To Be A Shelby

Chapter Seventeen

MARIE

She sat there, contemplating the joy she'd felt in Tommy's arms as they danced. There was no denying that she was in a state of natural high having Thomas look at her the way he did earlier, as if she was the only person in the room. A deep realization hit her, but she didn't want to recognize it, let alone acknowledge the though that she might be in love with Tommy.

Her thoughts were cut short when a chubby gentleman with a goatie sat next to him her.

"I haven't seen you in Mr. Kimber's previous parties, are you new here?" he asked, eyeing her lustfully as if he was undressing her then and there.

She nervously fidgetted on her seat, shifting as she felt his gaze all over her.

"I came as Mr. Shelby's companion," she simply explained, hoping the name Shelby would send a message to stay away from her.

"So, you're his whore?" the man tactlessly commented, sipping on his champagne before proceeding to look at her again with a smirk.

"I'm his sister," she emphasized, shifting uncomfortably on her seat.

"My, if this isn't Ada Shelby in the flesh," he said, more bewildered than frightened. He wasn't reacting the way she wanted him to so she felt for the gun in her pocket to remind her that she was out in public and she was safe.

"My name's Marie Shelby, adopted," the last part she said in a small, embarassed voice.

"I ain't ever heard of them talking about an adopted Shelby, you're using them as an excuse, aren't you?" the man laughed, clutching his stomach as his fat fist repeatedly hit the table.

It hurt that none of them had mentioned her but it was no surprise and it was something she understood. Her adoption was sudden, and they came home from war only to be told they had an adopted sister so their previous hostility and lack of eagerness to talk about the new addition to the Shelbys was an expected reaction.

"Are you laughing at my sister?" Johnny suddenly asked from behind her, causing her to slightly jump in her seat.

"S-sister...?" the man almost choked on his own saliva which gave Marie a sense of satisfaction.

"That's right, this woman here is Marie Shelby. Do you have a problem with that?" John grabbed him by the colar of his polo shirt and she had to step in, afraid it would cause a commotion.

"John, it's quite alright," she said, giving the rude stranger a death glare which he took as his cue to leave before John used his razor blades on him.

"What's got you in such a rage?" she asked, noting that he seemed to be ticked off by something else.

"N-nothing. Let's go, Tommy said we should head first to Billy Kimber's mansion," was his cold response and without looking her in the eyes, he grabbed her by the wrist firmly. It didn't hurt but it wasn't a gentle hold either.

***

Johnny parked the car in front of an enormous mansion. It was unnecessarily extravagant and she could tell that the person who lived here was boastful, that someone being Billy Kimber, himself so it wasn't surprising at all. She waited for Johnny to walk in but he said, "You should uhmm... you should just go first."

"Aren't you coming with me?" Marie asked, surprised that he would let her waltz in there alone.

"T-tommy told me to wait for him here," he replied, still unable to look her in the eyes.

She felt a bit anxious but pushed it down, knowing how trustworthy her brothers were. With a deep breath, she slowly walked towards the front door. Each step felt like her shoes were made of heavy iron, and a foreboding feeling grew heavier in her gut.

"You must be Marie Shelby?" a butler addressed her the moment she opened the door.

"Y-yes, but uhmmm... how do you know me?" she asked, wondering how Billy Kimber's butler would be able to recognize her.

"Mr. Kimber is expecting you on the veranda, up the stairs then go straight to the hallway and turn left," the butler monotonously responded and left.

Expecting me? she thought to herself. She didn't understand why Billy Kimber would be expecting her.

"H-hello?" she hesitantly greeted when she reached the veranda and saw Billy Kimber looking out on his yard while smoking a cigar.

"Welcome, Ms. Shelby. I'm glad you could join me," he greeted back.

"Uhmm, they said that you were expecting me," Marie shakily stated, unconsciously wiping her sweaty palms all over her dress.

"Indeed, I am," Mr. Kimber replied with a smug look on his face as he took his cigar out of his mouth and placed it on his golden ash tray.

"My brothers will be here shortly," Marie forced a smile as she sat on the sofa.

"Oh, but I'm afraid they won't."

"I beg your pardon?" she asked, taken aback by what she thought she had heard him say.

"Your brothers won't be coming here, at least not for the next two hours. They sent you here so I could formally ask for your hand," Billy Kimber strode off dramatically to his terrace as he said those words.

"A-ask for my hand?" she felt so confused that it made her dizzy. This man clearly knew how to get on her nerves and she didn't trust a thing he says.

"In marriage, dear. They've agreed that as colateral for them to be in this legitimate business with me, I will have you as my wife."

She felt all the blood draining from her face, and the angst of an unexpected betrayal crept its way to her thoughts. At this point, she was trying hard not to cry. She already felt used, both by Billy Kimber and Thomas, and she felt like if any one of them saw her reduced to a pile of tears, they would win.