A/N: I apologize ahead of time for this crappy chapter. I really just wanted to get something up and posted here. I promise the next chapter will be better. As always, please vote and comment letting me know what you think of the story :)

Zoey POV

I must have been insane to have accepted Dan's marriage proposal. I mean, this is me we're talking about. I don't settle down and commit. Not like this.

But I couldn't stop thinking of how the man made me feel and how when I was with him, I didn't feel like I had to get wild and party.

Maybe I was lying to myself, but Daniel Franklyn made me want to become a better person.

I frowned. Deep down, I knew Dan wasn't the only one who ever made me feel like this. For years, Adrian Carmichael made me want to become a better person, but realizing he didn't seem interested in me, I'd moved on in and started dating and getting wild.

Then, I met Dan three years ago and as much as I hated to admit it, I had fallen for the Englishman.

Despite the fact I kept partying and sleeping with other guys, however, the man still stuck by my side. I suppose he knew deep down, that he held a place in my heart that not many others did.

Watching him sleep beside me now, I felt extremely guilty for sleeping with all the other guys.

Well, that was going to change.

I made a vow that night to be with Dan and only him. It's what he deserved and when I became his wife, he deserved a spouse that would be faithful.

***

"You're what?!" Bri exclaimed when I told her the next day.

"Dan and I are engaged." I replied, rolling my eyes when her blue green eyes widened again. "What's so shocking, Bri?"

"It's just that I never expected you to be the marrying type." She admitted, running a hand through her golden hair as she plopped down onto my bed.

Dan had left almost two hours before, having some kind of business meeting, and then Bri showed up.

Immediately, she spotted my large engagement ring and started questioning me.

"In other words, you didn't expect any one to ask the party girl." I scoffed at her.

Bri groaned and threw a pillow at me. "I did not mean it that way!"

I just sighed, walking out onto my balcony.

"Does anyone else know yet?" Bri asked randomly, walking onto the balcony with me.

"No. We planned on announcing it tonight at Mom and Dad's anniversary dinner."

"Oh wow! Your mom will flip. She's a sucker for this stuff." Bri giggled, her golden hair blowing about her face.

I giggled with her, leaning against the railing.

"Yeah. She'll probably start planning the wedding the minute we tell her."

"And my mom will have the caterer booked by tomorrow morning." Bri laughed uncontrollably as she mentioned her mother, Rosalyn.

"Oh gosh. This will probably be embarassing." I groaned, picturing the scene that could unfold.

"Ah, you'll be fine." Bri patted my back. Then quickly changing the subject, she declared, "We gotta find you an outfit!"

I sighed loudly, groaning as she drug me back into my room.

Adrian POV

I sat alone at the bar, drinking my beer and trying to erase the dreadful feeling that settled in my stomach.

My Zoey was engaged. She was getting married and to a guy I couldn't stand. A guy who had two first names.

He was taking my girl away from me forever. He would be holding her and touching her. Kissing her beautiful lips. Making her hot and steamy. Causing her to moan-

I slammed the empty bottle down onto the counter, trying to contain my rage.

I wouldn't allow myself to lose control because of this woman. No.

Zoey Prescott would not be the cause of me losing my composure.

Besides, it wasn't like she ever showed an interest in me. And I sure as hell never let her know I had a thing for her.

So, why was I so upset?

Because as much as I didn't like admitting it, I had been in love with the wild girl since we were eight.

She had always brightened my life with her outgoing and no nonsense personality. Always been a constant in my life.

I never would willingly admit it, but I needed Zoey in my life.

Well, that would change now that Englishman Dan was in the picture. He would steal her away from me and I'd be without her.

When they first started "dating" I never expected Zoey to actually fall in love with him.

She had always slept with other guys and partied every night. She never seemed interested in settling down.

But I had been very wrong. After three years of being with the Englishman, Zoey was smitten.

I could tell it every time she mentioned the man or was even around him. Her eyes seemed to always light up and her voice laced with happiness. Something I'd always hoped she'd feel towards me.

A deep frown crossed my face. I should have told her my true feelings a long time ago before she'd ever met Daniel Franklyn.

But it was too late now so I ordered another beer and chugged it down.

"Wow. You look like you could use a friend." A soft female voice said and I spun around to spot a pretty blonde with green eyes standing behind me.

"Ah, you wouldn't want to be my friend. I'm no fun." I stated, turning back around and ordering yet another beer. If I was going to wallow in my own grief over Zoey, I figured I would do it drunk.

"Well, then, how about a drinking buddy?" She smirked, sitting right beside me and ordering a beer for herself. When she saw my raised eyebrows at her she asked, "What's wrong? Didn't expect a girl would order such a manly drink?"

I let out a chuckle.

"You read right through me."

She laughed as well, taking a long swig out of her beer. "My name is Naomi. What's your's?"

"Adrian." I held my hand out and she shook it.

* * *

A few hours later, I was bading goodbye to Naomi after many drinks and catching a cab back to the penthouse. Naomi had asked if I wanted to go back to her place, but I turned her down, not feeling like it was a good idea.

"There you are! The anniversary party is in less than an hour. Where the hell have you been?" My mother bombarded me as soon as I entered the penthouse.

"Oh shit! Sorry, mom. I was out. . . With friends." I completely forgot Zoey's parents were holding a party for their anniversary that night.

"Language, son! Just go get ready. Your father has your suit in our room. Go get it and shower quickly!" She ushered me up the stairs and that's when I noticed the curlers in her golden hair and the black silk robe she wore. "I have to still get dressed too so I don't have time to worry about you!"

"Fine. Fine! I'll hurry." I chuckled when she began rushing around, seeming to finish up last minute preparations of the deserts.

My mother had been baking for as long as I could remember and had become a well known one around the city of LA for many years so it was only natural she prepare the evenings desserts. As Zoey's mother, Juliet, was my mother's best friend she tended to recruit my mom for her parties and celebrations.

I took the stairs two at a time, making my way towards my parent's large suite at the left side of the penthouse.

"Hey, Dad. Mom said my suit is in here." I found my father, Greggory, in their walk in closet. He was already dressed in his black suit and dress shoes, working on tying his maroon colored neck tie in the full length mirror in the closet. His short brown hair had gel in it and his light teal eyes were narrowed in concentration.

"Hey, Ian. Your suit is hanging up over there." He greeted me, pointing to where a maroon-colored tux was hung up on a hanger in their closet.

I just nodded, grabbing the suit and starting to walk away.

"Hey, son. Try not to start any arguments with Zoey tonight, okay?"

"Uh, excuse me, but she's the one who starts the arguments and you don't have anything to worry about. I'm steering clear of that woman." I frowned, remembering the scene I saw between her and Dan last night.

"Oh, really? What happened?" Dad finished tying his tie and spun towards me, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Did you guys get into a lover's spat?"

I groaned. "That would imply we we were lover's which we're not."

Dad just chuckled his deep laugh, walking out of the closet and going downstairs, leaving me to my thoughts.

* * *

Upbeat tango music played throughout the penthouse as the party began.

People dressed in formal wear and drinking champagne were scattered everywhere, mingling and discussing various things.

I stood off to the side, slightly away from the crowd, a glass of champagne in my hand.

I stared off into space, keeping to my own thoughts and sipping from my glass when I felt a soft tap on my shoulder.

I turned towards the person trying to get my attention and nearly choked on my champagne.

Zoey stood before me, dressed in a beautiful maroon dress that had a plunging neckline and hugged her body in all the right places. She paired it with a pair of red open-toed stilettos. Her dark hair was hanging loose and draping down her shoulders, her violet eyes popping from the black eye make up she had applied under them. Her luscious lips had a deep red gloss applied and appeared very kissable.

"Hi, Ian. I just wanted to apologize for the other morning." A frown crossed her beautiful face and I had the sudden urge to pull her into an embrace. "I overreacted and shouldn't have."

"Oh. It's okay. I overreacted too." I responded.

"Friends?" She looked up at me through her long lashes, a glorious smile on her face as she held her hand out to me.

"You know we've always been friends, Zo." I admitted, taking her hand in mine.

A delicious sensation filled my body as our hands touched. Hers were so soft and fragile and I could feel the heat emanating from it.

"Zoey, sorry I'm late. My meeting ran a little over." Dan ran over to us, slightly out of breath.

We immediately dropped hands as Dan pulled Zoey into an embrace, giving her a chaste kiss on her luscious lips.

I resisted the urge to frown, deciding to keep things civil.

"Hello, Daniel." I held my hand out to him for a manly handshake.

He took it and smirked.

"Adrian. It's good to see you again man. You still aggravating my girl?"

Zoey punched him playfully in the shoulder and I spotted the large diamond glittering on her ring finger.

"Only when she provokes it." I smirked back, fighting back the urge to punch the man before me.

Realizing I spotted her ring, Zoey stated, "Dan and I have an announcement for everyone so we'll catch you later."

With that, Zoey and the man I depised walked away.

I downed the rest of my champagne in one gulp, shaking off the feeling of dread I had in my stomach as Zoey and Dan called attention to the room from the stage set up across from the staircase.

"Good evening everyone. We have an announcement, but before that, I'd like to congratulate my parents, Juliet and Jackson, on twenty five years of marriage." Zoey said into the microphone given to her.

Applause went around the room, many cheering for the Prescotts.

"Now, on to our announcement." Zoey paused a moment and hugged Dan before continuing. "Dan and I are engaged!"

Gasps filled the room followed by applause.

Zoey beemed happily, stepping off the stage and walking over to her parents who had smiles on their faces.

I took that as my cue to go upstairs, not wanting to see anymore of Zoey with Dan.