Cadence's POV:
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress for what felt like the hundredth time. Tonight is Nonna's 84th birthday party, and despite Emory's distant behavior lately, we have to attend together and put on a facade of happiness. I sighed, taking a deep breath to steady myself before turning around to face Emory.
"Emory, are you almost ready?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light and unaffected.
Emory looked up from her phone, her expression distant. "Yeah, I'll be ready in a few minutes," she replied, her tone lacking any warmth.
I felt a pang of anger, but I reminded myself that tonight is not the time or place to get in another fight with Emory. Instead, I plastered a smile on my face and said, "Okay, take your time. We should head out soon though."
"Yeah sure."
As I finished getting ready, I went out to the living room and played with Kieyw before Emory finally decided to join me. She's impeccably dressed, as always, opting to wear a black dress, with a high slit on her right thigh rather than a suit.
"Let's go." She demanded, walking straight towards the elevator without even a glance my way. I rolled my eyes, already used to her behavior and followed behind.
We walk side by side towards the car, our silence heavy yet familiar. I've stopped trying to make small talk with Emory days ago, her responses were always short and made me feel like I was speaking into an empty void. It just wasn't worth it anymore.
I took a deep breath, determined not to let the coldness between us dampen my spirits. I'm gonna enjoy tonight as much as I can. As we drove towards our destination, I glanced out of the window, admiring the beautiful mansions and luxury cars lining the streets.
As we arrived at the opulent venue, I braced myself for an evening of pretending. My eyes scanned the room, taking in the extravagant decorations and countless guests. The room is filled with elite and sophisticated individuals, making me feel completely out of place. But Emory, always composed and aloof, held my hand tightly as she gracefully guided me through the crowd.
"Hold my arm Cadence." Emory mumbled beside me, snapping me out of my observing. I quickly looked up at her, surprised. She glanced down at me and offered her arm again. I took the hint and cling on to her.
Emory suddenly changed her demeanor, she put on a polite smile as we greeted the other guests. "I hope you're enjoying the party Mr. Peters."
A tall man dressed in a deep red suit with a cane smiled and shook Emory's hand. "Ah! Emory my dear, the night is young, I'm sure I'll be entertained." He replied, chuckling softly; Patting Emory's shoulder before walking away.
We walked deeper into the venue until we found Nonna, she's surrounded by 4 of her friends and they seemed to be very engrossed in their conversation but as soon as she saw us, she greeted us with a big smile, hugging both of us tightly. "It's so good to have you both here!" she exclaimed.
"Happy Birthday Nonna." I said shyly. "Thank you my dear." She smiled warmly, making me feel like I just passed the test.
"Anyways, Everybody is here, and we're just waiting on the food to be ready. Go ahead and mingle!" She said, ushering us away before turning back towards the conversation she was having. We walked away, side by side.
"Emory." A man's voice came from behind us. I turned to see a middle aged couple with warm smiles on their faces. The guy dressed in a white polo shirt and khaki pants like he's in a resort and the woman wearing a simple pastel pink dress. They look odd but for some reason it works.
YOU ARE READING
The Marriage Bargain - ENGLOT
Romance"It's okay, you don't have to love me." Emory Winslow, The most sought after bachelorette has no time or interest in relationships. But She must find a wife or risk getting disinherited by her Grandmother Emmanuelle Winslow, all before the matriarc...
