"Adrian! What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed once I got over the shock of seeing him here in Paris, standing outside my hotel room as if it was an everyday occurrence to him.

"Visiting my girlfriend, of course!" He replied with his smug smile.

I poked my head out and breathed in relief when I saw that Leah's door was fortunately still closed before dragging the insufferable and at the same time, adorable devil and locking my door. Once inside safety, I didn't waste a minute before jumping on him and kissing him with my entire being. I faintly felt him placing the bouquet on the table before winding his arms around me and returning the kiss with matching passion.

"Seems like someone has been missing me." He commented smugly when we pulled apart.

"Of course I did. You're apparently hard not to miss." I mumbled against his chest as I hugged him close.

He chuckled and pressed a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "I missed you too, love. A lot."

I pulled away a little to look at him. "Is that why you came?"

I nodded. "Yeah. That, and to do this." He took the ring from my finger and got down in front of me on one knee. "Evelyn White, do you accept my promise to love you till the rest of our life?"

I rolled my eyes at his dramatic move but smiled nonetheless. I held out my left hand to him. "I do."

He smiled widely and stood up, sliding the ring over my middle finger, following it with a soft kiss over my knuckles.

"Now, not that I don't appreciate you gesture, but did you really have to buy a diamond ring for this?"

"What is the use of me owning a jewelry company if I don't give one diamond ring to my girlfriend?"

"Watch out, or I'll run away with all your money someday." I said with a serious face, making him look at me weirdly with a smirk.

"Oh? But you forget I know how to forge your signatureeee." He said in a sing-song voice.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "And what good would it do?"

He shrugged. "Well, let's see, hmm... I might just transfer your company in my name. Or you know, sell it so I'll become the richest man in the world."

"You better be kidding right now, Stone. I'll kill the person who ever tries to mess with Eva's." I said, half joking.

He raised with hands in surrender. "Hey! Calm down, tiger! I was kidding. Besides, you were the one to start!"

I groaned, covering my face in embarrassment. "I know! I'm sorry! I didn't know where that came from. I do trust you with my life and more, Adrian. It's just... I've just been having some weird feelings these days, as if something bad is about to take place with my company and I'm sorry I took it out to you. Maybe it's because I'm about to start this whole thing here in France. Maybe I shouldn't expand my company."

"Hey, hey, love. Come here." His eyes softened and he opened up his arms for me. I stepped into them and let myself be buried deep into the cocoon of his arms. "It's okay to feel scared. Lord knows I feel too, every time I start a new business, or have a new investor or business partner. It only means you care a lot about your company. But there's no need to feel so now. You're doing a wonderful job. Just you wait, this French branch is going to earn you millions. I can feel it in my bones. Maybe I'll be a sit-at-home husband while you earn for us."

I smacked his chest lightly as my mind faintly recalled the ease at which he talked of him being my husband someday. It was as if him being my husband was inevitable, and he was only stating the facts. I tried to picture us in that stage of life- as happily married couple- and realized that I loved that picture in my mind. I felt his heart beating erratically against my head, just like mine was, no doubt he was imagining the same picture in his head. Yes, I really loved that picture we presented.

Adrian suddenly startled and let go of me. "Oh shit. I forgot an important thing." I looked at him confused as he rummaged through his pockets before smiling in triumph. "Here," he said, holding out another ring.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Adrian Stone, if this is your time and idea of proposing, I'm gonna have to let you down."

He rolled his eyes. "No, silly. This is my ring. You see, I've heard that the promise rings come in couples so I bought one for each of us. We were supposed to put them on each other's fingers but I forgot." He finished with a sheepish look.

I let out a relieved breath for the second time and mentally slapped myself for being so stupid. I looked at him with a teasing smile. "I say, where did you learn about these stuffs, Stone? Did you watch the high school TV series?"

The tips of his ears turned pinkish, letting me know that he had, indeed, been watching those TV series he once claimed as stupid. I felt giddy knowing he did all that for me, remembering the one time I'd insisted on watching them, claiming that they were romantic. Fighting a blush of my own threatening to fall over my face, I took the ring from his hand and bent down on one knee before him, just like he had done before.

"Adrian Isaac Stone, do you accept my promise to trust you and be faithful to you all my life?" I omitted the part about loving him for now. Just a few more days now. I reminded myself again.

"Well, you bending on one knees there, it doesn't reflect too well on my manliness, you know?" He gave a wry smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Just answer the damn question, Stone."

"Alright, alright. I do."

I got up and slid the ring on his middle finger as well, repeating his actions but kissing his knuckles. He wound his arms around me and placed a quick kiss on my lips, making me smile widely.

"You know, it's really not fair that you know my middle name when I don't know yours." He whined, making me shrug innocently.

"Yeah, you're not getting it from me. Anyways, are you hungry? I've got pizza." I said, walking towards the couch.

"Keeping aside the fact that you just changed the topic not so subtly, yes, I am hungry and pizza sounds good." He retorted and I stuck my tongue out to him.

We ate together in comfortable silence, both seated on the couch, his arms wrapped around me tightly. The simplicity of that moment was almost magical. We talked about our works in between bites. He told me about his works and I told him about the progress of mine. He seemed to be satisfied when I told him the official works were finally done and I only had to attend a few meetings here before returning back. He told me how he'd been going crazy interviewing for his new secretary and I frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean, new secretary? What happened to the strawberry haired one?" I asked and ignored the bitter taste in my mouth when I remembered the one time I saw the annoying woman in Adrian's lap in his office. He'd explained to me later that she had placed herself all over him in pretense of stumbling over her heels and I hated that woman. I was relieved to hear that she won't be sinking her claws into my man anymore.

Adrian must've heard my inner thoughts, for he cradled my face and turned my head to face him. "I fired her the very day she tried coming onto me and you assumed the worst. I saw the way she looked at you, as if she thought she was the superior one. I won't have anyone disrespecting you, love, ever. Besides, while that was the first time she outright tried something, she'd been trying to give subtle hints that she was interested in me. I was just looking for a reason to fire her and that was the last straw. I'm only yours, love."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes when he whispered the last words so tenderly. I kissed him again, reveling in the low groan he let out. He trailed his lips down my jaw, working his way through my throat and finally reaching my neck. I bit my lips to stop the embarrassing moan from escaping me as I buried my fingers in his hair. All rational thoughts had flown out of my brain at the sensation of his touch, his smell and his lips.

He finally stopped his assault and I looked at him like a pathetic lost girl being brought to reality. He smirked at my obviously flustered state despite looking equally as flustered as I was, judging by his wild eyes which were a deep, dark shade of blue. It was then that I remembered something.

"Adrian, you said you fired her that very day. But I saw her the next time I came to your office- the day after Eva's party." I pushed away the irritation I felt when I remembered my encounter with Ms. Scorpion, yet another hobo vying for Adrian's attention and continued, "She was sitting on the receptionist's desk, talking to someone over the phone. Now that I think of it, she was likely looking over something on the computer and relaying the information to the person."

He frowned at that. "That's strange, because I'm pretty sure I sent all her things to her place and deposited her salary the very same day so that she has no reason to come back. I haven't seen her since." His eyes softened as he looked at me. "But let's not worry about that now. I'll have a talk with the security about this. Now, about you, who do you have your meeting with?"

I tried to remember the name Leah had told me. "Oh, just some investors for my branch office. Nothing new. Then there's another important meeting I've got in a few days. Someone named Gabriel Blanchet. He owns the biggest advertisement company here in France. I thought it might be better to start the advertisement early. Do you know him?"

It was then I noticed Adrian had tensed against me. I looked at him in concern. "Adrian, what's wrong?"

He jaw was clenched so tight, I was partly scared it might break into two. He looked at me, his hard eyes immediately softening when he saw concern in mine. "Eve, that man is a known womanizer. He has been even rumored to have sexually harassed some of his employees. Of course, the news never makes it to the front since he shuts the media by throwing money but the point here is, love, he isn't the sort of man you'd want to associate with. Tell me you'll cancel the meeting?" He pleaded.

I pursed my lips. I'd found out about the rumors when I'd asked for my men to search him up but hearing Adrian confirm them was another thing. I wholeheartedly believed him but since the meeting had already been fixed with him and his associates, I couldn't really back out now. I told him so. "I'm sure I'll be fine. Besides, we won't be meeting alone. I've arranged this meeting with the entire of his associates as well when I heard about him the first time. You don't need to worry much."

Adrian looked unconvinced and ready to fight me once again but I finally managed to silence him by kissing those delectable lips and repeatedly assuring him that I'd be alright and that I'd call him before, during and after my meeting. The insufferable man.

"Anyways, how long are you staying here?" I asked him, secretly hoping he'd say longer. I was disappointed when he said he had to leave early the next morning.

"I'm really sorry, love. But I've got a flight to London. It seems that there have been some problems with the data there so I'm going to have to go there myself."

"Will you be gone for long?" I asked quietly as I played with the buttons of his jacket.

"It's only for a couple of days- three days at most. I'll be waiting to pick you up at the airport when you come back, love." He said, kissing the top of my head softly, making me smile at his words and action.

It was getting late and we decided to call it a day. I blushed at the thought of sleeping with him on the same bed and my blush turned fifty nine shades darker when the devil shrugged off his shirt, baring his naked torso to me.

"What are you doing?!" I asked, horrified and utterly distracted by the sight of his broad chest taunting me.

He smirked as he noticed my eyes involuntarily trailing down. "Trying to sleep comfortably. If you haven't noticed, I haven't brought a change of clothes." He replied, making me let out a noise in response since I was too distracted to keep up with his words. If only my eyes had wings of their own, I was pretty sure they'd fly right out of my skull and attach themselves to the devil's body.

He got inside the covers, making me pout sorrowfully at the loss of that delectable sight but it turned into a shriek when I was suddenly laying under the smirking human. "Now, another reason I had to come here," he started and leaned close to me, placing his lips very close to me ear. His hot breath fogged my brain as he whispered, "Did you seriously think you'd get away easily after pulling a stunt like that at the airport?"

I bit my lip and smirked a little remembering what I did. I shook my head innocently. "I just wanted to kiss you so bad, and I did." I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant.

"Did you see what your actions have done? There's news all over the internet about that mystery person you kissed so passionately." Adrian said with a self-satisfied smirk.

I giggled when I remembered the news. "I know. I found it quite exciting. Don't you? Maybe we should do that more often. That way I'd get to kiss you anytime I want to. I love your lips."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Really?"

I nodded furiously and watched as his eyes glinted in amusement.

"You're so adorable that I have a hard time believing you're mine." He whispered, more likely to himself, making me blush once again. I closed my eyes when he softly placed his lips over mine and kissed me deeply and slowly, as if we had all the time in the world. I responded with equal intensity, feeling the thudding of his heart against my hand. Just then, my phone rang with an incoming call, making me jump.

I fished my phone put and frowned when I saw Daniel's name on the screen. "It's your dad," I mouthed to Adrian before sitting up and answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Eve? How are you?" I heard his hesitant reply from the other side.

"I'm doing well, Daniel. What about you?" I asked politely.

The line was silent for a while before he replied. "I went to your office a while ago and found out that you're in France."

"Yeah, I'm opening a branch office here in France so I've come to finish the legal procedures."

He suddenly coughed, making me concerned. "Daniel? Are you alright?" I called out.

His cough subsided after a while and he cleared his throat. "I see. How long would you be staying there?"

"A week more, I guess. I just need to attend a few meetings before coming back." I answered warily, feeling concerned by his reaction.

I thought I heard a sigh from the other side. "Oh. Very well, then. Make sure to contact me when you return back, will you?"

"Sure. Is anything wrong, Daniel? You can tell me right now, if anything has been bothering you." I added, not liking the nagging feeling that came over me again.

Daniel laughed a little, but it didn't sound real to me. "No, there isn't anything wrong. You just finish your business there and come back safely. Don't stress over it. Now, I only just realized that it must be late evening there. I'm so sorry for calling you this late."

I shook my head despite knowing he couldn't see me. "It's okay, Daniel. I wasn't asleep yet."

"Very well then. I'll take to you later, then. I need to see a few things in the office since Adrian has gone to London, as you must know very well. Take care, sweetheart."

He hung up and I didn't feel like correcting him by saying his son was here with me. I turned to the said son who was watching me like I was his favorite TV show. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Your dad thinks you're in London now. Care to explain?"

He shrugged innocently. "Well, that's what I said to him and everyone in the office. I can't just say 'hey! I'm flying to Paris to meet my girlfriend who doesn't want everyone to know she's mine yet but I've been missing her like crazy so I've decided to take a day off and go to see her instead' now, can I?"

I rolled my eyes at his exaggerated acting and laid down under the covers again. He immediately pulled me close to his chest, pressing kisses all over my face.

"What did dad want?" He asked, playing with my hair.

I shrugged, furrowing my eyebrows. "I don't know. He's wanted to say something to me since a while ago but there's always something holding him back. Remember that day you came into my office as Daniel was talking to me?" Adrian let out a small 'hmm' in acknowledgement. "Well, he was saying something then, too. He said it was very important and couldn't be held off for longer. But then you came and he went away. Apparently he came to my office today as well, wanting to talk since he didn't know I wasn't there. So he just called to ask me to meet him once I return."

"That's strange. I don't know what's going on with dad these days." He said, furrowing his own eyebrows and I sighed, snuggling deeper into him.

"Yeah. Anyways, let's not worry about now. You've got an early flight so let's just sleep." I said just as a yawn took over me.

"Goodnight, love," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss over my lips and pulling me closer again.

We slept like that, tangled together with me encased in his arms and a sweet dream taking me to a future with this amazing human being by my side.

***

I woke up to the feel of a pair of soft lips on my forehead. "Eve, love, I'm leaving," Adrian whispered, making me sit upright on the bed, all traces of sleep gone now.

"Already? Can't you stay for a bit longer? You've barely slept." I mumbled as I saw he was already dressed.

He sighed, sharing my disappointment. "I wish I could, love. But I need to go to my office and get a document before catching my flight to London. I didn't realize I'd forgotten to bring it with me in my haste to see you last night."

I hugged him tightly, not wanting to let him go just yet. He hugged me back as if he shared the same feeling. "I really need to get going, Eve."

I heaved a sigh and reluctantly released him. He gently pecked my forehead and turned around to walk out but stopped and turned back to me. I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong when he wound his arms around me and pulled me in for an intense kiss that made me gasp before I responded with equal fervor. He held me like I'd disappear any moment from now on, kissed me like it was the last drop of water on earth and poured his love to me, like he was giving me life.

We were both breathing heavily by the time we came up for air and rested our foreheads against each other. I sighed, feeling like I would begin to cry any moment now. I couldn't explain the feeling of loss that suddenly overcame me, which was ridiculous. He was only going for a couple of days, and I was only staying here for a week, even less if everything went according to plan. We'd both be together then, and I'd confess in front of the whole world that I love him. Everything would be perfect like it should be. So that didn't explain this stupid feeling as if this was the last time I'd be so close to him.

Shaking my head to push those melancholic thoughts aside, I gave him a shaky smile. "Alright, you should go now before you miss your flight. Or before I decide to employ you as my driver, whichever is faster." I said, making him laugh deeply, giving me warm, fuzzy feelings all over.

"God, I love you so much. Come back soon, alright?" He kissed me once again as I nodded. He gave me one heart-stopping smile before turning around and moving out, but not after putting on his mask and sunglasses, despite how ridiculous he looked considering it was nearly four in the morning.

***

The next day, I'd just freshened up after returning back to my office after a meeting and was getting ready to sleep when my phone rang. It was a group video call with Allie and Eva. I felt slightly disappointed that it wasn't Adrian. He hadn't called since he left and his called seemed to go busy everytime I tried calling him. I picked  up the call and was immediately bombarded with excited squeals.

"OhmyGoddd Evieeee! You really are in Paris!"

"OhmyGodd Eves! You're engaged too?!"

I gave a dry look to my sister. "Of course I'm really in Paris, Eva. Where else would I be?" Directing my next words to Allie, I added, "And you, Allie, I wouldn't be wearing this ring on my middle finger if I was engaged, would I?"

"But you never wear rings. So it definitely is a little seeing your finger adorned with a beautiful ring, a diamond ring at that." Eva answered for her.

I looked at my ring again. It really was beautiful. "It's a promise ring. Adrian brought this last night. The dev-" It was then that Allie's words finally registered in my brain.

"Wait. Allie, what did you say?" I narrowed my eyes through the camera.

Allie shrugged, trying to act nonchalant but I caught the wide smile threatening to break through her lips. "Allison Avery Rivers, don't try to play coy with me. What did you mean when you said 'you're engaged too'?" I gasped. "Does this mean that you are engaged?"

She finally let the grin form on her face. Holding up her left hand that showcased a beautiful diamond ring, she gushed with dreamy eyes, "Jake proposed last night. God,it was so beautiful! We were walking by the beach and there were stars everywhere! I was babbling about stupid things and before I knew what was going on, there he was, bending down on one knee with this ring in his hand. I think I cried for almost an hour before remembering I hadn't answered him. OhmyGod Eves, I'm getting married! Can you believe it? I love him so much!"

Eva let out a long 'aww' and I joined in, feeling happy for my best friend. She deserved someone like Jake to make her feel special and show her her true worth. I made a mental note to thank Jake later on when I congratulate him. I realized I had tuned out of the conversation when I registered Allie and Eva currently discussing her wedding dress ideas.

I smiled at my best friend. "Congratulations, Allie. So this means you're happy? That Jake is the one for you?" I asked, just to make sure despite there being no need to. There was a different radiance on her gave tonight, one that could only come from true happiness.

She nodded her head furiously. "Of course! I'm so happy, Eves. I can't wait to be his and make him mine forever. I'm just a little unsure about Mike. I mean, I'll be seeing him more often and I don't know, I fear it will be awkward." Her smile slipped a little as she, no doubt recalled that scumbag cheater who just happened to be her fiancé's brother.

"I don't see what's there to worry about," Eva chimed in, "because from whatever I've heard about him, he should be the cautious one. Als, you need to show him what he's lost. Maybe he'll finally learn to be like his little brother, although that might be hoping for too much."

I murmured my agreement while Allie spoke, looking thoughtful. "Actually, there's something I recently learned about. In fact, even Jake has recently come to know about this. Turns out, Mike was adopted by his parents when they thought they wouldn't have any children after two years of their marriage. Apparently, Mike was four years old at the time and Jake's mom, Catherine got pregnant shortly. All this time, they've treated Mike like their firstborn son and never even told Jake about it in fear that Mike might feel unwanted. They were so disappointed when they came to know about what he did to me."

I took a moment to absorb this information. It was a completely unexpected notion that Mike and Jake weren't real brothers. "Well that explains everything." Eva said, stealing my thoughts.

"Anyways, enough about me. Now you, Eves, what is it I hear about Adrian coming there last night? And what about the ring? Come on, tell us!" Allie all but screeched and I winced at the noise.

Both of them were silent as I explained about how we exchanged promise rings with each other. I felt a little silly talking about this like teenagers but the way the both of them were listening made me feel like I was reading a fairy tale to them.

"Aww, he's so sweet! I wish Jake was like him!" Allie gushed, making me give her an incredulous look.

"Als, Jake just proposed you under the stars, for heaven's sake! The exact way you secretly wished to be proposed!" I defended my friend.

She tried to pout but ended up smiling widely, happiness oozing from every corner of her eyes.

"But Allie is right, Evie. Adrian really used the sweetest man I've ever met. I'd love to make him my brother-in-law." Eva said innocently and I glared at her, although the blush on my face must've nullified the effect.

"Speaking of that, he was the guy in the airport, wasn't he?" Allie smirked before growing serious. "Does this men you're ready to let the world know?"

I nodded, my own smile threatening to break through. "Yeah, I really love him. And I was thinking of letting him know as soon as I return home. I'm also thinking of announcing our relationship to the media. I've come to realize how I haven't been fair to him by wishing to hide our relationship as if I was ashamed. I'm proud to call him my man and I'm gonna shout it out to the world that I love him." It felt so good to talk about this with my bestfriend and my sister after countless times of saying this to myself only.

Both of them murmured in agreement and squealed together, making my connect my ear buds immediately die to their volume. I didn't want security knocking up my door thinking there had been a murder here. After another round of squealing about Allie's engaged status and my soon-to-be officially girlfriend status, the video call ended with Eva's slight whine about being the only single girl, earning a stern glare from me.

That night, I slept with the unicorn clutched to my cheat as every other night, as the dreams of my handsome knight comforting me. As every other night.

---

So... this went quite long. Do share your thoughts please?