Don't You Dare Embarrass Me

Violet 

The driver opens the door for me and I get off fumbling with the present in my hands. 

“Thank you, “

Evie smiles at the young man as he opens her door as well. 

The driver is tall and muscular, wearing the usual black suit. When I notice she doesn’t stop beaming at him, I pull her and smile at him, keeping my tone polite. 

“Thank you, Garreth, you are free to leave. “

“Thank you, Madam.”

He tips his head and gets back in the car. 

“Why don’t you ever let me talk to the hot staff? “ 

She complains, fixing her dress as we walk towards the manor. 

“Because it’s their job to be polite and you think they are hitting on you. “

“And you think he doesn’t like me?”

“Evie…”

I roll my eyes and she giggles. 

“Come on, Violet, “ She says, pushing me very lightly. 

“Why are you so sour? “

“Because I don’t want to be at the party. “

“Oh, come on, “she says, “it will be full of celebrities, politicians and… and maybe the future king, even. “

I scoff as we take the stairs and the butler opens the door for us. 

“Miss Hale, “ the old man says, eyeing the big wrap, “Do you need help with the gift? “

“No, no, “ I say instantly, “It’s for Richard, I will give it to him personally. “

“Very well, then, “ He tips his head and we get in. 

The manor is decorated magnificently. I am wearing a long black dress with little jewellery, but I prefer it that way.

I’ve never liked excessive jewels. Evie on the other hand is dressed in a short red dress. 

My sister and I are very different- she’s got warm brown eyes and her hair is dyed blond. 

Mine is a natural hazel colour. But we are not different only in looks, but also in pretty much every other way. She’s very cheerful. 

I sometimes wonder where she gets all that energy from. 

“It’s amazing,” Evie says, her eyes fixed on the intricately decorated ceiling. 

“I always feel underdressed when I’m here,” she says. 

“You look just fine,” I smile at her.

“And you look like the real mistresses of this place, every inch of you. Even if Conor sucks.” 

“Evie,” I scold her as two servants pass by and smile at us.

“Miss Hale,” they greet and tip their heads. 

I greet them as well and we keep walking.

“Miss Hale,” Evie imitates them,” Don’t you ever get tired of all those formalities?” 

She asks and I shake my head.

“Not really.” 

That’s when we reach the main hall and the doors open for us.

***

The hall is full of people. I recognize some of them from the covers of magazines, others are politicians and statesmen. 

A waiter passes by, carrying a tray full of champagne glasses and Evie picks up two. 

“Both are for me, “ 

she smiles at the puzzled expression on the waiter’s face and he only smiles briefly. 

“I love rich people's parties, “ she says, downing one of the glasses, “There’s a lot from everything here. “

I laugh when I notice Olivia- Conor’s stepmother. 

“The old hag’s here, “ Evie points her chin at her. “How long do you think it would take her to come over and start offending you? Oh, no. Wait. She’s already coming. “

Evie is right. 

Olivia saw us and she is already walking towards us. 

“Violet, “

Olivia greets, pressing her lips together. “How lovely to have you here. “ 

Then she turns to Evie. 

“And you too. How are your studies in Germany going? “

She asks and Evie takes a slow breath. 

“France, “ my sister says. “I study in France. “

Olivia ignores her and then stops the present I am still holding. 

“Oh, you didn’t have to bring this,  “ Olivia says, “I already chose something for Father. “ 

“Of course you did. “ 

Evie smiles at her and I see the colour rising on Olivia’s face. 

“I see you still haven’t learned your manners. “ 

Olivia turns to my sister and Evie grins at her. 

“And I see you are still the same lovely woman. “ 

The remark catches Olivia off guard and she looks between the two of us. 

“If you excuse me, ‘ the older woman says, “I have other guests to attend to.  “

Then she spins on her heel and leaves. 

“What a bitch,  “

Evie says and I give the present to one of the passing servants, telling them they can do whatever they want with the gift. 

“I can’t believe Philip married this bitch, “ 

Evie says but this time I don’t argue with her. 

“Yeah, well…”

“And she even calls Richard father?!” 

Evie exclaims, “Why the fuck does she do that?”

“Evie… when did you start talking like that”

She takes a long sip from her champagne. 

“All I’m saying is Grandpa Richard is father only to Philip, Connor’s dad. “

“Well, she’s trying to blend in. “

I shrug. 

Olivia is Philip’s second wife. She is younger than him- the type of woman who spends a lot of time taking care of the way she looks and it shows. She is always dressed perfectly, judging anyone who isn’t. 

Philip’s first wife - Condor, Max and Domic’s mother divorced him years ago. 

But even if Olivia is not related to any of them by blood, she insisted they call her “mother. “ And she hates me. 

“I feel like she uses every possible chance to make me look bad in front of the family. “

I say and Evie passes me a glass. 

“Whatever, “ 

I snort at my sister’s casualness. 

“Wait, “ She exclaims, pointing at someone from the guest. “Is this Allen Rose? The actor?”

“I… “ I look in the direction where her finger is pointing, 

“I have no idea,  “I admit, “Maybe. “

“Hold this, “ 

she says, giving me her glass, “I want to meet him. I'll be right back. “ 

Evie disappears, leaving me alone and I shake my head, watching her go to the man and chatting him up. 

That’s when I feel a hand closing around my forearm. I look to my right to see it’s Conor, 

He only kisses me on the cheek and closes his hand around my forearm harder. 

Then he whispers. 

“If you allow Evie to embarrass me, I will kick her out of here and never let her close to the manor. Got it?”

“I… Okay, “ 

I say, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I don’t even attempt to argue with him that she hasn’t done anything wrong.  Conor is tall and big. His cold blue eyes, especially with the combination of his dark hair make him very intimidating. Cold, raw intimidation. He also looks angry. I don’t want to make this worse. 

“She won’t do anything, I promise, “ 

I say, quietly. 

“Good. “ He says, letting go of me, “Don’t make me do things I don’t want to do. “ 

A few guests pass by, smiling at us and I close my eyes briefly to stop myself from crying out of embarrassment. 

“It won’t happen again. “

I promise. 

I want to disappear. I want the nice, expensive tiles lined on the floor to open and swallow me. 

Suddenly all the guests start muttering, and I look up to see what’s happening and what’s causing the commotion. 

Or rather, who they are all looking at. 

That’s when I lift my gaze and see him. It’s him, standing at the entrance of the hall. 

Dominic is back.