Seeing Rory was nostalgic. It reminded me so much of the time she was with Alec when they would both talk to me through Skype. Those times when Rory would even be like a big sister I never had. She was full of life, happy go, lucky person, it was infectious. Sadly, Rory could only go so far as to tolerate my brother's stupidity.

After she took my measurements, she made me pick a color for my Charity Gala gown, which was a black and white event. I chose white. A pearly white dress with an open back. She promised to have it delivered to my house before Friday night.

She hugs me one last time before waving us off.

"You look better than you did this morning," Dustyn noted as we drove away from Rory's boutique.

I can only imagine what I must look like right now with my wide grin. I nodded my head enthusiastically. "I feel better! Thank you, Dy."

He smiled. "You're welcome, shortcake."

"Ugh. Alec has probably already told Dad about last night. I'm going to get an earful!" I exclaimed as I realized that Dustyn was taking the route leading to my house.

He looks at me sideways and lets out a laugh. "Consequences of your actions."

I pouted at him like the kid I was. "But you'll save me right?"

His eyes soften. "Always shortcake."

My heart skipped a beat. I tore my eyes away from him. I cannot explain how I feel. His words have always made me feel protected but now, it is making me feel something else. I do not know what it is but I feel like it was not right. It was a weird feeling that I cannot explain.

The rest of the drive home was spent in comfortable silence. I can feel his eyes at me occasionally but he does not say anything. For which I am extremely thankful. I was not ready to decipher what I was feeling.

Once parked, I noticed our double doors were wide open. From my car seat, I can see Alec and Dad in the living room with Amelia. Unsurprisingly, I can see the smirk on Amelia's face as she watches me get out of the car and walk inside the house. I knew Dustyn was walking behind me based on the opening and closing of his car door and his footsteps.

"Dad," I mumbled as I walked to him and kissed him on the cheek as a greeting. I could barely look at Alec when I did the same to greet him. Neither of them was happy, that I know.

"Jack, good afternoon," Dustyn said, easing into greeting my Dad. "I am so sorry I kept Mara out for far too long today."

Dad glanced at me but I moved my eyes away from his questioning gaze that held hope. For what, I can only imagine. "Were you with her last night?" He asked in his strict voice.

Dustyn smiled, despite the scowl and unimpressed look on Dad's face. "I was, sir. I picked her and her friends from the party. I couldn't bring her home because I had a conference late last night."

"You should have called." He said, looking at Dustyn sharply.

"I did call Alec, "Dustyn replied, his eyes dancing with mischief as he smirks at my unsuspecting brother. "He must've forgotten to inform you."

Dad was not happy to hear that which caused him to look at Alec with a disapproving look. Dad crosses his arms on his chest. "Still. Sneaking out is not acceptable. Go back to your room Tamara."

Fighting the smile off my face, I nodded my head and ran up the stairs. I did not dare look back. I was thankful I did not have to deal with Dad's anger. Moreover, I knew Alec is not that angry with me.

All thanks to Dustyn.

My classes today are mostly for my Photography degree. Although, I did enroll in nine units of business subjects to lessen my units for the next couple of years. Maybe it is my talk with the dean or simply the family name that allowed me to do a double course but I am thankful for it.

College is a lot like high school. Although, it is bigger and much more dangerous when it comes to gossip. It literary spreads like wildfire with thousands of different idiotic versions. And how can I forget about the internet's involvement? It's even worse.

So it didn't surprise me when people stopped, stared, and pointed at me while I walked to my first class. I hate having unnecessary attention but if my actions last Friday were any clue, I would have to endure.

Thankfully, the room barely had any students in it and I was able to choose a seat, which was subtle and away from prying eyes. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what personal space is.

"You're that girl on the roof at the party!" A person pointed out as he took a seat beside me. Propping his elbow on the table, he rests his head on his hand, looking at me sideways. "Man. You're way prettier than I remembered."

I raised my eyebrow at him, unimpressed by his words. He was not a smooth talker like Dy. "Sorry to disappoint."

He lets out a chuckle, his eyes shining with amusement. "You're amazing. Will you go on a date with me?"

"Back off," I said angrily and moved a seat away from him.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was still looking at me even when the professor came in and started his lecture for the day. I was trying so hard to focus on whatever the professor was saying that I soon forgot about the eyes on me.

I stood up from my seat as soon as the professor dismissed us. Ignoring the annoying man, I briskly walked the distance to the door. As soon as I was out, I weaved through the crowd of other students heading out of the room.

The twins found me right outside of the Arts building. I was looking back inside to see if that annoying person followed me out when Artemis jumped on my back and I yelped in surprise.

"You should've seen your face!" Artemis said, cracking up to her horrible stunt that almost landed with me on my face.

I glared at the twins. "What are you both doing here?" I know that their classes are in a building far from here.

Apollo shrugged his shoulders and turned his head to his sister. "She wanted to see you."

I rolled my eyes at his reason. "You saw me Friday night."

"Yeah! Drunk off of your ass." Artemis said, looking sharply at me. "We're never letting you drink ever."

I scoffed. "Yeah right."

She glared at me. "I'm serious! Don't look at me like that!"

"Like what?"

"Like you don't believe me!"

She was about to reply when someone interrupted her. "Hey! You got out of there real fast."

I turned to the voice of the annoying person in class earlier. Looks like he ran after me but he didn't even break a sweat from running from the room.

"Anyway, I'm Noah Natividad." He said, extending his arm to me and wearing an easygoing smile on his face.

Deciding to be rude, I just crossed my arms on my chest and looked at him like a snob. I honestly just do not want to know who he is.

"Hey! I'm Artemis Fields." Art said, shaking hands with him.

His dark ocean blue eyes and his dirty blonde hair remind me so much of someone. The more I look at him, the more I see the similarities between them, and it does not make me any comfortable towards him.

"Forgive her. She's rude." Apollo said, snickering as he introduced himself. I honestly do not know why I am friends with them. "Although, if you're looking into dating her, it's a no."

"Why not?"

"She's engaged."

"But not yet married," Noah replied, which made me look at him sharply. Only to meet his ocean blue eyes. They are beautiful but not as beautiful as Dy's almond brown eyes. "I'll see you around beautiful."

Beside me, Alec pats my hand. "Dustyn's here." He told me, nodding his head to Dustyn's figure as he walked down the red carpet and to my door. He opens it himself, dismissing the valet.

He is wearing a black and white tuxedo. He looks handsome. His five o'clock shadow is long gone and his face seems soft as a baby's. He smiles down at me, his eyes full of happiness, and offers me his hand. "Shall we shortcake?"

I look back at Alec, unsure if I was ready to face the world. Walking down this red carpet beside Dustyn will be a quiet but huge statement that we are dating. "Go on. I'll be right behind you."

"He'll be escorting someone too, shortcake. Do not be scared. I'm right beside you." Dustyn reassures me. With a deep breath, I place my hand on his and slowly, but gracefully get out of the limousine. "Head up shortcake. You look gorgeous as always."

Nodding my head with a smile, I do as he has told me. With my head held up high, I walk beside them. The flashing lights are blinding and their shouts are deafening. Dustyn pays no mind to them and neither do I. Just being escorted by Dustyn Franco is a commotion enough to stir thousands of rumors.

Soon, we entered the hotel lobby where other business people were looking at us with surprise. Their whispering did not go unnoticed by me. Most of these people are business associates of Dad, Alec, and Dustyn.

"Look," Dustyn said, pointing to where we just came from.

Therefore, I did.

My jaw almost dropped at the scene. Alec looks elated to see the woman he is escorting to be Rory. However, Rory looks uncomfortable by the whole thing and barely looks at Alec. Once they too were safely inside the hotel, Rory snatched away her hand on my brother's arm and walked to us.

"You asshole." She hissed angrily at Dustyn. "I told you I don't want to see him."

"But you wanted to see Mara wearing the gown!" He argued, shrugging his shoulders.

"Ugh! Be thankful Mara is here." Rory then snatched my arm and pulled me along with her. Without looking back, we entered the hall where the Ball was happening.

"She's my date!" I heard Dy shout after her to which Rory replied, "I don't care!"

The first thing I saw when we entered the hall was the scrutinizing eyes of all the guests inside. They were not even trying to hide the fact that they were staring at me from head to toe. It felt weird. Like they were inspecting if I was good enough for their clique, sounds very high school, but that is what I am feeling right now.

"Hey," Rory called my attention. When I met her eyes, she smiled at me and said, "You look beautiful. Moreover, please, you are the only daughter of Jack Ramirez. Your dad will kick all of their asses."

I giggled at her words. Dad would, but he probably would not. Dad would never fight anybody by physically harming them. He is too gentle for such a thing. "Anyway, why were you with Alec earlier?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively at her. "Are you guys dating again?"

She looked shocked and disgusted by the notion that she let go of my arm. "That's your boyfriend's fault. That fool set me up. And I would never get back with your asshole brother."

I frowned at her words. Maybe, Alec did hurt her too much that now, she cannot even stomach the thought of them being together again. "What happened between the two of you?" I asked.

"I-"

"There you are shortcake." Dustyn's relieved voice made me turn to him. He just entered the hall and was standing beside a very poker-faced Alec. "Dance with me?" He asked, offering his hand to me once again.

A light push made me put my hand on Dustyn's extended hand. "Go have fun with your old man," Rory said with a smirk.

I just shook my head in disbelief and let Dustyn lead me to the dance floor where other guests have also started dancing. With my right hand on his right hand and my left on his shoulder with his right on my waist, Dustyn swayed us to the soft music playing in the background.

"Your heart is beating fast." He mumbled over me. His almond brown eyes found my gray ones. "Are you okay?"

I looked down but nodded my head, nonetheless. My heart was beating fast for two particular reasons. One is because of the judging eyes of possibly hundreds of people. Even as we dance, I feel their eyes burning a hole in my entire body. The second is because of Dustyn himself. He looks devilishly handsome. My heart is racing so I just gazed at him earlier. Having his hands on me was not helping my heart slow down to a normal rate.

"Oh shortcake. They are only looking at you because they are jealous of your beauty. And, of course, because I am dancing with you." He told me.

I laughed at his words. "Cocky, aren't you?"

I felt his shoulders move as if he was shrugging. "Just stating the truth."

We danced until the last tune of the song was played and everyone proceeded to his or her perspective tables. Dustyn guided me to the table, which was placed up, on the front. We shared the table with both of our families and, of course, with Aurora.

The MC made introductions. He told us about them so far, they have already collected $5.24 billion just from the auctioned pieces displayed in the room. He then called Dustyn to make a speech, as his company is the host of this event.

I barely paid any mind to his speech. As much as I wanted to, I was getting irritated with the eyes that kept staring at me. I was too focused on trying not to let them affect me when Alec nudged me.

"What?" I asked him softly, blushing red as even more eyes were drawn to me because of the spotlight that was put on me.

"Dustyn wants you to join him," Alec whispered back softly.

"Tamara, please."

So, with a shaky breath, I stood up from my seat and made my way up the stage where Dustyn is. He helped me up the stairs of the stage. He smiled and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. Then without saying anything, he drops to one knee.

As Dustyn fell on one knee, the audience gasped in surprise. No one, not even I, expected him to do this in front of all his business associates and both of our families. Smiling up at me, he takes my left hand in his right, his left holding a ring.

"Will you marry me?" He asked me, his voice was shaky but hopeful. Besides, for one second I forgot about the contract. I forgot about the agreement that we made with Alec. The agreement they made. People awed at us, ignorant of the battle inside of me that I am losing. My eyes scanned the crowd and my eyes met Alec's. He gave me a small and encouraging smile.

I looked down at Dustyn and smiled. I cannot, for the life of me, refuse his offer. Even if I wanted to deny it, these past few days of spending time with him had me falling for him. Slowly, I was starting to see him past the big brother category I have long put him in.

"Yes."

I can only hear the sigh of relief that came from him and not the applause from everybody else. I can only feel as he slid the ring on my finger and his arms were soon around me as he whispered words to me.

I do not know what it is. Maybe I was in shock. Everything was a blur to me except him. Except for my fiancée.

"Shortcake? Are you alright?" His voice was full of worry and I snapped out of the haze I was in. "Have some water."

As I drank, Alec came into view. His eyes mirrored his worry for my well-being. Have I been staring into nothing for far too long? "What's wrong?"

"I think she's still in shock Alec." I heard Dustyn say. I felt warm big hands take hold of mine. Suddenly, my eyes finally focused on Dustyn's beautiful face marred with worry as he looked at me. He was squatting down in front of me. "Hey. Say something." He said, his right hand tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.

"Dy," I mumbled. My hands were still shaking from everything that just happened. It felt so real. He felt so real.

"Shortcake. You are always scaring me. Always making my heart beat so fast." He said gently.

I gave him a shaky smile. "I'm sorry Dy. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Alec asked me. His familiar gray eyes gave me a sense of calmness that I needed.

I smiled at him and nodded my head. "I might just be tired from my classes or hungry." I reasoned.

"Alright, I'll ask one of the servers to bring you a plate of something," Alec said, already walking away from us and to one of the servers who looked utterly surprised to be speaking to such a man of high social standing.

"Hey," Dy called out to me and I looked at him. "We can go after you eat." His lips lifted into a smile.

"But this is your charity ball." I reminded him softly. "Besides, I saw something I wanted to buy from the auctioned items."

Dustyn drops a kiss on my hand and smiles at me. "If that is what you wish, shortcake."

After tonight, I would be known as Tamara Ramirez, daughter of Jack Ramirez and fiancée of Dustyn Franco.