A young man was there to receive us and drove us to the hotel where we will be staying for the time being. To my dismay, it barely took an hour to reach that five-star hotel since I was feeling elated while feeding my eyes with the magnificent visual edible offered by the lovely city. It was not me at that moment, but little Zariyah, who was peering into that foreign land through my eyes. There is something magical yet emotive when you are accompanied by your younger self after so many years to enjoy the moment you both desired once.

The young man escorted us to the hotel. He was the manager of Denver's business buddy, Edwin Warner. He then introduced us to the luxury hotel's manager, who guided us to our respective suits. Denver's room was just next to mine.

While Denver was on the phone with his business partner, I went to my room. I walked in, tossed my stuff aside, and leapt on the bed. It was soft and comfortable against my skin. After a while, I took a stroll inside my lavish room. Every piece of it slackened my senses to the point that I found it difficult to go to work, ditching that comfort. Smitten by the relaxing ambiance of the room, a foreign desire surged up in my head to become a couch potato for the entire day. That way, I could give my weary body a break from months of helter-skelter. Meeting was scheduled for the next morning, so I had a whole day to spoil myself.

I ordered a bottle of champagne with some side dishes which was delivered to me in no time. I poured myself a glass of champagne and jumped into the bathtub throwing my clothes aside. The view from the bathtub was just phenomenal. Playing my favourite music, sipping the champagne and being in the bathtub was the ideal thing I could do to pamper myself. The lukewarm water grasped every nerve of my body and palpated for a distressed point to heal.

After spending a brief moment of sheer joy, I felt sleepy. Must be the aftermath of guzzling a lake of champagne into my stomach. With stumbling steps and heavy-laden eyelids, I neared the cosy bed and collapsed like a sandcastle. It embraced my fall with its tenderness and seduced me to become indifferent to earthly matters as it transported me to dreamland. The spell of solace influenced my consciousness, and I sank into a deep slumber while being ignorant of everything.

I was sitting calmly on a bench treating my eyes with the green meadows when a cute puppy approached me from somewhere. I took him to my lap and fondled him lovingly. After sometime he ran away and I chased him. Out of nowhere, I heard a loud noise of banging. I looked everywhere to know where the noise was coming. It seemed like a knock on the door but the place I was in was an open field. The existence of a door in that open area seemed unlikely. Surprisingly, the sound of banging was stopped. I continued to walk on the green grass barefoot and suddenly I heard a voice. It was a familiar voice.

The voice called out my name, "Zariyah."

It was Denver. It was the first time he addressed me by my name. I liked it. I turned around but there was no trace of him.

A faint smell of cologne made me intoxicated. I was familiar with that smell as well. The air of the place filled with aroma where Denver walked in. I was a fan of his scent.

The next thing I knew, I was out of breath. Something seemed to be hovering over me, making it impossible for me to breathe. I could also feel someone's breath and a soft caress on my forehead. The restlessness made me open my eyes.

The first thing I saw were those blue eyes. I blink my eyes twice if I was still dreaming but no, it was real. It was...Denver.

I quickly woke up and jumped out of the bed in hush, feeling obscure on what was happening. Why was he in my room? I jolted out of my bed and asked him, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?," in exasperation while trying to act sober as I was still feeling dizzy.

However, his eyes were on another track. His eyes were tracing my body in astonishment as if I was naked. I looked at myself and indeed I was...half naked.

I abruptly pulled the bedsheet and wrapped it on my body while he just turned around in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I've just come to notify you that you must join me at a party. I knocked since you weren't answering your phone. It made me nervous when I didn't receive a response from your end for several hours. Then I requested the manager and he opened the door. That's how I got here. You have two hours to prepare. I'll send you various outfits from which you may choose. And...I didn't see anything." Denver muttered and headed towards the door.

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth.

It was then he turned around and said, "Guess what? I simply lied." He smirked and stormed out of the room leaving me in the pool of embarrassment and fury.

I unwrapped and flung the bedsheet on the floor in vexation.

Bloody hell! He is such a shameless person. And now I have to accompany him to a party. How will I face him after this incident? Ah! I'm totally screwed-up.

I sat on the bed and clenched the sheets in frustration as an outburst of the mishap. I proceeded to take a quick shower to freshen up in order to get rid of dizziness. That's when I noticed my pale-looking cheeks radiating pink. That crimson tinge mingled with my cheeks was teasing me for my discomposure and shyness. I just wished the earth would swallow me up.

I got goosebumps whenever I recalled his intense stare on my body. It was quite difficult for me to forget that incident.

I stepped out of the restroom in my robe and heard the doorbell ring. I opened the door and there was a girl who brought some fancy outfits for me. For this matter, I was thankful to Denver as I only had formals and casuals for the trip. I called her in and began the most challenging task of a woman's life – choosing a suitable outfit.

Well, I was quite amazed with the outfits since each one was stunning. After much deliberation, I picked the cleavage-revealing lavender-colored dazzling bodycon dress with full sleeves, ankle length, exposed from the waist sides, and had a sequin belt.

I dressed up and I loved how the dress fit perfectly on my body. Added a pair of tiny stud earrings to finish the ensemble. Fortunately, I had a pair of high heels that were perfect for the ensemble. Makeup was minimal however, this time I chose to go with hot pink shade for lipstick. Made a messy bun, took my clutch and I was all set.

I called Denver and informed him that I was in the lobby. He was also in his way.

"Shall we go Ms Revera."

"Oh! Yes." I turned around to answer and again the memories of those awkward moments arrived when I saw him. Whereas for Denver, he didn't show any kind of weirdness. He was calmly staring at me while I fumbled my clutch to release my clumsiness. By the way, he was looking...handsome.

"Let's go." He said and stepped outside. I followed him.

We reached the venue soon and Mr. Warner was there to welcome us. He was in his late fifties and was a popular name in the business world. We had a little conversation before I excused myself to visit the restroom. When I returned, Denver was nowhere to be seen, which made me nervous because I was alone amid a swarm of strangers. So I sat on a couch watching an old couple dance while waiting for him. The expressions on their faces spoke the story of their love. Now that's what I called a fairytale in real life.

For me, a love that doesn't get wither from the storm of miseries is true love and definitely not which fades away with time.

"Aren't they looking adorable?"

I nodded my head while smiling faintly. was so focused on the elderly couple that I didn't notice the person standing behind me. "Hello, I'm Jacob Warner, son of Edwin Warner," said the gentleman in front of me before I could turn.

I stood up and greeted him. He told me the couple were his grandparents. After a while he asked me, "Would you like to dance with me?"

He seemed nice but I didn't want to get involved in another squabble. I was terrified from my last experience. The problem was that he was constantly insisting on me, and it became impossible to refuse his request. So I ultimately decided to accept his offer.

The moment I was about to say yes, I felt a strong hand holding my waist tightly which made me startled.

"I believe you should find another dance partner since Ms Revera is here with me, which implies she will only dance with me." Denver remarked sarcastically and gave me an enraged look.

What have I done to receive his enraged gaze?

"Shall we, Ms Revera?" He asked while extending his hand. I reluctantly placed my hand on his.

The light was dim and the music was slow yet calming still it didn't give any discount on my nervousness caused by Denver's intense stare.

"You appear to be a coward who can't give me a tough competition when it comes to staring." He said huskily.

I don't know why he wants me to look at him. That's kinda weird.

"I'm not a coward. I can give you competition and I will right from this moment." stated unequivocally. His hand on my waist felt warm like lukewarm water to me.

"Great, I like it." Denver said. I tried my best to look at him and it was quite easy. He had magnetic eyes and their spell could send anybody astray, and I was no exception. I almost drowned into the ocean of his deep eyes but then he suddenly averted his eyes on someone which made him clutched my waist so tightly.

He was glaring at Jacob and it seemed like he was warning him for something. And then his eyes were on me again.

This man is really going to screw me with his uncanny actions. Firstly, his never ending thirst of gazing at me. Also that gaze conveys another story, completely different from what he told me. And now, not allowing me to dance with someone else. What does he want?

Is he...Jealous?