A DEADLY NUPTIAL

29

 Someone opened the door, and I stepped out into the flashing lights. It seemed like we were at the Oscars or something. My Josephine took my hand stepping out. Immediately questions were yelled. "Are you both engaged?!" "Is she pregnant?!" "Josephine! Over here!" The press was excited to find a new story. 

Josephine smiled calmly following me. As we were completely surrounded I had to stop and answer questions finding no other way to escape. "Mr. Evan, are you and Miss Johnston dating? I smiled hugely, "We're more than dating. We're married." I announced holding up our entwined hands showing our rings. 

My statement made the press even more crazy with questions. "When did you get married?" "December 4," I said, hoping their questions would end. More questions were asked about us, but I had one of the palace guards lead us through the sea of the press. We arrived inside following one of the butlers to the ballroom. "Are you alright?" I asked Josephine in a whisper. She nodded. We were led to the gigantic ballroom. We were led down some steps into the diamond decorated ballroom. Everything sparkled with elegance. There was diamonds hanging from the ceiling. Each table had a huge bouquet that even glowed, and candles. The butler led us to our designated table where of course my family was already seated. They all stood up embracing our presence. Alexa of course attacked Josephine with a giant hug. Aron gave her a hug as well. I simply nodded. Our friendship had distanced with the whole incident at my father's house, but I had accepted his relationship with my sister. I shook my father's hand not forgetting what he did to Josephine. "Hello son," he greeted. "Hello father, it's nice seeing you." "Josephine!"he greeted her with fake joy. "You're looking beautiful as always." "Thank you," she said with a tight smile. Josephine sat next to Alexa, and I sat next to her as it was a round table. Josephine and Alexa quickly engaged into conversation. I talked with my father mainly about business, and had a short conversation with Aron as things were still awkward. We were then served dinner which was composed of Italian food which was no surprise, and finished with a tiramisu. The ballroom was filled with music from an orchestra. I took the chance, and took Josephine's hand. "Will you dance with me?" "Of course," she beamed. We walked to the center of the ballroom. I pulled her into my arms with ease. My arms were wrapped around her waist, and here's around my neck. She rested her head against my chest as we swayed back and forth to the music. Meanwhile across the room they weren't aware of two enemies.

Shine's POV

 I stared at Dark and that brat from across the room with fury as Vagon stood beside me. I couldn't stand to see them together. My blood was boiling with fury. "We have to do something fast," I hissed under my breath, so only he heard me. "I know," he growled. The song ended, and I watched Dark say something in Josephine's ear. Dark left Josephine for the refreshment table. I took this as an excellent opportunity. "Now's our chance," I said standing up. Vagon soon followed waking towards Josephine as I walked to where Dark was pouring punch into a glass.

Josephine's POV I stood by the side of the dance floor waiting for Dark to come back. I was watching couples dance when a voice said,"It doesn't seem right to see a beautiful woman by herself." I turned to find a familiar looking guy standing behind me. "Excuse me, where are my manners? I'm Kaz," he said kissing my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Josephine." I couldn't help but ask,"Have we met? I feel like I've seen you before." Those dark eyes seemed so familiar. "I don't know. Have we?" he raised an eyebrow smirking. "I'm sorry. It's just you seem so familiar, like somebody that I used to know." "Go on," he motion with his hand placing back under his other arm which had his hand under his chin. I shook my head, "I'm sorry. I must sound so ridiculous." "We could discuss this while we danced?" he offered. I shook my head again, "I'm waiting for my husband to return." 

"Come on, it would only be as friends," he said emphasizing the word, 

L"Besides, it would seem your husband is occupied at the moment." I looked past his shoulder where he was looking. Sure enough, there was Dark with Shine. I clenched my jaw. I felt jealousy running through my veins. I was about to accept Kaz's offer when another voice startled me. "Josephine! You came!" It was Louis. I hugged him hello, so excited to see him. "How's Josepha?" I asked. "She's doing great. Our baby boy was born two days ago!" I hugged him again. "That's great!" "You should see him! Josepha's in our room with the baby. We didn't want the noise to disturb him. She'd be glad to see you." "I would love to see her," I said, "It was nice meeting you Kaz. Enjoy the ball." He nodded as I left following Louis up the stairs.

Dark's POV 

I left Josephine to grab us some punch. As I was serving some into a glass I felt someone's presence next to me. "Dark, how nice to see you here," I turned to face my secretary. "Shine, what a surprise. I didn't know you were invited." She pouted playing with my black bow. "Aren't you happy to see me?" "Of course, but I'm more happy seeing you at the office."

 "How come you haven't stopped by?" she asked in a whiny voice.

 "Shine, you forget that I'm a married man. Our relationship is over. You need to find someone else who can make you happy." 

"Why? It doesn't seem like Josephine's interested in you." "What makes you say that?" I asked removing her hands off my bow tie while setting down my glass. "Look at her," she said turning to look at Josephine who was talking to some guy I didn't recognize, "She doesn't waste her time looking for another guy." I growled, clenching my hands at my side. I looked at Shine. "You're only trying to make me angry." "I'm only telling the truth. I mean look again. They're gone. She probably ran off to some room." I looked past her shoulder where Josephine had been standing. There was no one there. Where had they gone? I left Shine to look for Josephine. I walked up the stairs heading towards the rooms. I caught a hint of Josephine's perfume. I followed the scent all the way to a room on the second floor. I would have broken down the door if I hadn't heard voices. I decided to listen as the door was slightly cracked open. I clearly heard Josephine's voice.

Josephine's POV

 "Oh Josepha, he's beautiful," I said in a hushed voice afraid to wake him. "He is," she smiled, "Would like to hold him?" "Really?"

 "Of course, here," she gently picked him up from his baby bassinet. She placed him in my arms as she sat down on her bed. I walked around the room holding 7 lbs 8 oz baby Louis Jr., in my arms. I watched him sleep peacefully as I continued to talk to Josepha as I walked around. "So how have you been?" she asked "Fine," "How's you're relationship with Dark going?" I smiled thinking about Dark, "Wonderful... kind of." "Kind of?" "Well, I'm kind of confused at the moment," I explained sitting down on the small couch. I felt like now was a good time to open up. Josepha was someone I felt I could trust and talk to. "About what?" "Well..." I proceeded to tell her about my incident and how Dark found out. "That's awful," she said horrified. "I know, and the thing is Dark keeps pushing me away. I feel like he keeps rejecting me. I don't know if it's because he sees me as undesirable because another man has touched me, or if..." my voice cracked at the end. I couldn't complete my sentence. "Oh Josephine," Josepha kneeled in front of me, "I'm sure that's not it. Dark probably giving you space since he knows you don't trust men easily." "You think so?" I asked hopeful, wanting to know the answer. She smiled reassuringly which eased my nerves. She stood up for there was a knock at the door. I stood up as well. Josepha answered the door and I immediately recognized the voice that was at the door.

Dark's POV 

After hearing what Josephine truly felt I had to see her. I knocked on the door. Josepha answered with surprise written on her face. "Dark! What a surprise!"

 "Josepha," I hugged her,

 "how are you? By any chance have you seen Josephine?" "Yes, she's actually here come in," she opened the door wider letting me in. I felt my heart melt at the sight of Josephine with a baby in her arms. It looked as if she was the mother holding her baby. How I wished we had our own baby. "Dark," she said also shocked,"what are you doing here?" "I was looking for you." She placed the baby back in the bassinet turning to face me. "You found me," she said, crossing her arms against her chest. "I was 

worried. Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?" 

"Do I have to tell you everything?" 

"Josephine, I don't want to have another argument. Let's go back to the ballroom. Everyone has been asking where you went." I kissed Josepha on the cheek congratulating her on the baby. "Take care Josepha." She nodded hugging Josephine goodbye. Outside the room he grabbed Josephine's arm pulling her as we walked. She pulled back her arm. "You don't have to pull me." "Well it seems like I have to. I'm gone for 5 minutes, and I turn around, and you're gone!" "I only went to see Josepha, besides last time I checked you were busy with Shine." Her masked anger and hurt. I calmed down. "Josephine, I have nothing do with her. She's just my secretary. I didn't even know she was going to be here." Josephine crossed her arms against her chest. She had a cute expression when she was mad. She was biting her lip while her eyes furrowed. I rubbed her arms up an down in a soothing way. She seemed to relax a bit. I hugged her to my body never wanting to let go. She froze but hugged me back. I pulled back to look at her. She looked at me with those big brown eyes still biting her lip. I couldn't help but kiss her. She kissed me willingly as if finding what I said the truth from my kiss. Just as I was saying "I l--," I was interrupted. We looked. I felt like a teenager being caught for doing something bad. I could tell Josephine felt the same way by the manner in which she tried to step back. I held her in my arms. We weren't doing anything bad. "Dark! How nice to see you!" Mahi exclaimed. I felt Josephine tense in my arms at the sight of seeing her. Mahi stood in front of us. "Oh Josephine! Sorry I didn't see you there." I could tell she was faking.

 "Hello Mahi," Josephine said cooly.

 "What you doing up here when the party is downstairs?" she directed the question at me. "We just wanted a moment together."

 "Oh," her face showed disgust but she quickly disguised it. "Would you dance with me Dark ?" I looked at Josephine who looked at me nodding her head. "I'd be glad to Mahi." I kissed Josephine's forehead. "I'll be back before you know it," I whispered in her ear. Mahi tapped her foot impatiently. "Come on Dark," she whined. I led her onto the dance floor watching Josephine the whole time.

Josephine's POV

I watched Dark lead that slut onto the dance floor. I could feel jealousy begin to burn inside me for the second time tonight. I hated the way Mahi attached herself to Dark, especially in her black skimpy thing she called a ball gown. Her black corset basically showed everything. I fake gagged. Not wanting to see anymore I headed back to our table. On my way there I felt someone grab my hand. I turned around to find someone who looked very familiar. "Excuse me, do I know you?" "Do I really look that different, Josephine?" His deep voice and piercing brown eyes seemed so familiar. "Hen?" "The one and only," he smiled. He actually smiled. I hadn't seen him smile in forever. "You look so different! What happened?" He was cleanly shaven, had gotten a haircut, and I couldn't even smell a drop of alcohol on him.

"Well, since the last time I talked to you at your wedding I started thinking. Remember when you asked me why I wasn't with Juhi?"

I nodded cautiously vaguely remembering our conversation. "Go on," I said.

"I went into rehab. I wanted to become the person I was. I want Juhi to accept me again. I've been in rehab for a couple weeks now. They let me out today to see if I could handle it. I didn't want to miss Juhi's family's ball. Look," he gestured with his hands at himself, "I haven't had an ounce of alcohol, with just one look at Juhi I remember I'm doing it for her."

I smiled. I was almost tearing up. "I'm so proud of you Hen," I hugged him. He picked me up as we hugged swaying from side to side. We let go soon after.

"You should go find Juhi."

"I don't know what she'll do," he asked nervously as he found her across the ballroom.

"Well, you'll never know if you don't go and talk to her," I encouraged.

"You're right." He kissed me on the cheek. "Thanks Josephine, you've always been a great friend."

"No problem. Now go and get her tiger," I playfully hit his arm pushing him away in the direction of Juhi.

I continued my route and went back to my table. Brown and Elsa were dancing, so it was only me and Alexa.

"Where's Aron?" I asked as I sat down.

"He went to get us something to drink."

"So, tell me! How's it going with him?!"

She blushed. "Oh Josephine, everything's great. I think I'm falling in love with him."

"That's amazing!"

Her smile faltered a little.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, we have a problem."

"What is it?"

"You see, right now they passed each table their room keys, and I guess they supposed me and Aron were staying together because we rsvped together," she was starting to ramble.

"So you want to room with me so Dark and your father don't get angry?"

"Yes! Please!"

"Aren't the rooms just one bed though?"

She shook her head, "All of the guest rooms here have two beds,"

"Then why don't you sleep on one, and Aron on the other?"

"Josephine! Do you think my brother and father would allow that!?"

"You're right. I'll talk to Dark."

"Thank you so much!" she hugged me graciously.

After Dark had returned from his dance with Mahi he had become rigid and expressionless. The ball soon ended at midnight, and everyone was heading to their rooms. We were outside our room when I paused and stood in front of our door.

"Dark what's wrong? You've been cold and rigid ever since you got back from your dance with Mahi."

"Nothing," he gritted his teeth as he proceeded to unlock our door. I grabbed his hand stopping him from opening the door.

"You're lying."

"Fine! You want to know what's been bugging me all night?! The fact that I see you with so many guys, and you let them hug you and kiss you on the cheek. You're a married woman for god's sake Josephine! I can't help having all these stupid jealous feeling that run through me!"

"Why?" I knew it was a stupid question to ask, but part of me wanted to know the answer. Why would he care if he always rejected me and never showed his feeling towards me?

"Because damn it Josephine, I love you!"

 Josephine's POV

I froze. Did I just hear him right? My mind was in shock. I had never expected him to reveal his feelings, but at that moment I realized I loved him too. I must've stayed there frozen for a long time for when I was about to say, "Dark, I l-" he interrupted me. He held up his hand stopping me from saying anything else. "Josephine, I know you probably don't feel the same. You don't have to say you're sorry." He opened the door to our room leaving me outside by myself. I sighed. There would have to be another moment where I would tell him. I Entered the room. There was no one here. Dark was probably in the bathroom. I sat on the bed pondering to myself when I remembered Alexa. Thinking it would be easier to let Dark stay in this room I grabbed my suitcase and headed out the door. Dark's voice startled me as I was about to open the door. "Where are you going?" I took a deep breath before turning to face Dark. "Alexa wants me to stay with her." "Is that just an excuse to get away from me?" "No? Why would I need an excuse to get away from you?" He shrugged. "Alexa didn't want to share a room with Aron knowing you and your father wouldn't approve, so she asked me to switch places with her." He seemed to relax when I finished my explanation. "Fine, let me to take you to her room." I nodded as he followed me out the door leading the way to Alexa's room. "Well here we are." we stopped In front of a white door that looked exactly like the other rooms just with a different room number. "Thanks." He nodded turning back to leave. "Dark wait," I grabbed his arm. He turned back to look at me. I mustered up all the courage I had and kissed him. He stayed there frozen not sure what was going on. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I laid my head to his chest. ""Dark, I don't want us to be mad, especially on Christmas." His body relaxed losing the rigidness. He hugged me back burying his face in my hair. "Me neither." We were in that position when the door flung open. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on anything. " Alexa said with a burning red face. I smiled at her. "It's alright, I just came to drop off Josephine."Dark said. "Ok, Aron's ready. Come on in Josephine."Dark gave me a quick peck goodnight as Alexa and Aron did the same thing. The guys left, and Alexa shut the door. "So... I see you and my brother were getting comfy out there," she wiggled her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes sitting on the bed. I layed down on the bed fidgeting with my fingers.