CHAPTER2
1021 Words
The entire room was quiet, except for the light tapping of raindrops on the window pane which Imogen wished she had the powers to stop. She wished for total silence... every little sound irked her.
After cleaning up the 'mess' earlier, she had tiptoed back into the washroom to clean up herself before crawling back in bed
She felt defeated, struggling to decide which was worse between being rejected by her mate and having to clean up after...
She had shed tears in the washroom
It made her feel sick to her stomach... the mere thought of being rejected by him...
She had contemplated staying there... naked in his bed...
Maybe she should have waited for him to come back... to see what he would have done to her
She made up her mind right then to find him tomorrow... well today, seeing as it was getting bright outside
"No sleep for me" she muttered as she adjusted herself on the bed, curling up so that her hands hugged her knees.
She ended up asleep for a few minutes when she heard the loud banging on the door.
Everyone sprung up from their beds and began getting ready for the day's work.
Well, everyone aside from her. She decided to rest a little before getting up to get ready.
"You've got some nerve" She jerks awake at the sound of the voice
She had fallen asleep for the second time whilst trying to 'rest a little'
"How are you still asleep" Imogen looked up at Griselda who was standing above her with a sweeper in hand
Griselda had been assigned maid quarters and she was back to do her duties, only to find Imogen fast asleep
"I..."
"I think you should go to the ballroom"
"The ballroom..."
"There is a ball... for Jasmine, the Alpha's sister. It is her twentieth birthday today"
Griselda swept as she spoke to Imogen who just stared, unable to form coherent sentences
"If you go now, they probably won't notice that you have been here... sleeping"
Imogen was grateful, but she contemplated not thanking Griselda after the judgmental look she had given her when she had said the word 'sleeping'
As if it had been her fault... just then, flashbacks of the previous night hit her so hard she thought she would stumble as she stood up
She felt tears stinging her eyes as she struggled to compose herself
"Thanks" she muttered before getting dressed and leaving the maid's quarters
She had wanted to ask for directions from the other maid, but she refrained from doing so
Now she deeply regretted her decision as she bumps into Sir Walsh
"Imora" he once again mispronounced her name
"Fine morning Sir Walsh" she greeted with a half-curtsy
He was with a tall manservant who held a tray in his hand. He was quite good-looking... having nice blonde hair and charming brown eyes.
The only reason Imogen concluded he was a manservant was because of his black and white outfit, and the tray in his hand
"Fine morning" she greeted him and he bowed
"Why are you parading the halls? What duty were you assigned?" Sir Walsh all but ignored her greetings as he bombarded her
"I..." she looked to the manservant, who now for some reason had a mocking smirk on his face
"She was in the ballroom. I sent her to return some table linen" he said
"Yes sir" Imogen quickly went with it, silently thanking the kind man for the lie
"Okay then, you two go ahead. I have some other things to attend to" Sir Walsh said before taking a left turn in the hallway, leaving Imogen with the manservant
"Thank you so so much," she said to him
"It's no sweat Imora..." he said
"Imogen" she quickly corrected him
He let out a laugh "Mr Walsh does that... it doesn't ever end"
"I've been here longer and I'm still Henry... even I have become accustomed to the name"
"Well, sorry," Imogen said with a small smile
"What is your real name?" She asked... and just then she realized she didn't know her mate's name... she knew absolutely nothing about him... well aside from his striking features and...
"Are you here?" Henry asked and she nodded
She had zoned out for a minute
"I said my name is real Hans"
"What?" Imogen chuckled "That is an even easier name than Henry"
They walked as they talked and soon arrived at the ballroom
Imogen was thankful because she definitely would not have located the ballroom on her own
Although the interior was grand, the inlet was quietly hidden, in a corner... very easy to miss
"Thank you Hans" she thanked him again and he acknowledged her with a smile and a nod
Imogen looked around the large ballroom. The decorations were simply beautiful, with a soft floral theme. Peach curtains hung from the tall ceilings, and the rest of the decor consisted of flowers... beautiful orchids, and lilies. But Jasmine's seat was lined with fresh Jasmines as well as hundreds of wrapped presents and she smiled as she accepted more.
The ballroom was a bit rowdy. As some people danced, some served themselves at the buffet table while others chatted away with each other
Imogen turned and was surprised to see that Hans was now wearing a suit Jacket over his uniform
"You're a butler?" She asked, unable to conceal her surprised expression
He just laughed and she became distracted as soon as she perceived his scent which was followed by the sound of glass clicking
"Time for the Alphas speech," Hans said willing her to turn to the direction of the clicking glass
Her breath audibly hitched in her throat as she did so
"Are you okay?" Hans said, placing his hand on her shoulder
She found it difficult to speak as the Alpha's eyes found hers just as he started his speech
"I..."
"What's wrong" Hans asked as he turned her towards himself
"I think I need fresh air" she finally said
"Okay, come," he said as he led her out of the ballroom.
- Writer
