Sebastian
I’ve been stranded at Heathrow for the last three hours and it is pouring with rain. My flight to Tokyo has been delayed due to some unforeseen weather conditions and because of that, I have missed out on an important merger.
Bollocks.
Luckily I asked my assistant to let the four CEOs know about the delay and she is yet to get back to me on what their answers are.
So for now I am stewing in my anger while sipping bourbon in my private jet.
I’m not angered at the fact that my flight is delayed, no, I am angered because this was supposed to be my last international meeting for the next three weeks or so. I wanted to spend that time with my family, I wanted to make time for them because truth be told, I barely see them anymore.
Yes, I am married, but I might as well not be with how busy I am.
This doesn’t mean that I love Elena any less, not at all. She’s the love of my life and completes me; however, I don’t think that I have been a very good husband these last few months. Granted, she has also been busy with her literary houses, and I am extremely proud of the woman she has become.
But I miss her. I miss her embrace, her touch, the feeling of her lips on mine. I miss the way she breathes out my name while we make love and how, just before she reaches her peak, her long nails find their place in the skin on my back.
Sometimes I wonder if she misses me at all, or if she still loves me.
I hate this busy life of mine, hate the fact that I am missing out on the important milestones of my children’s lives. This is why those three weeks were so important to me; I need to show my family how much they mean to me.
Sighing, I am about to call it a day and go back to the office when my cell phone rings.
“Dumont,”
“Sir, the CEOs from Shibuya have rescheduled for tomorrow; they’re currently on their way here for further discussions.” My PA tells me and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, May,” I say, then hang up the call, leaning back in my seat. Thank God, this might still happen then. I will still be able to spend time with my family!
I’m about to step off my jet when a familiar figure blocks my view. Elijah Somersett shoots me a grin. “Going somewhere?” He asks.
“Well, obviously not now, you wanker. What’s this about?” I ask, stepping back so he can enter.
Elijah shrugs. “Heard you were also here as I was about to walk to my private jet and thought I would come pop in and have a glass or two of your splendid bourbon.” He says, walking over to my bar.
I sigh and follow him, watching as he pours us each two fingers’ worth.
“So, I haven’t heard from you in ages, mate. Where have you been?” he asks me as he leans on the bar counter.
“You should know how busy the life of a CEO is, Elijah, you own more businesses than I do,” I shrug as I say this, taking a sip of my third bourbon that day alone.
He raises an eyebrow. “I do, yes, but I don’t have to be the only one handling important meetings; this is why I have a COO. You should really consider getting another one.”
I grit my teeth at this, knowing what he’s saying is true. I fired Sarah after finding out that she was the one who deleted the security footage of Elena being sexually assaulted by Nicholas Addington. Since then, I haven’t trusted anyone else with the role.
“I suppose I should,” I say, sighing in defeat. “This has led to my marriage becoming strained and me becoming an absent father.”
Elijah downs his glass and then sets his eyes on me. “It's all good and well that you're trying to make a life for your family while leaving behind a legacy for your children. But make sure that your family will still be there waiting for you after you’ve given them the world on a platter.”
My eyes widen at this; Elena leaving me? Leaving me and taking the children, who would grow to resent their absent father? No, no I can’t allow that to happen! There will not be a repeat of how I lived my life!
“Ah, are my words sinking in then?” Elijah asks with a cocky grin, wiggling his eyebrows and I scoff.
“Tosser. Get your arse out of my jet,” I say with a genuine smile. Trust Elijah to put things into perspective for me - who would have thought the man who caused me grief in my start-up would come to mean so much to me.
“Aye, I will, but first things first; do you have something planned for Elena and you tomorrow evening?” He asks as we walk towards the exit.
Frowning, I shake my head. “No, why would I? I do have an extremely important meeting with some CEOs from Shibuya tomorrow evening at 7.” I answer him as we depart.
He turns to me with a look of confusion on his face. “Wait, you’re telling me you’re spending Valentine’s Day evening with a bunch of old Japanese men?” He asks me in an amused tone, then the smile drops from his face when he sees my expression.
“Blimey, Dumont, please tell me you did not book a dinner appointment with business associates on bloody Valentine’s Day?!” He exclaims, grabbing me by the shoulders.
I grit my teeth. “I did, obviously without knowing, you idiot. But I can’t cancel it because the CEOs are on their way to London as we speak.”
Elijah shakes his head. “Well, I hope you’re going to make it up to your wife somehow. I’m sure she doesn’t want to know that you’ve forgotten Valentine’s Day. You know how birds can get.” He says, then slaps me on the back and walks towards his own jet.
Bollocks, how did this day turn into such a major cock up?
I look up as it starts raining again and breathe out a sigh; just when I thought I would have a day without rain.
Sebastian The following day I had a bouquet of Elena’s favourite flowers delivered to her office along with her favourite delicacies. I apologised for not being able to join her that evening for a Valentine’s Day dinner. In return, she sent me a timepiece with the same apology. I had felt incredibly uneasy since Elijah’s visit yesterday. His words hit home and made me wonder just who exactly I am working myself to the bone for. Granted, I am doing this for my family, but who says they will all still love me when my workload starts to lessen? So, I asked my PA to begin compiling the resumes of suitable candidates to stand beside me as my COO. I just have to face tonight, and then I will be free to spend my time with my family again. I hope after this Elena will still feel the same about me, surely our love wouldn’t crack under this little pressure, right? Shaking my head, I dive into what leftover work I had yes
I stared at my laptop, not believing what I was seeing… Then I let out a shriek so loud that even my mother came running into my room.“What in the world is going on, Elena?” she cried out, staring at me with eyes as big as saucers. I turn my laptop screen around and point towards it, “I got accepted, mother! Harvard has accepted my application!” I respond with glee, to a very confused mother.She raised one expertly plucked eyebrow at me, “Excuse me? Harvard, as in The States?”Fighting the urge to roll my eyes at her, I nod and could not help but grin.Harvard Law School, my dream Uni has accepted me! Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing could knock me off this high. I’ve done it! I have proven to myself and my family that I could get somewhere without their influence. I mean, I could have chosen Cambridge or Oxford, but that would be too close to home and the Wiltshire name. I would immediately hav
Dressed in a burgundy empire evening dress with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves, I put on my Mary Jane Louboutins and was ready to face the Dumonts. I left my hair to cascade in curls down my back and didn’t bother with over the top makeup. I had no one to impress, so why bother with frivolities? As I descend our winding staircase, I spot my sister in the foyer. She was on the phone and seemed rather upset. The clicking of my heels alerts her to my presence and she kills her call. Turning to face me, she plasters a fake smile onto her face and walks towards me and catches my frown. “Wedding problems,” she answers with the roll of her eyes. I knew she was lying, but who am I to say anything? She clearly did not want to tell me what was going on with her.I offer her a tight smile, “Eliana, you know…” I start, but decided against it with the shake of my head, “Never mind. Is everything ready for this evening?”
You could hear a pin drop. Eliana, my sweet sister, would be causing a scandal with her news. The worst type of scandal in the upper class and nobility circles. Affairs and babies born out of wedlock. Sebastian had gone pale, my parents were reeling from this news and the Dumonts? Well it seems that even they did not know this last little titbit. Mirabelle walks towards them, “You’re pregnant?! A child born out of wedlock, how shameful!” She shrieks and I could tell this upset her incredibly. “I knew there was something about you that I didn’t like.” Eliana throws her head back and laughs, or rather cackles, “Mirabelle, there will be no scandal. Robert and I will wed before the child is born. Then you will finally be rid of me.” I do not think I have ever heard my sister speak in such an acid tone, especially not towards Mirabelle Dumont. I could feel the shame radiating from where my parents were seated. Mirabelle goes completely
A knock at my bedroom door draws me out of my reverie. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide in here forever. “Elena?” came the voice of my father. This made me frown. He hardly ever came into my room. I would have expected it to be mother or Eliana to run after me.Not the head of our family.“Come in, father,” I called out, then I sat up, straightening myself out as a lady should. He then opens the door and pokes his head in. “May I come in?”I nod and grab a tissue from my bedside table to dab my eyes with. Did he honestly expect me to tell him he could not enter my room?My father takes a seat on my bed and takes my hand in his, “Elena, I do not wish for you to go through with this marriage.” he starts abruptly, causing me to stare at him in surprise. Didn’t he just agree with everyone downstairs?“What do you mean by that, father? You just agreed with everyone downstairs that I should g
“This one looks beautiful, Elena!”Can you guess where I am right now? What a way to spend a peaceful Sunday.Currently swaddled in lace and silk, my mother and Mirabelle had kidnapped me so we could go hunting for a wedding dress. “Why can’t I just wear Eliana’s?” I had asked, and both of them looked like I had spat in their faces.Okay, then.So here I was, being a doll to my mother and Mirabelle. After trying on at least 10 more dresses, I started losing my temper.“Let me find my own dress, mother. Give me a few minutes,” I say in an exasperated tone to the surprise of the two ladies with me. If this was going to be my wedding, I might as well choose the damn dress since I didn’t get to choose the groom.I walk into the back section of London Bride Couture and sigh. This wasn’t how I pictured myself when I eventually had to choose a wedding dress. I thought I would be a lot happ
I spin around at the voice behind me and look straight into the eyes of Sebastian. Anger flared in his honey-coloured eyes as he took in the scene before him; Nicholas cupping my cheeks and my arms around his waist.I feel the anger radiating off Nicholas when he lets go of me and faces Sebastian, “We were just saying our goodbyes. There is no reason to be rude, Sebastian.” He says, meeting Sebastian’s angry stare.Wait, why the heck was he so angry, anyway?Stepping forward, I walk towards my supposed fiance and meet his gaze, “Nicholas was my intended before they forced me to marry you, Sebastian. I am saying goodbye to him, that is all.” I say to him and he peers down at me.“Irrelevant. I will not have another Eliana as my betrothed. You will go with me right this instant as we need to discuss a few things regarding our pending marriage.” He says and turns on his heel, “I don’t like to be kept wait
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 muscular. 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?I come 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,