Is this destiny?

Corey smiled smugly and tightened his hold on Merve. His heart soared when he heard that she approves of their future together.

"Merve, I am all yours, now and forever. You have my mind, my heart, and my body. It's a three in one deal, and my body can do more than just carry heavy things around..."

He inched closer and sealed her lips with his in a kiss that soon turned into a steamy one.

"Corey, you are wrinkling my dress…", Merve protested when his hand moved to grab her butt.

"We can fix that problem by removing the dress.", he said with a straight face.

Merve's eyes widened when she realized that he is reaching for the zipper of her dress. Is he planning for them to do the naughty now? She could imagine them getting undressed and making love and then they need to shower and get ready again, and her hair and makeup will need to be re-done… and they will be super-late for the party.

"I just fixed your necktie.", she reminded him.

"You can do it again."

Merve squirmed out of his hold. "Be serious. The party started and we should go down."

"I am serious…", Corey's voice trailed when he realized that Merve was backing away from him. "Really? You will leave me like this?"

Merve saw him gesturing toward his bulging crotch area and she hesitated for a moment before steeling her resolve. "I'm going to the bathroom to check my makeup, and you… cool off. You just spoke about a lifetime, yet you can't wait for a few hours. We will have plenty of time to do whatever we want AFTER the party."

Corey helplessly watched Merve walk to the bathroom and he exhaled in frustration. He wanted the party to be over right now. He hates these functions where he needs to act properly. He would rather goof around with Merve and spend time with her (clothes are optional).

Seeing that there is no other choice than to cool off his heated blood, Corey plopped on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling while thinking about anything other than Merve, which was very difficult to do.

In the garden…

"You promised to behave and not cause scenes…", Chloe Long reminded her cousin Samantha. She saw Samantha rolling her eyes and she added: "Don't make me regret bringing you here."

"Yes, yes.", Samantha said absentmindedly while her eyes moved over all the people present.

Since it's a big party, the invitation was not only for Steve and Gabriel (with their dates), but for the whole Long family as well. It is common that these parties are used to strengthen bonds between families. The older generation gets to talk about business, and younger ones get to mingle and maybe something comes out of it. Longs and Smiths are some of the most powerful families in the Los Angeles area, and the older generation will not be opposed when their kids date someone from prominent families. Sure, Whites are there as well, but most of Whites are in Austin, Texas area, and only since Jeff and Aiden officially settled in Los Angeles with their wives did White surname officially become part of the Los Angeles elite.

Samantha had to plead with her parents to allow her to come with an explanation that she learned her lesson. "How else am I going to prove to everyone that I am sorry for the misunderstanding that happened at the prom? Only by forging a friendship with Corey and his girlfriend from the White family will Stephen be pacified and give you back things that belong to you…", Samantha told her father. "Besides, big Cousin Chloe will be there to make sure I don't mess up."

When they heard about Chloe, Samantha's parents gave in.

Samantha has no intention to crawl in submission in front of Merve, but she could not allow herself to miss this party. When she found out that Smiths, Longs, Whites, and many other important people will attend, how can Samantha stay home? She will do her best to avoid Corey and Merve, but if they cross paths… she will think about it later.

Chloe is not aware that she should babysit Samantha, she only knows that Samantha tagged along with her and Chloe hopes that Samantha will not embarrass her.

Samantha didn't need Chloe in order to attend the party from the perspective of the Smith family because all Longs are invited, but Samantha's parents believe that Chloe will make sure Samantha does not make another blunder which will cost them dearly. Chloe was always the responsible and level-headed person, and Samantha's parents hope that some of that will rub off on their daughter.

In truth, Chloe wishes that Samantha will find some of her friends from high school at this party and they can separate. For Chloe, Samantha is a kid who needs to grow up. Samantha loves to flaunt that she is from the Long family, but Chloe found her background to be a burden because in college she had to work extra hard in order to maintain top grades since that is expected from a Long.

Now that she is close to graduation, Chloe is pondering about what to do next. If she stays idle at home, it means that she will depend on her parents and the Long family to pay for her expenses, and that includes her being dependent on them which she wants to avoid. How can she enjoy life if her budget is related to how much she pleased her family? Chloe does not want to be associated with Long Industries but finding work in a different (big) company without people trying to leverage her family's background is tough, while a small company will not be able to provide an environment where Chloe can show her potential. Everyone has their own problems.

...

Gabriel and Becca arrived at the party and they joined the table where JoAnna and Sophia were with Felix and Jeff.

"Is Emma here?", Becca asked while taking a seat on the chair that Gabriel pulled for her.

"Not yet but she will be here soon. She got held up by discussing something with Charlie.", Sophia responded.

"Is my dad here?", Becca asked in a hushed voice to what JoAnna gestured toward the door from where guests entered the garden. Becca turned in that direction right on time to see Ben and Penny walk out. Oliver's eyes flashed when he saw Becca and Gabriel and he dashed to join them.

"Gabbey!", Oliver screamed to what Gabriel chuckled. He put the little guy in his lap and grinned at Becca while silently gloating that Oliver came to him first.

"Oli… you should go with kids.", Penny said when they approached the table.

Oliver pouted and his little hands clutched the lapels of Gabriel's jacket. "But I like Gabbey the most! Since he is lovey-dovey with Becca, I don't see him."

Becca glanced at Gabriel and shifted in her seat, hoping that the piercing thing on the right side of her face is not Ben's glare. 

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