FROZEN HEARTS, BURNING LOVE

Sienna Koch My dress is beautiful, and even when people don´t think I am as beautiful as my sister Scarlett, I do look good, pretty even. I am ready, ready to step out into the light, to have people look at me and think I am worthy of him, Frederick Deveraux. Tonight, our engagement will be announced. I have loved him since I was a child, and this Thanksgiving, my dream will come true. His mom and mine were best friends, and when our parents and business partners died in that terrible accident, Mom and Aunt Claire Deveraux decided that, for the sake of the company and to ensure our future, we would be married. That news was everything for me, and since that day forward, I have made sure to be worthy of him. My aunt Claire has made sure I was the proper high-society woman who could carry the legacy of our families into the next generation. I was not bold, not fiery… I was shy, and usually people didn't look my way. In fact, Aunt Claire insisted I was kept away from the public eye. She and my mother said that there was no need for me to show off when I was already engaged to one of the most sought-after bachelors in high society. And because this was my dream, I conceded to everything they asked of me. Tonight, even when they had chosen a prude dress for me, I decided that I wanted the attention, so I went on and bought a very bold dress, nothing scandalous, but unusual for me. Gold, sequined, off one shoulder, tight with a mermaid flare on the skirt, showing up every curve of my body. For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful, sexy… daring, worthy of attention. As usual, Aunt Claire was hosting this lavish Thanksgiving party, which tonight would double up as our engagement party. Mom diligently, as every year, went there ahead to help her with all the preparations, while I stayed behind finishing my look. I was ready, ready to fulfill my dream, and finally become Mrs. Frederick Devereux. I looked at the time and rushed down the stairs. I knew Aunt Claire hated people who were late, and I was already five minutes behind. Honestly, this was a first, and the way I looked was so worthy. A Black Mercedes waited for me. My usual driver, John, dressed in a formal black suit, opened the door for me, and I quickly climbed up. “I am late, John! Please hurry,” I said, and he nodded. “You know me, Miss… I will do everything to get you there in time,” he smiled, and I nodded. “By the way, you look beautiful tonight,” he said, and I smiled. John was an older man who had been my father's driver when he was alive. Now he was my driver and almost a father figure. “Thanks John… Mom is going to blow a gasket with this dress… they wanted something duller,” I sighed, and he chuckled. “Dressing you in something duller would be like trying to cover up the most expensive diamond…” he said, and I smiled. He always had a way of reassuring me with his kind words. And because the universe always conspires when a good girl does something bad, as soon as we turn onto the highway, the traffic jam is almost impossible to manage. “John, take any detour, please,” I said, my heart thumping. First impressions were very important, and I haven´t seen Frederick since he was 15 and I was 13… “Sure, Miss…” John said, and quickly he moved the car forward, took an exit, and drove around taking inside streets, and unusual shortcuts. Thirty minutes later, and the same number of pissed-off messages from my mother, we arrived. The party was in full swing, and suddenly I was not so sure about the dress I was wearing… but there was nothing I could do but take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and walk with as much dignity as I could muster. People were already in their places for dinner. Slowly, I walked towards the dining hall. I slipped in and started mingling, pretending I had been the whole time. “What are you wearing?” Mother rushed towards me, shrieking. “I wanted to look pretty…” I said, and she gave one of those disapproving once-overs that made me shrink. “Aunt Claire is going to be so disappointed in you,” Mom huffed, and then looked my way. “Frederick is here,” she pointed at the most handsome man I have ever seen. I remembered the teenage boy he was, cute. But the man who stood in the middle of the room commanded attention. Broad shoulders, fitted black suit, sandy blond perfectly styled hair, clean shave, deep hazel eyes, chiseled jaw… just manly perfection. I gasped, and Mom smiled. “Close your mouth, Sienna, you are drooling,” she joked, and I blushed… “MOM!” I huffed, and she smiled. Aunt Claire walked towards me. “Sienna, Darling!” and when she looked at me, she froze and sighed, “What are you wearing?” she said, and I felt so small that my smile failed to show on my lips. “I gown, it is an exclusive design from the designer you have approved,” I said, knowing well that I had requested this bolder design for the occasion. “Well, we need to review the list, then…” she said, “Remember, once tonight's announcement is done, you will no longer represent the Koch family, but the Devereux, and KD Media Group…” she said, and suddenly, I felt like a boulder being placed on my shoulders. “I know, Aunt Claire,” I said, and she nodded. “Well, remember that next time you decide to look like a tramp,” she took a deep breath, and turned around on her heels. I stood there, tears welling in my eyes, fighting not make a scene. Aunt Claire disappeared into the crowd, and I looked at my mother. “It is not the style that Aunt Claire would have approved, yet you look beautiful…” Mom paused, “If you decided to go for this style, own it,” she said, and I nodded. Owning it was the only choice I had. A waiter walked past me, and I decided to take a champagne glass… “When am I going to be reintroduced to Frederick?” I looked at my mother, while people greeted us, praised my new look, and walked away with hushed voices. Most of them are intrigued about our engagement tonight. “Soon,” Mother smiled, and my stomach tightened when Aunt Claire took the podium to greet everyone in attendance. “Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Thanks for being here, sharing this special occasion with our family. This year I am thankful, because after nine years of absence, my son, Frederick Devereux, is back home…” she beamed and extended her hand for the young handsome man beside her. “We are thankful for all the blessings we have received this year, and tonight Frederick has a very special and important announcement to make,” she said, and I gasped. This was it… he was going to call my name, and present me as his fianceé. I squared my shoulders, fixed my dress, and held the stem of my champagne glass with both hands. I needed something to do with my hands. My heart raced, and my entire body was on high alert. “Thanks, Mother…” His velvety, grave voice sent a shiver up and down my spine. “This Thanksgiving marks a very special and important moment in my life. After the Holidays, I will be taking over KD Media Group as CEO… It was about time for me to step up and lead the company into the future,” he said, while people erupted in cheers and claps. “Such endeavors require a team, and as such… I have decided to settle, start not only my new position as CEO, but as the head of my own family,” he said, and my heart rammed again inside my chest. Was he talking about starting a family right away? To start a family, you need a wife, and babies… and to make babies… OH MY GOD! s*x… I took a shy sip out of my champagne, trying to control the rushing of my heart, and certainly the blush on my skin. I was flustered to say the least. Aunt Claire gave me a soft nod, and I started making my way to the podium. She had this regal way to command a room and, with a single stare, tell you what needed to be done. “So, tonight, I would like to announce not only my new position as CEO of KD Media Group, but also to present to you, my fianceé…” he said, and I stood there at the steps of the stairs waiting to be called. But instead of him looking in my direction, he looked oppositely, “ and the love of my life, Miss Scarlett Koch…” the light moved along with him, while he walked towards a woman I haven't seen in at least three years -my own sister.