something wrong?” Zearo asked as he walked towards me when he caught me staring at the weird guy. 

“Take care of your beautiful wife. There are predators everywhere.” Aliyah butted in, clinching the glass of wine with Agnes, making fun of me. 

“Well, my wife is fierce, like a lioness. I don’t think they’d survive even a second if they’d try to approach her.” He said slowly, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me to his body. 

‘’Woah." I glared at Agnes, who started whistling at him. “Enough.” I glared at Zearo, gesturing for him to stop his cheesy lines, but he just sipped his wine, completely ignoring my protest. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we are gathered for the beautiful couple, we are thankful for every single friend who has shown immense love towards them and is present here today.” Chloe’s brother, Hercules, I remember, started speaking on the microphone. There were cheers and hollers all around the hall and the surrounding people cheered for the couple. 

“But, let me introduce the man who will give the couple of the evening a beautiful gift by dedicating a piano performance.” Hercules continued, and that ended with another round of applause. I heard a series of curses behind me but I ignored it. 

“Zearo, my friend. The stage is all yours.” He said and then the limelight fell directly on my face, blinding me. Everyone stared at us and I felt Zearo’s hold tightening around my waist. I clapped along with the crowd and turned towards him, but he was gazing at me. His face shimmered below the limelight, and it mesmerized me to not to touch his beautiful face at the moment.

“This is for you.” He whispered, coming immensely closer to me, making my heart beat faster. I stared at his retreating figure with awe, but held back the urge to swoon on him as he poised in front of the piano. He looked so hot. 

“He looks like a Greek god, a man so hot.” I heard someone from the crowd holler, making me angry at them. But I couldn’t focus on the comments as my eyes were stuck on my man in the limelight. 

Wait

I called him my man

I just did not

I facepalmed at how crazy I was behaving. The entire hall went pin-drop silent when his fingers pressed into the first string. 

“This is for the soon-to-be couple and my wife.” He said through the mike and winked at me. I was sure that my cheeks were burning when the entire crowd was awed by him. 

“Let’s go.” He said and slowly the rhythm of the piano reminded me of our after-party organized by Dima. No, he isn’t playing that song. I convinced myself, but that was a lie. He soon hit the high notes so beautifully and I got drawn toward him. Involuntarily, my steps got attracted towards him and I found myself standing near him. 

“A thousand years. I’d love you for a thousand more.” The crowd sang along with him. My heart was a frenzied mess and I couldn’t hold back my heartbeat and the attraction I was feeling toward him at that moment. 

The crowd slowly made their way towards the center stage and the DJ started playing the song “A thousand years” on loop. As if on Cue, Zearo gently held my hand and, to my surprise, I was feeling it so hard to deny his actions. 

“May I ask my wife to share the stage and have this dance with me?” He asked, bending a little and extending his hand towards me. I looked around and saw every single person was busy dancing on their own. Slowly, I placed my hands on his and he swiftly made his way, holding my hand away from the crowd. 

He held my waist from one hand and my hand from another. We both slowly entered our own world as I found my body moving with the rhythm and a small smile forced its way onto my lips. I was happy. For a minute or two. But that didn’t matter. I decided to at least live for a while. 

The song kept changing, and our pace changed too. I moved along with the rhythm irrespective of the dress I wore or the crowd I was in. Nothing mattered as long as I looked in Zearo’s eyes and saw them sparkle just like a star in the moonlit night. I was enjoying his company. He lifted me up, and I loved every second of us sharing the stage. 

I was sweaty, and perhaps he was too. His hold never wavering. I smiled at him and he drew his hand closer to my face. Suddenly, I took a step back when I felt a tap on my shoulder. 

“May I take your wife to the stage for a while?” Vikrant asked Zearo. As we were both breathless, I saw him fidgeting, but then he nodded. Even though my legs ached, I was in the mood to dance like never. 

“Your tequila might have kicked in,” Vikrant whispered, getting closer to me near my ear. 

“I guess I should have said no.” I shook my head as it was spinning like I was on a merry-go-round. “I will keep it light.” He said, and I smiled at him. But my eyes were on Zearo. He stood alone away from the dancing bodies and his eyes were on me.

“Your husband is scaring the shit outta me.” Vikrant breathed out, making me giggle.

“Maybe because he started liking you. Look at him throwing daggers at me from that end.” Vikrant gestured at him accusingly.

“Let the man be, Vik,” I said, shaking away the clouds that started forming on my head, numbing my senses. I landed on someone else's chest and saw Hercules smiling at me. Before I could deny, he held me closer and started moving along with the music.

I was starting to feel dizzy and my legs gave up. I staggered a few feet back, but Vikrant held me through my waist and I thanked him.

“Let’s have a hangover drink, shall we?” He offered, and I was more than glad that he said it. I was feeling dizzy and my body wasn’t in my control anymore. I hated it every single time when I could not think straight after a little drink. 

“Perhaps I should just avoid even one percent alcohol in any drink.” I snickered at my lightheadedness, and Vikrant laughed out loud. 

“Perhaps you should.” He said as we walked away from people dancing as if there was no tomorrow. 

“Liara! Liara, we are in trouble.” I whipped my head towards Agnes, who shook my shoulder vigorously amidst the crowd, making me alert suddenly.

**†**†***†***†***†***†***†**†**

Do let me know how you are feeling about the change in the attitude and behavior of the characters.

❤Vote, Comment, and Share❤