Everything was set for the engagement party. Alexander and I decided that it would be best to have the engagement party at my house, partly because I insisted. I wanted all those Hampton's Ladies to see how beautiful my home was. The decorators had already come and set up all the tables and a small stage in the middle of my ballroom. Each table had a satin peacock blue table cloth. Each plate had a border made of gold. All the spoons, knives and forks were made from the finest silver. The centerpieces were white roses that were grown 2,800 meters above sea level in the mountain ranges of Ecuador, near a small town called Machachi in the Andes. They were flown in specifically for our party. I had hand picked the chamapnge, a Dom Perignon Rosé. The food was to be served at different times, the waiters would first serve some light appetizers. Then everyone would move to the tables for dinner. After dinner and before desert we would announce our engagement. Then after the announcement, the guests could enjoy a fine desert of their choosing. Alexander had pulled out all the stops for this party, even I had to admit that this was going to be a hell of a party.

Alexander had taken care of the guest list, I had been tasked with the actual party planning aspect. He had told everyone that we were inviting them for a charity gala. No one in the Hamptons could resist a charity gala, they all wanted to show who was the most charitable. It was almost a game to them, who could donate the most.

Alexander being himself, planned to the very last detail. He even gave me a schedule that he told me to memorize. Me being me, told him that I would and the minute he left I threw it in the trashcan. Together we planned that half way through the gala we would announce our engagement. Alexander also sent me a script of what I was to say after we announced our engagement. Alexander had completely gone crazy, I think he forgot that this was an engagement party and not recording for some new TV show.

After I was satisfied with the ballroom, I walked back up to my closet. The party was in two hours and all I had left was to get dressed. Alexander and I decided to coordinate our outfits, I chose a peacock blue dress. Alexander decided to wear one of his suits with a peacock blue tie.

The dress I chose was a stunning short sleeve chiffon dress that featured a crystal embellished bodice and open back. The peacock blue made my turquoise eyes pop. I had let my hair loose in waves, I had pinned some small strands of my hair with diamond pins. My throat was adorned with an enormous diamond that matched the engagement ring I had chosen. Alexander didn't trust me with the ring, he thought I would sell it and then claim that it was stolen. He said that he was picking it up on the way to my house. I admired myself in the mirror and approved. I also had done my makeup, I went with a more bolder look than I usually did.

The sound of the doorbell caused me to quickly put on my heels and rush to the door. I opened to see Alexander holding a small black velvet ring box. Alexander was wearing a sleek black Armani suit, similar to the one he had been wearing the day we went to pick out my engagement ring. He looked absolutely handsome, I wanted to run my hands through his soft brown hair and kiss him right there. But I managed to keep myself together and offered a polite smile instead.

"Not bad," He said his eyes raking my body.

"Not to bad yourself," I replied with a small smile.

"I got your ring for you. And trust me when I say, I will know if you sell this ring,"

"Again? I already told you I wasn't going to sell the ring. How many times must we go over this?" I said exasperatedly.

"As many times as it takes you to understand,"

I reached for the small velvet box but Alexander didn't let it go. He seemed to be having some kind of internal battle. Finally grimacing, he let go of the box.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" I said with a smirk. I opened the small velvet box and the ring was just was stunning as before. The diamond sparkled under the sunlight streaming in from the windows. I slipped the ring slowly onto my finger.

Alexander and I spent the next hour making minor fixes to the ballroom. Everything was perfect, the silverware sparkled and the floor gleamed.

The ring of the doorbell echoed through the house.

"I will answer it," I said to Alexander.
I plastered a smile on my face before opening the door, it was the Markos'.

"Alessandra dear," Genevieve said, kissing my on either cheek. 

Behind her stood Anastasia who offered me a smile and Loukas Markos who gave me a small nod.

"Welcome," I said gesturing to them to come inside. I didn't realize that as I gestured the engagement ring on my finger sparkled under the sunlight.

"Alessandra, is that an engagement ring on your finger?" Genevieve questioned.

I quickly hid my hand behind my back, this was the one thing that Alexander had not prepared me for, his parents finding out before even entering my house. I gave her a small smile, hurriedly trying to think of an answer to her question. But my brain failed me, I couldn't think of anything.

"Um.. Yes?" I replied to Genevieve, unsure about what to say.

"That is wonderful," she said with what was a ghost of a smile. I could tell where Alexander got his refined coldness from.

"When can I meet your fiancé?" Anastasia asked with a secret smile on her face.

"Soon, I guess?" I replied still unsure of whether I had done a good job of covering up my mistake. Trying to make the situation a little less awkward, "Alexander, your parents are here," I called hoping he would say something to make this moment less uncomfortable.

Alexander came up behind me with a dazzling smile on his face, "Mother, Father and Ana how nice to see you," he said acknowledging his family.

"Dear, did you know Alessandra is engaged? She's only been here for four months and she has already found a husband. You know Alexander, it's time you get married too," Genevieve lectured to her son.

Alexander shot me a glare and I knew exactly what it meant, it meant what the hell did I do. I gave Alexander my most fake and bright smile, he didn't appreciate it.

"Noted Mother," Alexander replied.

"No I don't think you understand. Your window to get married will pass and I cannot have a son that is a bachelor well into his forties,"

"I understand," Alexander replied trying to keep calm. I could see him getting annoyed and it was giving me pure joy.

"You know your cousin Marco? He has been telling my sister the same thing, he is 39 and unmarried,"

"Have you forgotten that Marco got divorced?"

"Alexander, that is not the point! The point is you need to get married and soon,"

"Genevieve, calm down. We can have this discussion elsewhere, we are at a guest's house," Loukas said to his wife, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Alexander, you are nearly middle aged. I think you should get married too," Anastasia chimed in support of her mother, to torment her brother.

"You are not involved in this Ana," Alexander said giving her one of his signature glares.

"I'm always involved when it comes to tormenting you, Alexander," Ana said with a smirk aimed at her brother.

"This is the last thing I'm saying, if you don't find yourself a wife then I will," Genevieve said with a stern look on her face.

"God damnit Mother enough already, you don't need to find me a bride. I'm engaged to Alessa!" Alexander said flatly to his mother. I knew exactly what he was doing, he kept his voice emotionless trying to hide any sign of irritation. He ran his hand through his hair, a gestured I noticed he did when he was annoyed. I was a little happy to see that it wasn't me who had slipped up, it was Alexander, Mr. I'm so cold, calm and perfect. I placed a hand on his arm to let him know that he needed to do damage control before he messed up and screwed our whole plan up. He made no indication that he felt my hand on his arm and continued to stare at a point behind his family.

Genevieve looked back and forth between us as if some signal would indicate to her we are engaged.

"Are you really engaged? Or is this your way of getting out of me picking your wife?" Genevieve asked raising one perfectly sculpted eyebrow at her son.

"Yes, we are engaged," Alexander replied.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"For obvious reasons, we wanted to announce our engagement to everyone tonight all together. Isn't that right Alessa?" Alexander asked me, putting a hand on the small of my back practically forcing me closer to him.

"That's right darling," I said looking up at his face, giving him a smile. I knew the nickname, darling, would annoy him to no end.

"You already have cute nicknames," Anastasia said laughing at her brother.

"If you really are engaged then this is just wonderful! I get to plan a wedding and show all those women what a real wedding looks like," Genevieve said with a hint of a smile on her face.

"You cannot tell anyone Mother. I know you are dying to tell your so called friends that your son is engaged but you can't. The whole point of this party is to announce our engagement. This will get great press and it will be free media attention for my company,"

Genevieve gave a small nod telling her son that she wouldn't say a word. She tapped her husband, Loukas, on the shoulder who had been intently looking at his phone to tell him to walk inside. Loukas followed his wife inside, Anastasia followed behind them.

The party hadn't even begun and our plan had already slowly started to fall apart.

The drama is just beginning. I though it would be best to split the chapter into two parts, this is the engagement part 1. The second part will be published soon depending on how everyone liked this chapter! Don't forget to comment, vote and follow!!!