gold and silver, with a champagne fountain and wall paintings reminiscent of the Renaissance. The ballroom they had entered was large, but there were so many people it was almost filled to the brim anyway. Jasmina walked down the main stairway, her hand resting daintily on Alan's arm. The sins were supposed to arrive later, but she quickly noticed five of them in the middle of the room, giggling as they sipped from their flutes and refilled them from the fountain.

She wasn't even surprised that they were drunk already, just that most of them were together without even having broken something already. Alan noticed her gaze wandering off, but didn't say anything. He hadn't spoken at all the whole time in the limo together, eyes glued on his fidgeting hands. It was easy to guess that he wasn't looking forward to the confrontation with his father, but she knew nothing she said would reassure him.

"You look beautiful by the way," Alan murmured to her then, interrupting her thoughts.

She offered him a smile, knowing full well he was right. Azriel had chosen a gorgeous dress for her, with a rich bordeaux corset and tule skirt, the warm colors suiting her sunkissed skin. Her off shoulder sleeves were made of diamonds, matching with the ones dangling from her ear and glistening on her neck. The outfit was more expensive than her tuition for Gaia and that said enough on it's own - she looked good enough to ruin someone's life today.

"You clean up well too, Alan," she said, voice sweet as her calculating eyes focused on the people surrounding her," the suit fits you."

Alan quickly glanced down at his navy blue suit, looking back at her with a faint blush on his cheeks.

"It's not like you to be shy now," she said, her charming smile not leaving her lips.

She could say a lot about Alan, but at least he knew her well enough to catch her hints. Act natural, she had meant, and he did, immediately mirroring her expression as he looked around. Her parents weren't here yet, but they never arrived early. They had taught her the same as well, but it had been necessary for her plan, so she had broken that rule for once. Still, she didn't bother looking for Alan's father, knowing full well she wouldn't need to.

Sure enough, she and Alan had been walking around and greeting a few people for only five minutes when he appeared, his glass already empty and eyes wide.

"Jasmina?" he stammered," what are you doing with my son?" He glanced at Alan, a frown on his face. "You didn't tell me about this, Alan."

"It happened so suddenly," Jasmina replied happily before Alan had to," we didn't have the time."

"I thought you were done with him forever?" Yves blinked.

"You know I couldn't stay away from your son for long," Jasmina chuckled, resting her hand on Alan's chest," especially when he showed up at my house and made such a grand gesture."

She hugged Alan then, shielding his face from Yves' view as she whispered in his ear. "We're engaged now, by the way."

"Wh -" he began, but she placed her fingers on his lips, pecking the back of her hand to feign a kiss.

"He proposed!" Jasmina exclaimed as she pulled away, eyes filled with warmth.

"I had to," Alan laughed, a bit awkward.

Yves' gaze flashed between the two of them in disbelief, before joy flashed across his face.

"O my God," he said," I never expected this to happen, but I'm so glad it did!" He slapped Alan on the shoulder, ignoring how his son winced ever so slightly at his touch. "I'm proud of you, Alan, you made the right choice."

"Didn't he?" Jasmina smiled," we should toast on that, shouldn't we?"

"Yes, we should!" Yves agreed, immediately raising his hand and clicking at a nearby waiter to fill their glasses.

Someone was by their side in no time, filling Yves' glass and turning towards them after. Alan didn't say anything as she filled their glasses too, the waiter offering them a friendly smile.

"Is it a celebration?" she asked curiously.

"It is," Alan said awkwardly.

"And it is also none of your business," Yves interrupted," now scurry off."

"I was just asking in case you needed a second glass," the waiter stammered, looking taken aback," I'm sorry, sir, it's just that it's bad luck if you don't drain the glass when toasting for celebratory purposes."

Yves rolled his eyes at her, but complied anyway, holding his glass up high as she walked off.

"Where were we?" Yves said.

"We were toasting," Jasmina reminded him.

"Let's not risk bad luck then," he grinned, clinking his glass against theirs," I'm looking forward to our families uniting as one."

They all downed their glasses, Yves slapping Alan on the back one more time.

"You bagged a great one, Alan," he said proudly.

"Speaking of," Jasmina said, eyes big as she held out her hand," I still don't have a ring yet. Alan said he wanted to get me the best one possible, but he forgot his cards at home."

"Oh no," Alan remarked," he never gives me his cards."

"You don't trust your own son?" Jasmina frowned confusedly.

"That's not it," Yves quickly said.

It was easy to notice how his cheeks were already tinting red from the amount of alcohol he had consumed already, never mind the glass he had just downed. Jasmina knew that perfectly well as she smiled at him, voice innocent.

"Surely you can lend them now then," she said," for this special occasion."

Yves hesitated for a moment, before finally nodding.

"You know what," he chuckled," you're right. I'll give you my cards along with my blessing. Buy her a good ring and get them back to me later, alright Alan?"

Alan nodded as he took Yves' wallet from his hands, though he didn't hide his surprise well.

"Your glass is empty," Jasmina noted.

As if on cue the waiter appeared back, handing Yves a flute bubbling with liquor.

"This one has been helping me all night," Yves laughed," I was annoyed at first, but you know what, that's good service."

"I'm sure she has," Jasmina smiled, glancing at the waiter.

When Ari looked back at her, she had to keep herself from chuckling. She knew perfectly well how much he had drunk for sure, especially considering she had been the one who had ordered his amount of drinks to begin with.

"This is some good champagne," Yves said as he took a sip of his glass.

It wasn't actually champagne, but that would be a conversation for later, when whatever liquid Daichi brew would kick in. With a glance towards the fountain and the people standing around it she knew he had managed to spike almost everyone's drinks already, save hers and Alan's. Everything was going well at the moment.

"By the way," Jasmina began guiltily," I want to apologize for my behavior before. I was hurt and accidentally lashed out, but don't worry, my father already knows of this and I made sure to repair the cracks in your friendship."

She could see her words hit him and he nervously took another sip from his glass, glancing up at her.

"The damage wasn't that heavy, right?" Yves said.

"Well..." Jasmina hesitated, adding," it's nothing personal, of course, but you know my father loves me dearly."

"So are you sure it's alright now?" Yves asked, worry creasing his forehead.

"I tried," she said, her eyes widening as she pretended to get an idea," wait, I know a way you could fully make it up to him."

"You do?" Yves said, jumping at the opportunity.

"Yeah," Jasmina nodded, pointing at the person walking down the stairs," you see him? My father has been trying to get a deal with him for years now and it's been quite difficult. He's back in town now for a while and you're an amazing businessman, so if you could talk to him and manage a deal, you'd be in my father's good graces for sure."

Yves turned around towards the man, a calculating look flashing across his face. He nodded after a moment, straightening his shoulders and placing his business smile on his face.

"Alright," he smiled," making one deal? That's child's play to me."

"I knew my father's praises about you were all true," Jasmina smiled.

Yves swelled up with pride, but tried to shrug it off like he didn't care, coughing to clear his throat.

"What's the deal about?" Yves asked.

"It's quite complicated," Jasmina said," but no worries, I'll follow along. He knows me from the negotiations before, so I'll try to help as much as I can." She glanced up at him through her eyelashes. "I know I can get in the way, but I hope you'll let me come with. I have so much to learn and don't know anybody else to do it from than you."

"No, of course!" Yves nodded," come along now."

"Alan can't though," Jasmina said as she looked at him, squeezing his hand," he has to speak with someone before he can come. It was quite important, wasn't it, darling?"

His eyes lit up with recognition as he glanced at the fountain and then back, nodding. "Yeah, I'll join you guys later. Good luck."

"There's no need to wish your fiancée good luck now," Yves said amusedly," she'll be just fine with me."

Jasmina didn't tell him the good luck wasn't meant for her, instead offering him her most charming smile as they walked over to the businessman from before. He commanded the attention from the room easily, something about him drawing everyone closer as he talked about a deal he had closed. Only when they got closer did he stop speaking, eyes widening as he took her in.

"Jasmina Nawar," he said," how long has it been?"

"Too long," she laughed as she pecked him on the cheek.

"And who is this with you?" he said as he looked past her at Yves.

"Yves Lewis," he said immediately, holding out a hand," I'm sure you must have heard about me."

"I have, actually," the man drawled. He gestured for them to follow, walking away from the crowd already. "Let's go somewhere more private."

"I've heard many great things about you already," Yves said as he hurried to walk beside him," mister..."

"It's Azriel," he smiled," I'm sure we'll get along just fine, Yves."