Maranya Tatiana Valkonan resembled a Duane Hanson sculpture in the back seat of the unmarked sedan more than her usual lively self during the silent on her part ride from the Palazzo grounds to the building where L"ks Condos resided. Her ringed hands clasped together tight enough to whiten her knuckles, and rested in the scoop of her sapphire blue and emerald green silk brocade skirted lap.

The soft screech of tires on asphalt brought the dark blond haired woman to full awareness of her surroundings, and she unclasped her hands. Her hazel eyed gaze noticed the emerald and diamond engagement ring from Antonio on her left ring finger. "Izvinitye, dorogai Sokol moya," she murmured softly, and deftly transferred the engagement ring to her right ring finger. The plain emerald set in platinum ring that had been gifted to her by the Merchant last October now rested on her right middle finger.

She turned a pleasant enough if edged with nerves smile upon Hafez as he opened the sedan's back door, and offered her his hand to help her out of the vehicle. Glad for the escort all the way to Alper's penthouse, her smile strengthened and warmed considerably as she also drew strength from the words penned by her love that she committed to memory.

Beautiful jewels for my beautiful woman.

She took a few deep, calming breaths at the sound of the soft 'ding' which announced their arrival at the penthouse floor.

By the Beyond, please, please, let Papa Dn'avol think I am worthy of his son.

Maranya's chin lifted proudly. Then she squared her shoulders, and allowed Hafez to regally escort her from the elevator to greet her love and his father. On the outside, she looked every inch the queen in her elegant gown and dazzling jewels that Alper believed her to be. Inwardly, she silently prayed that the Ergin patriarch would not hear her knees knock together from nerves.

Alper was suddenly erect, jumping to face the elevator doors. He was wringing his hands nervously behind his back, a smile fidgeting back and forth across his face. Mr. Ergin had merely laughed at his son's begging not to bring up children, but when the elevator "dinged? he stood up regally, awaiting a good look of his future daughter-in-law (what else could she possibly be, of course!).

It was Alper's cue to induce the appetizers, which were to be butler passed. A snap of his fingers and several men in black slacks, vests and ties swept through the room with silver platters carried in their hands. There were choices from ahi wontons, crab, tomato and cheese brochettes, asparagus spears wrapped in prosciutto, stuffed small red potato shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, caprese on skewers, and mini quiche stuffed pastries.

Alper then took Maranya's hand in his, with the intent to walk with her to the proffered sofa. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "You look amazing, love."

The blush that rose in Maranya's face with that whisper from her love might have led the patriarch to believe that something truly scandalous and improper was passed along by his son in confidence. However, the warmly loving smile which curved her lips presented another interpretation after all. "Spasibo," she whispered back. "Ti tak velikolepnyi, lyubov' moya."

She allowed the eldest son to escort her to the couch, where she seated herself with regal bearing. Her ringed and bare hands loosely and demurely clasped together in the gentle scoop of her brocade skirted lap. When the appetizers were presented with quiet efficiency to them, her hazel eyes widened in delighted shock. "Bozhe moi. This is a feast in and of itself. I fear I will not do justice to anything else tonight if I were to indulge in all of these delights."

Maranya turned her attention from the miniature banquet to Mr. Ergin. "What would you suggest I try first, Mr. Ergin" Your personal favorite, I mean," she added with a warm smile.

The Patriarch chortled merrily at Maranya's feverish blushing, and he thought he knew what words were exchanged. "Ahh, to be young again! Reminds me a bit of your mother and I, Alper." His eyes twinkled mischievously as he resumed his position in the chair he occupied earlier, after Maranya sat down of course.

Alper eased into the sofa beside her, smiling wolfishly. "I love when you talk dirty to me," he whispered again into her ear, meaning when she talked Russian of course. Another chuckle at her obvious surprise. "Baba loves food, and enjoys entertaining with more than enough."

Mr. Ergin clapped his hands delightedly. "No hurry or worries, madame. We have all night to dine!" His sapphires were eyeing the trays. He returned his attention to Maranya at her inquiry, a smile of appraisal curving. "I personally love the Ahi wontons. They are scrumptious!"

He gestured for the server with the wontons to offer Maranya a bite first, which the server obliged. The rest would follow after him. Women were always served first.

Alper seconded his father's opinion. "The Ahi wontons are quite divine, I must admit."

"Here you are, ma"am. Napkin?" the server asked, the tray held out with one hand and a pile of napkins daintily extended with the other.

Apparently her love was bound and determined to keep a permanent state of blush on her face that night, because it rose once more with the caress of his baritone whisper against her emerald and diamond adorned ear.

"Well, with two such splendid recommendations, I simply must try them," Maranya demurred, and accepted both the ahi wonton and a napkin with a smile and murmured "Spasibo." to the waiter.

Alper was pleased, and he reclined back in his seat comfortably. One arm draped along the back of the couch, behind Maranya's form, the other dangling precariously off the arm of the couch. He grinned up at his father, loving to hear this story himself.

The elder Ergin straightened himself regally at Maranya's inquiry, puffing up his chest a bit. "It was rather romantic, if you ask me. I was on my way to a business meeting in Istanbul, and I was in a rush. When I was hurrying up the way, I rushed past the garden. I hardly even saw her out of the corner of my eye, pruning the rose bushes, but I stopped in spite of myself to stare. She looked radiant, glowing in the sunlight. A thin layer of sweat gleaned on her brow, and those big, beautiful hazels turned on me and she smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever witnessed in my years....I was awestruck, and couldn't believe she would spare me a look." He chuckled at this point, sighing happily. "I found out later that she was the daughter of a soon-to-be business partner, and you know what they say, the rest was history."

Maranya leaned comfortably into the crook of Alper's arm and watched as the Ergin patriarch related his tale, entranced by the way his craggy features were lit from within by the light of his love and devotion to his wife. Her gentle smile remained on her lips.

"Romantic history, indeed. Shall I tell your Papa how we first met, Alper" or will you regale him with the tale?" She tipped her adoring hazel eyed gaze up to the handsome dark haired man at her side. The smile that curved her lips now held tender warmth for him.

Alper's own face was gentle as he studied his father, listening with only one ear as he has heard this tale many times before. Not that he did not enjoy hearing it, it's just that he was otherwise occupied by this endearing, alluring blonde tucked into the crook of his arm. A soft sigh escaped his lips, full of contentment, as he rested his chin on her head just after pressing a small kiss at her crown.

He laughed as she pulled away to look at him, a lopsided grin taking a hold on his mouth. "Oh alright, alright, I'll let you savor the pleasure of retelling that night for him. I tell you, baba, this woman put a spell on me!" Alper exclaimed, winking roguishly at Maranya while he teased her.

The elder Ergin merely rumbled a booming chuckle at the pair. "See what I mean?" he asked, opening his arms wide at Alper and Maranya. "Precious. Your mother will be most delighted. But come, come, you must tell me how you met!" he demanded of them.

Maranya's hazel eyes widened with feigned shock at her love. "I did not do any such thing to you, Lyev moya!" she blurted out impulsively.

Then she turned her attention to the Patriarch. "Forgive me, please. The pravilno' truth' of the matter is"." Her gaze tipped downward for a moment, as if she was spilling a guilty secret. "The spell casting was mutual," she admitted softly.

Maranya's bare of adornment left hand subtly reached out to gently encircle Alper's strong hand, drawing courage from the touch of skin to skin to continue the story. "I was at the Red Dragon Inn, a local Inn and Tavern. Having finally prised myself loose from a particularly thorny research problem at the Clinic, I went there to relax, and get my mind off of my troubles."

Her hazel gaze met the elder Ergin's sapphires. "After a while, I was about to leave, but something told me to stay for a bit longer. So, I occupied myself with origami, a hobby of mine which keeps my fingers limber for delicate surgery."

She gave her love's hand a light squeeze. "I was folding the paper at random, and did not know why I made a lyev" lion. Until I looked up from the completed origami, and saw Alper stride in. He commanded attention without force. When I saw those green eyes of his?." Her light blush suffused her features as she tipped her gaze to look into those enchanting green eyes. "I felt myself falling deep into their depths, and not wanting to surface, ever. We talked, he fetched a drink for me, and I knew that I loved him. It was an unshakable fact, like the sun rising in the East."

Maranya's warm smile remained on her lips while she regarded Alper with unashamed adoration. "On the walk to my home, he stopped, and kissed me under the stars. I knew that, when he left to go to his home, my heart went with him. And I held his heart in its place."