THE GHOST IN THE BALLROOM

Chapter 6: The Ghost in the Ballroom

The investors were clapping loud but to Elena it sounded like a big wave crashing. She was still holding onto Julian and his body was the thing keeping her standing. She looked over his shoulder. Saw a woman standing at the back of the room. This woman made the whole room feel empty and cold.

Julian saw Elena looking at the woman and his body got really tense. He was still smiling for the cameras. His smile did not look happy anymore. It looked scary.

"Smile, Elena " Julian whispered to her. "The cameras are still rolling. We have to look happy. Keep looking at me."

"Julian, who is that woman?" Elena asked, barely moving her lips. "And why is she talking to the CEO of Sterling Group?"

"That woman is my past and my future talking, " Julian said. He pulled back from Elena. Held her hand. "Let's go say hello. It seems an old friend has come to congratulate us."

As they walked to the back of the room people moved out of their way. The woman, Madeleine Vane, did not move. She looked elegant. Also a little old-fashioned. She was wearing an old suit. The CEO of Sterling Group, Marcus Sterling was standing next to her smiling like a predator.

"Julian " Madeleine said. Her voice was soft and smooth. "You always knew how to make an entrance. Proposing at a rehearsal dinner is a cliché don't you think?"

"Madeleine, " Julian said. His voice did not sound happy. "I thought the ocean was big enough to keep you busy. I did not know Sterling was paying for your trip now."

"Marcus told me you were about to sell the family business to some people from Paris, " Madeleine said. ". That you were doing it for a girl who made you look stupid on the internet. You must be Elena. You look prettier than you did on YouTube."

Elena felt embarrassed. It was different this time. She was not the girl she used to be. She felt Julian's hand get tighter around hers. She realized that Julian was scared.

"I am the woman who is going to make sure this deal happens, " Elena said. "No matter who paid for your ticket."

Marcus Sterling laughed. "Oh she has spirit, " he said. "I see why you want to keep her.. There is a problem with your deal. Madeleine never signed away her part of the company. Your father lied. He did not get rid of her, he just hid her."

The room started to spin. Julian's grip on Elena's hand got loose.

"The Bisset Group does not do business with a company that has problems, " Sterling said. ". Madeleine just made me her representative. The deal is dead Julian.. So is your fake engagement."

Everything happened fast. The French people started making phone calls. The reporters started pushing forward. The security guards had to lock the doors to the ballroom.

Julian did not say anything. He. Walked out of the ballroom and Elena had to run to keep up with him. He did not stop until they were back in their room.

He slammed the door. Kicked a table breaking a vase.

"Julian stop!" Elena said, backing away.

"He lied!" Julian yelled. "My father told me she was not part of the company anymore. He told me he had bought her out. I spent ten years building this company. He left a way for her to come back."

"You did not know, " Elena said. "How could you have known?"

"I should have known!" Julian said. "Sterling has the power to stop the deal. He can take over the company. Everything I did, including proposing to you, was for nothing."

He looked at the ring on her finger.

"Is that all I'm to you?" Elena asked. "Just a part of your business plan? You told all those people you could not imagine your life without me."

Julian stopped. He looked at Elena and his eyes were not angry anymore. They were sad and scared.

"I said what I had to say to save the deal " Julian whispered. "But the deal is gone. Sterling wants to hurt us. He wants to show that our relationship is fake. He knows that if he breaks us he breaks the Vane image."

"Then do not let him break us, " Elena said.

Julian leaned in close to Elena. "There is one way to stop him, " he said. "If we are married he can not use our relationship against us. We have to get married tonight."

"The wedding is in three weeks, " Elena said.

"I do not mean the wedding, " Julian said. "I mean the part. We have to find a judge and sign the papers. If I am married to you Sterling can not use our relationship against me."

Elena looked at Julian. This was a decision. Behind her was her life and in front of her was a man who was using her but who also made her feel alive.

"A year, " she said. "You promised me one year."

"I promise, " Julian said. ". We have to go now. Before Madeleine stops us."

The phone rang. Julian did not answer it. Then there was a knock at the door.

"Julian it's Silas, " his brother's voice said. "The security guards just called. Mom is not just, with Sterling. She brought a court order to stop you from being the CEO."

Julian looked at the window. The snow was falling hard.

"The stairs, " Julian whispered. "The pilot is waiting for us. If we can get to the plane they can not stop us until we land.. By the time we land you will be my wife."

Elena looked at the ring at Julian. She took his hand.

"Run, " she said.