Chapter Sixteen

                                    

                                          
Jennifer's POV:
He was coming closer in the spotlight, and as he drew nearer, his face became visible. As I saw him, a gentle smile, delicate as a petal caressed by the morning dew, began to form on my lips as my eyes met his. In that fleeting moment, the corners of my mouth lifted in a soft smile.
It was Mr.Vinson, wearing an elegant black tuxedo that highlighted his strikingly sharp features and piercing blue eyes. His lips were painted in a subtle hue of pink. He was looking damn handsome, I was clearly captivated by his extraordinary charm.
He approached me, and extended his hand to hold mine. I felt like I was on cloud nine, my heart was racing with excitement and anticipation. All the lights turned on, bathing the room in a warm glow, and music started playing, adding beauty to the magical atmosphere.
He held my hand gently, his touch was so gentle and firm. His other hand snaked around my waist, in a slow, torturous, yet blissful movement, and he swirled me in a graceful dance motion. 
The room spun around me, but then he let go, and I stumbled, my balance lost. In an instant, he yanked me back towards him, and I bumped hard into his chest, the impact taking my breath away. 
As I looked down, trying to steady myself, he lifted my chin with his two fingers, making me look into his eyes. The back of his fingers trailed from my neck to my cheek, turning my legs to nothing but a jelly. 
His gaze was so intense, and instantly the gentle emotions were gone, replaced by his standard emotion, rage. His eyes blazed with an almost frightening intensity.
He swirled me harshly again, the movement abrupt and forceful. Then, he bent me backward on his arm, my body arching under his control. He drew his face closer until I could feel his warm breath against my skin. We were so close that I could see the fine lines around his eyes, the slight stubble on his jaw. A soft pink color of his lips were adding a touch of warmth to his face. His eyes bore into mine with deep intensity. 
Just when I thought he might kiss me, his expressions became colder and made me stand upright, leaving me disoriented and confused. I was looking at him and he was looking straight ahead.
At that moment, a huge cake, decorated lavishly with sophisticated icing and colorful candles, was wheeled into the room. 
"Let's go," Jake said, appearing beside me.
We walked over to the cake, the entire room was buzzing with excitement. Jake handed me a decorated knife, its handle adorned with ribbons and tiny flowers.
As I took it, everyone started shouting, "Happy Birthday!" The sound of their voices filled the room.
The party poppers started popping, filling the room with colorful confetti, and beautiful petals, I looked on in surprise. Tears welled up in my eyes from happiness. Mr. Vinson, with his ever-composed demeanor, stood beside me, while Daisy, beaming with excitement, was on the other side.
I took the knife and cut into the beautifully decorated cake, adorned with intricate icing flowers and vibrant colors.
Everyone started clapping and singing a heartfelt rendition of the birthday song. I looked at everyone with teary eyes, overwhelmed by the love and joy surrounding me.
I took a piece of the cake and extended to Mr. Vinson's mouth. He slightly opened his mouth and took a small bite.
Next, I offered  to Daisy, she eagerly savored the cake with excitement, with Jake taking his turn immediately after her and smiled while looking at her.
Her cheeks flushed red.
Then, one by one, everyone hugged and greeted me warmly, except the one person who was the most important to me.
We all enjoyed slices of the delicious cake, its rich flavors a perfect complement to the sweet moments. Everyone gave me thoughtful presents wrapped in bright paper and ribbons, each gift was a testament to their care and affection.
As the guests began to leave, Mr. Vinson approached me and handed me a beautifully wrapped gift, its shimmering paper hinting at something special inside. When I unwrapped it, I found a stunning diamond necklace nestled in the velvet box. My mouth fell open in awe, it was so beautiful, its sparkle catching the light and reflecting a myriad of colors. 
I looked up at Mr. Vinson in surprise. His gaze remained fixed on me, unwavering. There was a gentle emotion in his eyes that caught me off guard. 
Hastily, I closed the box and handed it back to him. "I can't accept this. It's way too expensive," but he remained silent. The gentle emotion shifted to a sudden death glare. Now, he was glaring at me intensely. The room seemed to grow colder as his stare pierced through me. Abruptly I averted my gaze downwards.
Instantaneously, he pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around my neck and securing the necklace in place. I stared at him, captivated by the intensity in his eyes as he fastened the clasp. For a moment, it felt like the world around us had faded away, leaving only the two of us.
His arms remained around my neck, enveloping me in warmth, as all other sounds seemed to dim into the background. His hand trailed from my neck to my cheek, causing my cheeks to  tint red. Daisy and Jake watched us with amused smiles.
I attempted to conceal my shyness, but my cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson, and my eyes involuntarily darted away, betraying my innermost feelings despite my best efforts to mask them.
A smirk played on Mr. Vinson's lips, and his eyes filled with amusement. Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm, and pulled him away. Startled, he turned, and I found myself looking over his shoulder, wondering who was there.
Until then....