Elsa sighed.
Perhaps this is the twentieth business associate on the guest list they’ve shaken hands with—or was it the nineteenth? It was only understandable for her to lose count already anyway, because combining the number of partners and close contacts Arendelle Capital and Arendelle Co. has, her cheeks has grown sore from all the dazzling smiles she’s given every soul who would do some formal small-talk and wander to their own respective table.
She had to admit, she was glad she called a very eager Liam (who is also currently in attendance, since as he have shrieked to the phone—he wouldn’t miss it for the world) a week ago to help her handle the aesthetics regarding the decor of the venue, where she found relief in as she welcomed another stranger to the event with a smile barely reaching her eyes anymore.
On the brighter side of the occasion, though, it seems that her particular “unwanted” visitors has not arrived yet—a thought she really doesn’t want to keep bringing up to her mind—since just thinking about her fiancé meeting the same people who have witnessed who she used to be makes her stomach clench. So much for saving herself from predicaments.
“Hey, darl, you alright?”
She snapped out of her stupor at the sound of Aiden’s voice, among the violins and cello playing classical tunes in the background. Took you long enough, she thought to herself breezily. It was time she noticed Aiden wasn’t greeting anyone specifically at the moment, which made her relax slightly.
“Yes, don’t worry, I am,” Elsa flashed him a tired smile, but he saw past her facade, as he always do. Aiden slid an arm around her gently and kissed her cheek, “Take a little weight off your shoulders. We’ll be okay soon enough. I don’t even know how long I’ve been holding my last breath earlier—but I’m right here with you.”
“I know,” she squeezed his hand, “I’m just really dazed. I’m so sorry if you don’t even feel like it’s our day, love.”
“I’m really pleasured you invited me, Miss Arendelle. Congratulations–”
Aiden grinned, “Merry Christmas!”
The guest backed away slowly due to the Creative Director’s peculiar outburst before dragging his feet elsewhere around the venue, enstranged. Aiden whirled his head around calmly, yet the grin he bore only widened at the sight he found.
A hand now over her a mouth, Elsa laughed—not too loudly to maintain the air of grace she always kept around herself—but well anyway, she is laughing, much to Aiden’s success, because of that little impromptu trick he did.
“Goodness, l-love,” she playfully whacked his arm, “You got me breathless there for a minute. What was that for?”
He chuckled, “You and your frown.”
“Aww,” she giggled.
Aiden took her hand in his own, feeling the cold of her engagement ring seep into his fingers without a care. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. It will always be our day, and all the days before we spent together are just as significant. It’s just that,” He smiled, “Today, we keep it in mind that in a certain date, I’ll be the one to unveil you and promise you everything.”
Her gaze softened, as he pressed on the matter further why she shouldn’t be so disappointed with herself. She could see the stars embroidered to his eyes, as he made sure that the guests were too busy chatting away to mutuals so he could passionately plant a quick kiss on her lips. Feeling like she needs more, he squeezed her into a hug.
“All better now?” He mumbled to her hair.
She nodded against his chest. She leaned closer to where his lips was, and got drunk off of the cologne he wore. The tension between her and the party almost faded.
Almost.
“Woah, Arendelle! Puberty hit you that hard, huh?”
Elsa froze, knowing exactly where that blunt statement came from—most accurately, might she add—since it isn’t entirely too hard to verify which and who the specific woman clad in dapper Versace was among the quartet walking alongside her trail.
Aiden raised a brow at the brunette, whose hands were on her hips as she strode forward with a joking smirk making its way to grace her features the more she closed the distance between herself and the couple.
“I mean, right now I can hardly recognize the girl who used to look like a twig years back.”
Aiden raised a brow upon hearing the candid comment. Elsa clasped her hands together as she skillfully hid a grimace with a warm smile, “It’s great to see you Stell. It’s been so long hasn’t it?”
Stell folded her arms, “By the term long, then you must mean the five grand magazines you took over with the covers. Or Arendelle Co’s constantly rising revenue,” She prattled on, after sparing some time to grab the perfume from her purse, “Not that Arendelle Capital was already bulging with the dividends anyway. And those were just for starters. So yes indeed, it’s been a while.”
Aiden had to remember it would have looked impolite in front of a guest to wrinkle his nose at the thousand dollar fragrance she owned.
Elsa sucked in a shaky breath upon seeing the other familiar faces who have taken their place beside their friend. She tried to distribute a fair portion of her attention towards Leif and Fern, but she couldn’t help but smile genuinely at the sight of the other duo standing beside them—especially that one of the duo was her bubbly cousin.
“Punzel, Eugene, I’m happy you made it,” Elsa grinned, and she managed to maintain a smaller version of her expression when she turned her eyes towards the other pair, “You both too. I’m really happy to see you all in attendance.”
“I can’t really blame Stell for being so surprised,” Fern laughed, “But damn, Elisabeth, I see now why you decided to get off the top three of fine bachelorettes,” she sent a teasing glance towards a nervous Aiden.
“Hey fellas,” he sheepishly scratched his head, “Apologies for my... Uh.. silence. Name’s Aiden.”
“No need to introduce yourself, honey,” Leif winked, “Who doesn’t know Director Laurant? They should be ashamed of themselves. Leif Ferguson.”
“Fern Holleskøg.”
“Stellen Jorg.”
“Rapunzel Fitzherbert.”
“My man,” Eugene stepped forward, “Eugene Fitzherbert, but please call me Flynn. Pleasured to finally meet the guy who stole our Elsa’s heart.”
Aiden smiled and willingly shook the man’s hand, sensing strongly that Flynn and the golden-blonde haired woman beside him were the closest to his fiancée unlike the rest, “It’s nice to meet you. There is a table reserved for all of you in there—so let us all enjoy the party. I believe that the festivities are to start in a few minutes now.”
The group’s departure eased the atmosphere for Elsa completely. The Creative Director noticed her relief after catching her gaze, not exactly knowing if it was because of how they were the last of the guest list or how the group have parted from them. “They were quite interesting, weren’t they?” Elsa sighs, raking her fingers through her hair in distress.
“The first one was, mostly,” Aiden conceded.
“Oh, you mean Stell,” Elsa chuckled, “She was sort of right with the little flashback part. I wasn’t really the best-looking person years ago. My frame clearly used to show I didn’t have a healthy relationship with my appetite.”
“With that said—might as well admit that I also had an awkward build back then,” He confessed with a laugh, “But you don’t have to be ashamed. We worked hard for what we are now, in terms of physical exterior or otherwise,” Aiden beamed, “So chin up, love.”
Elsa groaned, boldly grabbing his face to shut him up with a kiss. She wasted no time slipping her tongue past his lips so it could duel with his, making Aiden also groan in the process. Aiden could describe their fierce exchange anything but short-lived, as he almost lost control of himself as she took the lead. A timid, yet not so subtle growl left the Creative Director’s mouth as he felt dainty fingers tangle into his hair.
He felt her bite his lower lip teasingly, and his eyes seemed to smirk after her playful expense. They devoured each other’s mouths for a little bit longer before letting themselves catch their breath.
Between the two of them, Elsa has always been the one to initiate such a courageous move—something contrasting to her usually reserved behavior.
Elsa reluctantly pulled away, tempting as it was to lose herself into passion, but they are in the wrong time and place, so they have to suppress a few... matters to themselves until then.
“We still got a party to tend to,” Aiden breathlessly whispered, caressing her cheek, “Come on. I requested hippity-hoppity 80’s on the speakers, and I promise you, we’ll have a great time.”
Elsa grinned knowingly; he probably grew tired of the modern melody the band worked earlier, and his periodical optimism never fails to work its magic on her.
“I’m suing you for arriving in my life so damn late.”
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🎵 Every time I see you fallin’
I get down on my knees and pray,
waiting for that final moment
you say the words that I can’t say, 🎶
The grand, rambo-jambo tune the band constantly played built more of the rhythm spreading across all the dancers. Each would, time to time, switch places with their partners to accommodate the enthusiastic beat of Bizarre Love Triangle.
Apparently Aiden did nothing but stay true to his words from the hour prior, a wide smile splaying over his lips as he watched his own partner twirl in front of him with her laughter greeting his ears. Their hands reunited once more, their feet busy obliging the speed of the music. Elsa swayed her hips heartily as she danced, not exactly knowing where she got her sudden burst of confidence.
🎶Every time I see you fallin’
I get down on my knees and pray
waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can’t say...🎵
“It’s like we’re in the European-American version of the Crazy Rich Asians,” Stell grunted from where she sat, gaze never wavering from the two main stars of the occasion, “And it’s the nerd-becomes-a-hottie cliché right into real life again. Ugh.”
“Oh, cheer up Stell,” Fern smirked, “You gotta accept you have to be a loser to become a total winner sometimes.”
“Well she wasn’t entirely a loser back then,” Stell rolled her eyes, “She’s a multi-billionaire, freaking Norwegian Royalty. Now, that gorgeous hunk of a Director just nabbed the crown queen.”
🎵Awh! Awh!
Say those words that I can’t say,
Awh, awh, awh!
I get down... On my knees.. And pray!🎶
“Agreed with that last bit, those damn dimples,” Fern dreamily exclaimed, “And he must have had some kind of hocus pocus with him to make the supreme loner fall into his hands. No guy back then would have had the guts to approach the Elisabeth Arendelle.”
“Newsflash, nobody calls her Elisabeth anymore, weirdos,” Leif joked, “It’s now Elsa. Pretty name, honestly. Fit for a pretty face.”
“Last time I checked, I was your girlfriend,” Fern’s voice reeked of sarcasm.
The music wavered, and its sudden end caused dancers to return to their seats as each eye focused on a certain, long-locked figure making his way to the prim stage.
“... That was quite a show, everyone! But I would like to have everyone on their seats now because I should really fulfill my duties as the one in charge of the mic this fine afternoon, before Elsa tells the waiters to stop serving me some good wine. Who wouldn’t do anything for Dom Pérignon?”
Laughter sprouted among the guests—even Elsa couldn’t resist from a faint chuckle. Heine smirked, “Merely kidding. I would do anything for the person I consider as nearly my sister who I first met moping about the sudden sales decrease four years ago. Don’t worry folks, I told her whiskey wouldn’t fix things in the office for her.”
Aiden hilariously snickered when his fiancée couldn’t help but loudly retort from where they are seated, “It wasn’t about some sales decrease and you know it, Goldilocks!”
Heine laughed softly.
“Believe what you want, Arendelle... This party is only getting started after all.”
To be continued
on the next chapter...