I couldn't deny the butterflies that quivered inside of me every time he gazed at me with those beautiful blue eyes. I couldn't deny that his touch warmed me from the inside out, filling my veins with dull flame that had once burned bright and searing.
But what was I supposed to do with those feelings when he refused to reciprocate them?
What was I supposed to do when the man I married only tolerates my company instead of yearns for me?
Chapter Three
"Macy!" Alissa's shrill voice ricocheted off the ice sculptures lining the grand entrance of the hotel ballroom, threatening to break them with her earsplitting falsetto.
She rushed forward as though we were actually friends, as though she hadn't tried to steal my husband right out from under the ring on his left hand finger, wrapping her arms tight around me like a cobra going in for the kill.
Her perfume was overpowering, scent of rose and lilac invading my nose and threatening to send me into a real puking fit. At least I wouldn't have to fake it.
I awkwardly patted her back, stiffly taking a step backwards.
"Hello." I mumbled, as she swept Sebastian into an equally overzealous hug.
Her delicate pianist fingers swept over my husband's strong back, not missing an inch as she tilted her head up to gaze into his eyes.
"I'm so glad you could be here." She murmured, batting her fake, full eyelashes at him.
"I told you when I made the reservation." Sebastian replied with a clear of his throat, all but prying the woman off of him like a pancake stuck to a hot griddle.
Alissa, completely undisturbed by his stiffness, turned her attention back to me as she swept my hands into the grasp of her fingers. It was as though the woman was made of ice, though perhaps that was just her heart.
"I see you're wearing pink..." She winked with imitation demureness, "Giving us a hint, are we?"
"We don't know the gender yet." I replied, glancing towards Sebastian as his shoulders went slightly rigid, “It’s too early.”
Talk of the baby always set the man on edge. I wasn't sure whether the billionaire was uncomfortable with the very existence of said baby, or just other people making such a big deal about it.
Had we ever spoken of our feelings, perhaps I would have had a clearer idea.
"I think it's a girl." She whispered into my ear, lightly tucking a stray hair of mine behind my ear, "I'll make sure she gets her step-mummy's sense of fashion though." She added with a sharp giggle as I struggled with all my might not to roll my eyes.
‘Be nice to the bride,’ I reminded myself firmly, ‘be nice!’
It was going to take all of my might to make it peacefully through the dinner. Really, the scarlet haired woman was impossible. What in the world possessed George to leave Karina for her?
As she walked away though, waving frantically at another unsuspecting dinner guest, it all became too clear.
The interior decorator was dressed with surprising modesty this evening. Her white dress clung to her mid-thigh instead of mid-asscheek. Her sparkly heels were high and her hair big, much more typical of Alissa’s sense of fashion.
"Is she going to keep working for you?" I asked curiously, turning to face Sebastian, whose bored blue eyes were wandering around the room with a yawn, “After she’s officially a married lady?”
"I hadn't thought about it." He replied, tapping his chin, "She hasn't said anything, so I have no idea."
I hummed slightly, following him around the side of the room. Fortunately enough, he seemed not to know everyone in the room for once, which let us fade into the background. Usually, we had to sit through a million repetitive conversations while simply trying to find out seat.
"Alright everyone!" Alissa called from the center of the room, "If you'd all go ahead and look for your name cards we can get this dinner on the road!"
"We're over here." He whispered in my ear, guiding me towards the center of the room.
George and Alissa sat at their own table, right in the center so that all could gaze at their glory, while the rest of the tables fanned out around them.
We sat down at a small table just to the betrothed couple's right, where a few empty chairs waited. Each round table had flowing ivory drapes with matching chairs, a large gardenia centerpiece in the middle. Shimmery pebbles reflected the lights overhead. It was beautiful, as was expected of Alissa’s talented decorating skills.
As Sebastian passed me a bread roll, another couple that I did not recognize approached, greeting us.
"You must be Sebastian!" The woman exclaimed, leaning forward. Her familiar red hair swept over her shoulder as she batted eyes in an uncomfortably recognizable fashion.