ETHAN'S POV :-

I stood in front of the ornate mirror, adjusting my crisp white shirt cuffs, I'm dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, my dark brown hair perfectly messy, as my eyes sparkled with excitement

As I knotted my silk tie, the soft strains of Édith Piaf drifted from the radio, filling the room with an essence of a fresh charm

The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the table near the bed, where the coffee cup was kept, mingling with the sweet aroma of the room freshener

I smiled to myself, feeling like a true gentleman. I grabbed my boutonniere - a delicate white rose - and pinned it to my lapel. Suddenly, I remembered the time, when my mother used to pin it to my lapel whenever I wore a tuxedo

Ah, it was the best time. At Least my mother was with me ....

A tear escaped through the corner of cheek, leaving a stained mark behind, as I remember the past memories flooding through my brain cells

I quickly wipe it off, and with a final glance I eventually move away from the mirror taking my car keys, and venture out-

As I'm driving the car, I can already imagine the teasing I'll get from my friends. 'Late twenties and still flying solo?' they'll say with a smirk. I can feel my face heat up at the mere thought

Why do I always have to be the single guy at these events? It's like I'm stuck in some kind of bachelor purgatory. I wish I had someone to share this experience with, someone to laugh with, and maybe even impress my friends

I know it's shallow, but having a girlfriend would definitely shut them up. And who knows, maybe it'll even make me look more... settled. More adult

And that's why, I'm taking ''Charlotte' along with me at the party

Yes, I'm taking Charlotte with me. And i know I have written my own obituary, attending a marriage that too with someone she really hates

The irony? I concocted a fake story about the case to convince her come along with me and here's the kicker, she accepted thinking it's the truth

But It's not at all true, I will tell her that after we go there. AND the marriage is in private so not much people will be present there and it will not cause any hurdle for Charlotte as she is a singer

And obviously her fans drool over her, cause my darling is such a famous personality so why not?-

I bought the car to stop in front of her house and gave a quick horn, glancing at my watch ''6:30 pm'

We are late, all must be present there by now, I patted my legs out of patience and just then my meer gaze fall on something

Charlotte... my lips drawn apart, my eyes fixed on her hourglass figure, she was wearing a black leather dress, which was flexing her curves perfectly

Her black silky hair waved slightly at every step she took, her rosy cheeks and pink lips accentuating her natural feathers

While her eyes, her emerald green eyes glistened like emeralds in the sky, before I could realise she was already sitting in the car, giving me a death stare

As a hint of realisation whack me, I discerned that I was gawking at her, utterly transfixed

I cleared my throat and straightened my posture on the seat, starting the engine, trying to steer clear of any kind of ding-dong

The drive was silent, the running of engine and the blow of beep or honk where the only sounds filling the air

I glanced at Charlotte, who was looking out of the window, lost in her thoughts

"Don't worry, I will be with you all the time, so you won't feel forsaken" I ensured

"Ok" she said without looking at me, I sigh "Umm, Charlotte... I have to tell you something" I whispered in hesitation finally giving up on my patience

She turned towards me, feeling the uneasiness, her eyes questioning mine. I sigh deeply "Actually I lied to you, we are not going there for the case"

Her eyes widened at the words, as if a bombshell hit her head. She yells "What?"

I nod, my eyes stuck on the road "Yeah, actually I'm taking you as my girlfriend there" I mumbled, feeling the heat boiling in her blood vessels

"And what In the world you thought I would be your so-called ''girlfriend'?? Even my taste in heels is 'YSL and Louboutin' and you think I will have such a taste in choosing a prince charming of my dreams"

Her tantrums pierced my heart like a arrow, ''she is quite good at cursing' I'm cooked for real after our marriage

I take the car to a side, and pull the brakes. I turn towards Charlotte, our eyes interlocking, I sigh "Listen, I'm in my late twenties and just trying to avoid the tag of ''forever-soloist' by my friends, please cooperate with me" I urged, clasping my hand in a ''prayer' move

"And why do you think I will conspire with you?" She smirks, knowing too well, I will do anything to convince her

" Ok, I will do anything you want but please just be my 'girlfriend' for today's party" I begged, giving up

She chuckles "ok, I will be your girlfriend tonight but in return you have to do a car race with me" she grins, a knowing smirk forms on her lips

A car race?

I stare at her, all confused by her condition, but it's easy so I just nod, another plan popping up in my mind, I smirk deeply from inside, and start the engine driving towards the venue

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As we reached inside the venue, the laughter of people echoing in the hall could be heard, some people were at the buffet, relishing the tastes of different foods placed at the table

While some were gathered around, laughing and joking, some gossiping while some engaging on each other

That's when my eyes fell on a familiar figure, and my eyes widened in awe

'Aarav?'

I hushed. Hearing my voice, Charlotte too looked over the direction I was looking in "oh, it's the Greek god, right?" She yakked

I was bemused by her words,"You know him?" I ask, gawking at her "Well ya, ... I mean he is quite famous among ladies"

She clarifies, the last words ''among ladies' set a wildfire lit inside me, cause yes! Now I'm jealous of him. "Do you like him?"

I ask, without thinking twice. She gazes at me baffled "No, I have just heard about him nothing else, it's shocking to see him here" she declares breaking the eye contact, her eyes wander around the hall

I huff in ease, aarav is lucky that she doesn't like him or else... leave it

I place my hand on her waist, my touch soft and smooth. She gasps and glares at me, I smirk "My lady, Aarav Mathew is my old school mate, and did you forget that you are my girlfriend tonight?"

I whisper, my lips touching her ear's helix. She froze, because there was no space between us. I step back and smirk at her, she pant in relief

I grasp her waist and walk towards ''Aarav' who already saw us coming this way. But the real kicker is ''He is with a girl' !!!

I mean ''Aarav Mathew' who was allergic to girls, even hated if any stared at him is now roaming around with a girl

What's more shocking is his hand placement. He has held her by her waist, his grip tightened on her as we approached them

"Aarav my man, long time no see!" I blurted, giving him a side hug, but in a ''Friendly' way, as if trying to break his bone

He answers back with the same joy, and we both giggle, pretending nothing happened

"And who's this pretty lady, eh? You keep secrets mate?" he asks, I grin at his words

"Meet my chérie, my girlfriend , Charlotte Carter " I introduce her to Aarav, suppressing my blush, at the words ''my girlfriend' it feels like a dream come true

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Carter. Aarav Matthew, at your service" he utters, with a polite handshake portraying his courtesy

"The privilege is mine, I mean I got to meet the sunshine Greek god" she chuckles, her voice melodious and sedate. I stared at her

I mean, you never talk to me diplomatically, not even glance at me or to be more honest ''glares' at me. Then why not to him, I sigh in guilt

"The feelings are mutual, my lady. Finally I got to meet my favourite singer" Aarav spoke. I glared at him. The reason? Charlotte blushed at his words and that's enough to bury him 6-feet down

Then, I glance at the girl, standing beside Aarav and then looking back at Aarav, I smirk

"And who is this pleasing lady Aarav? Your girlfriend?" I chuckle cause I know beyond the shadow of doubt that ''Aarav Matthew' can never-

"Indeed! meet déesse, the only women who has ever truly stolen my heart" he declared, wrapping an arm around her waist and planting a small peck on her cheek, I gasp at his words

"Athena fox, it's a pleasure to meet you both" she voice muffled and soft

"Has the hell frozen over! Because the Aarav Matthew who avoids ladies like the plague has a girlfriend. Pinch me, I must be dreaming" I cried, still can't digest the fact that he is taken

"How can I possibly resist a goddess?" He says, glancing at Athena, who rolled her eyes heavenwards

"Indeed, she is a goddess" I babbled, making Athena's cheeks turn into a shade of pink. She blushed, I could feel the intense gaze of Aarav on me but I try to neglect it

I'm enjoying the heat burning inside him, "you too are strikingly handsome and cute" she exclaims, I chuckle

Loving the wildfire provoking inside Aarav, but then I felt something

Charlotte ...

She was strikingly agitated by all this. I grin deeply from inside, looks like the cat is being jealous of another cat for stealing her fish

Just then, a tranquillisation serenader capture our attention, and we move our head towards the beats

Music started playing and couples started swaying at the discotheque. An idea struck in my mind, I smirked deeply from inside

"Umm, Let's hit the dance floor?" I ask, glancing at Charlotte before looking at Aarav

I'm sure, Charlotte must be very furious at me by now but I try to avoid her gaze, and start heading towards the dance floor

That's when, with a side glance I noticed Charlotte, her heels were moving in a hazy way. I couldn't understand what she is trying to do, and the immediate realisation of her next move,

Made me halt on my place, and within a split seconds, I regressed back making Charlotte disbalance on her steps

I briskly grasp her hand and in fell swoop, I was clasping her waist while her hands were clinging to my tuxedo

My heart beats hard towards hers, as I make an intense eye contact with her, I smirk "Chérie, trying to be oversmart with your boyfriend?"

She glared at me, "Shut up bitch, if you wouldn't have moved your feet, by now I would have smashed them under my heels" she scowls, tightening the grip on my tuxedo

Ahh,even in wrath her voice still sound divine and marvellous, and I guess this is what obsession and addiction looks alike

I chuckle at her words, and pull her by her waist, now there is no space between us, just me and her ...

"Just because I said I will be your girlfriend, that doesn't mean i will dance, that too with such a cad like you" she snarls, scowling at me, her brows furrowed

"Hey! I'm not a cad, I'm a very honest man but, just a little hard on bed" ...

She releases my tuxedo with a jerk, and folds her arm, exerting more pressure on her right leg "Why do you think I will dance with a scumbag?"

"Who said I'm allowing you to dance with Aarav, you are dancing with me, that too as my girlfriend, remember our deal?" i sneer, maybe more because I just called Aarav a ''scumbag' indirectly

I mean ofcourse, that jerk tried to snatch the apple of my ''elbow grease' how dare he do that and I can't stand that

"Argh, if there wasn't this deal between us, I would have buried you 6ft down under the ground" I grasp her waist, roving her towards me

And shift her towards the couple before us, gossiping. "Are you guys done with your talks?" I ask Aarav, their heads whirls at our direction

A pink tint appears on their cheeks, and they both move towards us, smiling awkwardly at us

"Now it will be more fun" I say, with a sheepish smile. Charlotte glares at me, Knowing exactly what I mean

And the night grows more beautiful... with a nymph like her ...

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:-

Hello my dear readers, so, hope you all liked the chapter? It's a collab chapter with my pyaari aru 🎀 red_dawnwrites and her book characters - Aarav Matthew and Athena Fox (you all should go and read her book, it's amazing)

IMPORTANT!!! , guys please vote and comment on the chapters. It's my hard work but you guys are not paying it off. I put a lot of effort into writing a chapter and you people are proving it useless. I'm so done, after this chapter I will post chapter 15 and that's it, I will not post further if you guys don't vote and comment properly

Next Target:- 50+ reads 20+ votes