"Finally our beauty is ready." Ester announced.
Eva looked at her reflection and then at Ester.
"You sure have some magic in your hands. I am feeling like a Cinderella!" said Eva while still looking at her hair, makeup and the dress which clung to her waist like second skin before flairing out to her feet.
Ester laughed at her reaction.
"Well, Cinderella your Prince charming must be on his way."
"He isn't my Prince charming." Eva protested.
"Oh yes I trust whatever you say." Ester laughed as her phone started ringing she went out to receive the call.
Eva was now alone in the room. She once again looked at her reflection. she couldn't help but feel giddy and nervous. It felt like hundreds of butterflies were dancing in her stomach. Just then her eyes fell on a small hook at the back of her dress which was not fixed properly. She tried to fix it but her efforts were going in vain. Then she heard some footsteps. She was still facing the opposite side of the door as she called out,"Come and help me with the hook, please."
It was when the fingers touched her bare back while trying to fix the small hook she felt an electric shiver run through her body. She swung around and a startled gasp left her mouth as she saw Liam Richardson standing in front of her. He was wearing a tuxedo. The black made him look even more darker...even more dangerous. Eva fought back the wave of awareness and tried to bring her chaotic brain into some sort of order.
"Mr Richardson, wh- what are you doing here?"
"Why? Were you expecting someone else, Miss Rose?" he smirked.
An embarrassed colour rushed to her cheeks.
"You look beautiful, Miss Rose." he said lightly touching her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I don't know whether it's my infatuation towards you or the innocent look that you give me now and then that I feel this sudden urge to hide you from the eyes of the world where no one could see you but me where no one could hear you but me."
Eva looked into his magnetic pair of blue green eyes before finally saying,"Huh?"
She was confused. Did she hear it right? Or was she is so engrossed in thinking the plot of her book that she now had started hallucinating? After all making Mr Richardson the protagonist of her story wasn't that good of an Idea, especially for her heart, she decided. There's no way that he would say anything like that which sound scary but feels like a delicious threat to ears.
"You are hopeless, Ms Rose." Liam muttered.
"Oh sorry, it seems I disturbed you!" Eva and Liam both turned around and found Ester standing at the door. Eva realised her hands were on his chest and she quickly pushed him away to create some distance.
Seeing this Ester said,"It's alright you guys can continue. No one will notice even if you reached a little late." she winked at Eva.
"No it isn't like what you are thinking about-" Eva tried to defend herself.
"It's alright, honey. I trust whatever you say." said Ester but for some reason Eva couldn't bring herself to believe her words.
"Ester." Liam said in a warning tone.
"Oh guys, you may leave now but don't forget my payment, Liam." said Ester teasing Liam
"Of course how can I and I know even if I forgot you will be banging at my door."
"Yes, of course. I'll be there." she laughed.
***
They reached the venue and Liam helped her out of the car. The decorations were beautiful, trees were covered with lights and everything looked just like those parties which she had seen only on TV. She could hear the sound of music from this far. By the time they reached inside Eva's cheeks were aching from smiling for photographs and at strangers who were coming to meet and greet Liam.
"Grandmother must be waiting for us." said Liam as he propelled her forward.
"What about your dad? Is he here?"
"No. He is out of states."answered Liam.
"And your-"
"Eva! Liam!" Eva saw the old lady coming towards them. She hugged Eva and from behind the lady came an old man.
"Won't you introduce me?" he said smiling at them.
"Eva meet my grandpa and grandpa she is-"
" I know, I know. She is Eva. Your grandmother has been talking about her since yesterday. Eva smiled politely all the while wondering what the old lady must have said.
After the dinner and auctions Eva found herself sitting next to Liam's grandmother while Liam had finally left her side to go into his circle of colleagues to discuss business. She felt almost relaxed which she knew had something to do with the fact that she was freed from the weight of his gaze and from his hand which he had gently placed at the small of her back during this entire evening. Even that small touch had tremendous effect on her.
Liam's grandmother was sharing some hilarious incidents from his childhood when her husband, the old Mr Richardson came and whisked her to the dance floor. They looked so much in love, Eva smiled looking at them wondering if she too would ever be able to find someone who would love her till the end.
She craned her neck to try and find Liam not sure why exactly was she doing that. She frowned as she scanned almost the entire room but he was still now where to be seen.
"Missing me, Ms Rose?" a voice whispered in her ear.
Startled, she turned around to find Liam grinning at her.
"No. Wh- why would I miss you?"she felt so flustered.
"Don't try, Miss Rose. I can smell lies."
"Think whatever you want, Mr Richardson. It's getting late so I just wanted to ask if we can -"
"Ok I'll meet my Grandma and grandpa and then we can leave."
" I said goodbyes already. I will meet you your in a few minutes. I need to use the ladies room."
He nodded and left.
She made her way to the ladies room. She went to the sink to wash her hands and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The more she was trying to run away from him the more she felt herself pushed into situations like this where she found her self standing beside him. She sighed. She needed to think of a way to get rid of this giddiness she always felt around him.
Getting out of the ladies room she made her way to the table where she had promised to meet Liam but then passing a partially opened door she heard some raised voices and stopped. It was Liam and the other voice was that of a woman. She peeked into the room and saw Louisa. She heard Louisa say,"Do you think she likes you? You don't know girls like her can use any means to get up on the social ladder."
" I have never cared for anyone's opinion of me before. I've never cared about who likes me and who doesn't then why do you think I would now? This is the last time that I am telling you to just stay away from me. Listen to it when I am still saying nicely."
Louisa placed a hand on Liam's chest and said in a sultry voice,"What exactly did you see in her? Huh? Are you sure that you are the only one she has shared the bed with?"
Eva pushed open the door and flew into the room aiming herself straight at Louisa. Her eyes were glittering with anger as she pulled Louisa's' hand away from Liam's chest and standing in between the both she looked at Louisa, her eyes blazing with anger,"If I ignored the threat you gave me that day then it doesn't mean that I am a weakling whom you can bully and make a recipient of your disgusting thoughts and words. And remember one thing very clearly I am very possessive of my things and I don't like it when people touch anything that belongs to me. I hope you will remember this and keep your hands off my boyfriend."
Taking Liam's hand in hers she left the room leaving a shocked look on Louisa's face. They made their way out and within a blur of minutes they were sitting in the back of his car leaving the house behind.
Eva wasn't sure what exactly had made her more angry. Louisa's filthy comments about her or the way she was touching Liam or was it both? The journey to her apartment was quiet but filled with tension where Eva was fuming with anger Liam was sitting quietly. The moment the car stopped she was out of the car without waiting for anyone to help her.
She tried to insert the key to open the door but her hand was still shivering and all the attempts to open that wretched door were failing.
"Let me."
It was then that Eva noticed Liam. He had followed her all the way here. Was he mad at her for her reckless behaviour? He must be, she answered her question for herself. He opened the door for her. As she made her way into the small little sanctuary of hers he called from behind,"Eva!"
She turned around and the next thing she knew was Liam's lips pressed against hers. His one hand was around her waist and the other holding the back of her head. When he finally let go of her she looked at him in disbelief. Touching her lips she looked at him again.
"Do- do you know what you did?"
"Kissed you." he said coolly which only fueled her anger even more.
"You... you.." she wanted to say something very bad which could drive him equally mad but she was at a loss for words.
"You thief! My first kiss! How are you going to give it back now?"
"Like this." saying this he covered her mouth with his once again and when he finally let her go she was panting to fill had lungs with some air. Now her mind went blank and was devoid of all the words.
Touching his head to hers he said,"Whether it's your first or last or anything in between I am gonna take it all because it all belongs to me."
He breathed in deeply before finally straightening himself,"I need to leave before I lose my self control. Be ready I'll come to pick you up day after tomorrow." saying this he left.
Leaving Eva all alone with the chaotic images of minutes ago which were now causing a havoc in her mind. She touched her lips still staring in the direction he had left.
"D-Did that really happen? My first kiss?"
Special thanks to "DesireDelta " who named this chapter.