Chapter 6

Emily's POV

Three Days Later

"Em, why are you not dressed for the ball?" Gen asked as she poked her head through the door.

"I'm not going," I answered as I lay my head on my pillow, feeling sorry for myself.

Gen was already dressed in a lovely purple and white dress that hugged her chest area but flowed freely from her waist down to her ankles. Her white heels, silver earrings and necklace added the finishing touches, and her makeup was extra flawless. I almost didn't recognize my best friend.

"You were personally invited by the prince himself, and you're going to turn that down because of what you thought you saw?" She was in the room and standing next to my bed.

"I know what I saw Gen!" I snapped and she put her hands up in surrender.

"Emily Hollen, you shouldn't be wallowing like this. Sebastian will be looking forward to seeing you. He invited you. If you want to get back at him, I think you should get your ass off this bed, get into that bathroom and freshen up, step into your dress and heels, do your hair and makeup, and go to that ball and enjoy yourself."

I rolled over to the other side of the bed and heaved a loud sigh. Then, I slowly peeled myself off and walked into the bathroom. I took a shower and washed my hair. I toweled off my skin, applied lotion and walked towards my closet where I wondered what purple dress I should wear. The theme of the ball was Purple Skies and it was mandatory to wear suitable colors to match the theme.

I took one of my purple dresses off the rack. It hugged my body in the right places and the back area was exposed. The gold straps made it prettier than usual and I thought it would be best to continue with gold. I put on my favorite pair of gold heels, gold earrings and a long tassel statement necklace. Gen assisted with curling my hair and doing my makeup. Finally, I applied my body perfume and took my gold clutch and walked out the door with Gen following beside me.

________________________________

At the palace, the ball was held in a grand hall. We handed our invites over to one of the bodyguards and he allowed us inside after scanning us with a metal detector.

Gen instantly snatched two flutes of champagne from a waiter and handed one to me. I drank it down quickly. I was nervous and my eyes were traveling through the very thick crowd for him.

After half an hour without a sight of Sebastian, I decided to finally give up. Gen was asked to dance by a gentleman and I found a seat by a minibar and watched. The bartender handed me a glass of white wine. I sipped on it slowly and rocked back and forth to the slow music circulating the room.

After another hour, I left the bar and took a walk down a hallway. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I wanted some fresh air. The air conditioning units in the grand hall weren't cooling the body heat from the number of people in attendance. 

I made it outside onto a small balcony that over looked the courtyard. In the shadows of a several trees were two figures. I knew one was Sebastian, but I didn't recognize the woman he seemed to be shouting with. I eased closer for a better hearing.

"You don't know anything about me!" I heard the woman yell and place her hands on her hips.

"I'm leaning towards forgetting everything about this!" Sebastian yelled back at her.

"You can't dare lean in that direction Sebastian. I won't hear of it, and I'm certain neither would your father. This is going to happen. You don't have a choice!"

"See, that's where you're wrong. There's always a choice Naomi. Now, this conversation is over. I have a ball to attend." Sebastian walked away from her and was heading in my direction. 

I quickly turned on my heels and hid behind a hedge. 

The other woman walked quickly after him without a word.

My heart felt like it was caving in. My breath came slowly from my nostrils and my knees became weak. Something was wrong. Sebastian was forced into something by that woman and his father. I needed to know exactly what they were talking about.

I went back to the grand hall.

Gen must be worried, I thought and, as I walked into the ball to see her, I walked into someone. 

I stumbled backwards slightly and my heel caught the end of my dress and, of course, I tripped and fell on my bum. I felt every pair of eyes on me and heard some low laughter. I attempted to pick myself up but a hand stretched out to me and helped me to my feet.

"Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked.

I only nodded and dusted myself off. I had a slight bruise in my left palm and I flinched when I tried closing my hand.

"You're hurt. Let's get you looked at." He held my right hand firmly and the crowd parted like the red sea to let us through.

"You don't have to do this Sebastian," I said as he found a first-aid kit. I was now sitting on a sofa as Sebastian tended to my bruised palm with cotton balls and peroxide. 

"There. All better now?"

"Yes. Thank you." I stood and he pulled me towards him and wrapped me in a very comfortable hug. 

"I had been looking for you," he whispered in my ear. 

Ripples went down my spine as he placed tiny kisses on my neck. His lips went to my jawline before he found my lips. He claimed them with authority and I gave in immediately. His hands roamed the areas on my bare back when the kiss deepened.

"I've missed you so much," he said when we broke the kiss.

"I've miss you too," I responded like a fool in love, "but there's something you're not telling me, Sebastian."

His face fell and his body language shifted to discomfort. He released me from his hold and ran his hand over his face.

"Sebastian, what relations do you have with that woman you were yelling at before you went to the ball?"

And, just as I feared, he said the words, "She's my soon-to-be wife."