His girl

Chapter 12

3 months later

Adrian's POV

It's Katie's birthday today and my family and her close friends have been a great help in planning for Katie's 21st birthday. We all wanted it to be an exuberant celebration for her. It's her 21st after all. It has been a task keeping the birthday surprise a secret from Katie since we shared the same roof and our group of friends sticks together most of the time. We had to be discreet and lowkey with the planning so we stuck to brief conversations when Katie went to the toilet during lunch break since we all knew she would take a while and secret text messages when we were at home, usually when Katie went for a shower or helping my mother out with cooking. My sister, Lilian, though young, understood that this surprise wasn't meant to be disclosed to Katie. Thank goodness my younger sister is clever or else the surprise would have been ruined.

 My family would try their level best to help my friends and me, taking her out to get her away from the house, under the pretext of wanting to spend time with her alone without me so they could connect. While they were out, I would call our friends over to plan her birthday surprise. I had informed my family about her past and they fondly took her in as their own, I have never seen Katie looking so content. I'm beyond grateful that my family loves her so much and took her in and accepted her as their own. They treat her the same way they treat me and my sisters. She deserves the best and I'm glad that our friends, my family, and I can give her just that.

Her birthday arrived in the blink of an eye and we were so exhilarated to surprise her because we are confident she will be delighted to see what surprises we have in store for her. My family and I were at the venue, a beautiful ballroom in one of our city's opulent hotels.  The luxurious ballroom can captivate anyone with its timeless charm and refined simplicity. As one enters, polished wooden floors guide us through a spacious setting adorned with cushioned chairs and elegant chandeliers that cast a soft glow, illuminating the room's subtle color palette of warm tones and gentle accents. The walls,  which are adorned with delicate artwork, add a touch of sophistication. Large windows invite natural light, revealing a carefully chosen carpet that complements the room's understated grandeur. The ballroom seamlessly integrates modern technology, ensuring a flawless experience for a variety of events. From intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, this space, with its uncomplicated yet elegant design, sets the stage for memorable and refined occasions just like the one we have planned for Katie. She has a penchant for aesthetics and has always been one to appreciate it; another reason why this venue was fitting for her 21st birthday celebration. My parents belong to the upper echelons of society so booking such a luxurious venue was like a walk in the park for them. We were decorating and ensuring all arrangements had been accounted for.

Emma, Ace, Stacey, and Ross were over at my house to bring Katie to the birthday venue. We had already preplanned our roles in this surprise. Our friends would bring her to the venue, not once disclosing the surprise, and discreetly bring her into the ballroom of the hotel. My mother, father, younger sister, and I would ensure all arrangements were in order so that the surprise we had for her would be unhindered as well as decorate the venue beautifully and to Katie's preference. We gave her the excuse of getting her birthday cake from her favorite cake shop to leave early and ensure everything was in order and decorate the venue. The food we catered was to Katie's liking. She loves Italian food, so we have catered from her favorite Italian restaurant. She goes there every month without fail.

As the time for her surprise drew closer, Emma, Stacey, Ace, and Ross skillfully executed their roles in the plan. They arrived at our house, brimming with enthusiasm, prepared to whisk Katie away under the guise of birthday shopping. Katie loves shopping so this was certainly not suspicious. 

Katie, delighted to go shopping with her closest friends, merrily agreed, although she wondered where Adrian and the rest of his family were but was quick to shrug it off. While they were en route, my family and I swiftly added the final touches to the decorations. The luxurious ballroom was transformed into an enchanting place, which was adorned with elegant decor and personalized touches catered to Katie's preferences.

While Katie and our friends were en route, she joyfully chatted and laughed with her friends, blissfully unaware of the magnificent surprise we had in store for her. As they neared the location, our friends maintained a ruse, skillfully keeping her engaged in conversations and laughter, ensuring that Katie didn't get the least bit suspicious.

The car pulled up to the opulent hotel and our friends guided Katie into the hotel, not disclosing even a hint of the surprise. Katie took in the breathtaking sight of the opulent hotel and the luxurious surroundings. 

In the ballroom, my parents, younger sister, and I awaited their entrance into the ballroom. The atmosphere was filled with a mixture of anticipation and joy as we heard the chatter outside, indicating that they were entering the ballroom.