chapter 14

Josie POV

"Here." Helena, Matthia's personal stylists said to me. She dug around in her purse, pulling out a tube of bright red gloss and handing it to me. "A woman can get a lot of strength from having a powerful color on her lips."

I smiled, taking the lip gloss she offered. "Thank you. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," she told me, placing both her hands on my shoulders. ''You're going to be so beautiful. Don't let the time get in your way. Matthias is very lucky to have you. Right?''

She gave me an encouraging smile and squeezed my shoulders before letting go. ''Right.'' I repeated in a dull tone.

I went back to the fitting room and switch out of the clothes I had on before. To the register, Helena begins to scan the dress for on the scanner and types in my information on the computer.

''Okay, two hundred and eighty is the total.''

I took out my card and she stops me from swiping. ''Matthias already send his money, you're okay love,'' she smiles.

Gently, I placed back my credit card in my wallet while Helena prints out the receipt. ''You have a nice day.''

''Thank you, you too.''

......

Nervous butterflies swirled around in my stomach as I prepared myself for the charity event tonight. There were two women in the room dressing Matthias while a man was doing my hair and makeup.

''Make sure we're near Bernard, I want to make a good impression,'' Matthias said on the phone. I was already done with makeup and my hair; I decided to head downstairs to grab some water.

Our maid, Shirley was cleaning the kitchen while two other chefs left the area and walked out of the mansion.

''My oh my,'' Shirley said. ''Why you look gorgeous!''

I placed my head down timidly. ''Thank you, it's nothing.''

''Oh, no, sweetheart, it's everything. You're like a Princess Tiana in real life!"'

I laughed. ''You think so.''

''Child, I know so.'' We both fall in laughter as she places her had on my hand. ''Matthias is lucky.''

''We're not...''

''I know,'' she cut me off.

''But why would you...''

''-- Because I know he has a soft spot for you.''

''We just met I don't think neither of us is interested. It's business.''

''But not for long. I see the way that boy looks at you.''

''I'm sure he looks at every woman like that,'' I chuckled nervously.

''To a black woman like yourself? Pfftt please.''

''--Josie?'' Matthias voiced echoed through. I turned my head around and saw him well-groomed with his Armani suit, showing off his luxurious watch.

''Yes?''

''Let's go.''

.....

We made it to the Lekas Falls for the charity event that was happening tonight. As usual, rich people were dressed in the fanciest, most luxurious clothing I've ever seen.

The charity event was for an organization in Cape Town, South Africa.

I was sitting in front of Bernard Gade, a multi-billionaire that owns several hotels with his wife, Noami. Matthias sparked up the conversation about business and traveling while I stood there like a statue, enjoying the food and drinking the wine.

''You have to tell us the story of how you proposed,'' Noami said in her thick British accent.

Matthias stuttered ''Oh it's a boring one.''

''Oh, please! I don't think it's going to be a boring story, Matthias. Josephine seems like a lovely woman.''

We both stared at each other and stared back at Noami and Bernard who were eager to know how we got 'engaged'.

''Honey, why don't you tell Noami,'' Matthias said, touching my hand gently.

''On that fateful Sunday morning, Matthias decided that it was time. He was finally ready to take the leap of faith and marry the woman of his dreams. He even found the perfect place- the park where we first met.

Everything looked beautiful. It was sunset in Paris, we were standing in front of the Effiel Tower and he took my arm and bend in one knee then popped the question.''

Noami touched her heart and placed her left hand to Matthias' arm. ''Matthias that's the most beautiful thing that I ever heard, oh you got yourself a lucky man,'' she said to me.

I raised my brows. ''Of course, I'm very lucky.''

Matthias' shoulders were slumped and his eyes cast down in a mournful gaze. He knows and I know that this is fake. Nothing really.

''Excuse me,'' I said while getting up. ''I'm going to the ladies' room.''

''Take your time darling,'' Bernard replied.

I let out a fake smile and went my way to the restroom. I found a sign that directed me to the lobby and followed it, crossing the large, open space and pushing my way out through the revolving doors I'd entered through earlier.

After pampering and fixing my dress, I left out the restroom and found myself seeing Michael, leaning against the wall.

"Mike?''

''Josie,'' he replies.