Chapter 68

Reporters clustered the hotel that would be used for Fashionista s fall, all of them speaking in front of their cameras to explain what was going on as they waited for the celebrities to arrive. With each car that stopped in front of the red carpet, fans would go wild with screams if it was their idol that arrived.
It was explained that nothing brings the celebrities together like Fashionista s fall, because even those that were on vacation always come back for it and some celebrities comes from other countries to attend the show.
Different types of cars stops to discharge different people, all arising shouts and screams from the onlookers that were being held by barricade not to jump out and cause a mess, although securities would hold back those who tries to escape. A white car stopped and Esperanza emerged with her escort, her fans went wild for her and cheered her on. Sean had been merciful to her, in as much as she had thought that he would put her off her career, he didn t do that but she knew something had changed. She has to work extra hard to get endorsement just like every other models, unlike before when Sean often chooses endorsements for her. She knew she couldn t take back the hands of time but she really regret her action, if she had known it would not bring the desired effect, she wouldn t have tried.
She was dressed in a long blue gown that cascaded down her feet; her platinum blonde hair was styled in bouffant ponytail. She smiled and blew kisses to her fans as she walked the red carpet with her escort dressed in a black tuxedo. They were still walking the carpet when they heard series of screams, louder than necessary. They turned to see that a white limo has stopped and without thinking twice, she knew the occupants immediately and she doesn t know if she wants to stick around and see them or not.
The door opened and Sean stepped out, he was dressed in a white suit with diamond floral, his hair was slicked back as always, enhancing his handsome face. He smiled faintly and turned to help someone out. Grabbing her slender hand, he helped Athena out of the limo and the crowd went crazy. Just like Sean, she was dressed in a long white gown with an X design in front, revealing her flat and sexy tummy and her back exposed. The gown flowed down from her waist like waterfall and tailed behind her. Her hair was styled in retro high bun, with her face as exquisite as the man beside her. She wasn t wearing a heavy makeup, just eye shadow, a mascara and light pink lip gloss.
She smiled and waved gently to the people who screamed louder, she had often asked Sean that she wasn t a model but why do people idolize her and he had answered that she might not be a model but she was Face of Brand, something a lot of models would love to be and the fact also that she was his girlfriend added to her publicity.
The duo looked striking together in their white attires, when their limo moved away; they started walking the red carpet when another car that stopped after theirs turned out to be Leo and Gloria. While Sean and Athena were dressed in white, Leo and Gloria were dressed in black, arriving with a black limo. When they met together at the center of the carpet, they were a feast for the eyes, black and white; making it hard for the onlookers to choose which couple was more striking.
They walked into the hotel and straight to the hall for the fashion show. Right there, they were also stared at by the already arrived celebrities and important personals and tycoons. The two couples smiled, knowing the effect they have on them as they matched to their seats which was arranged together.
When all guests have arrived, the host picked the microphone and the show started. Models walked the runway, sampling the dresses they wore. Sean picked for Athena and she picked for him and with Leo by their side, he didn t hesitate to mock them with each opportunity he got, also threatening them that they won t have their orders if they don t order like everybody else.
When the well deserved show was over, everyone started leaving one after the other. Sean could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest, he had told Athena that after the show, they would go out, since they already had dinner before coming out for the show, he had told her that he wants them to sit somewhere and talk, somewhere that wasn t his home which she had agreed to without blinking an eye.
As they walked into the reception of the hotel, he was growing nervous by each step, knowing that soon he would be popping the one question he had thought he would never ask a woman. "Mr. Brand," a man called, diverting him his nervous state.
He smiled to the man and turned to Athena, "give me a second," he kissed her cheek lightly and walked up to the man that was at the other corner of the room, "If it isn t Hilton Shaw," he shook hands with him, "I wasn t expecting to see you here."
"You arrived before I did and I decided to talk to you when everything was over," the man smiled, pushing back his gold rimmed glasses on his nose bridge. He sighed and looked at Sean, "when are you going to see him?"
The smile on Sean s face vanished immediately, "I have told you, when you see me, don t mention him and this is my last warning to you, if you do it again, I will stop acknowledging you."
"Sean, he is sick and his last request is to see you."
"Well, he has lived fine without seeing me for twenty years, he can die without bothering."
"Sean…" the man was saying when a commotion interrupted them and they both looked at where the noise was coming from to see Frank kneeling before Athena. At that sight, Sean felt his heart missed series of beat, looks like his fear was one step ahead of him.
Athena had been standing at her spot, watching Sean talk with the older man, she has been surprised when he didn t pull her along, he has never greeted someone if she was with him without taking her along and introducing her and since he didn t do it this time, it could only mean he doesn t want her to hear what he was discussing with him.
She had been waiting patiently for him when she heard, "Athena," and turned to see Frank, he was wearing a black tuxedo like most of the men present and she must admit, wealth was good on him. She had decided to pass her time as she wait for Sean by hearing what he has to say but what she never expected was for him to go down on one knee before her.
"I have been trying to get to you but you never gave me the chance, I knew you would be here, that was why I prepared myself for I would never rest if I didn t do this," he gulped and looked up at her, into her eyes, "I admit I missed my way earlier but I must have you know that I am back now and I promise never to miss my way again. You see, ever since I have set my eyes on you from when we were teenagers, I have known you were the one for me. I may have forgotten that fact at some point but it had always been here," he pointed at his chest.
"I love you, Athena, and no amount of pain or ignorance would change that fact. In order to prove my love to you, I have decided to make your parents wish come true, I promised them that I would look after you and I would protect you, but I can only do that if you give me the chance. Your mother had wished for this to happen, so I m going to ask you now, will you make me the happiest man on earth and bring your mother s wish to pass by marrying me?" with that, he brought out a reddish box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
People clustered, watching them, no one could believe what was happening and they all shared the same thought, isn t she Sean Brand s woman? Why is Frank proposing to her? Everyone knew he was her ex and from his words, they had gotten a hold of what was happening and the question now was: what would Athena do?
The first thing Athena did was look at Sean to discover he was watching her as well. Sean knew he should match to them and drag her away but he didn t, he had always been afraid of this, wondering what would happen. He knew Athena have always wanted to fulfill her mother s wish and once he had heard her say that if Frank should ever propose, she would say yes. Although she was with him now, he hasn t gotten over the fact that she would say yes should Frank propose and in as much as he wants to marry her, he had wanted to do it fast so that when it occurs to Frank to do that, she would already be his. But of course, Frank is now few minutes ahead of him and he could only watch while gripping tightly onto the box that holds the ring he had wanted to give her as he waited in a heartbeat to hear her answer.