What Just Happened???


    Elena


    After fixing up my makeup, I leave the confines of my bedroom and walk downstairs. Might as well


    strike the iron while it’s hot. My mother’s words are still ringing in my ears as I descend the stairs.


    Could I be the wife to Sebastian as she was to my father?


    I spot Sebastian’s back and he turns around as soon as he hears the clicking of my heels. At this


    vantage point, I had to admit that he looked exceptionally handsome; raven hair that was a little long


    with a fringe that fell in his eyes. His facial hair was a medium stubble beard trimmed to perfection. Tall,


    yet broad and muscr. Think of Chris Evans.


    He looks up at me and an unfamiliar expression crosses his face when he takes in my stony


    expression. Was he going to try and intimidate or insult me again?


    Ie to a stop in front of him, “Sebastian,” I say and he holds out his hand, palm up.


    “Walk with me, Elena. I think there are a few things we need to discuss, and this time in a decent


    manner.” He says and a frown crosses my face, but Ice my fingers with his anyway.


    The walk through the back gardens at dusk is a strange one. Sebastian takes in the boxwood


    hedges and flowers intricately ced; and smiles. Then hees to a stop when we arrive at a bench.


    “First and foremost, Elena, I apologise for insulting you on numerous asions. It was childish of


    me to call you names, I realise this now. I hope we can move past this and go ahead with this arranged


    marriage.”


    I look at Sebastian in surprise. He was apologising and lookedpletely genuine. Was mercury


    in retrograde suddenly? I nod slowly, “Of course. We might as well make the best of this union.” I


    responded, “Apology epted.”


    Sebastian smiles, but it does not meet his eyes, “Marvellous. Your father has informed me of his 5


    year promise to you; that you wish to study at Harvard. I will agree to this because having something


    behind your name, besides your name, is of the utmost importance.” He says, and I nched, my


    father told him this marriage would only be for 5 years and he agreed to it?


    “I’m surprised he mentioned that titbit, to be honest. Yes, I would like to studyw. I have been


    epted, but my father is arranging an extension for me for 5 years.” I told him and recognition shone


    in his eyes.


    “You know, Elena, I think I might have misjudged you previously.” He says finally then continued


    walking. I frown at hisstment, then follow slowly behind him.


    “What did you wish to discuss, Sebastian?” I ask him, remembering his line earlier.


    He turns towards me, “Our marriage will be one for the public eye, so we would have to put on the


    appearance of a happy couple outside of our vi.” He started, this was obvious to me. Even my


    mother mentioned something simr. “However, inside of our vi will be a different story. We do not


    have to sleep in the same bed or be close for any reason unless our parentse to see us.”


    Oh, thank God! They will not expect me to spread my legs for this man. Things were looking up


    already!


    I nod innocently at him, “This I can agree with. Thank you for rifying, I was worried for a second.


    y-acting a happy rtionship might be a stretch as I hate lying or deceiving others, but I will try my


    best.”


    He raises his eyebrow as he mulls over my words, his eyes clouding over, then he suddenly snaps


    back.


    “Although,” He starts and my stomach drops, “If our families were to ask for an heir, we would


    need to rethink the situation.”


    Ah no! NO! NO! NO! I do not want to be in Sebastian’s bed!


    I gulp ufortably and peer up at him. An heir. Our families would want us to produce an heir. “I


    understand,” I answer, uncertain of what else to say.


    Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ck velvet box, “I gave this to Eliana when I


    wished to marry her. I think it belongs to you now.” He says and opens the box, revealing a gorgeous


    engagement ring; a princess cut diamond in the middle with smaller diamonds surrounding it. Then he


    takes it out and slides it onto my finger.


    “Perfect fit,” He says with a wistfulugh and looks at me. Something odd passes between us as


    he gazes at me. Then he clears his throat and cocks his head towards the mansion. “Let us get you


    inside before you catch your death. It is slightly nippy this evening,” He says as he intertwined his


    fingers with mine, and leads me back into the mansion.


    I stare at the ring on my finger and feel myself blushing. The man had impable taste in rings.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Wee to a stop outside the front door and he turns to me, “I must bid you farewell, for now, Elena.”


    I smile at him, “Of course, I will see you at our wedding then,” I start but then suddenly I frown,


    “Why did youe into the bridal shop today, by the way?” I ask, remembering our banter from this


    morning.


    “I was going to invite you out to supper this evening to discuss what we just had, but then my


    arrogance got the best of me. I apologise.” He replied and I couldn’t help but smile. I still could not


    believe that he had apologised to me earlier.


    “You do know that seeing the bride in her dress before the wedding day is bad luck, right?” I say,


    trying to make light of the situation, but then Sebastian’s shoulders slump and he gives a sad scoff. “I


    would say I am bad luck already, don’t you think?” He says sadly then turns to leave. I stare at the ring


    on my finger once more and sigh.


    Eliana, you havepletely broken a man who would have given you the world on a silver tter.


    ***


    Two weekster, I decided to be courteous and visit my fiance (Ugh) at his ce of work.


    They set up Dumont Enterprises in the heart of London, so I would go visit a few of my friends as


    well. I realisedst night that I had no bridesmaids, but my mother mentioned that the Dumonts have it


    all covered. Did I even want any of my friends at this wedding, even if it was fake?


    I decided against visiting them when wee to a stop outside of Dumont Enterprises. As I enter


    the building, I notice all the eyes on me. Frowning, I head towards the reception and ask for Sebastian.


    The receptionist gives me a once over and then scoffs.


    Wow. Rude.


    “Excuse me?” I ask her, taken aback by her rudeness.


    “Eliana Wiltshire, Mr Dumonts does not wish to see you.” She answers me, then resumes typing.


    Oh, they thought I was Eliana. But that makes little sense. Why would they treat me so coldly if no one


    outside of our family knew about the hidden scandal?


    “I am not Eliana, that is my sister.” I say and hold up my left hand, “I am Elena Wiltshire and


    Sebastian is my fiance. I wish to speak with him, please.” This woman, were they against Eliana here?


    Her eyes widen at my im and she clears her throat, “Miss Elena! Oh, I am so sorry!” She says,


    sputtering and turning red. “Mr Dumont is currently in a meeting, but you can head up to the top floor


    and they will buzz you in when he is avable.”


    I fix her with an icy stare, then head towards the elevator. Did people here really care about


    Sebastian that much? Was he a good boss to them after all?


    Shaking my head as the elevator opens, I spot a woman walking out of what I suppose was


    Sebastian’s office. She turns at the door and I see Sebastian walking out, wrapping his arm around her


    and kissing her as if she was the only air he needed. This disy left me shaken to my core. Wasn’t


    this the man who got mad when Nichs just hugged me?


    I clear my throat loud enough for them to hear me, and their heads whip towards where I stood.


    The woman in Sebastian’s arms stared at me, then gently pushed him away and scurried off.


    I shake my head and stare after her, then my eyesnd on Sebastian. His eyes widen in surprise,


    then he walks towards me and grabs me by the wrist, pulling me into his office. He pushed me against


    the back of his office door, then ced his hands on either side of my head, caging me in yet again.


    “Sebastian-”


    “Shh, you do not get to speak, Elena,” He says in a stern voice, and I flinch at the bourbon on his


    breath. I peered up into his eyes and noticed that he was angry. Is my being here upsetting him that


    much?


    “I don’t know what you did, but there are rumours going around about Eliana and her cheating


    ways. Someone tipped off the press.” He says through gritted teeth, “I know it pissed you off at the


    prospect of marrying me, but you did not need to go this far.”


    Wait, the secret was out and everyone thought it was me?


    “Why would I still be wearing this if I went to the press with my sister’s sordid news?” I ask him,


    holding up my hand to show him the engagement ring. “I would not do something like that, Sebastian.”


    “Because you’re the good sister, right?” He says, moving his face closer to mine. A blush creeps


    onto my cheeks and he pins me with his gaze.


    Before I knew it, Sebastian’s lips were on mine, his tongue begging for entry and I submitted to


    him, drowning in his kiss and his scent invading my senses. Our tongues yed and danced in unison,


    and Sebastian wrapped his arms around my waist as my hand snakes around his neck.


    I don’t know what made me do it, but I suddenly pushed him away, out of breath and my face red


    with embarrassment.


    He looked at me and shed me a sly grin, “Not so much of a good girl anymore, are you?” He


    remarks and I turn on my heel, running out of his office. I didn’t stop until I reached the Maybach and I


    told the driver to take me home.


    In the backseat, my fingers fly to my lips and I realise I had just made a big mistake.