13. Ending The Attraction

Elizabeth stands up, feeling flustered at being so close to August and trying to maintain her composure. "I'm sorry about that, Mr Dereon," she says while collecting all her scattered things that had fallen. "I should watch where I'm going." August frowns at her formality. Why was she acting like this when she knew how much he despises it?

"No problem at all..." he responds, and Elizabeth looks at him defiantly and turns to walk away. "If you'll excuse me-"

"Elizabeth, wait, please," August calls out after her and grabs her wrist. Elizabeth looks down at his hand and swallows hard, "Mr Dereon-"

"Please call me by my name. You know how much I hate formality." Elizabeth knew this; that is why she was doing it. She needed him to think of her as just another employee contracted to his fiancée.

"A-August. What is it?" she responds. He feels his heart tighten when she says his name. He looks at her with a broken expression. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself to you the other night. You were my only normality that entire evening, and I did not want to spoil it. You were honest with me, and I think that's why I've felt so drawn to you."

Elizabeth feels her heart pounding. "Please, no. Not like this..."

"But I know it's wrong," he continues, "I have a duty to my family, to Emily. So, I will treat you like I treat anyone else from now on. You don't have to worry about running into me here because I can tell that my presence makes you uncomfortable. Have a lovely day, Ms White." With that, he turns and walks inside the villa.

Elizabeth stares at the empty spot where August had stood. This was what she wanted as well, wasn't it? She owed it to the sad girl sitting inside the villa, the one who tries to prove to everyone that she is okay when she is entirely miserable.

Then why did she feel so dejected?

August POV

Closing the door behind him, August heads to his study. He spots Emily at her laptop working and calls out to greet her on the way. "Hi, Emily,"

She looks up from her screen, "Hey." She responds curtly and continues working. He does the same and heads into his study. Sitting down at his desk, he boots up his laptop and stares at the screen. Why was he feeling so low? He had to make it seem from his side that he was not attracted to her. So why does he feel so empty?

The agreement his family had with the Gray's was purely business. He and Emily put on an act whenever they appear in public; they both knew this was how it was supposed to be.

But they both were miserable.