"Black or Lavender?" I hold out the two dresses in front of me.

"Lavender," Samantha says before she rolls her eyes, "You'll look like yourself in lavender- sweet, shy and all."

"I don't think I can do it," I sigh loudly.

"Don't make a big deal out of it, babe," Samantha says before popping her chewing gum and looking at me warmly.

"I wish I was confident like you," I tell her, sitting beside her in my bed. She was so strong and confident and independent. Would I ever be any of those?

Her parents were abusive which is why she left and has to live alone. I was glad she had started opening up to me. You know what they say- never judge a book by its cover. I don't think I'd open up about what happened to anyone though.

"And I wish I was as sweet as you. Self-love is important y'know, love yourself for what you are," she rolls her eyes.

"Sam, but you can be sweet."

"And Venus, you can be confident," she says in a very high pitched voice. This time, I roll my eyes.

"Now go, change. I'll do your hair and make-up," she says before falling back on my bed. I shake my head at her and walk to my bathroom.

The lavender dress is casual and goes to my knees. With a sweetheart neckline, the dress is full sleeved and sticks to my body like a second skin. Let's say it doesn't look that revealing but enough to make me feel sexy.

I come out of the bathroom and I am instantly pulled in front of the dressing table. I sit down and Sam starts braiding my hair. It's so complex and I have no idea what she is doing.

Once she is done, I look at my hair in awe. Who knew a bird's nest could be tamed into a beauty?

Samantha then starts with my face and after ages, she's done. I open my eyes and gasp. I had thought she'd done something heavy but it looks so natural.

I squeal in happiness and hug her but she pulls away.

"You'll mess everything up," she says sternly. I roll my eyes before slipping my feet into matching heels I borrowed from Samantha.

"Thank you," I tell her one last time and she pushes me to the door, chuckling silently. We tell our ' byes.

I find Ace waiting behind the door. How long has he been here?

"Hi," I say shyly when he looks at me with something like adoration. Pfft, right.

"Hi," he says in that deep voice of his before giving me flowers, this time white roses. His muscular chest is clad in a black tuxedo. My mouth waters at the sight in front of me.

Don't.

"Why don't you two fuck and get over each other," an amused voice startles me.

"Dylan," Ace growls before turning around. A guy older than Ace shows up. His body is clad in leather. Leather jacket, leather pants, leather boots. Oh boy. He looks like he has his leather factory.

His features match with that of Ace. Except, his eyes aren't brown like Ace's but hazel in color. They are mischievous, I can see. His hair is shorter too, but same midnight black. His jaw is sharp and his face is perfection. However, I don't seem to like his face as much as I like Ace's.

And, I didn't say it.

I didn't.

"You must be Venus," he stops in front of me and takes my hand in his, an action that causes me to blush. He then bows down and kisses my knuckles.

"Pleasure to meet you, beautiful" Dylan says.

"Same," I croak. Before I know it, Ace snatches my hand from Dylan's.

"We have somewhere to be," Ace grumbles before dragging me with him to the elevator. Someone is a bit grumpy. Or maybe just jealous. The thought that makes my heart flutter.

Dylan follows us and I hear a deep chuckle from him.

"He's my half brother," Ace explains. Of course, they looked so similar.

"You look beautiful, by the way," Ace whispers in my ear. I blush and pass him a shy smile. I'm glad Samantha didn't put blush on me, I'd look like a tomato.

The car ride is uncomfortably silent. The air is hot and electric and every once in a while, I hear Dylan mumbling about 'the sexual tension in the car'.

We reach the destination after an hour. Ace parks the car and he gets out to open my door. Gentleman.

He takes my hand in his and we walk inside, Dylan following us again. The restaurant is very classy. I feel a bit out of place in my plain lavender dress. Ace's hand rests on the small of my back.

We go to a private booth. Two couples are sitting there and there are smiles on their faces when they see us. It doesn't take a genius to find out the smiles are fake.

We hug each other. Turns out Ace's father and mother are divorced. Ace gets his looks from his father. Even with greying hair, he looks handsome. His hands are around his fourth wife, Ace tells me. Dylan is from his second wife, Ace from his third.

And they all are super-rich- hence the mansion.

I suddenly realize something- Ace must have so many stepbrothers and sisters.

His mother on the other hand doesn't seem to care that we are there because she keeps whispering and talking with her fiance, occasionally making out with him.

They look like they want to be anywhere but here.

What kind of dinner is this?

I know I shouldn't judge. But, a very dysfunctional family, I must say.

Observation.

Well at least, he has one.

Halfway through the dinner, I almost splutter the water out of my mouth when something warm touches my bare thigh. I find Ace's palm comfortably laying there, his fingers leisurely drawing imaginary patterns. I look at his face in horror.

He seems to be in deep thought. His fingers continue to trace patterns on my thigh subconsciously. I breathe heavily. I look around me and find everyone engrossed in their world. Ace's mother has her tongue down her fiance's throat while his father is whispering something into his wife's ears.

Dylan is looking at the waitress with a dark look and oh, I know that look very well. Someone's getting laid tonight.

What kind of dinner is this?

I put my hand over Ace's to stop his fingers. I again look at his face and see him look down at our hands resting on my thigh. Realization seems to sink in him and just when I think he is about to remove his hand, he starts doing it again, this time very consciously.

A smirk makes its way into his lips when his brown eyes find my blue ones and I almost gasp when his warm hand travels a little higher.

I bite back a moan and clench my thighs together. His smirk doubles.

This is going to be a long night.

Oof.