Chapter 27 A Deep Foreboding
I stared at the girl in the mirror. My hair was tied into a neat bun, two curly stands at each side of my face. My face was covered in a simple makeup complimenting my dress. It was deep midnight blue dress, shifting from indigo to black as I twirled around, the lights in my room shining on it.
The dress was backless, held together by silver chains that crisscrossed across my spine. The high slit on the left side revealed my trembling legs as I stepped into my dancing heels.
A sharp, heavy knock almost made me jump. I didn’t have to ask who it was, I could already sense his presence even from a mile away.
I opened the door and I felt my breath hitched in my throat as I took him in.
Barth was standing there in a black on black tuxedo looking formidable. His hair was styled back, revealing the sharp lines of his jaw and his grey eyes darkened as he accessed me.
His gaze washed over me, starting from my lips, dragging down to the silk dress and lingering at the exposed skin of my leg. I felt heat rise in my cheeks.
“You look…” He stopped, his voice dripping with intense excitement and warmth. He didn’t finish the sentence, he didn’t have to. The way his eyes moved all over me spoke volumes.
“We are going to be late,” I said, trying to hide my laugh.
“The car is waiting,” he said but he didn’t move. He reached out, his hand landed softly on my exposed back. His touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine.
“Stay close to me tonight,” he commanded, his eyes boring into mine. “I know you are nervous but you don’t have to be. He’s not here and it will be just me and you together.”
I nodded, mesmerized by the intensity in his gaze. He looked like he wanted to kiss me and ruin my lipstick in an instant. Instead, he offered me his arm and I took it, feeling his muscles tensing under the expensive fabric of his suit.
As we walked down the staircase, Aurick and my mother were already waiting in the foyer. Mum look radiant in a champagne coloured gown, her smile shining as she looked at me with glowing eyes. Aurick glanced up from his wristwatch, his smile mirroring mum’s.
“Prefect,” Aurick noted. “You two look beautiful together, don’t they Valerie?”
“Yes,” Mum responded. “They really do.”
“Let’s go. We can’t afford to be late.”
Barth gripped my arm tighter, leading me to the waiting limousine.
The drive to the University was filled with silence. I stared out the window, the night life blurred like neon lights. The closer we got to our destination, the deeper the sinking feeling in my stomach grew.
I felt Barth’s hand on mine and I turned to look at me giving him a tight lipped smile.
When the car pulled up to the red carpet at the University’s grand hall, the flashes of cameras were blinding.
“Breathe, Yvonne, breathe,” Barry whispered against my ear, his breath hot and smelling of peppermint.
We stepped out of the car and was soon devoured by the crowd of reporters gathering around us.
“Barth! Over here please!”
“Is this the step sister? She’s so pretty!”
“Look at the camera, Yvonne!”
I forced a smile, subconsciously leaning into Barth as we moved through the crowd of reporters. His hand rested protectively against my back, guiding me through the crowd like an elder brother would. But every time his fingers brushed against my skin, I knew deep down this was such a facade.
There was nothing brotherly about the way he was looking at me.
As we entered the ballroom, I was stunned. The decorations were so bright and beautiful. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings giving the room a subtle opulent glow.
My heart nearly stopped when I saw a figure standing near the stage.
Tan.
She was wearing a dress that was almost the exact same shade of midnight blue as mine, but hers was covered in shiny diamonds. She looked like a Queen and the moment our eyes met, she gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
A smile that made my skin crawl.
Beside her stood Ryan, looking polished and smug. He caught my eye and raised his glass in a silent toast and I gave him a small acknowledging smile.
“I have to go backstage to warm up,” I whispered to Barth, my voice trembling.
He looked around the room and his jaw tightened and I wondered what he saw that made his mood turn sour. He looked back at me.
“Go,” he said with a rough tone. “I will be there in twenty minutes. Remember what I told you, Yvonne.” He pressed my hand in a reassuring manner and I nodded.
As I walked away, my eyes caught a glimpse of Tan whispering into Ryan’s ears as they both stared at me and I raised a brow feeling a sense of foreboding that something was definitely going to go wrong…