Chapter Thirteen

Alina

When I woke up the next day, it was afternoon and there was no sign of Sebastian anywhere. I was relieved, I got dressed and stepped downstairs to the main wing where I met with the head steward of the house. I knew this because he had introduced himself to me.

 

“Where is my husband?” The words sounded foreign against my lips.

 

“Mrs. Wolfe, the master is at work. Would you like for me to send a message to him?”

Master? Why did they have to call him that? It sounded so strange.

 

“No, I will go to him myself”

 

Edward, the head of steward seemed to be at a loss for wordss but I noticed how he shifted uncomfortably.

“A moment then.” He excused himself to make a call. Although he stood only a few feet away, his back turned to me, I could not make out the words he was whispering into the phone. Was I supposed to seek permission before seeing Sebastian? When I could just drive to his office.

 

Eventually, he turned around and said the master would see me now. Then he ordered a car around and we drove out of the compound.

 

When I thought we would have reached the office, we kept on driving. The journey was beginning to seem longer than I had imagined so I questioned him.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“To the airport.”

 

“The airport?!” There was a slight note of panic in my voice which Edward l picked up on immediately.

 

“Oh do not be alarmed Mrs. Wolfe, a private jet has been arranged for the trip. Your safety is of highest importance to us.”

 

“My safety? I am not worried about that. Where are we going?”

 

“To see Master Sebastian, as you requested.”

 

“And he’s waiting for me in a private jet?

What happened to his office?”

 

“No, of course not. He’s waiting for you in France.”

 

My mouth hung open but I couldn’t get to ask the million questions reverberating in my head. We had reached the airport and the driver was talking with Edward.

 

We drove around to a private hangar where I met with the crew I was going to be traveling with.

 

“What is this Edward? I don’t have my things with me, I have a company to run and I can't be here playing silly games”

 

“Don’t worry about that, Mrs. Wolfe, the master already took care of everything.Have a wonderful trip.”

What did he mean by that? What did Sebastian take care of? I didn't have time to ask as thebodyguard assigned to me for the trip escorted me into the plane behind the crew.

 

As soon as I was seated, I was offered a drink and some food all of which I could not touch because I was still in a daze. How had Sebastian made it to France between last night and this afternoon?

 

I tried to g****e to find out what was in France but everything about Sebastian in the public was clearly incomplete. It seemed like someone was being paid to carefully construct what little the media did know about him.

 

Finally, I gave up on even lookin and just decided to enjoy the flight. I had never been to France before. I should try to enjoy my first time at least.

 

Several hours later, we landed in France. A French driver was leaning against a glossy black Maserati, waiting for us in the hangar.

 

“Bon arrive.” He smiled as he opened the door for me.

 

The escort got in the front seat with me and we drove all the way to a gated neighborhood in what looked like the countryside.

 

“Where exactly are we?”

 

“Reims, madame. The Wolfe’s vineyards.”

 

The Wolfe had a vineyard? Why was I not surprised? The car wound up a hill that stretched for miles, around us vast fields of grapes ran for miles beyond my site. The air was filled with the cool, clean air characteristic of sparsely populated areas with dense vegetation.

 

At some point I thought the ride would never end and just when I did not want it to, the car was brought to a halt.

 

I looked up at the manor reminiscent of the French aristocracy. A beautiful stone house that instantly took my breath away.

 

I got out of the car on the escorts prompting and followed him into the building which he seemed very familiar with.

 

Uniformed staff milled about the place, none of which spared us more than a glance and a mumbles greeting. They seemed to be preparing for something of some sort.

 

I followed my bodyguard through a series of connecting doors which led us to the back of the estate where a group of people where seated around a round table, having a discussion over wine and some pastries I could not name.

 

A man was standing and beside him Sebastian sat, the only person not laughing amongst the group. His eyes met mine in that way it usually did, held it for a second before he stood up causing the others to turn their heads.

 

He met me halfway to the table and laid his hands gently on the small of my back. Even though it was for public show, it didn't make my skin crawl.

 

“How was your trip?”

 

“Surprisingly quick,” I chuckled nervously, anxious about being under the gaze of several strange eyes.

 

“Brilliant. There are some people I would like you to meet.”

 

There were five men other than Sebastian around the table and he introduced all of them starting with the one who had been leading the conversation. They were his business partners who he invariably considered family.

 

 

“Please, have a seat. My aunt and cousins should be here any minute.”

 

“What is going on?” I whispered to him as conversation continued around us.

 

“In order for the alliance to be complete, you must meet The Nameless.”

 

“The nameless?”

 

“Yes the nameless. In other words, my extended family.”

My heart sank at the thought of another set of family members who will judge me.