DESTINY'S EMBRACE

The Mercedes Benz 320 pulled over at the Rove Edifice. Emma Sinclair got down from behind the car and walked in. In her slit beaded dress that glittered as the lights from the fancy chandeliers fell on it and her wide smile, she glowed. The ever-increasing number of fancy-dressed spoke volumes of the occasion. The men, dressed in tuxedos and fancy suits, each with mopped up women adorned in long fancy gowns and expensive heels and bracelets dangling from their hands. The soft tunes playing from the piano in one corner of the room breathed a regal nostalgia into the atmosphere. The criteria for invitation was already a highlight of what was to be expected in the stone-walled edifice, tastefully furnished with the most exquisite set of chandeliers and polished floors. Famous paintings from the godfathers of the art, Pablo Picasso and Leonardo Da Vinci echoed the artistic taste that resonated with this already breath-taking architectural spectacle. The waiters and waitresses, all dressed in immaculate white shirts and black trousers served the guests wearing wide smiles their faces. They kept their voices low and their greetings courteous and curt. Emma Sinclair was rooted in a corner of the room, dressed in a yellow gown that barely reached her knees. She watched in admiration as the rich folk filtered into the hall, each with their partners and plus-ones. Money might not buy happiness, but these guys could afford to wear the brightest smiles and pick the fanciest of outfits. “Wow! Emma, you would need more ice for that drink, cause you are literary setting this place on fire.” Sarah, Emma’s best friend and business partner strolled towards her as she sighted her taking a glass of champagne from one of the waiters. Emma blushed and walked towards her, "Hey Sarah, this place is magnificent, I never would have thought that people would show up this much.” Emma commended as she looked around. “Well, I told you that they would all show up.” “I can never be more excited.” Sarah grabbed her drink and they cheered and turned watching as more people walked in to begin the gala. Alexandra Harrington unlike every other person found the gala as a means to clear his head from the ravaging storm that had clouded his mind from work. The pressure and constant reminder to get a bride. He just could not feel the emotional connection with any girl after what had happened in the past. A blonde-haired lady walked up to the stage with the same beam that was just on nearly everyone’s face. “Today has been great, we began this charity gala with mixed feelings but as you can all see, it has been nothing but a success.” She turned towards a direction in the crowd and continued, "Thanks to Sinclair Soirees for making this charity gala a reality. We have been able to gather more than enough funds.” There was an uproar of applause for a while before it finally died off and the music continued. Emma moved over to meet a few people and greeted them all with a smile. Most of them knew her and a couple of them had been her clients in the past. She was still in her act of mingling with the other guests when she sighted Fred in his usual look approaching her. Emma could not imagine that she would ever set her eyes on him again after what had happened between them in the past. She avoided his eyes looking away as she tried to walk away. “Emma Sinclair, just the person I want to see.” He said as soon as he stopped in front of her. Emma slowly turned towards him and forced a smile. “Fred, what are you doing here?” “Is that a way to greet the love of your life? Not even a hug or a kiss on the lips.” “Fred, we have gone past all of that.” "You still have those sparkles in your eyes.” He took her hands in his and held her by her cheek moving forward to kiss her. Emma noticed his intentions and moved her face away from his incoming lips, taking her hand away from his. “Don’t do that.” She said. “I can still remember when you would beg just to have a taste of my lips.” "Fred stop.” “When you would hold me closely in the cold morning. I wonder how you cope without all of that.” "Fred stop, don't do this here.” She could hear the quiver in her voice as she spoke. Fred seeing how vulnerable she was moved forward and grabbed her hands again. “I know that you still want me, I can see it in those beautiful eyes of yours. I have always known that you can't get enough of me.” Emma took back her hands forcefully this time which prompted the people around to notice the drama unfolding between her and Fred. "You need to leave Fred.” Emma could not take it all in anymore, despite her rough exterior, she knew she was still very touchy when it came to her emotions. Fred chuckled, "Too bad, your loss.” He said. “By the way, Why are you here? ” "Oh, you haven't heard? I would be getting married in a week time. And I want you to be there.” "Oh that's great, so who is the lucky girl?” “Camila.” Emma was stunned as she heard the name. It was indeed a familiar name. One she had heard many times from Fred as just a friend and a colleague at work. The name she had seen on Fred’s phone that would call him all night. She had asked him about their relationship but he had always assured her that it was nothing more than what he had told her. “Camila is your bride?” “Yes.” "Just a work colleague huh?” "You got boring and I needed the adventure.” Emma felt tears growing by the sides of her eyes, it was almost visible when she spotted a tall, handsome, dark-haired man approaching towards her. He seemed like he was in his early-thirties. She could tell through his tuxedo that he was in excellent physical shape. She glanced quickly in his direction and was convinced that he was headed for her. She tried not to make it too obvious that she'd seen him approaching so she smiled a little too hard and made herself seem completely engaged in the conversation. As he got close, he stood by her side without saying a word, even though she was surprised by his presence, she didn't act so. “The lady asked you to leave.” He said to Fred. “Emma, I see you've got yourself a bodyguard.” Fred only got her silence “Leave the premises please.” Fred finally walked out and Emma felt the relief. "Thank you.” She turned towards him, “ He has just been a pain in my neck since I met him.” "Your ex?” “Yes.” "Are you still in love with him?” “I don't know, the things of the heart can be a bit confusing.” Emma said. "Yeah, I can relate to that.” Xander said, "Well enough of him, from what I have observed, he is not worth any of it.” She watched him smile which made her blush. "Emma Sinclair” He called out with a little whisper in her ears and a light pat on her back. She felt her stomach muscles tighten to form butterflies in her stomach. "Are you calling or asking?" She asked and turned around to face him. He looked even more handsome staring at him from that close. "Uh... you are?" She quizzed, forcing herself to not give out an iota of her emotion in neither words nor her body language. "What would you prefer?” “I would prefer to be called upon.” She chuckled. His eyes were still fixed on her as he did not move them away, she noticed he was staring and quickly moved her eyes away as she felt shy. “Why are you staring at me that way.” “What way?” He asked. "The way you are staring at me right now.” “You are beautiful.” "Are you always like this?” "How do you mean?” He leaned forward. By this time, the classical tune from the piano had stopped and a much faster beat was being played. “You meet a stranger and you begin to flirt, you didn't even tell me your name.” “Oh forgive my manners,” He playfully smacks his hand on his head, “I am just a simple man that is drawn to you.” Emma felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she looked away hiding away the growing smile. “I'm Xander Harper.” “Finally, a name to the face.” Emma smiled with all her teeth and offered her hand for a handshake. He had a firm grip which sent a few waves through her and made her feel a little tingly down there. "I have been impatiently waiting for this.” Xander said in a flirty tone and with a curt nod. He took a few steps backwards and waved at her with a smile on his face. She smiled in return and smacked her lips to restrained the wide grin that was forming on her lips. Despite her striking beauty, that was the first time a male character had approached her with slightly flirtatious intentions, mostly because her daily routine of home to work and back home again almost never gave her a chance to meet up with guys. She felt a great wave of joy and pride which made her feel wholly feminine and sexy. They shared more drinks and talked some more, Emma was intrigued by how someone who appeared so simple would know so much. “Can I have this dance?” Xander stretched his hands towards her. “I do not know quite how to dance.” “You don't have to do much, just take my hand and follow my lead.” "Oh God, this is a bad idea.” She took his hands and he led her to the dance floor, by this time most of the people were already in twos holding each other and slow dancing. She felt her heart pound heavily and was more than relieved when he held her hand over her head and spun her around. She smiled back in return when he placed one hand on her waist and extended the other upwards as they joined, everyone else gathered there to a slow waltz. She asked him a few questions about him and where he hailed from but he found a way to waltz his away around the questions, just as gracefully as he did with his feet as they danced together. “Take me somewhere else.” Emma whispered in his ear, he pulled her by her hands and took her to his car where he drove to his suite. Emma was still in the mood to dance as she spun for a while that she threw herself almost to the ground. Xander held her arms and pulled her closer that she could hear his heartbeat. "What was that?" He asked. She laughed out with him. His strong arm slid in her waist and he swayed around with a beat in his head. It was like they were dancing a waltz dance step to an inaudible classic music. There was something about the way his body pressed against hers, the way his chin rested on top of her hair. He spun her around and she giggled as she tried to regain her steps. He threaded his fingers in her hair with his thumb caressing the soft spot beneath her ear. Soon the swaying stopped and he pulled her tighter still. Then as though it was the most real thing in the world, he bent over and kissed her. Her eyes fluttered close as her heart began to beat faster than usual. He pulled his lips from her and watched her eyes, they were just as bright as he had seen them, when he first saw her. "Why did you stop?” She asked. “You are pretty.” He slid his hand deep into her hair again and his mouth plundered hers until she could barely breathe for the rush of feeling moving through her. She felt his tongue sliding across hers and was lost in a whirl of his heat and desire for him. She raised her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his as close as she could. She wanted to feel the tenderness of his skin and she knew he wanted to feel hers too. He lifted her up to his waistline where she clogged to his body. She could feel his muscle straining from his flesh. Even with this, his lips was still on hers, he pinned her down to the bed. She could see his broad shoulders and his handsomeness over her. She was indeed a beauty as he stared back at her rounded slender body. He rested his hands on her n*****s that pointed back at him through her silk dress. Then he took off one article of her dress on at a time. Starting with her top. He liked to save the undies for the last. He placed his lips on her perfectly dark n*****s, teasing it with his tongue. She closed her eyes breathing intentionally. She was not left behind as she moved her hands down to his pants taking off the buttons one at a time until it all came down. He trailed his lips from her neck to her navel, Emma responded with slow jerks smuggling her moans, he dropped soft kisses as he moved his lips downwards. She guarded his hands to her wetness, pulling down her panties until he could finally feel her within. Emma moaned out loud feeling the uproar of pleasure cascading through her. Then he moved his tongue down teasing her p***y rims till he could get to her c**t. She moaned louder threading her hands through her hair. She always loved the feeling that came when she fiddled in between her. He gently went in between her legs. She felt his warmth inside of her, the same warmth she had felt all evening. But this one went hard inside of her. "f**k!" She moaned. She held him close she was sure she had heard him call her a name in Latin. He thrusted fast, she liked it fast. She was in no mood for a cuddle s*x. She wanted to be his lioness as he moaned loud like a roaring lion. She loved the feel from his grip as he squeezed her ass. She held onto his neck scratching his back softly. She ran her arms through his well built abs. He pulled his d**k from her and banged it on the walls of her p***y. He knew she wanted more from the way that she looked at him narrowing her eyes. She had this "f**k me" mood and he could understand every bit of her body. This was not like the regular s*x that she had. This was birthed out of something pure. Xander was an epitome of manliness and masculinity. She clenched her hands to her breast fiddling her n*****s and he snatched them both from her. She let out giggles. "Oh boy, you're nasty". She bit her lower lips. He turned her backwards and went into her again. He kept thrusting at a steady pace, she loved the rhythm they used. Not so fast, not so sluggish. Just perfect. After a while, he held her in his arms, they both laid sweaty breathing out loud. The cool midnight breeze crept in slowly through the small window caressing their skin. In the middle of the night, Emma crept out of the bed taking one step at a time to avoid the loud noises from the bunk or the doors as she boarded a cab home. It had been a long evening. She threw herself on her bed and watched the ceiling. She smiled at the thought of how successful the event had gone and then the thought of Fred crawled to her mind. She dreaded the way that he had made her feel, like a weakling which she needed not to be. She had loved him and he had betrayed her and she hated him for doing that to her. She wished that she was bold enough to make him leave but someone else had done that for her. The strange man, it was not her usual style of having a one night stand but being with him had been different, she felt it. She laid still on her bed for a while as her eyelids fell close. On the drawer next to her bed, laid the invitation cards Fred had sent to her. The morning came fast as Xander woke up, he could not find Emma by his side were he had last seen her before he closed his eyes to sleep. He hurried off the bed with just his robe on as he went to the security man who was just by the door. “Did you see any lady, she is this tall, pretty.” He gesticulated as he tried to describe Emma to him. “We have seen a couple of ladies with that description, do you have a name or something we can use to identify this person? " "I have just a name. Emma, that's her name.” “Oh, what did you say that lady took from you again? " The security man asked. “I don't know, I really can't say.” Xander said.