Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER SONG: LOVE STORY BY INDILA

Sapphie threw her phone on her bed and groaned in frustration. As the clock ticked closer to the dinner date at Kylian's, she anxiously searched through her closet for something to wear. Her nerves were on edge, and the mess of discarded outfits on her bed resembled the knots in her stomach. What could she wear that didn't shout 'trying too much' or 'I didn't care enough to try for you guys?'

When she found nothing. She, too, threw herself on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"God, what am I going to do?" She asked. But just then, she heard Caleb yell out her name from the living room.

"Renée is here!"

Sapphie vaulted from her bed and rushed to open her door just as Renée was about to turn the knob on the other side.

"Hey!" Waved Renée.

"You're a godsend." Sapphie grabbed her friend's hand and hauled her inside before shutting the door behind her.

"Well, hello to you too." Blinked Renée as she removed sat down her satchel on the floor beside her.

"You've got to help me. I have no clue what to wear to dinner at Kylian's and I only have about thirty minutes to get ready before he gets here," she admitted.

"Okay, so you weren't joking when you said it was a major emergency. But don't worry," Renée smiled reassuringly, "We'll find something."

Renée pulled out a few dresses from her wardrobe. Sapphie watched as Renée laid out a few options on the bed. "I don't want to look too... dressy. I mean, it's not like we're official, official. But, I also don't want to look too casual either," she said, tugged at her Afro in frustration.

Renée nodded in understanding, "Sapphie, don't worry. I've got you." She turned around and stared at the wardrobe again, rubbing her chin as she did so.

"I think a dress would be perfect," she shrugged, "I mean, it's a classic dinner outfit and shows that you put effort into your appearance."

"This one?" Sapphie held up a knee-length black dress with a bit of lace on the shoulders. Renée looked at her as if she'd asked the dumbest, most obvious question in the world.

"You're not going for a funeral... nor prom." She made a disgusted face.

"What? This is a wonderful dress. An original Channel."

"Good, then you can tell everyone when you shake each of their hands so they'll know, too."

"Dang Renée, you didn't have to say it like that." Sapphie laid the dress back on the bed.

"From what I know, the person who's hardest to impress in his family, it's his mother. She's a real matriarch, tough to please, but a sweetheart once you get to know her. She doesn't play when it comes to her family and I suspect you'll probably see a bit of that tonight, just to give you a heads up."

Renée continued talking while riffling through Sapphie's dresses one by one.

"Being Muslim, Faiza is more traditional and conservative than not, so what you'll need is something long but chic and effortless." Then suddenly, she gasped and stopped her search.

"I think we have a winner and I can't believe I've never seen you in this, Sapphie." She said, turning around with a floral maxi dress in her arms.

Sapphie tried on the dress and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Wow," Is all she could say.

Renée was right. What had this been doing in the back of her wardrobe?

***

Kylian adjusted his cap over his head and pressed the doorbell again. He didn't want to risk anyone recognising him and the longer he stood in this stairway, the higher the chance of that happening. On the brink of pressing the button a second time, she finally opened the door. He felt as if he had been hit by lightning. Kylian swallowed. His mouth felt dry, causing him to swallow. He Had to remind himself to breathe.

"Sapphie..." he whispered. Her hair was curly and dark, falling past her shoulders and framing her oval face. He was so used to seeing Sapphie in tracksuits and jeans. But this... this was something new. She was wearing a pink and white floral dress that made her look so feminine and beautiful. He couldn't help but take in every detail about her, from the glossy lips to her deep brown eyes to the way the dress fell to her ankles. The way it cinched her waistline and skimmed her figure in all the right places. She looked like she'd walked right off the cover page of a spring fashion magazine.

"I look that good, huh?" She teased, causing him to laugh.

"You look amazing, breath-taking even." He kissed her cheeks and gave her his arm, helping her to the car. All the way to his place, he couldn't stop thinking about how lucky he was to have met someone like her in his world. It made him even more nervous about the talk he'd planned on having with her later on after dinner. Kylian rubbed his palms against his denim covered knees. With everything in him, he wanted tonight to go well, perfect even. It was important that his family approve of and like Sapphie. He hoped they saw what he saw in her.

***

When they got to his place, Sapphie took his hand and allowed him to lead her to the private lift he'd told he used to get into his home. A duplex penthouse apartment in the centre of Paris. As they entered the lobby of the building, Sapphie could defiantly tell they were no longer in Porte Martin. Everything looked expensive, even the air she breathed felt so expensive.

"Eddy!" Kylian greeted the man at the front desk with a wave of two fingers as they passed by him. When she watched Kylian punch in a code to open the doors, Sapphie felt her anxiety start to skyrocket. She wanted to ask him for a minute to herself, just one to collect her nerves before she embarrassed herself. But she didn't know where she'd go, what she would do.

Oh gosh, why did I binge watch Meet the Parents and Crazy Rich Asians?

As her anxiousness mounted after they stepped into the lift and the doors closed, Sapphie subconsciously squeezed Kylian's hand and he squeezed back.

She needed to breathe.

"What if they don't like me?" she asked.

Kylian smiled, "Don't worry. They're going to. Just as much as I do." He laughed, giving her hand another squeeze. But when he looked into her eyes, he must have noticed just how panicked she was, because he immediately stopped the lift, took both of her hands in his and looked her in the eyes.

"I really hope you're right."

"Sapphie, are you okay?" His brows scrunched together in concern. "We can cancel tonight; I'll take you home right now if you're not up to it."

"No," she shook her head, "I don't think I'm that bad. I'm just really nervous. I just hope you're right, that they'll like me too."

He rubbed her arms and drew her into his arms, kissing her forehead as he did.

"Of course I am! They all want to meet the girl who's made me even more happy than I was before. And don't worry, I'll be there with you the entire time to make sure it's not too awkward."

"Really? You're not just saying that?" She pulled her head back to look at him.

"I'm not. Trust me, you'll see it for yourself. Now," he reached behind him to press the button that allowed the lift to move again, "let's go show them how awesome you truly are!"

He bopped her nose, making her giggle and momentarily forget her troubles.

When the doors finally opened, they were standing side by side, holding each other's hands. Sapphie could help but gape at everything as they stepped out into the foyer where she could hear laughter and the TV.

"Everyone, I'm home!" Called Kylian as they walked deeper into his home. Sapphie couldn't help but gawk. Her eyes were wide with wonder. Her gaze drifted over the exquisite furnishings and crystal chandelier glimmering like a star in the centre of the foyer and the ornate decorations that adorned the wall.

Everything was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined.

So, this is what the inside of a luxurious Parisian apartment looked like...

"Uncle Kyky!" The squeal of a young boy drew her attention, where she saw him run up to Kylian, who quickly got down to one knee and opened his arms. A little girl followed, hot on his tail. They were Kylian's nephew and niece, Isayah and Lana.

"You little rascals!" They launched themselves into his open arms, almost making him fall onto his back upon impact. Sapphie couldn't help but smile as she watch the sweet interaction between them.