The First Outing

Ariel tightens his grip on my hand as our limousine approaches the venue where Loretta's current movie is being screened. I keep trying to remind myself that he needs to make an appearance since he's the CEO of the production firm behind this big movie, but I'm uneasy. This is the first time all three of us will be present at such a public event, and it's the first gathering we're attending as a married couple. There's so much pressure, and so much may go wrong. So far, we've been shielded from the media's attention in major part, but we can't escape them tonight. We can't escape Loretta. 'lollipop," Ariel murmurs as he raises my palm to his lips. 'How do you feel?" I turn to look at him and shake my head. 'Nervous." He nods in agreement and kisses the back of my hand. 'You look stunning tonight," he breathes as his eyes linger over the red evening gown I'm wearing. It's figure-hugging, with a deep V. It's eye-catching yet sophisticated, and it is by far one of my favourite designs to date. 'Arielle, it's going to be okay. I won't leave your side, and if it all becomes too much, we'll just go home." I nod, trying my hardest to relax my nerves. I stopped attending these events with Loretta years ago, but I still remember how they went. I remember all the images Ariel takes with the cast, with her. I always loathed how personal they appeared and how she'd lean into him, his hand wrapped tightly around her waist. He'd gaze at her like she was the only girl in the room, and she'd grin at him like the star she was It hurt to see them together before, but it'll hurt even more now. 'We're here," he adds, a sweet smile on his face. 'I can't wait to show you off to the entire world, Mrs. Warren. I'm about to walk down the red carpet, my hand in yours, and there will be no doubt about who you are and what you mean to me, you hear me? There is only one Mrs Warren Arielle, and it's you." I nod at him, appreciative of his attempts to take the edge off my anxiety. I never even have to inform him about my insecurities. He realizes and pulls them away before I even get a chance to say them. The bodyguard in the front seat looks back with an apologetic smile on his face. 'I've just been informed to wait for a moment. Loretta Rowan is set to make her entrance."Ariel chuckles darkly. 'I don't wait for anyone but my wife," he says. 'Inform the organizers that we'll be making our entrance now." Then he glances at me and smirks. 'Come on, let's go steal the show." He walks out of the car without a second thought, and cameras start to flash, blinding me directly through the car's tinted windows. Ariel walks around the car and opens my door for me, extending me his hand with a wicked smirk on his face. I lay my hand in his and smile up at him. 'This," he says to me as he lifts me to my feet. 'This is what I've always wanted, Ariele. It's you. You're the one that's made all of my fantasies come true." I smile and shake my head.'You're trying extra hard to reassure me. Are my insecurities that apparent?" We go down the red carpet as cameras flash, the crowd hurling questions at us that we ignore. 'No," Ariel tells me. 'Not to anyone but me. You appear confident and dazzling, as always, but I can see behind it. I see the way you constantly touch your wedding band, the moments of absentmindedness when doubts steal your attention away from me. I notice every tiny thing about you, Arielle. I can promise you, my beautiful wife, you don't have a single thing to worry about." I nod, my fears put to ease as we approach the end of the red carpet, where a select few reporters and photographers await us. Ariel and I approach the flower background that's been placed in place for the event, and his hand wraps around my waist, his touch possessive. 'Congratulations on your marriage," one of the reporters adds. 'It came as a huge surprise to many of us. How have you been able to disguise your connection so well?" Ariel smiles at me for a second before turning toward her. 'Did we hide it? Or did you just fail to notice it? My wife and my sister have been best friends since they were youngsters, so she's been at the Warren mansion at least once a week for years. She's been at every single important Warren event throughout the years too, and she's often been spotted with my grandma, hasn't she? You simply filled to connect the dots." The reporter appears flustered, and she clears her throat before continuing to the next question. 'That diamond necklace you're wearing, Arielle. Isn't that a Warren heirloom? It's reported that it was made by the Bumble family hundreds of years ago." I touch my hand to my necklace and smile. 'That's right. Ariel's grandma gave it to me." The reporter chuckles. 'It's said that seeing a Warren bride wearing an heirloom piece signifies the matriarch's approval. Would you say that's true?" I chuckle and narrow my eyes at her playfully. She knows as well as I do that the Warrens defend their family secrets zealously. 'All I have to say is that I've always loved Ariel's grandmother like she is my own, and I'm beyond grateful to receive her love in return. We had a fantastic friendship even before I married Ariel." She nods at my non-answer and turns to Ariel. 'Could you tell us, Mr. Warren? What is it about Arielle that made you fall for her, aside from her evident good looks?" He glances at me with the most besotted smile on his face, and my heart starts to race as he turns back to her, his smile as big as mine. 'She's the smartest, sweetest, most loyal and most hardworking woman I know. She has never once let me down, and she's always been there for me throughout the years, no matter what I asked of her. Arielle isn't only my wife. She's everything to me. She might be my sister's best friend, but she's mine, too. I fell for her heart before I ever fell for any other aspect of her." The reporter appears as smitten as I presumably do, and she's beaming joyously as she turns to me. 'What about you, Ariell? What is it that you enjoy about Ariel Warren?" I grin at her and shrug. 'Me? Oh, I completely simply married him for his amazing looks." Ariel and she both burst out laughing, and he shakes his head at me. 'Talking about good looks," he says. 'What do you think of my wife's dress? She designed it herself. She designed my suit for me, too."The reporter takes his cue and proceeds to enquire about my company, and I can't help but giggle. He's very obvious about the way he's advertising my company for me. It's absurd, but it's so incredibly cute. 'Ariel, Arielle !" We both tighten as we hear Loretta's voice behind us. She grins brightly as she walks up to us, her smile flickering for a second as she sees the way Ariel is holding me. Her eyes settle on my necklace, and wrath flashes across her eyes before she tries to put her grin back on. everything cameras turn to us, and it takes everything of me to paste on a cheerful look. 'Loretta!" the reporter says. 'Congratulations on the release Heavenly. I can't wait to see it. I have no doubt your performance will be amazing, as usual." She grins brightly and nods in appreciation. 'For years, there were rumors about Ariel and you, when in truth, he was dating your sister. Was that hard for you? I know you refuted the rumors several times, but they never fully went away. Were you ever tempted to disclose their secrets and admit they were dating?" Her smile freezes. 'As you know, I rarely discuss my private life. Can I simply ask that you keep all inquiries related to tonight's premiere?" The reporter nods and turns to me. 'Since it's rare to see all three of you together, can we have a photo?" Loretta grins and moves to Ariel's free side, her arm looping around his waist as she lays her head on his shoulder. I tense involuntarily even as I grin brightly for the cameras. Much to my relief, Ariel doesn't wrap his arm around her. Instead, he just leans into me further. I'm not an insecure person, yet nonetheless, Loretta turns me into some kind of jealous monster. I don't want her near Ariel. I don't want to be reminded of the way we got married, and the history they share. How can I combine wanting to help my sister with the discontentment I feel at the thought of Ariel and her? 'Mr. and Mrs. Warren," the reporter replies, a plaintive expression on her face. 'Can we please kiss?" Loretta's smile slips for a moment, but Ariel grins as he cups my cheek and leans in, his thumb stroking over my lip for a second before he lowers his head to mine and kisses me, slowly and deeply. The audience goes berserk around us, but he doesn't care. He just continues to kiss me as though the entire world isn't seeing — as though Loretta isn't watching. By the time he pulls away, I'm panting and ready for more. 'Come on," he whispers. 'Let's get this movie over with."