“I see you’ve met my mother” I broke away from the hug as Noah entered the hall, a smile covering most of his face. “Your descriptions didn’t do her beauty justice Noah” she winked my way as I shyly looked away, a blush tainting my cheeks.
A short woman rushed into the hallway, “excuse me ma’am, your presence is required in the kitchen” she stated formally, straightening out her uniform. “I’ll see you at dinner sweetie, it was a pleasure to finally meet you” Evelyn smiled leaving Noah and I.
“Maids?” I questioned loudly, the look of confusion on my face sending Noah into a fit of laughter. “You are too cute, yes we have staff here so I assure you, you won’t have to lift a finger” he smirked charmingly walking up to me.
“How about we get you showered and ready for dinner, my dad is very eager to meet you” nodding I silently followed his lead up the steps. The mention of his dad sending shockwaves of anxiety through my body, I had a feeling any future contact with a male would have this effect on me after this experience.
Re-evaluating my plan to gain his trust and be nice, I forced myself to be confident. “Your mom is really nice” keeping my stare straight ahead, I was too scared to make eye contact with him in fear he would see right through my feigned confidence.
“I knew you would like her, and I already know she loves you” he shot me a side glance as the familiar heat coated my cheeks. Coming up to the door I had previously come out of, he held it open for me. “And this is our room, which you already had a look at when you woke up.”
Our room.
Our room.
Our.
6
Sucking in a breath the reality of his words hit me, “o-our room” I stared fearfully at him. “Yes, that isn’t a problem right?” he questioned, clearly amused by my flustered state. “No?” it sounded more like a question than an answer as I internally scolded myself.
Scanning the room once again. I realised all the boxes were gone, their “staff” must have unpacked them. The thought made me feel slightly uncomfortable, I didn’t want people having to do things because of me, it made me feel like a burden.
As I turned around to face Noah, I took in his attire for the first time since I had woken up, he was dressed formally, in a suit with his jacket slung over a chair in the room. I scolded myself as I admired how good looking he was like a hormonal teenage girl. Having to remind myself he would look better behind bars I shook those thoughts away.
On the topic of hormones, I suddenly remembered I was on my period, “ehm, where is the bathroom?” I squeaked, avoiding eye contact. “Just through that door, take a shower as well and I’ll get you something to wear to dinner” he turned, strutting towards a walk-in closet as I made a bee-line for the bathroom.
Turning the lock, I prayed no one would be able to enter, constant paranoid thoughts filling my mind as I stripped my clothes off and stepped into the shower. Messing around with the knobs, I let out a content sigh as the water heated up. It was the nicest shower I had ever been in, with cobbled stone walls and a seat to the side of the shower. The bathroom itself reminded me of something you would see in a movie with it’s shiny tiled floors and grand mirror hanging right above the sink.
After attempting to scrub away any touch of Sebastian from earlier that day, I forced myself out of the shower. Wrapping the towel securely around me, I rummaged through the drawers finding practically everything one could ever need.
Grateful at the presence of a toothbrush I rid my mouth of the stale feeling that resided in it. Scurrying into the bedroom I prayed Noah wouldn’t be there, I stilled, admiring the dress laid out for me. Putting the undergarments on, I period-proofed myself, slipping the dress on.
Returning to the bathroom, I couldn’t help but stare at the dress as it sat gently against my form, the light material pressing against my skin. The black colour bringing out the green in my eyes.
Grabbing the hair dryer I connected the diffuser, making some attempt to tame my curls. Too mesmerised by the order of everything I placed every used item exactly where I had gotten it from.
Trotting into the empty bedroom, I slipped on the pair of pumps that were left for me. The churning feeling in my stomach made an appearance as I thought about how I was being like a doll for him to dress up at the moment.
The door clicked open as Noah sauntered inside, his eyes lighting up as they landed upon me, his gaze trailing up and down my form, sending a spark through my body. I frowned at this, hating my natural response to him.
“You look beautiful little bug” he held his arm out, waiting for me to take hold of it with my own. Mumbling a small thank you, I linked our arms together. Trailing close to him my heart sped up at the thought of meeting his dad and more than likely being seated close to Sebastian. I needed to remain composed, I had to gain Noah’s trust. It was my only way out.
Following his lead, we finally entered an extravagantly large room which was filled with old pieces of decoration. Everything looked so expensive and shiny, even the people sitting inside the room. As my eyes settled on Evelyn, I returned a warm smile as I watched her zoom in and out from what I assumed was the kitchen.
Seating myself in the chair Noah had pulled out for me, I tucked my dress beneath me, my hands getting sweaty with nerves. I could faintly hear my heart in my throat as the knots in my stomach seemed to tighten painfully. I was slightly put at ease as Evelyn came and sat in the chair to the left of me at one end of the table as Noah occupied the one to the right of me.
I listened as Evelyn began chattering away, one moment she was talking and the next the room had fallen silent. Turning my head towards the direction everyone’s attention was settled on I watched as a middle aged man confidently strutted in.
His hair and face structure held obvious similarities to Sebastian’s which sent shivers through my system. Noah also shared a similar bone structure and nose with this man, piecing two and two together I came to the conclusion that this was his dad.
He lowered himself into the seat at the head of the table, Sebastian limping in behind him, placing himself in the seat across from Noah as I felt my heart stop.
His face was still swollen and battered, but that didn’t ease my worries as I felt my hands shake beneath the table. Trying to focus my attention instead on their dad, a new sense of dread filled me, his aura being one that brought a feeling of terror.
The authority wafted off of him, I let my eyes drop to my lap as he began intensely studying me. No one said anything as I fell victim to his piercing gaze. “Noah, I admire your choice in women” I reluctantly made eye contact with him as he said that.
There was something completely unsettling about receiving whatever attempt of a compliment that was from a man like him. Nodding, Noah seemed disinterested in his father’s words, I could tell by his standoffishness that he wasn’t too close to his father, which I was trying to figure out if that was a good or bad thing.
“I told you she was beautiful, didn’t I James?” Evelyn beamed excitedly as if she was a child on Christmas and I was her new toy. The possible realisation that maybe she wasn’t as sane as I had made her out to be sat like a boulder in my stomach.
“Yes you did my dear wife” he smiled a smile which surprisingly reached his eyes, clearly showing he had a soft spot for his wife. I wouldn’t let myself buy into it just yet, it would be hard for me to believe that Noah and Sebastian ended up the way they did while having parents who were in a loving marriage.
His attention returned to me as I scrunched my hand on my dress, praying I was anywhere else but this painfully uncomfortable situation. There was something about meeting the parents of your supposed soulmate after being kidnapped that made you feel so unreal. It felt as if this was one big hallucination.
“It is lovely to finally meet you Embry, you can call me James” he once again smiled, this smile made me doubt any assumptions I had about him before. It seemed so comforting, so friendly. So fatherly. Oh my god, what if I was the crazy one?
“It’s nice to meet you too” I reluctantly trailed out while contemplating my sanity and existence. It was normal for me to do so in social events but this time it felt a little different.
“Well, let’s eat” he beamed as the staff came scurrying out placing plates stacked to the brim with food down on the table. All through the meal, the three males talked about things I didn’t quite understand which Evelyn explained to have been the family business.
Although I hadn’t quite come to a conclusion on Evelyn’s sanity, she was very good at conversing about things that made me almost forget about my current predicament.
Almost.
Because looming over me throughout the whole dinner was the thoughts of how I would have to sleep in the same bed as Noah. As everyone began retreating to their rooms, I could feel the nerves within my body. I remained quiet, knowing I couldn’t kick up a fuss, lord knows when Noah will snap over the phone call regardless of what he said earlier. I needed to do this to gain his trust, it was vital for my survival if I wanted to leave before I was too severely damaged emotionally and mentally.
Noah too remained quiet as we got ready for bed, I knew that was because he could sense the intense anxiety that spurred through every cell in my body. It’s just sleep, nothing could go wrong, right?