"Please dress well Sarah" mum said coming to my room. I generally wear the abaya when I am with Ahmed. It is a hands off me kind of a dress. And today I wore one too which apparently hasn't pleased my mother.

"This is well enough mum" I told her while I saw her digging through my wardrobe. She took a dark purple dress and push it over to me.

"Wear this. This color suites you well" I wasn't in a mood to argue. So I took whatever she gave me and wore it. She was still standing until I do my make up which isn't much. But I know if my looks don't please her, she will call one of my step sisters to do the make up and that is like a disaster. I will look like a rag queen if I let them come close to touch my face.

I think she was happy with my look from her expression. I heard the door bell ring.

"Be nice and charming to Ahmed" mum repeated her mantra again.

"I am mum" and I left the room with my purse in hand.

Ahmed was wearing one of his suites and was looking handsome as always. He dress to kill.

"You look beautiful darling" he told me extending his hand, while his eyes are glued on to me.

"Thanks" I said very reluctant to take his hand. And I know mum watching me from somewhere. So I took it nevertheless. I am tired of confrontations.

Until we reach the party, Ahmed was giving me looks made me very uncomfortable to be in the car. I kept praying that the destination isn't long from where we are. And after what looks like an eternity we reached the place.

"A lot of my clients are here. Come let's go in" he said again extending his hand. It took me sometime to get over the initial repulse of letting him touch me or I touch him. I think I took longer than what it takes to extend my hand, Ahmed got a little alarmed.

"What's wrong?" he eyed me suspiciously and asked me. He had been very patience with me. I know that and he truly likes me. But the problem is with each passing day I find it difficult to like him, not because he is a bad person but there is something in me that feels not alright.

"Nothing" I replied and took his hand. This is going to be a hell of a night.

**************************************************

Sophia was all over me when we came to the dinner. As soon as I parked the car, she cling to me like an unwanted chewing gum, and after many attempts to get rid of her, I just let it be. The dinner will be filled with people I know. Now with this added liability of Sophia, I have to be extra alert.

When I went to the ballroom where the dinner is held, a lot of people rushed in. So the next hour or so was spent talking to them. Sophia had particularly taken some poor soul to talk to and I had the freedom to move about making conversation.

It then when I was moving about I saw her. And for a moment I thought the time had stopped moving. She was talking to the governor's wife, and old woman in her 70s. And I think that's when I really figured out what I was missing in life. The light and energy Sarah radiating was everything that I want in life and what is missing in my life.

"Excuse me" I told my companion whose forgotten long ago, and moved walked towards Sarah. I need to talk to her or I am going to explode right in front of these people.

"Oh Mr.Amstrong , so nice to see you. Come here, meet this sweet girl, Sarah. She is a doctor" Mrs. Peter, the governors wife introduced us.

And I saw Sarah's eyes widen with shock, then surprise and finally acknowledgement. People have forgotten what is written about Sarah and her involvement in my case long ago. And now it isn't the time to remind them.

"Nice to meet you Sarah" I said extending my hand. She didn't speak a word but kept staring at me and my hand for a while before extending hers. When she touched my hand, I knew it then and there. Consequences be damned, plans be damned, prestige and money be damned. I want her and I will have her. Nothing going to stand between me and her, not even herself. To my amazement and shocking Mrs.Peter to her bones, I kissed the hand that was extended to me. Sarah looked positively taken back.

She is undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. But today she just took my breath away. I could have kissed her on the lips right in front of everyone but I know we have to talk and I need to slow down on things. But my brain and body doesn't want to.

"Mrs. Peter, Would you excuse me and Sarah for one minute? I think there is something we'd like to talk about in private" I didn't let neither Mrs, Peter nor Sarah the opportunity to talk or deny my requests. I dragged her and took her to the terrace before a man crossed my path looking very angry.

"Are you okay darling?" he asked Sarah. And reality slowly sink in. She is married.

*************************************

When Mrs.Peter said Mr.Armstrong, I felt my world tilt 180 degrees. The shock and surprise render me mute. I just kept Staring at Steve. He looks extremely handsome, and for a moment I forgot to breath.

When he extended his hand, I was unconscious of what was happening but when he kissed my hand, the realization sunk in. And I was about to get hysterics before Steve dragged me out.

"Are you okay darling?" when Ahmed asked that, finally I landed on earth. Steve seemed surprised and I took my hands off from him.

I looked at Steve panicked and he looked kind of confused.

"Steve, meet Ahmed - my fiancé. And Ahmed - this is Steve, an old friend" I introduced the gentlemen.

Suddenly I saw Steve looking relieved. Both of the men shook hands in an awkward way. And Ahmed came to my side, while I saw a woman who is glittering with diamonds, shooting bullets at me from her eyes, coming towards Steve and take his hand.

"Babe, I was looking for you" she said eying me suspiciously.

Steve looked very uncomfortable again.

"Sarah, Ahmed please meet a friend of mine - Sophia Zouvich. Sophia, meet an old friend Sarah and her friend Ahmed" Steve said dismissing the fact that Ahmed is my fiancé, not a friend.

"He is my fiancé" I corrected him. He has no right to come and mess my life.

"Are you part of Zouvich companies?" Ahmed suddenly looked interested in Sophia.

"Yea, that's my family business" she said.

And I know the professional , go getter of Ahmed has come out. He kept talking about how he knows Sophia's family and so on, I not only felt embarrassed but wanted to get away from there.

"Excuse me, I need to use the washroom" I excused my self and made an escape to the washroom. This is not happening. Ahmed should be composed, not bowing down on Russian prince and Steve.

And when I reached the lonely corridor which lead to the washroom, Steve came behind me and grabbed me from the hand.

"We need to talk" he said.

"There is nothing to talk. Let go of my hand. I am engaged and I have a fiancé. You get back to your Russian princes. Now leave me alone and let go" I told him quite angrily.

"We need to talk" he said again.

"Steve, let go of me. I have nothing to tell you" I told him. His old on my hand became tighter and he was hurting me with his hold. And his eyes shows nothing but determination. Unless I agree to talk, I know he wont let me go. And I didn't want to create a scene.

"Call me and we will talk. I am not here to embarrass myself nor my fiancé" I told him.

"No. I want to talk now" he said stubbornly.

"I don't know how things work in your world Steve, but in my one, I have order and discipline. I told you to let go of me" I told him quite angrily and the next thing I know was he pinned me on the wall and claimed my lips.