Lawfully His Book 1.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

THE THEFT

Melissa Fernando

I was too shocked to move even one inch. He was here, he was in real here. Why didn't I think about it before? Of course, he would be present. Johnathan was his father after all.

He marched with his infamous powerful strides inside like he owned the bloody place. He was wearing black shiny shoes that cost like my one-year salary.

His black Armani suit hugged his muscular chest. I suddenly felt jealous of his suit. With his tie in perfect order and his Rolex watch, I had to refrain my dumb self from drooling.

His scythe-shaped eyebrows, Roman nose, and half-dome cheekbones that sat above a chiseled jaw made me fall more in love with him.

He was the definition of a perfect Adonis Greek God-like. He came and stood right in front of me fixing his cold blue eyes on my mother.

Now it seems like we had everybody's attention.

"It is an absolute pleasure to meet you after a very long time, Rosemary Fernando." My mother flinched, green eyes widened and she paled beneath her perfect makeup. I almost laughed looking at her.

Her

"Son, I'm delighted that you have made it here." Thank goodness. At least someone had the audacity to break the awkward situation.

Johnathan Alexopoulos always appears out of nowhere. "Indeed, Mr. Johnathan?" The entire New York could freeze from the icy glares of a particular person.

I swear...

I shift uncomfortably next to Kerry. His gaze snapped in my direction, or Kerry's direction.

Something flashed in his eyes.

I couldn't point it out-

"Oh yeah, we are indeed very thrilled to see you here Aries. It's such a pleasure. And you have grown into such a handsome young man." Aries only raised his one perfect eyebrow at her.

It was like he was amused by my mother's remark or perhaps her remarkable acting skills. Ignoring my mother, his gaze returned to me and I shivered.

"Oh you must be wondering who she is, well this beautiful young lady here is my one and only daughter. I think you met her years ago but-"

"I know exactly who she is." My eyes widened to the point that they started aching.

Wow, does he recognize me? But that's impossible because he-

Seeing that he was still looking at me, I went forward.

"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you in person." I didn't know what else to say to him.

His penetrating gaze was too much of a distraction.

He made me very much nervous.

"Oh trust me, the pleasure is mine." I didn't know if it was just my foolishness but it was like his words held a different meaning.

That much was obvious.

"Alright, enjoy the party all of you. We have to attend to our other guests. Excuse us." Johnathan Alexopoulos took my mother along with him leaving Kerry, Aries, and me to ourselves.

"I think I'm going to take a drink, want one Lisa?" Kerry made an excuse, turning to leave as quickly as she could.

"Oh sure I'm coming with you t-"

"I'd like to have a moment with you, Miss Fernando."

Oh no, what the hell.

I turned around nervously.

Great, just great. Can't you see that I am trying to save myself from you? i***t! Luck is not on my side today.

"You ar-" Just when he started to speak, the light went dim, fixing the particular person on the stage.

Mr. Johnathan Alexopoulos stood there with the microphone in his hand.

"Attention, please! Good evening ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I want to thank you all for coming to this party. Your presence is highly appreciated. As you already know, today is a very special day for the love of my life. Rosemary Fernando who is going to be Rosemary Alexopoulos soon."

At that moment, loud applause appeared. I roll my eyes at them and turn to look toward Aries who was clenching his fist.

His knuckles turned white from the pressure.

The veins in his neck popped out. Johnathan continued with his crappy speech. I had no time for this. Seeing that Aries was going outside, I followed him.

He stands and looks blankly into the space in front of him.

"If you came here to share your stupid sympathy, then leave. Because I don't need any." his voice came cold before I could even reach him. Nevertheless, I approached him placing my hand over his shoulder.

"Why do you think so? I can assure you I didn't come here because of pity or sympathy."

It was true, I was never one of those who pitied people for their loss, I know the feeling when people send you a pitiful look.

"Why are you here then? Don't you want to listen to the special announcement?"

"Not really. I thought you wanted to talk to me earlier but didn't get a chance. So... "

He turned towards me swiftly and removed my hand from his shoulder. Alright, that little action did hurt a bit.

"Oh, I just wanted to know about this famous little daughter of Rosemary Fernando who everyone can't stop talking about." I could detect the rudeness in his voice but decided to let it go.

There was something about him, I just knew it but couldn't put a finger on it. And the way he talks to me just doesn't sit well.

"Ah- um, you see there is nothing special about me. The people just like to exaggerate."

"I doubt that!"

"Excuse me?" What did he mean by that? No, really At that moment, he glanced at me with intensity and then he continued.

"It's all about you."

I didn't even get a chance to open my mouth when a loud crash was heard from inside.

I jerked my head towards the door. Aries was already going inside, resulting in me running as well.

Oolalaa...

Now, this is what we call a mess! My mother was sprawled on the floor.

My mother was sprawled on the floor Everybody circled her. Johnathan quickly went to help her.

There were pieces of broken glass on the floor. The shock was evident on everyone's face including mine.

Holy molly! What the hell happened here?

"How did this happen?" The words went out of my mouth before realizing.

My mother didn't bother answering and kept sobbing in Johnathan's chest.

One second passed.

Two seconds.

Three

Still nothing-

"What occurred here?" At the sound of his authoritative voice, several pairs of eyes whipped in our direction.

Even my mother raises her head.

Finally.

Then she turned her gaze to Johnathan and opens her mouth,

"Br-Johnathan, Johnathan I-I don't know, I can't. I am mean I."

"Just take a deep breath, Rosemary."

"Oh yes, a long deep breath." Aries Alexopoulos voiced again and I could detect something like almost mischief in his voice.

"Johnathan, I-I, when you were deli-veering y-your speech, I was coming towards th-e stage with w-ith you b-but then somebody threw tha-t that glass just behind me. I w-was startled and fell down. I-I."

Oh my, dear God.

Who could have done such a thing?!

That's horrifying! I don't think we are safe here.

Obviously, that is dangerous.

The guests kept murmuring on and on about it.

"But Miss Fernando did you not see his/her face," Kerry asked clutching my arm worriedly.

"No. No, I- he ran past me and a-and I think he went towards the corridor. Johnathan, I'm really scared." She does look very terrified.

"Don't be, I'm here, your daughter is here and we are all here. Just relax, I'll look into that and whoever did that won't get away with it. Calm down okay, then you may cut the cake. Did you forget about it? SECURITY'S" The guards scurry inside.

"I want you to check the whole place right now." Johnathan held my trembling mother.

I thought my mother was just being her usual drama-queen self but it didn't seem like that.

She was truly terrified.

Must be someone who holds a huge grudge against my mother. Why am I even surprised at this point?

After sometimes with that incident with my mother, everything went back to normal. The atmosphere was calm again. My mother finally decided to cut the cake.

She fed Johnathan first, then her friend, then another friend, and then she remembered she had a daughter and called me.

Soon it was time for the dance.

The light went dim again. The music was slow and soothing, so unlikely to the party. I danced with many guys.

I even dance with Ball and his creepy son.

Deceitful Johnathan was also my dance partner. But right now the one who was dancing with me was pretty cool.

"So Ian, you said that you somehow friend Kerry and I was won- knew my daring how?" Ian was a famous lawyer, but I'd never heard of him. And may I say he was such a fine young specimen.

He was friendly too not like someone.

"Ah, beautiful, jealous much?"

"Oh trust me anything but jealous. That's not really in me and considering that Kerry is my friend. If you want, I can get you close to her, ya know!"

"Oh no, what's the fun in that? If I wanted that, I would have done it a long time ago. But she is not the one I want. The one I'm interested in is right in front of me, dancing in my arms. Pretty girl!"

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me you little." He let out a throaty laugh at that grabbing attention.

"Well, I don't want to enter into any kind of relationship right now and I happen to love someone already."

"Oh, it that so, who's the lucky guy and poor little me!" I chuckled at his fake hurt expression.

"That's for me to know and for you to know-definitely not."

"You are such a meanie Melissa Fernando, are you aware of that?!"

"That I'm not sure but I'm aware that your time is up, I have others waiting you know. Don't wanna sound rude to them."

He smiled softly before twirling me and then falling into a pair of muscular arms, my brown orbs meeting a pair of empty, cold blue eyes.

"About the time I got to dance with busy Miss junior Fernando." I grimaced at the name. That sounds so weird!

"Sorry there were a lot of people who asked me and I didn't see you anywhere a few minutes ago so -"

"I didn't ask you for an explanation Miss Fernando." That instantly shut me up.

I feel hurt, why does he need to be so rude? Despite everything, I can't stop loving him, and his eyes always got me lost in them.

I know that sounded very cheesy but it's the only reality.

"Is that girl over there somehow acquainted with you? The one in a peach gown?"

Kerry?

Why everyone did suddenly become interested in Kerry? Okay, don't get me wrong there.

But this is the second time someone is questioning me about her.

"Why? Uh- why do you want to know?"

His gaze darkened at my answer "You don't answer a question with a question Miss Fernando."

"Oh, so you think we should play Question & Answer right now!"

"You have the audacity to talk to me like that." I gulp audibly. Aries Alexopoulos, why are you so distanced?

Can't you be polite for once?

"Aries, do you not recall meeting me a somewhere long time ago? Even the slightest recognition? I mean my face or eyes, somet-"

"What? You mean we've met before?" I sigh in defeat looking at his confused facial.

He surely doesn't recognize me How could he? He promised, the little cow! A 9 nine year old Aries promised you and right now you are talking to the 25 year old Aries.

I know but yet his c-

And he can be an ox but no cow... No... No donkey.

"No, not really we-"

"Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa... ." I was startled by the loud cries. I held onto Aries’ shoulder tightly. His eyes widened.

Wait that's my mother's voice.

"Johnathan, my- my oh my God!" My mother's eyes held disbelief. Once again the crowd circled her around.

"Mom, what's wrong with you? What happened now huh?"

"My necklace… Melissa my one core necklace, the diamond one that Johnathan gifted me. It's not around my neck!" Several people gasps were heard.

"What? What do you mean, you don't have it? Where would it go? Someone must have stolen it. SECURITY!" That's like the second time Johnathan roared security.

"Mr. Alexopoulos you can't insult us like this. I am not going to let your guards do a body check, especially with my wife and daughter. Absolutely not Mr. Alexopoulos. We are your guests for goodness sake" Several other businessmen agreed with Mr. Ball.

"No Johnathan, our guests are all high-class people, they are also capable of buying these kinds of expensive materials. But I know someone who doesn't match up with our status in here." I watch with wide eyes as my mom raises her hand and then-

Wait!!

What was she seriously pointing in my direction?!

"That girl behind my daughter, Kerry Dupont!"