"This is absurd" I exclaimed in shock as I stared at the crowd of reporters gathered around the hotel where the function would be held.

I glanced at one reporter in front of us who was broadcasting the situation live.

"As you can see-" She turned and gestured to the hotel. "we are outside the primrose hotel where the big event is happening. Today is the 35th anniversary of the ATC and mostly importantly-" She squealed. "Today is the day Ian Kingston is going to introduce the love of his life to the world"

"You gotta be kidding me" Lexi snapped. "They're here to see the fiancé"

"Obviously" I sighed in frustration.

"I know you all have been eagerly waiting for this day" The reporter continued to speak. "But you don't have to anymore because today is the day and we, SBS are going to do a live coverage tonight!"

"My gosh can we go inside?" Lexi asked. "I think I'm gonna have a headache seeing all these camera flashes"

We were standing near a lamp post watching the cameramen take endless photos of the celebrities and the business tycoons that were walking on the red carpet.

"We'll use that door" Brian jerked his chin towards a side entrance of the hotel.

"Good idea" I held my black gown up and walked over the grass to the side entrance.

We steered our way through rest of the employees who had decided to enter from this entrance and reached the banquet hall.

And the banquet hall was marvelous. The ceiling of it was nearly twenty feet high and up there hung a massive chandelier that illuminated the entire hall with a shimmering gold. Vases of red roses were placed on top of short white columns adding a floral colour to the function.

"Wow" I thought Lexi was commenting on the decorations but when I looked at her, I realised she was looking at all the men in tuxedo. "Men look hot in tux"

"I'm gonna get a drink" Brian marched towards one of the waiters and grabbed a champagne for himself.

"I need a drink too-"

Someone tapped on the mic and we turned to find our VP standing on a dais. She smiled before starting to speak. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for being here with us today. We're very pleased to have all of you joining with us to proudly celebrate 35 years of ATC"

"Don't tell me she's giving the welcome speech?" Lexi hissed next to me.

"Anyone need ear plugs?" Alan went around asking people.

"I need one" Brian raised a finger up and Alan gave it to him. Then he plugged it into his ears, tuning out VP's voice.

"Wow we really hate her, don't we?" I chuckled and shook my head in dismay.

I scanned our surrounding and noticed many popular faces. Business tycoons, actors and actresses, politicians, our board of directors. All were talking in groups, standing around cocktail tables, wearing the most expensive clothes in all of New York.

And at the far end of the hall I spotted Ian, talking to a group of people. His face was angled away from me but I could his long lashes, his soft lips, his prominent jaw, the strength of his arms beneath that black suit he wore. He was the perfect Adonis.

And I found myself blushing hard. My god what's wrong with me? Perhaps I share the same weakness Lexi has for handsome men.

"He's here" Lexi squealed.

"Who?" I asked, coming out of my daze.

"Our crush" She pointed to a blond man across the room and it took me several seconds to recognise him. It was the 28 year old MD of Vanguard investment bank.

All the thoughts I had about Ian Kingston vanished away instantly and my eyes rounded up on my long time crush, Blake Smith.

"He's so freaking handsome" I breathed.

"I know right" Lexi was practically crying. "Let's go and talk to him"

"What? No-"

Lexi ignored my protest and started dragging me towards him but before we could reach there another woman jumped in. A red head.

I gasped.

"Blake Smith isn't it?" She kept a seductive hand on his forearm "I'm Melissa Taylor"

"Who's that bitch-" Lexi was about to go and fight Melissa but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Don't"

"Why?"

"She's Ian's fiancé"

Lexi looked at me as if I said I could fly.

"W-what? That's her?" She asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah" I nodded.

"Omg I'm gonna go get Brian" She giggled like a maniac and sprinted towards Brian, leaving me stranded here.

"Right" I said to myself. "I'll go and get food then"

I walked over to the food table and examined everything that was related to chocolate. I finally settled in for a chocolate truffle and was about to pick it up when I heard a familiar voice.

"You came Miss Evans" I whirled around and met Ian Kingston, leaning against a pillar, his arms folded across his chest.

"I didn't know I had a choice"

He smirked. "I read your notebook"

My cheeks heated. Gosh, can this get more embarrassing? "That's not mine" I blurted out and blushed hard seeing the amused look on his face.

Before I could decide to throw Lexi under the bus I changed the subject. "I saw your fiancé" I said, nodding my head towards Melissa, who was flirting with Blake.

Ian followed my gaze. "She's not my fiancé"

"Uh" I narrowed my eyes. "She is"

Ian raised a questioning brow so I explained. "I saw her at the executive's meeting and she called you darling" I exaggerated on the word and glanced at him, expecting a reaction but he looked unfazed. "Then later on I heard her tell someone on the phone that she wants to marry you soon"

Ian signed. "She's not my fiancé Miss Evans" He leaned in. "And unlike you, I don't lie to people"

I scoffed. Lame. "So if she's not your fiancé, then who's the real one?"

"You'll see in few hours"

I furrowed my brows in suspicion and in return, he gave me that smug look of his.

"Whatever" I grumbled. "And you better not talk to me or people will think I'm your fiancé"

Ian suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his eyes glinting with bliss.

"I know right" I said in a monotonous tone. "So funny"

"Not at all Miss Evans" He shook his head with a smile on his lips. "Enjoy the party. See you in few hours"

"Why would I see you in few hours?"

But he was already gone.

"What a jerk" I cursed and looked for my friends. I found them standing not far away from Blake and Melissa, eavesdropping on their conversation with deep interest.

I was about to run to them when Alan interrupted me.

"Is it my hallucination or did Ian Kingston really laughed with you?"

"You're drunk" I faked a smile. "It must be a hallucination"

Alan wrinkled his nose. "It should be because Ian Kingston never laughs"

Really? Damn.

"Right, nice info. Gotta go Alan"

I went back to my friends and dragged them far away from Melissa and Blake. Lexi always act weird around handsome men and I have a very limited capacity when it comes to handling the second hand embarrassment. And tonight, none.

After many speeches and boring presentations about the history of the company, the dance floor came into life.

The celebrities were the first to dance and then joined the business tycoons along with our board of directors and the executives. They did slow couple dances with their partners and if it wasn't for the cuteness of our chief and his wife I would have dropped dead the instant slow songs started.

The DJ came and was about to hype the party up when Melissa took the mic and climbed on to the stage.

"Shit! It's happening" Lexi gasped.

With utmost curiousity, I moved away from my friends and strode forward to get a more clear view of the drama that was about to happen. I was so interested in seeing Ian's face when Melissa announces herself as his fiancé.

Ha. I'm gonna return that smug look of his back to him.

"Hello everyone" She smiled. "I want to say something very important to you. It's what you all have been waiting impatiently to-" She suddenly stopped as her gaze fell on somewhere - or on someone.

I turned to see who she was looking at and then saw Ian Kingston striding towards me.

What's he doing here? Shouldn't he be on stage?

He reached me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

I gasped.

Then he did the last thing I expected him to do.

He kissed me.