Rose Petal Promises

Prologue

Elaine's Pov...

My eyes are like the pure lenses of a 3D camera. I see things clearly and more often than not, as they should be. I guess it comes with being a painter. I am in love with the idea of being given a blank canvas and can paint all that I can imagine. This little mind of mine runs wild.

I paint roses. Funny, right? The reason behind me painting roses goes way back. It started when I was in art class. To be more specific, when Kade MacRoy sent me the most beautiful bunch of fresh white roses, up until that exact moment, I thought I was into sunflowers like my mother.

Kade knew me better than I knew myself. He had the roses delivered to me in class. Yes, the son of the senator can do that.

The note on the roses only said: K MacRoy.

And in the entire school, there was only one K MacRoy.

It would have been a different story if I had received the flowers at home.

Well, there are three K MacRoys, if I don't count the late Mr Kenvin MacRoy, his grandfather.

That leaves Kade. His father, Kendrick, and his uncle, Kayle.

Both of them are happy married to a socialite and a former Miss Universe who is now a human rights activist for women and children.

Now back to my flowers. I was the envy of every girl at Madison Clarr Academy in New York City.

No one really knew who I was. Only my parents. My father, Scott Sean. Best Criminal Defense Attorney in New York City. My Mother, Sara Sean. Best Wedding Dress Designer in New York City. I was just Elaine Sean. Their only child.

But the flowers made everyone notice me, from the faculty to the students. I just hope I do not end up on the MCA News. The schools most popular letter.

"Who are the flowers from?" Annalise asks me from behind. She is my neighbour.

"My father wishes me a good day." I lied. No one is going to believe that Kade sent me flowers. He has never spoken to me, let alone look at me for more than ten seconds.

"Daddy's princess, as always." Annalise says, and goes back to taking notes. I'm glad that is over. I took the card and hid it deep in my history book. No one looks at history books.

During lunch break, I decided to skip the meal and go to the library. I bury myself in assignments. Just to get a head start.

"Another flower delivery for you." I looked up and saw Seth. He hangs out with Kade and his crew sometimes. He asked me out once and then he just ignored me. Maybe I was too weird for him or his crew told him to back away from me or risked being kicked out of the crew.

Those guys only date cheerleaders and popular girls. No one is looking for a girl who loves art.

"Who are they from?" I asked him as I got the flowers.

"Kade MacRoy." He says to me emotionless.

"Why?" I asked him, very curious. One bunch, sure. Two, I am getting suspicious, of course.

"Ask him. Or better yet, keep telling people they are from your father." He says, sounding disgusted and leaves.

I could ask Kade but I know that will never happen. We live in the same neighborhood, but that does not mean we are in the same class. His father and mother are in ELITE status and, me well, not quite sure at this point.

The day finally ends with no more roses.

"Where did you get the flowers?" is the first thing Roco, my driver asks me as soon as I get in the car. He is more like an older brother than a driver.

"I bought them. I wanted to decorate my room." I lied for the second time today. This is becoming a habit.

"Okay." He says and drives me straight home, no detours. That is my father's only order.

When I arrive home, I am glad that my parents are not home. I don't get questioned about the roses.

****

Three weeks passed and I didn't get another rose delivery. To say I am sad about that would be an understatement.

I also did not get a call or a letter. Not that I expected Kade to even do that, but I had hoped.

Seth came to me while I was taking my books for my next class.

"Hi." He says to me. I looked at him. He seems more calmer than he was the last time we spoke.

"Hi." I said to him too. He looks at me and a small smile forms on his face.

"What are you doing on Saturday night?" He asks me. He cannot be serious.

"Why?" I asked him. The last time he asked me this was two years ago and we planned to go to the movies. He never showed up and never spoke to me for two years.

"I want to take you out. I have an invitation to attend this weekend and I would like you to be my date." He says, looking at me. He has that hope in his eyes like he did the other time he asked me out.

"No." I say and shut my locker. "No?" He asks me. I turned and saw the shock and disappointment in his face. Good. That was me two years ago.

"Seth, do you think I am stupid to say yes again and then you don't show up? Not talk to me for two years and never give me a reason why you bailed on me." I am getting angry now. He clearly thinks I am stupid.

"Elaine, I like you. I really do like you. I know what I did was shitty, but I can explain. Just come with me on Saturday and everything will make sense." He says to me with his pleading eyes. I wonder what game he is playing?

"At least answer this question and I might consider it." I said to him, hoping to get some answers.

"What's the question?" He asked me, giving me his full attention.

"Why did Kade send me those roses?" I have been asking myself that same question for three weeks now.

Seth looked at me and I could see his eyes change from anger to sadness in a few seconds.

"I cannot answer for him. You can ask him yourself, not that he would ever answer you. He just has his way of doing things." He says to me, making absolutely no sense at all.

"Okay. Where are you taking me on Saturday night?" I asked him.

"A ball. I will pick you up at 6:30pm sharp." And then he was gone when I still had a million questions.

Well, I guess I will ask them tomorrow night.

The rest of my day was uneventful. I decided after school to go to my mother's store to get a dress. She always wanted to turn me into a Barbie doll anyway.

Roco had to call my father and ask permission to go and see my mother. I did not think that was necessary, but Scott Sean always gets his way.

"Elaine. This is a nice suprise." My mother says and she hugs me.

"It gets even better," I said to her. She looks at me curious.

"Do not tell me you got expelled." She says to me and raises her perfect eyebrows, something I never got from her.

"No, of course not. I just need a gown for tomorrow, I am going to a ball." I said to her. I didn't even believe the words that were leaving my own mouth.

"Elaine, this is the best news ever. I have the perfect dress for you. I will make you look like a princess." She says with a full smile that shows her pure white, perfectly shaped teeth.

"You not going to ask who I will be going with?" I mean your daughter is going out at night with a boy. I think that should be the first thing that you ask.

"Well, your father can bust that bubble. I will just inflate it with a gorgeous gown." She says, smiling and heading to the dresses hanging by the counter.

"What if he says I cannot go to the ball?" I asked her as I followed her to the dresses.

"Scott would never make me unhappy." She says and winks at me.

"You too have a weird relationship." I said to her and hoped she was right about my father not saying no.

"It's called marriage, El. Happy wife, happy life." She says and takes out a dress. "Try this one. It will cost your father a lot of money." She says, and she pushes to the dressing rooms.

"I am your daughter. Am I not getting it for free?" I asked her. I mean I deserve a discount. Family discount.

"No, I run a business, not a charity case." She says and shuts the door. Sara Dean and money.

I put on the dress and headed out.

"You look stunning. Diamonds and rhinestones are your perfect match." She says as she admires me in the emerald gown covered in diamonds and rhinestones.

I do feel good in the expensive material of the dress.

The next day my mother spent with me getting pampered and, of course, getting ready for that evening. I mean, I had fake everything with me. The hair, the lashes, the nails, even the look. I was all baked up in make-up.

I looked different. Whether it was a good or bad difference. I would let others decide. Apart from my mother, of course.

I head downstairs and hope my father has not threatened Seth. As I descended the stairs, I saw them having an intense conversation. Of course, he is threatening him.

"I am ready." I said out loud. The two men turned in my direction and they both seemed stunned. Is that good or bad?

"Elaine, sweetheart. You look beautiful. You sure you want to go with him? You can stay at home and we can watch a movie." My father said to me. He seemed serious. He thinks I endured all of this with mom to watch a movie with him. She would kill him.

"If you want to live, do not let my mother hear you say that." I said to him and he let out a small smile.

"Fine, you can go. And Seth, no drinking, no drugs, no kissing, no touching. I want her back here at 11pm. I know where you live. I will find you." My father will never change, I swear.

" You have nothing to worry about, Mr Dean." Seth, says to my father. After, he is satisfied with everything. We leave.

He took me to a place just outside the city. It is a secluded mansion.

There are a lot of cars parked. I hope we can find a parking spot.

We found it after circling around twice. We entered the mansion and we were sent to the ballroom. This place is like a palace with ancient expensive art and sculptures. Every artist's dream home.

The ballroom is filled with men and women in exquisite couture.

The band is playing and some are mingling while some are just happy being here.

After an hour of mingling and admiring the fine art collection, my heart stops when I see Kade descending the stairs like he is royalty.

Why did Seth bring me here? I mean, as soon as he got here he abandoned me.

I think it would be best that I leave. I headed out and ran, leaving my heels behind into the darkness. The intoxicating smell draws me further into the darkeness.

Before I even realize, I am in a rose garden filled with white roses. I lean in and smell them. These are the roses that Kade sent me. His family has an entire garden filled with them. How is that even possible? I should not be here. Maybe this is a sacred place meant for family only and here I am snooping around. I should go.

I turn to leave when I bump into someone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snoop around." I said to the person that I bumped into. "I had hoped you would so I could be alone with you," I heard the velvet voice that belonged to Kade MacRoy.

"Why? Why did you give me the roses? Why send Seth?" I had a million questions for him that I needed answers to.

He sighs and pulls me closer to him. "You talk too damn much." He says and captures his lips with mine.

Kade MacRoy is kissing me in a garden filled with white roses that smell like heaven.