16. The Morning After

Elizabeth

Waking up with a pounding headache, Elizabeth sits up. She sighs as she adjusts her dress, puts on her heels, and heads towards Emily's room. Taking in her surroundings, she remembers that she slept at Emily's villa. Oh no, she must have had quite a bit to drink last night. If she did, she doesn't remember it at all.

She stops outside Emily's door and knocks softly.

"Come in, "Emily responds, and she opens the door. Sitting on her bed, freshly showered, and in her robe, Emily was sitting and staring wide-eyed at her laptop screen. Elizabeth sensed something was wrong and walked over to her bed. "What's wrong, Em?" She asks, and Emily points to her screen. Elizabeth looks and realizes that the cause for her discomfort is displayed there.

Emblazoned on the screen was a caption,

AUGUST DEREON, GET A HOLD OF YOUR FIANCEE!!

It seems that the paparazzi have been watching Emily and waiting for her to slip up. They caught her dancing provocatively with Liza and even said that she was having an affair.

Emily starts sobbing and says, "The Dereons and my Pappa will kill me... I've been sitting here waiting for a call all morning. I can't afford for them to call off this wedding, Lizzy!"

Elizabeth wraps her arms around her friend, and Emily leans into her.

"I'll call the Dereons and tell them it's my fault-"

"No! You can't do that; they will have your head and your business." Emily cuts her off, "I'll handle it. Don't worry. If you'll excuse me, Lizzy, I need to get to work and put out the fires caused last night." She ends off and dismisses Elizabeth while walking towards her walk-in closet.

She stares after Emily and sighs. This was all her fault, but now Emily will take the fall.

The aroma of coffee was in the air, so Elizabeth stopped to smell, and her tummy was rumbling. Yup, she needed an excellent fatty breakfast, but first, she needed to wash up and get ready for the day. Walking out of Emily's room, then quietly closes the door and heads downstairs. She walked into the kitchen to collect her keys from the counter and spies a very familiar back.

"August!" She exclaims, and the latter turns around, giving her a beaming smile.

"Good morning, Dragonfly. Did you have fun with my fiancée last night?" He muses, and Elizabeth's stomach drops. "Uhm, I can explain-"

"No need to. You and your company's name won't come up in the conversation today. Just next time, be careful where you go with Emily." August responds, and Elizabeth stares at him in disbelief. "I'm not sure what to make of this. My company?" She asks.

August sits down and gestures for her to sit as well. She shakes her head and says, "Please, tell me what you mean by that statement."

"It means that I am trying to protect you and your company, Dragonfly. If your name gets mentioned today, my family will take you for everything you're worth, and that's the last thing I want. My father is ruthless that way." August ended sadly, and Elizabeth could not believe what he was saying. Sweet Mr Dereon was ruthless? Thinking it over, she realizes he wouldn't have made it this far just by being sweet; the business world is a cruel place only reserved for sharks.

"Thank you for the warning," Elizabeth says and turns to leave and watches her walk away. August spies on an opportunity and follows her lead.

Just outside the villa, he calls after her.

"Elizabeth, wait," he says just as she is about to get into her car.

She sighs and turns to face him, not realizing he is standing that close. Her heart was beating so hard; she was sure he could hear it.

"August... We can't keep doing this..." She breathes, and he touches her cheek. "I realize that I was cruel the last time we met outside the villa. But that was because I wanted to stop what I was feeling for you. I wanted to do this last night when I saw you sleeping, just to see if your skin feels as soft as it looks, and I'm not disappointed..." He trails off and runs his thumb over her lips.

Last night? What did he mean by that?

"I've been running away from how you make me feel since we met, and I can't do it anymore," Elizabeth's breath is caught in her throat just as their lips meet. She tries to fight him off but, in the end, she gives in and kisses him back with vigour.

She's been kissed before, but never like this. It felt like he was searching for the lost part of his soul that both lost on the balcony that night.

Emily's face pops up in her head, and she pulls away, alarmed at what both were doing. She pushes August away, tears streaming down her face, and gets into her car. Wiping her tears away, she speeds off, hoping never to see August Dereon again.