“Are you ready?” Sofia says.
I nod at her and stare at myself in the mirror. The long pale pink gown I’m wearing is absolutely stunning, and it’s probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn.
I’ve gotten quite used to Sofia asking me to accompany her for charity events and lunches, but tonight is the first night she’s taking me to a gala. I kind of wish Alec didn’t have to work late tonight, so we could go together. I know he’ll likely end up making an appearance, since this event is hosted by the Kennedys, but it isn’t the same as arriving there on his arm.
“Let’s go,” Sofia says, taking my hand.
I follow her down, where the limousine is waiting for us. I’m oddly nervous. It’s been so long since I’ve been at an event this big. There’ll be so many people I know, people I haven’t spoken to in years, people that won’t know anything about me, except for the rumors Elise has been spreading, and whatever they may have heard about me in the press lately.
I’m trembling by the time we arrive at the Kennedy Hotel. Sofia notices, but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything.
The room falls silent when we enter, as it always does when I go anywhere with Sofia. The elegance she emits, the authority—it’s unmatched.
My eyes widen in surprise when Alec’s grandfather walks toward us. He rarely makes an appearance at these types of events, and I’ve only seen him once since I married Alec.
He smiles at his daughter and brushes her hair behind her ear gently. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he says.
Sofia smiles at him. “Thank you, Dad,” she says, her voice losing its usual edge when she speaks to him. It’s only when she’s with her father that Sofia looks like a regular person, just someone’s beloved daughter.
He turns toward me and smiles. “So do you, Elena,” he says.
I smile at him politely, trying my best to hide how nervous he makes me. Even Alec is careful around him, and I can’t risk giving away that our relationship isn’t real.
“I’ll need to steal my daughter away for a minute, but don’t think I’ve forgotten about the lunch you promised me,” he says, smiling, and I grin.
Sofia looks at me apologetically before walking away, and I’m left standing here by myself. I hear the whispers surrounding me, some wonder who I am, some recognize me but don’t understand why I’d be here with Sofia. It makes me uncomfortable, and I grab a glass of champagne from one of the waiters, even if it’s just to have something to do.
“Well, well, well,” I hear someone say.
I turn in surprise, coming eye to eye with Sebastian, my first and last boyfriend.
“Elena Rousseau, back from the dead, and prettier than ever. You lost quite a bit of weight, huh? Lost the glasses and braces too.” He grins, his eyes roaming over my body. “I just got back from abroad, and I heard you’ve fallen on hard times. Rumor has it you’ve been going around, begging for money. I’d be quite willing to help you, for a price.”
I shudder, revulsion washing over me. I can’t help but look away. Had he offered me a solution before Alec did, would I have ended up at his mercy? Either way, both men offered a price for my body, and that seems to be all that’s valuable about me.
I take a step away, but Sebastian stops me, his hand on my wrist, his grip tight.
Before I know it, his hand is wrenched away, and Alec is standing in front of me. “How about you get your damn hands off my girl?” he says, his tone harsh. “Who the fuck are you even?”
Sebastian’s eyes widen, and he looks at me, the expression in his eyes making me shudder.
He straightens himself out and turns to Alec, a calculative expression on his face. “Alexander,” he says, nodding politely. “It’s great to finally meet you in person.”
Alec frowns at him and looks him up and down. “Who the fuck are you?”
I see the indignation in Sebastian’s eyes, but he pushes it down and forces a smile onto his face. “You recently invested in my start-up. Fi Solutions?”
Alec frowns and grabs his phone, pushing the buttons angrily as his arm wraps around me tightly. “Do I own any shares in some company called Fi Solutions?” he asks.
His impatience increases with every second that he’s left waiting for a reply.
“Sell them,” he barks out, before ending the call angrily.
“No!” Sebastian says, his voice raised. “I… why would you? We’re starting to become so profitable. We’ll give you a great return, Alexander. I can guarantee it. If you sell your shares right now, you’ll sink our share price. Please, reconsider.”
Sebastian glances at me and grabs my hand, clenching tightly. “Elena, please, tell him.”
“And that’s where you went wrong,” he says, yanking Sebastian’s hand off mine, his anger overflowing. “Don’t fucking touch my woman. Don’t look at her. Don’t speak to her. Don’t even fucking think about her. If you ever come near her again, I’ll do worse than sink your fucking share price.”
Alec pulls me along angrily. “Why the fuck do you look so fucking beautiful today anyway?” he says through gritted teeth. “You weren’t even sure I was going to be here. For all you know, my grandfather would’ve done tonight’s speech and I never would’ve even showed up. Who do you look this beautiful for, huh?”
I bite back a smile when he walks me to the dance floor, his arms wrapping around me. He seems restless, and his hands keep roaming over my body. The way he looks at me both amuses me and thrills me.
“Jealousy looks cute on you,” I tell him.
“Me? Jealous?” he says, huffing.
“You’re not? Hmm… I guess you won’t mind if I go dance with Sebastian, then?”
He tightens his grip on me and pulls me closer until my body is flush against his. “Don’t even fucking dream about it, Elena. I’ve read your background check. I know you used to date him. It’s enough that you once used to be his. He isn’t getting anything more than the memory of you, and even that is too much.”
I smile up at him and wrap my arms around his neck. “Okay, husband,” I tell him.
Alec twirls me around before pulling me back, and I crash into his arms. “Say that again.” I raise my brows, and Alec brushes my hair out of my face. “I love it when you call me husband like that.”
“Do you now… husband dearest?”
Alec pauses in the middle of the dance floor and nods. “Yes,” he says. “In fact, I want to hear you being referred to as my wife in public everywhere we go. I want people addressing you as Mrs. Kennedy. I want the whole world to know that you’re mine.”
He drops down on one knee in the middle of the dance floor, and several gasps sound around me. The music stops, and a spotlight illuminates us.
“Elena Diana Rousseau,” he says, pulling a ring box from his pocket. My heart skips a beat and I stare at him with wide eyes. He’s always told me before we put on an act, so why didn’t he this time?
“You’ve had me enthralled from the moment I ran into you again, all those months ago. I’ve fought my feelings for you for as long as I could, but it’s a losing battle.”
He opens the ring box, and I gasp. It isn’t the ring I picked—but it’s the ring I secretly wanted. He noticed?
“I can’t even imagine the rest of my life without you,” he says. “Please, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I blink in disbelief and nod. “Yes. Yes, Alec. A thousand times, yes.”
He looks into my eyes, and even though we’re surrounded by hundreds of people, it’s like it’s just me and him right in this moment.
Alec slides the ring onto my finger and rises. He threads his hand through my hair and kisses me roughly, with no regard for the people surrounding us, and I kiss him back just as passionately.
I’m breathless by the time I pull away, and both of us are smiling widely. “Alec,” I whisper. “The ring?”
He pushes my hair behind my ear and cups my cheek. “Baby, you deserve every single thing you set your eyes on. I’m going to make it my job to give you everything, even the things you don’t dare ask for.”
“Alec,” I whisper. “All I want is you.”
He smiles, his fingers brushing aside my hair. “You have me, Elena. Forever.”
We’re so lost in each other that we’re both startled when Alec’s grandfather puts his hand on his shoulder.
“Congratulations, kiddo,” he says, looking as happy as we do. He glances at me and cups my cheek in an uncharacteristic yet totally grandfatherly way. “You picked a keeper. I couldn’t be more proud.”
He takes a step back and then looks at the two of us. “Marry her before the first of July,” he says, his eyes on Alec. “And my position as chairman is yours.”
I grab Alec’s hand and look up at him excitedly. He grins at me and leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“We did it,” I whisper, and he nods.
Dozens of people surround us, each of them wanting to congratulate us. Amongst the crowd, I spot my family, Jennifer by their side. The hatred on Jade and Elise’s faces doesn’t surprise me in the slightest—but the devastation in Jennifer’s eyes does. The way she looks at Alec makes me tighten my grip on him.
He looks at me, a questioning look in his eyes, and I shake my head. I rise to my tiptoes and kiss him with all I’ve got, cheers erupting around us.
I’ve never been happier than I am today, yet this happiness feels fleeting, and I’m terrified I won’t be able to hold on to it.
