Amanda felt flattered and touched by Emmett's special surprise for her. She can see his real effort.
"Yes, I will marry you, Emmett!" she finally gave her answer.
One of the reasons why Amanda accepted Emmett's marriage proposal is she wants to make her own parents happy. They clearly like Emmett as their future son-in-law and they have been encouraging her to finally accept him.
And just like what she usually sees at the movies, Emmett slipped the jaw-dropping engagement ring on her right ring finger, they gave each other a quick kiss, then they started calling their family and friends to give them the good news.
Both parties are extremely elated by the news of their engagement.
And now, she is meeting Emmett's parents to have a special dinner with them and talk about the details of the wedding.
After a few moments.
Amanda is currently listening to Mrs. Katherine Albreicht who's talking non-stop about her vision for the wedding.
"What do you think about a Victorian-themed wedding, Amanda? I can imagine you wearing a very classic wedding gown and everything at the church is adorned with elegant flowers! I'm sure your wedding will be the talk of the town and you will be headlined at the society pages!" Emmett's mother excitedly chatted.
Amanda just smiled in return, but she didn't say anything. Deep inside, she really wants to tell them that she wants a very simple and intimate wedding ceremony, with only 50 guests, which is a total contrast of having 100 guests that both of their parents wanted.
But she doesn't have the courage to tell them what's on their mind because she doesn't want to hurt their feelings and she wants to be a dutiful daughter.
She has been hiding something for a very long time and she wants to tell her parents about it because it's slowly killing her inside... But she decided to just keep it a secret because the most important thing in her life right now is to make her parents happy.
Amanda snaps out from her reverie when she felt Emmett's hand on her own hand, and gently squeezing it as if he is giving her an assurance that everything's going to be alright. She just smiled at him in return, while giving him a small nod.
"Mother, it's too early for us to talk about the details of our wedding. and in case you have forgotten, you and father should be talking about your diamond wedding anniversary. It's your wedding next month, right?" Emmett reminded his parents.
Amanda is thankful to Emmett because he is trying to protect her, which was really sweet.
"Your son is right, Katherine. Let them plan their own wedding, and we should be concentrating on our own wedding anniversary." Mr. Albreicht finally spoke.
"You're absolutely right, darling. I sincerely apologize, dear. anyway, I'll be expecting you and your parents at our Diamond Wedding anniversary. You are all our special guests." Mrs. Albreicht reminded Amanda, with a big smile on her face.
"Of course, Mrs. Albreicht. WE are very much excited and honored tp witness your renewal of vows. THank you very much for inviting us." Amanda politely responded.
She heaved a sigh of relief when Mr. and Mrs Albreicht talk about the details of the upcoming diamond wedding anniversary.
But as of the moment, she really wants to go back home, take a shower, hit the sack and call it a day since she needs to be at the Etoile Cosmetic company early in the morning, but she needs to be an obedient and dutiful daughter-in-law to her future parents-in-law...
===========================
LARA SMITH.
It's currently her lunchtime at work, and as usual, she is eating all alone. She wants to have a moment of peace during lunch time, and she doesn't care what her co-workers will think and say about her.
She doesn't really like the idea of gossiping over lunch and talk about other people in the office.
Lara is now eating a hearty lunch provided by the company. What she likes about working at Etoile Cosmetics is the equal treatment to each employees. It doesn't matter if your a Manager, a supervisor or a low-level employee, the employee benefits are all the same. The company gives fair and just treatment to all of them.
All of them are given bonuses twice a year, they have superb health insurance benefits, and their meals are provided by the company, free of charge.
Lara always carries a lunchbox and fills it with food from the company cafeteria, and she will eat it for dinner at home afterwards.
At the same time, all of her bonuses and half of her salary are being sent to the orphanage where she grew up. She has a sense of gratitude and responsibility to financially provide because she's thinking about the orphaned children's welfare, and she's thinking about the survival of the institution as well. They don't have many sponsors, so that's why she needs to work extra hard and save everything so that she can send money to the orphanage every month.
If only she could take Amanda Montserrat's shoes. She's a beautiful, smart and capable businesswoman who owns a big company . Eventhough she is the only daughter of a rich family who belongs to the Top 5 Most Successful Families in the country, she didn't use her family's connection to make her own company successful.
Amanda Montserrat is a self-made woman. She built her own cosmetic empire with her own money, power, and connections.
Lara thinks that the CEO is living a perfect life and she doesn't have any problems at all. Aside from that, she is happily engaged with one of the sought-after bachelor in the country, which happens to be one of the richest man in the country as well.
Her Boss is bound to be married to Emmett Albreicht, an uber-rich hotel magnate.
And speaking of the devil, Amanda Montserrat suddenly appeared at the company cafeteria, along with some supervisors and other employees.
Their boss normally eats lunch at the company cafeteria twice a week, and she always initiates an enjoyable conversation with the other employees while eating lunch.
Everyone at the company likes their Boss because she treats all of the employees with so much respect and kindness.Lara silently watches the female CEO as she stands in line with the others, while holding a tray. She patiently waited for her turn to order to get her own food. After a few minutes, Amanda Montserrat and her companions sat at a certain table, and started eating lunch while chatting with each other.Lara is observing her every move, like a predator eyeing its prey. She studies the way she talks, the way she eat and laugh with her companions.She was so concentrated with Amanda, that she didn't realized that her lunchtime is almost over. She almost jumped out from her seat because of surprised when she felt someone tapping her shoulders. She looked at her right side, and she saw one of her co-worker from the Cleaning Department standing beside her."I'm so sorry for surprising you like that, Lara." Christy said, while looking apologetic.Lara took a deep, calming breath b
"Oh, you don't have to worry about it. I'm pretty sure that I didn't mention my girlfriend's name in that phonecall." Oliver said, while shrugging in return."Don't worry, you're secret is safe with me. I'm a loner after all." Lara enunciated.Oliver took a deep breath before he spoke again."To tell you the truth, I'm getting really tired of keeping my secret. But exhausting as it may seem, keeping this secret is the only way to protect the woman that I love." he said, with a serious look on his face."I'm not really great at giving advices, but I can assure you that I'm a good listener and I'm damn good a keeping secrets." Lara said in return."Well, I believe in you. We've been talking for a few minutes now but we haven't introduced each other properly. I'm Oliver Doe..." he finally introduces himself, as he offered his hand for a handshake."Yes, I know you. You're the Head of the Security here at Etoile Cosmetics Company." stated Lara."Let's just forget about our job titles, sha
EMMETT ALBREICHTAfter Emmett drives his fiancee home, he and his parents finally arrives at one of their mansions at the Metropolitan City. His parents will be going back to the Albreicht Estate in the countryside tomorrow. His parents prefers to live in the countryside area since the noise and the big crowd in the city makes them exhausted."Son, do you have a minute to have a drink with me at the mini-bar? Your mother and I will go back home tomorrow, so I want to have a bonding moment with you before we get busy with the wedding preparations." Mr. Albreicht smilingly suggested to his son."I like that idea, Dad. Let's go." Emmett nodded in approval.After a few minutes, the father and the son duo are now enjoying their own alcoholic drinks. Mr. Albreicht is drinking rum, while Emmett is enjoying his own glass of brandy."So, tell me son. Are you really inlove with Amanda?" the old man gave his son a surprising question."What kind of question is that, Dad?" Emmett curiously asks h
"Oh, you're on your way to the penthouse, too? That's great! You know what, forget about cleaning and let's just hangout in my office!" Amanda suddenly suggested.Lara looked taken back at the CEO's suggestion."But I'm still at the middle of my work, and besides, why would a CEO hang out with a lowly employee like me?" she inquired."Why not? And why would you say that you're just a lowly employee? Look, everyone in this company is equal. There's no such thing as being a higher employee and a lowly employee. We're just normal human beings and we're working to survive in this crazy world. And by the way, I'm inviting you as the company's CEO, but I'm inviting you as a friend. So, what do you say? Wanna hangout with me?" Amanda continues to convince her."Well, it wouldn't hurt to accept her invitation, right? I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance so I should just go for it." Lara said to herself, while thinking hard.After a few seconds, Lara's attention went back to Amanda."Ok
Before Lara could say something else, they heard someone knocking at the door. "Please wait for me, I'm just going to see who's at the door." Amanda told her.Lara nodded in return.Amanda stood up, and walked towards the door. As soon as she opens the door, she was greeted by her fiance', Emmett."Hello there, honey! I just dropped by to surprise you!"Lara discreetly glances at Amanda's visitor. She saw a man who is talking to her Boss. She secretly whistled while staring at the man. He looks like a model who walked out straight from the pages of a men's fashion magazine. He looks so damn gorgeous! His face can make the women swoon and crawl at his feet. He got the most amazing blue eyes and she feels hypnotized by it. He also got a straight nose that ends with a soft, curvy tip.Lara's eyes went down to his lips, and goodness gracious! He got kissable lips, and she can't help but wonder how is it like to be kissed by him. He also got a well-defined jawline, and it made him hotter.
"Whatever your plan is, as long as it's for the benefit of other people and as long as you're not hurting other people, I'll always be here to support you, honey." Emmett sincerely enunciated."I appreciate your support, Emmett. I really want to help Lara, and I'm very excited about her future." Amanda continued to speak."Oh, I almost forgot about this... My parents asked me to give this to you. Mom said should give this to you as soon as possible." Emmett suddenly remembers something. He gave a velvet medium-sized envelope to Amanda."Oh, this looks so beautiful! This is such a perfect invitation for the Diamond Wedding Anniversary." Amanda smilingly explained, while looking at the invitation."Oh, here's another invitation for your parents. Don't forget to give this to them, okay?" Emmett reminded his fiancee."I promise I will give it to my parents. Don't worry." Amanda said in return."And once my parents diamond wedding anniversary is over, we should start making preparations fo
"This ring is an outward reminder of our inner unity, a bond which is stronger than any obstacles. Let this ring always be a reminder of my promise to you, and tbe unwavering bond between us." the bride lovingly spoke, as she slips a ring on her husband's finger as well.Amanda doesn't know why, but tears starts to fall from her eyes."Are you alright, honey?" she suddenly heard Emmett's voice.Amanda quickly wipes away her tears, as she forces an smile towards Emmett."I'm... I'm okay. I'm just touched by their wedding vows." she responded, while trying to control her emotions."Don't worry, I feel the same way, too." Emmett admitted.Amanda just smiled in return, but she didn't say anything else. She turned her attention back to Mr. and Mrs. Albreicht, who are smiling at each other."---With tbe power vested in me, I now pronounce you as husband and wife." the priest finally announced.Everyone at the church started clapping joyously after the renewal of vows ceremony. Mr. and Mrs A
But she can't help herself but to hide their relationship, as she's afraid and concerned on what people will say about it.Amanda lets out a big, helpless sigh after she went back the memory lane. Many years have passed, but her love for Oliver is getting stronger. But the problem is, she is engaged to be married to Emmett Montserrat, and she doesn't know how to get out from this messy situation.She helplessly climbed into her bed and hugged her pillow in a fatal position. She started crying silently, until she was able to fall asleep...=============================OLIVER DOEIt's Friday in the evening, and it's also his day off from work. Instead of just taking a relaxing time and good rest at home, he decided to hit the bar and drink alone, just to forget all the pain that he's feeling deep within his heart, even just for tonight. He's been thinking that he deserves to have a good time, after so long... Everyone at the bar seems to be having a great time, and he feels like he's