CHAPTER 003
1208 Words
Eleanor's Point of View
What do you believe you're doing?
Edmund was so debilitated, I was surprised he could still speak given how damaged he appeared. Yet his voice did not scare me; rather, it surprised me.
"Please, don't do this," I pleaded, "consider how this would make your grandmother feel." What would she think if you weren't there?
I buried my head into his back, tightening my arms around him tightly. His warmth and solidity reminded me to give him comfort tonight; at least someone was here for him.
"He took two easy steps towards me and easily unwove my arms from them with his effortless strength; I felt like an infant in comparison." Stepping down from the railing, he placed his hands firmly but gently on my shoulders—gently but firmly pushing me away from him.
"Did you really expect me to jump?" Really? So that was your prediction?
"Well," I began, hesitating slightly. "You seem upset." And I saw you crying..."My words faltered as his gaze locked onto mine, and his intensity began to settle into my face, so much that I ducked my head for protection.
"I wasn't crying." Liar. The sea breeze had caused his eyes to become watery and caused discomfort; that was all there was to it.
I knew better, but who was I to point out his pretense?
"So why were you up there?" I probed, tilting my head toward the railing. He wasn't aware that I could detect emotions—the invisible storm of grief swirling above him.
Edmund laughed dryly. Rosalind isn't the only one who can be dramatic.
His hand reached into his pocket. Upon opening it, a diamond ring sparkled brightly against his palm.
"I wanted to get rid of this."
My face burned in humiliation as they looked directly into mine. So embarrassing.
"Told you," Freya whispered in my mind. You should've listened.
Edmund suddenly thrust the ring into my hands, wrapping my fingers tightly around it and commanding, "Keep it." "Keep it."
"No," I replied incredulously, trying to take back what he had given. Unfortunately, he pulled away.
"Of course you can, and you should! Consider it a reward for being kind, even if it isn't required."
As soon as he had spoken, he turned and left me on the deck, cold sea air stinging my skin.
What happened here? I came here for some air, not to be involved in someone else's drama.
Freya frowned. Eleanor, you have too much of a vulnerable side.
I turned away and opened my fist. A shimmering ring glittered under the moonlight; surely this item must be worth an insane sum?
Having an open heart may not always be seen as negative.
As I returned inside, my eyes quickly searched the room for Harrison. I needed to explain what had just occurred and show him the unexpected good fortune that had just come our way.
Except...he wasn't. Not on the dance floor and not at any of the tables.
As I made my way toward the hall leading to the bathrooms, a waiter abruptly grabbed my wrist.
"Have you lost the gentleman that arrived with you?"
"Do you know where he went?" "Yes. Are there any details?"
"They had too much to drink...we had to ask them to leave." The waiter hesitated.
Blood seeped away from my face.
No.
He promised it wouldn't happen again.
Freya scowled and said in her trademark way," Told you! "This man is nothing more than a two-faced gold digger."
My eyes burned with tears, and my throat tightened in fear that this man would do this to me again. No! He wouldn't. Not again.
"Here, it seems as if you need this," the waiter gently offered me a glass of red wine.
"Thanks," I muttered before drinking it all at once. As soon as the sweet liquid hit my stomach, warming my insides, I grabbed for another one before my friend could walk off.
I drank that too, feeling my veins fill up with heat.
Freya was angry. "Did you forget you were a lightweight?" she demanded of Freya.
Oops.
She made me blush. No! That wasn't smart. "Get some rest before anything bad happens," she advised, as you were burning up and could shift by accident.
She wasn't wrong: I faltered before finally taking off my heels—none were mine anyway.
Everything was fuzzy as I made my way towards my rooms. My vision swayed as I navigated down what felt like an endless corridor. Once at my door, I leaned against its cool metal while searching my purse for my keycard.
I threw it against the scanner. Nothing.
But still nothing was happening. Squinting at the number, I saw 1200. We didn't stay here. Were 1100? Finally, when it clicked closed and unlocked again, I ran in, stripping my dress off in no time; its fabric was torn under my claws from just being so hot! I needed something cool.
As I lay in bed, sighing at its cool sheets, someone else's warmth pulled me close while woodsmoke and spice fragrance enveloped me in warmth and safety.
Harrison smelled amazing tonight!
Freya frowned. "That...is...odd..." she thought aloud.
Before I could even finish talking, darkness swallowed me whole.
Light peered through the curtains. I groaned, covering my eyes with one arm while regaining consciousness slowly. What had just happened last night?
Freya unimpressedly pointed out my drinking and reminded me, "You were drinking like a dying woman desperate for water".
Ugh! When I rolled over, only to discover an empty bed, my heart sank.
Harrison must have gone for breakfast or coffee—I could use both!
I dragged myself resolutely into the bathroom, splashing water over my face before reaching for my toothbrush—this time without fail.
Not recognizing my items, my stomach began to drop.
This wasn't my bathroom: gold-plated faucets and blue gemstone inlays—not to mention, a golden toilet!
What type of psychopath possesses a gold toilet?
Horror seized my spine as I staggered back into my bedroom and began surveying its luxurious furniture, silk sheets, and massive windows that provided views of the sea.
"This wasn't my room; instead, I slept on someone else's bed."
My dress was shredded on the floor. No trace of my undergarment.
Did we...? -- Nope, it didn't happen that way at all.
No... now... now! I have to find Harrison now!
As soon as my dress had been destroyed, I grabbed an out-of-the-closet shirt and quickly buttoned it before bolting out the door with it in hand.
I was startled to see that number on the door. It looked unnerved.
1100 was my room number, and I frantically ran towards it with my heart pounding and hands shaky as I held the keycard against the scanner, beeping loudly as my keycard registered, only for it to beep again as the door beeped again, prompting me to open it further.
As people looked away in disapproval, sighs filled the room. "Harder...yes...like that..."
My lungs exploded with air.
Harrison. On our bed, his body lay over hers, entangled with our sheets.
I felt everything and nothing all at the same time.
He promised. Won't do it again.
- Writer
