A moment later, Jules was still searching for Ceaser when someone yanked backwards, pulling her to what looked like a balcony.

She smiled.
His touch, his scent, she didn't have to look to know who it was.

"Let me go." She said teasingly.

"And why would I do that?" Ceaser whispered into her ear with her back against his front.

She titled her head to the side and back on his shoulder as his lips grazed the back of her ear and down.

"I've been looking for you." She said

"I know." He said "I saw you the second you walked in and after that. I was tied up." He said, "You made a rather grand entrance."

"Sorry." She turned around to him "I fell in love with the dress the second I saw it, I was discouraged because of the colour but Andy and Sofi convinced me to get it."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm glad they did." He took a step back to look at her "You look perfect."

Jules blushed as he pulled her into him and placed his hand on the small of her back and brought his lips down on her.

His hand dropped from my waist to my hips towards her thigh which was exposed. His fingers skimmed her naked thigh which sent shivers through her to her core. She suppressed a moan and pulled away.

"You have to stop." Her breathing had already quickened.

He smirked at me as he took a step closer to her and placed his hand on the side of her face.
"You look absolutely beautiful." He said, "I don't know which is better, you in that dress...or without it."

Jules opened her mouth in shock.
"Ceaser!" She hit his chest playfully

He laughed.
"I missed you today."

"Didn't seem like it."

"Oh, c'mon Jules, I had to take care of some things."

"Like what?"

Ceaser sighed then kissed her forehead.
"You'll soon find out" Jules' brow furrowed in curiosity "Let's get back to the party. My parents would be wondering where we are."

Ceaser took her hand in his and they both walked hand in hand back to the hall of what seemed to be a thousand people or more. She and Ceaser made their way to the table at the front and she saw Selene and Eric.

"Jules?" Selene smiled getting up to hug her.

Jules returned the smile and hugged her.
"Happy New Year's Eve."

"Same to you dear." She said, "You look lovely."

"And so do you." She smiled at Eric stood up to give her a hug "Happy New Year's Eve."

"You too, dear." He said, "I thought you came to your right mind and left my son."

"Dad!" Ceaser said

"Oh, he feels threatened." Eric said and Jules laughed at Ceaser when he rolled his eyes.

Some men walked up to Ceaser and he smiled at them just as Selene and Eric took their seats.

"Jules this is Xavier." He said, "And Alex."

"You must be Jules." Xavier shook her hand "We've heard all about you."

"Oh my." Jules said, "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you after hearing so much about you from Ceaser."

"Alex." The other one said.

Xavier and Alex were Ceaser's college friends turned business partners. He had told her about his struggle in College and how both of them had helped him out and they had been friends ever since. Xavier and Alex had businesses of their own in Spain and London where the three of them co-owned a hotel chain that was in different parts of the world.

"Ceaser mentioned the New Year's party and we knew we had to fly in to get a chance to meet you." Alex said

"Well we're glad you could make it." She said

"It's starting." Ceaser said as he pulled out a chair for her and soon, they were all seated.

Selene who sat next to her conversed with her at intervals. Over time, she and Selene and gotten so close, from a stranger's perspective it'd seem like she was her mother rather than Ceaser's.

The shows went on and Jules found them interesting, the kids' carols were fun to watch because she imagined Ivy a few years from now singing with them, the comedians were...comedians, hilarious as always. Then there was the dance which Ceaser had asked her to.

"What?" She asked Ceaser when he kept staring at her as we danced along with other couples on the floor.

"Nothing." He smiled.

"Obviously there's something."

"I just love you."

That got her to shut up and smile.
"I love you too."

He kissed her forehead then she placed her head on his chest and enjoyed the moment.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, a few minutes left before we begin the countdown to New Year." The MC announced when the dance ended and everyone clapped and hooted.

"Can we all welcome the CEO of Thompson's Publishing, Mr. Ceaser Thompson." He said and everyone clapped.

When did Ceaser decide to give a speech?
Jules wondered.

"I'll be with you in a while." Ceaser squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek before he got up from his chair and joined the MC on the floor.

"Thank you, Chris." Ceaser said when the MC fixed a lapel on him.

Ceaser cleared his throat and began while Jules sighed in her seat.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, once again I want to welcome you all to our first New Year celebration. Hopefully, we'll have many more."

He paused as everyone gave him a hand.

"Lately, I've been one of the happiest men in the world. I always catch myself smiling at everything, jogging, at the office...reading a boring contract."

Everyone laughed.

"All because of one person." Ceaser looked at Jules and she felt her heart stop. "Something I never thought would happen to me happened. Someone I never thought I'd be with, someone that makes me happy regardless of anything and everything else. At the start of the year, I never knew something was missing in my life till I met her."

Jules scoffed, her eyes tearing up.

"She makes me feel complete, she's the better half of us." He paused, eyes still on her. "I don't think I'd survive without her, I'd be a total mess."

Ceaser got off stage and began walking towards his table.

"I can't and never want to imagine my life without you in it." He said to her "It's just...wrong. I want you and little Ivy to be with me forever. So, Jules. Jessie. Jenna..."

He stood right in front of her.

"...if you love me as much as I love you and can't stand the thought of being apart from me, I have one question to ask you."

Jules held her tears at bay expecting the unexpected. She let out a whoosh of breath when he knelt down in front of her opening a small velvet box. Jules took a sharp breath in as she stared at the ring in the box. She felt the tears running down her cheeks. She had totally forgotten everyone else until she heard the 'aww' at what was happening.

"Marry me?" He asked

Jules let out a shaky breath looking up at him, her thoughts had taken the time off so she wasn't able to think except live in the moment and let her heart decide. She smiled and nodded her head continuously forcing herself to speak.
"Yes." She finally said "Yes. I'll marry you."

Ceaser grinned at her, she could see the unshed tears in his eyes as he placed the ring on her finger. He rose from the ground as he pulled her up, out of the chair and kissed her like no one was in the room. They were in their own world, in each other's arms not caring about the world outside their bubble of love. The applause brought them back to earth as she rested her forehead on his, he turned the lapel off.

"I love you so much." He said almost inaudible.

"I love you too." She said still not believing what had just happened.

"Congratulations." Selene and Eric said as they came to give them a hug. Xavier and Alex congratulating Ceaser.

"Dada." They heard Ivy say and they turned to find Andy and Sofi coming towards them. Ceaser smiled as he picked Ivy from Sofi as the girls congratulated him then hugged her.

"You're engaged." Andy said as they all squealed looking at her ring "It's beautiful."

Jules blushed as she caught Ceaser looking at her and blushed even more.

"Congratulations to the newly engaged couple" Chris said from the stage launching into a short speech

"Andy, Sofi..." Ceaser called "...meet my friends and business partners Xavier and Alex."

"We already met." Andy said glaring at Alex who smirked.

"So, which one are you?" Alex asked her "Andy or Sofi?"

"My friends call me Andy." She said, "But you may call me Miranda."

Alex gave a nod with his smirk still on his face.
"Miranda sounds even better."

Jules watched Andy fume.

"Sofi," Jules called her while Sofi seemed unable to look away from her phone as she typed. "Sofia."

Sofi looked up at her.
"Sorry." She said, "My parents are still on about how I decided not to spend New Year with them."

"What do they expect?" Andy said, "You haven't been home in forever."

Sofi sighed and looked up at the guys.
"Hi." She said almost breathless.

Xavier smiled at her.
"I see your kid isn't actually your kid." He said, "So, where's the husband?"

Sofi faked a laugh.
"About that..."

Andy and Jules laughed and before Sofi was able to continue, Chris's voice broke their conversation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, feel free to join in the countdown to New Year."

Jules made her way next to Ceaser and kissed Ivy on her cheek as Selene and Eric joined in the group and everyone counted down.

"...8, 7, 6,..."

Ceaser pulled her closer to him as he smiled down at her, Ivy in his other arm, Selene and Eric next to his with Andy and Sofi next to her and then Xavier and Alex. They counted as they waited to enter the New Year together.

"...3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!" Everyone shouted and wished each other.

Jules looked up at Ceaser smiling.
"Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, fiancée" He smiled before he placed a light kiss on her lips.

She wished Selene and Eric, Andy and Sofi and finally, Xavier and Alex whom she had a feeling she would be seeing more of.

She picked Ivy from Ceaser and placed kisses on her face making her giggle.
"Happy New Year Munchkin."

"Ah-Peee!" She said and they all smiled.

It was going to be a great year.
Jules thought as Ceaser pulled her into him.