Love Under the Hut

CHAPTER 11

It was almost eight in the night.

The party begins to get louder and the crowd was getting more.

One after another.

“Are you ready, your grace?”

“Yes…”

“Let’s go!”

“You go first, Matilda. I’ll catch up with you in a while.”

I was still worried what if Norche and I clinked and Latham sees that. My heart was boxing my chest.

I was so scared and I couldn’t sit still.

I know Norche wouldn’t dare to talk to me in front of the count but what if he tells him the truth?

Oh god…

Matilda looks as sweet as a peach and beautiful.

She was wearing her pink gown and was ready for the party.

I walked to the window and sat there.

Staring at the beautiful hut where I met my charming prince.

Am I ever gonna stop thinking about him…

There was a lot in my mind.

I know it is time for me to get down to the party. Everyone would be waiting.

I opened my room door and the party music was already banging the speakers heavily.

There were DJs and musicians. It wasn’t really an old-time party but it was like in a dance club. 

The smell of alcohol mingled with grilled meat and fruit punches. It made me so nauseous.  

“Here we go…”

I crossed the corridor, walking towards the stairs.

Slowly, the crowd started to glance at me.

One by one. Slowly, the music stopped.

People stopped talking and everyone’s eyes were on me. I was nervous. I bet if Norche was here, he is watching me. Latham too…

Then, the DJ played a piece of very soft music and small bell sounds around the hall.

It was for me…

It was awkward, and the crowd slowly turned to me. All of them.

I walked slowly to the stairways as Cinderella walks into the ballroom to dance with his charming prince. Yes! Something just like that.

I was like a princess.

But where is my prince charming?

Indeed as Matilda said, the center of everybody’s attention. She was right.

They have never seen me before.

I have never met anyone nor known anyone here. They don’t know me.

I never talked to anyone. Even to my husband! How would the rest know me then?

I walked towards the large round stairs leading to the big ballroom.

I knew nobody.

It was a complete stranger’s party to me.

I knew it would be awkward to walk down and be in there. I did it.

Although I am the most important and the first person should be there, Countess Layla Belistra, the billionaire’s wife, I felt so shy and…scared…

“Behold, The Countess Layla Belistra.” 

Cried the guards of the ballroom. They need to mention everyone’s name before they walk to the ballroom. Count Latham does not simply call anyone to his home party it seems.

There was a round of applause and silence.

As I walked through the crowd, all of them make way for me. I still don’t know where to go. 

I was lost in the middle. I feel like someone is coming to me. To touch me and to hold me in his arm.

Who?

I could hear people were talking to each other.

“Wow… she is gorgeous…”

“She is the count’s wife?”

“Look at her… She’s beautiful...”

The crowd was moving away from each other.

They are making way for someone.

It was…the Count.

He was wearing a mask on his face so I was glad that I don’t need to see him.

But he looks so tall and muscular.

He was wearing a black coat and white shirt outside with his buttons opened until his chest.

Like I have seen all of these styles somewhere on someone… but because I was so scared and shy, I cannot think of anyone.

I could say, I was lost…

I do not want to see him, I didn’t want to focus on his body and his move. I drift my looks away from him, but the smell of his perfume was very familiar. I know him…

He came closer to me. I can’t resist that.

So, I let him touch me.

Somehow, he is my husband.

The crowd started to mind their own businesses. Latham pulled me closer to his chest full of authority on me.

Indeed I am his wife.

Some of the crowds were looking at us and some already making their steps into the dance floor to dance.

Then, he gazed at the DJ.

The DJ nodded as if he already know which song to play.

“Can you dance?” he asked. His voice was…familiar… somewhere I have heard before.

It was drawl and sweet. Norche? Is that you?

***my mind voice***

No, it can’t be. Latham is an old man.

Latham closed his face with a masquerade mask because he knew I wouldn’t want to see him.

“I’ll try…” I said softly.

The DJ played my favorite song.

You broke me first by Tate McRae.

It was a famous song. I loved the meaning of every word she sang in that song.

Seems like Latham is not outdated. He knows new songs.

Latham and I have driven away with the dance.

For a moment, I forget everything.

His touch was so soft on me. It almost feels like I was flying with the song. 

We danced and we danced. Just like Cinderella forgets her magical time limit given by her fairy godmother when she was carried away dancing with her prince charming.

He didn’t want to let me go.

The song ended. His eyes were gazing at me.

Again I thought it was Norche but it can’t be!

My eyes were locked on his eyes.

Like I knew him…seen him…

The same feelings I had for Norche. But that is not Norche. My mind was playing with me.

My heart was pounding. The moment of silence.

Latham pushed my waist against him, and gently he kissed me on my lips. 

First, I hesitate. But slowly, he locked my lips on his.

He caressed me gently and kissed harder.

I carried both hands and hold his head.

I was kissing him back. There was more music. Songs from the movie Titanic,

My heart will go on and another song from the movie Greatest Showman,

Rewrite the stars. He kissed me deeper.

I started to moan. I don’t know what I feel anymore.

My feelings were mixed. I was in love…

but with who?

Latham pulled his lips away.

He caressed my bare waist. His hands fit perfectly on my stomach. He was slowly tickling.

I can feel my n*****s are hard and my v****a is getting wet again.

I thought to myself… only Norche can do this to me, but I didn’t know… Latham too? Despite his face was covered, his eyes were still locked on me and my body. He could see me…

He drifts his mouth to my ears and whispers.

“Do you know… you look so f*****g sexy with this outfit…? Everyone is looking at my baby girl... and… You make my d**k so hard. I wanna f**k you, Layla…”

I… I know that voice… sounds like the man I am in love… BUT LAYLA! HE IS NOT NORCHE! Norche does not use such language to me.

***My mind voice***

And a moment I felt so uneasy.

If this is not Norche, then I am definitely so disgusted with the way he said, I made his d**k hard. An old man wants to s*x on me?! YUCKS!

He drifted his hands to his masquerade and wanted to open it.

“NO! Don’t! I don’t want to see you, Latham. Please.”

I cried… I stopped him.

“You are f*****g stupid, Layla.”

He growled softly on my ears. Oh Gosh… Latham!

I don’t just hate him for forcing me to marry him, but I hate him for being so rude to me!

I pulled myself away from him.

“Shut up!” I yelled. 

I pulled myself farther. The crowd was looking at us. I was embarrassed. 

How many times I got to be humiliated like this. I covered my face… I broke down in tears and cried.

I ran away to my room and locked myself in.

“Layla, please open the door. I am sorry!”

Latham was all out there.

Waiting and knocking on the door. But I just don’t want to see him…

“Go away! I don’t want to see you, you are cruel and I hate you.” I cried aloud. There was a moment of silence. And then, Latham left.