Chapter Five

Vivian.

That name cut through the elegance of the ballroom like the blade of a well-sharpened sword.

Alexander’s face remained perfectly blank, unreadable as a piece of marble.

To everyone else, he was unaffected, seeming completely okay. But I felt it.

The hand resting at my waist clenched for just a moment before relaxing again, but not in an aggressive way as though he was angry, not in a protective way either.

It was a simple, unthinking gesture, an involuntary reflex.

No one else would have noticed it. I did though.

Carefully, I turned toward my head the woman speaking, and my eyes went wide.

She was really beautiful, gorgeous even.

Gorgeous in a way that stole conversations away the second she stepped inside a room.

Her chestnut hair fell down her shoulder in smooth, perfect waves, highlighted beautifully by the soft glow from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Every lock of hair was perfect. The silver-coloured evening dress clung to her body in a perfect fit, shimmering slightly whenever she moved as if spun from moonlight.

She moved confidently, gracefully, with an air of poise, as though she knew that she was important, with an air of confidence that came from somewhere inside her.

She looked like she belonged to the elite circle of the rich and famous, attending charity galas, private auctions, diplomats’ meetings, and exclusive events where fortunes were made and lost with each glass of champagne.

Her eyes fixed on Alexander first.

There was a hint of hope in them.

But then, her gaze travelled to me.

The look on her face cooled for a split second before fixing on the emerald brooch pinned to my dress.

The green gemstone glittered under the ballroom lights. And just for a second...her hopeful smile did not look so perfect. Even just for a little bit, the crack could be noticed enough for real shock to show.

"...You really gave her Grandma Eleanor’s brooch?"

Her voice was soft.

It needed no volume at all, as the question floated around the guests until the conversations next to them died out.

The orchestra played, far in the distance, while an unusual quiet enveloped the party.

Even Chairman Thorne’s amused face darkened slightly.

Alexander answered with the same cold detachment he displayed in any other case.

"My grandfather gave it to her."

Vivian blinked, her breath hitched.

The look of surprise on her travelled to Chairman Thorne, she expected him to contradict this statement, to deny Alexander’s words. But instead of that, the elderly man placed a hand behind his back and nodded proudly.

"I did." He said, as a matter of fact.

Vivian paled.

"But..."

She let out an awkward laugh, sounding far more nervous than amused.

"Surely you could find a different time to do that?"

One of Chairman Thorne’s thick eyebrows slowly arched upward.

“When,” he asked calmly, “did the decisions of the Thorne family require your permission?”

Several guests in the proximity quickly masked their grins behind champagne flutes, some turned their necks to the side to let out trembling sighs of laughter, and some coughing to hide their laugh.

The reactions left Vivian flushed with embarrassment. Anger boiling under her skin so much so her fisted hand shook with it, before she stopped it.

“I did not mean it like that.”

“No?”

Chairman Thorne’s tone was perfectly polite, but condescending. “Then maybe you should tell me what exactly you meant?”

That tone alone from Chairman Thorne displayed how much of a nasty history there was between The Thornes and Vivian. One I was much curious about now.

I saw how she opened her mouth, trying to say something…but she stopped. No words came out. And for the first time meeting her, I felt pity towards her. I’d bury my head in sand after that shutdown.

Chairman Thorne however, was a smart man. He could put even important billionaires in the place of school children caught gossiping in class. And that showed in the way he made Vivian’s shoulder slump.

She remained exactly where she was, and for several moments, she simply stared at the emerald brooch resting against Chloe’s dress.

I noted her hands fisted beside her dress. Then slowly, she forced a smile. It was the creepiest switch I had ever seen.

Years of attending society functions had taught her one valuable lesson.

Never let them see you bleed.

“I hope, from my heart we can get a day or time, to talk properly.” She said, a slight tremble in her tone that she seemed to mask very well. “Excuse me.” And she left. Joining her friends near the windows.

Alexander leaned towards me, speaking quietly.

“Grandfather likes to interrogate. Don’t let that discourage you however.” He said, as though there wasn’t a girl that nearly just broke down in front of us. Heartless man.

I kept my focus on the ballroom as I listened to his words. It made me frown a bit in confusion. Was that supposed to soothe the thick tension and address the elephant in the room?

“Also, you’re doing much better than most people in such situations.” He said, making me scoff with a slight smirk.

“If I can survive you, I think I can survive whatever this is.”

“You’ve survived me in a different manner though.” He uttered, and I choked on my own saliva. My cheeks burning up for a moment.

“Wanna get divorced Thorne?!” I threatened quietly, but it seemed like it just went with the wind.

For the briefest second, however, the corner of his lips curved upward in a small smile at my words. It was almost invisible even.

Before we could continue talking, Chairman Thorne loudly clapped his hands, drawing in everyone’s attention back to him.

“Enough interruptions,” he said, barely sparing Vivian another glance. “and enough standing around.” Then his eyes fixed on his grandson.

“You have introduced your wife to everyone except your own family, Alexander. Poorly done shall I add.”

Alexander sighed quietly.

“I was getting there.”

“No,” the chairman corrected smoothly, “you were hiding in a corner.”

“I wasn’t.” Alexander countered immediately.

“You’ve disliked parties since you were twelve, I know when you’re hiding about.”

“I dislike people, big difference, grandfather.”

“Tch.” Chairman Thorne sucked his teeth, a warm chuckle following.

“Unfortunately for you, people insist on adoring you regardless.”

The stern look on his face softened as he looked at me. “Come along, my dear.” Before I could say anything, he put his arm around mine, taking me away to the center on the room where the majority of the guests chattered away.

I instinctively turned my head back to Alexander for help. But the look he gave me across the space between us, promised understanding.

“Go.” That was all he said. But it was enough in a way.

A moment later, I found myself walking across one of the most luxurious ballrooms in the city led by one of the most respected businessmen with eyes of dozens of influential people watching us.

No pressure at all. None whatsoever…hopefully.

“Vivian?”

One of her friends spoke up after moments of silence from her carefully asking. “Are you alright.?”

Vivian lifted her head up, tilting her chin a bit.

“Of course, I am.” She said with a smile, too flawless for comfort.

“I was only a bit surprised.” She said, but the words did not feel right to her. They were bitter even. She turned to watch Alexander disappear into another conversation while Chairman Thorne personally escorted Chloe though the ballroom. Not one time did Alexander or Chairman Thorne look back at her. It made her realize that the Thorne family had already made up their mind. They would never choose her.

“So…” Chairman Thorne started when we got a bit forgather from the crown. His voice became much softer. “Tell me.”

I looked up at him. “Tell you what, sir?”

He smiled knowingly, as if he’d been dying to ask this question all evening. He cleared his throat and continued.

“Why my grandson?”

The question nearly made me stumble over the hem of my evening dress. I’m very sure the question is supposed to go to his grandson about me.

“W-why?”

“Oh, don’t worry.” A playful glint entered his old eyes. “I know why he chose you.”

I blinked once. A smile that held much shock than curtsy was frozen on my face.

“You…you do?”

“He’s finally smiled again.”

“Pardon?”

Chairman Thorne gazed at the dance floor under the enormous crystal chandeliers that bathed the room in soft golden lights. As though lost in reminisce.

“You probably did not notice.” His smile became nostalgic. “But…I did. And I’m glad.” He said, but there was undeniable sadness underneath those words.

“Alexander stopped smiling after his parents died.”

It was quiet for a moment. Comfortable and heavy at the same time.

“I watched him hide in his studies and work for years. Detaching from himself.”

His eyes softened when he looked at me.

“He convinced himself that work, responsibility, and endless meetings were enough to fill the emptiness.” He sighed quietly. “They were not.”

His eyes wandered towards the ballroom.

“Tonight…”

A smile appeared.

“…is the first time I’m seeing him relaxed in someone else’s company again.”

Instinctively, I followed his gaze and looked around as well. But then I noticed him. Alexander stood near one of the windows, looking out on the city skyline as he spoke to some businessmen. Vivian wasn’t so far away from him as she spoke with her circle, although she stared at him, keeping a distance that said she understood she wasn’t welcome.

Alexander however, despite his current conversation, would scan the room. Till he found me. I watched it happen over and over again. It wasn’t intentionally, more unconsciously even.

Chairman Thorne followed my gaze and laughed softly.

“He worries.” He said, which made me look at him.

“He doesn’t seem the worrying type. More like the I demand my wife type.”

“Oh?” The old man chuckled.

“Who do you think ordered security to keep an eye on you all night then?”

I frowned.

“What?”

“You did not notice the four men pretending to be fascinated by the violin performance?”

I looked around the ballroom in an instant, scanning the ballroom and saw them indeed. Four wide-shouldered men dressed in perfectly tailored tuxedos stood in strategic places around the ballroom. One stood near the orchestra.

Another was standing near the refreshments table. And the other two blended perfectly with the guests, seeming deeply involved in casual conversations. But every one of them wore an earpiece.

“Oh, they’re good.” I said, shocked as I was impressed.

“They’re the Thorne’s family security system…well part of the system.”

I was surprised, because that just meant that they were more I couldn’t notice.

“And they’ve been watching me?”

“They’ve been protecting you. Following his orders.” The Chairman corrected.

I looked at Alexander again. Did he truly arrange all this? Without saying a word about it to me? Without making me feel watched?

"...He is impossible."

Chairman Thorne laughed loudly.

"Oh, my dear."

"You will learn."