WALK ME DOWN THE AISLE

* Chapter Five *

I stood tall and composed myself, gathering my courage to face the crowd. Despite being slightly intoxicated once again, I didn't feel any fluster, especially not in front of him.

Taking a seat on the piano stool, I began playing with a sense of tranquility. As my fingers danced across the keys, I couldn't resist adding my mesmerizing vocals. The newlywed couple, Vanessa and Don, exuded pure exhilaration as my music filled the air. Not only were they fascinated by my performance, but even the older guests joined them on the dance floor, reliving their nostalgic memories.

Overwhelmed with happiness, I couldn't help but keep on stealing glances in his direction, secretly dreaming of him joining me in a dance tonight.

After concluding my enchanting performance, I returned to my table, engrossed in savoring my favorite desserts for a second time, I indulged myself with a bottle of champagne by my side. Lost in my little world, nobody dared to disturb me until the newlyweds approached, expressing their heartfelt gratitude.

"Danni, thank you very much for your incredible performance. We're lucky we were to have you as one of our performers. Your skill and presence truly made the event special," Vanessa expressed, warmly embracing me. "Thank you, Vanessa! I had an amazing time throughout the entire night," I joyfully responded, raising my glass in appreciation.

"Don't you want to go mingle with the other guests?" Vanessa asked, her serious gaze fixed on me.

I reassured them both, "No, really, I'm fine here, Van. I'm quite full and enjoying the peacefulness." Don momentarily excused himself from the table to chat with his other guests, leaving Vanessa and me to continue our conversation. We spoke about the highlights of the evening and what took place after the bachelorette party.

Unexpectedly, Vanessa couldn't help but notice the direction of my gaze toward a separate table where Don and his friends were seated. Realizing who I was looking at, she playfully poked fun at me. "I think that's your crush, isn't it?" she said, smiling mischievously. "Huh? Crush, who?" I stuttered, my heart sinking as I realized I was already trapped in a corner.

"Don't try to deny it, Danni. We're friends, so I can tell if you have feelings for a guy or not," Vanessa whispered, a mischievous laugh escaping her lips.

"Vanessa, I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, my cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson. "Scott. You like Scott, don't you?" she shot back. "Who? Scott Reeves?" I finally managed to utter his name, my embarrassment reaching its peak.

"Reeves? So that's his real name? Oh!" Vanessa teased, unable to contain her excitement. "Yes, that's right. But please, don't make a big deal out of it, okay?" I implored, feeling utterly mortified. I knew deep down that no matter how much I begged Vanessa, she would never be able to keep this secret to herself. And just as I feared, within seconds of our conversation, she immediately called Don and Scott to our table. Okay, fine. So I may have developed a little crush on Scott. But come on, he's a renowned celebrity in Hollywood, while I'm just a humble movie writer slash singer.

"Hey, Scott? Did you have a great time at the entire party?" Vanessa asked as Scott and Don approached our table. "Oh, Vanessa, this is great! I don't want it to end at all, especially with all these drinks on the table. And congratulations to you and Don by the way." Scott chuckled, playfully tapping Don's shoulder.

"Thank you, but hey, I want you to meet my friend, Danni. Uh, Danni, this is Scott Clinton." Vanessa introduced me and Scott to each other. "Hi, Danni? I'm Scott, by the way. How are you?" Scott reached out his hand toward me. "Never better. Hello, Scott?" I replied, feeling my hands tremble as I encountered his gentle touch.

"Um, Scott, Danni? We'll leave you two alone for a moment, alright? We're just going to greet the other guests, but we'll be back soon." Don interjected, leading them away from our table.

Deep down, I could tell from Don's knowing smiles that they probably wouldn't return. Now, I find myself trapped and dominated by Scott's presence.