Chapter 6 Bombshell

We spent the whole afternoon visiting every store to look for the 'perfect' dress Freya didn't seem to find! Thankfully, one finally caught her eyes and forced it on me.

It was a blue off shoulder long puffed-sleeves dress that reached my knees. It was backless. There was a white ribbon wrapped around the waist part that formed a cute bow on the lower back. The sleeves were white, and there were also white patterns on the ends of the skirt that faded as it went up.

It was simple and I liked it, but there was a problem.

"This won't hide the love mark on my neck!" I hissed at Freya, making sure that no one would hear me. But by how the cheeks of the sales lady turned red, I was sure she did!

"Let me see!"

"Freya!" I groaned when she pulled my jacket aside to reveal the bruise.

"There's also a mark here on your collar bone!" She gasped, not noticing my burning face. "And also here in your-"

"Shut up!"

"Just how wild Mr. Ron was?"

"Gosh! I'll really shove this dress in your mouth!"

The sales lady forced a smile as she cleared her throat. "Uh, a proper application of concealer and foundation is enough to hide the...marks, Miss. I think the dress will really suit you."

"I told you so! Let's just go with this, Cindy! I'll help you!"

So we paid for it. It was already past five in the afternoon when we drove back to her condo. Since I didn't have enough time, none of us talked as I prepared myself, though Freya couldn't stop squealing after I wore the dress.

"Come on! Let's hide your love marks!"

She also volunteered to do my hair, while I put on light makeup. It was already five fourty when we finished, and the trip to the restaurant address the butler had sent me was thirty minutes. I would really arrive late!

"Whoa! You're so beautiful, my friend!" Freya complimented as I twirled in front of her tall mirror. My hair was done in a crown braid with a few curled strands framing my face. "I don't think Dion would look at someone else after seeing you like this."

"Please, Freya. Stop."

She only laughed, grabbing her keys on the side table. "Let's go. I'll drive you there."

"You really don't have to do this. You've helped me enough," I looked at her with worry and a little embarrassment. She frowned.

"And so what? I love helping you. Besides, I have a lot of free time today and I don't have any activities to spend it on."

"Terrence was literally here in the morning."

"Oh come on!" She smirked. "That beast is already drunk in my presence. Let's give him some rest, shall we?"

Wow.

"I really can't reach you, Freya Ariel..."

She laughed, a blush on her cheeks.

"But really. Thank you."

I just noticed that Freya was glowing, and she looked so happy. I had a feeling that it was because of Terrence. Whatever relationship they might be in, I hoped it was something that would change them both for the better.

The stereo was playing as we drove our way to a five star restaurant. Freya was so loud, singing along with the current music, while I was busy calming my nerves that were starting to pester me. I could hear the beat of my heart louder than the music, my breathing was becoming heavy as I felt something weird inside my stomach...

Like I was going to vomit! I hated this feeling!

Why was I getting nervous? I should calm down. I would just meet Dion Montero, anyway... A man that I had never seen yet.

Okay, maybe there was really something to be nervous about. This dinner was set so we could meet, after all. Thinking back, my father had sent me as his representative to that conference meeting just so I could personally meet Dion, but that man purposely avoided me for some reason.

And what reason was that?

The thought of it only made me more nervous!

"Are you constipated?" I heard Freya asked, suppressing her laughter. "Don't make that expression in front of Dion, Cindy Riella, I'm telling you."

I groaned. "I'm suddenly so nervous! What if I won't just-"

"Now that we're already here?" She raised an eyebrow. I looked out of the window, gasping in shock.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't notice!"

"Just think of this as a simple dinner with a guest. To make you feel better, just look at his forehead or nose instead of looking directly into his eyes-"

"Freya!"

"What? I'm serious!" She laughed. "That's the technique I did when I was having my job interview!"

Shaking my head, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. Freya winked at me as she waved goodbye, even yelling her advice that was all meant to tease me before I closed the door. I breathed heavily to at least calm myself down, my eyes were already focused on the fancy establishment in front of me.

"Good evening!" The host greeted me as soon as I stepped inside, a kind smile on his lips. "May I have the name on the reservation?"

"Leon Foren."

His eyes widened a little upon hearing my family name, his smile never faltering. "Yes, I'll take you to your table."

Even with my heart going miles, I tried my best to look calm. I didn't want to look stupid in front of them, especially to Matilda and my stepsisters. I was here as a respect to my father's request, not for them nor Dion.

The bodyguards greeted me as soon as we reached the reserved room. One of them knocked, and it was Butler Hans who answered. He stared at me in shock for a while before opening the door wide to let me in, nodding at me before announcing my arrival.

"My lord, Young Lady Riella has arrived."

"What?" Matilda's hiss that reached my ears made me smirk as I stood behind Butler Hans. "Cindy?"

"Good evening," I greeted, revealing myself. I raised an eyebrow after seeing Matilda's reaction, her perfectly curved eyebrow knitted together as her widened eyes glared at me.

Next to her were her daughters. Lindsay, the youngest of the two and the same as my age, rolled her eyes at me. While Lyna was gripping tightly on her knife and fork as if wanting to kill me, her eyes were glossy from unshed tears and obvious frustration.

Slowly, they all stood up to acknowledge my presence, except to my father who remained sitting on the head of the table while watching me with his usual stoic expression.

"C-Cindy..." Matilda forced a smile. "You... You said you're busy and-"

"Oh! I've managed to finish my paperworks early so I thought I still had enough time to join this lovely dinner," I smiled sweetly at her. "I apologize for being late."

But then, as I examined the faces present in this room, the smile I was wearing slowly faded when my eyes landed at the familiar man sitting next to my father. My lips parted in disbelief, my knees trembled at the way his eyes pierced through me...

Like that night.

'What the hell is he doing here!'

But the difference was, his dark eyes were now expressing anger instead of admiration.

How dare him get mad at me when I should be the one feeling that way!

"Take a seat, Cindy," my father motioned to the seat next to that man.

Chills ran down my spine. Memories of how we shared the night resurfacing in my head, bringing heat in my cheeks yet making my stomach churn in confusion and regret.

"Please meet Dion Theron Montero," Dad continued. "Dion, this is my daughter, Cindy Riella Foren."

Dion asked for my hand. If it wasn't for my father, Matilda, and my step sisters watching, I wouldn't ever touch this man again. Or maybe I would have slapped him instead. But I needed to be polite. I needed to go with the flow. I needed to hold my anger back until we're finally alone!

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Riella." He kissed the back of my hand. I gritted my teeth at the feeling of electricity that shot in every corner of my body.

"Theron..." So that's why it's Ron, huh.

He smirked at me.

'Dion Theron Montero...is the man I have damn slept with.'