Worlds Apart

Three

I immediately turned my gaze back to the ground, feeling sweat start to trickle down my forehead. Mother strode over to me, startling me as she grabbed my hands.

"Here she is," she said, turning back to the Rambova family, "our Anastasia. Isn't she lovely?"

Mrs. Rambova fanned herself, not even looking my way. "Very."

They all wore obnoxiously expensive garments that shone like gold when the light hit the gems embroidered on Mrs. Rambova's enormous gown. It was almost pure black, consuming all the color around her. The two men wore suits, except Solomon had already taken his coat off and set it on the hanger as if he lived here. I could make out his strong shoulders and muscular arms from where I sat; he had rolled up the sleeves of his white button-up as if flaunting them.

"We should show you around," Father said aloud. "Let Anastasia and Solomon get acquainted while we do so."

They all nodded, and my mother dropped my hands, not bothering that they hit the table as they fell. She followed them out, leaving Solomon and I alone in the living room. I continued to stare out the window, pretending I had better things to look at than his bare forearms. The sudden weight on the cushion next to me made me jump, forcing me to turn to the now-up close and personal Solomon. He looked a lot more handsome from up close. The way his dark, medium-length hair framed his square jaw and the sharp blue eyes that eyed mine. He reached his hand up to my chin, turning my face at different angles. I pulled away, giving him a confused look.

"You are more beautiful than I thought," he said, finally saying, "maybe this arranged marriage wouldn't be so horrible after all."

I turned back to the window and said, "Speak for yourself."

He grabbed my chin again, harder. "What, you don't think I'm beautiful too?"

I almost laughed until I saw that he was serious. For a moment, his face wavered, making me blink a few times to focus my vision. His frame started to go fuzzy as I felt a wave of calm flow over my body. Maybe the drink is working now.

"Are you going to answer or just stare at me with those big eyes?" he asked, not breaking eye contact.

I took his hand off my face, gently placing it in his own lap. "You are, but you must know I'm not exactly happy to marry someone I have no idea about."

He chuckled. "Why don't you get to know me then?"

I tried to turn my head to face him, almost losing my balance from how heavy my head felt. I couldn't make out his features without blinking hard enough. What did she give me?

I felt his hand grip my waist, pulling me into his void. I pushed his arm off, or I thought I did. His lips were too close to mine, and his everything was too close.

"I need a drink; I don't feel well." I said, pulling from his embrace.

I watched as he pulled my body into him, but I didn't fight. I wasn't in my body; I was watching from the outside. I watched him whisper something I couldn't hear into my ear, and I watched him untie my corset. Get up. Get up, Anastasia. You need to wake up now!

I felt myself snap back into my body like my soul had been sucked back, viewing the world from my eyes again. Except I wasn't free, and Solomon was still on top of me. His lips caressed my neck, and he traced them down to my chest.

"Get off!" I shoved his weight with all my will, only making him slide along the couch a few inches.

He smiled, an evil one that made my heart sink. I held my corset close to my body like a sheath, quickly fastening it before a low chuckle emerged from his chest.