Entwined - James Beaufort X OC

PART FOUR

Adelaide stared blankly at the page in front of her, a pen balanced precariously between her fingers. In her other hand, her phone's screen displayed a text message from her boyfriend that read, "We need to talk."

The bluntness of the message sent Adelaide's mind spiraling. She suspected her boyfriend had likely witnessed her earlier encounter with the infamous James Beaufort, given his involvement in the lacrosse team. She never got to meet up and congratulate her boyfriend on his win, instead she went straight to the car and waited on her brothers arrival.

She had spent the better part of her afternoon trying to compose a compelling piece for her application, but the right words escaped her. Maybe it was the fear of delving into such vulnerable emotions, or perhaps the stress of the impending dinner that suppressed her mind.

Adelaide's thoughts flickered back to her encounter with James. The heir to the Beaufort fortune, he was charismatic and intimidating, his presence stirred a mix of emotions within her. The strategic marriage between them weighed heavily on her, overshadowing her dreams of a romantic and special wedding day.

Adelaide began to prepare herself for the important business dinner, slipping into a pair of long wide-leg trousers, a sleek sleeveless tank top, and a pair of black Louboutins. 

The ensemble was both elegant and commanding, perfect for the occasion. As she walked down the hall, the murmur of conversation grew louder, signaling the gathering of the two families at the front door.

"There she is, my wonderful daughter!" Grant Charlemagne's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention to Adelaide as she stepped into the doorway.

"It's good to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Beaufort!" Adelaide greeted the elder Beauforts with a warm smile, her tone respectful and poised. "And of course, James and Lydia!" She leaned in to give each of the Beaufort twins a hug.

That was the thing about Adelaide she knew how to present herself flawlessly, masking her true emotions behind a facade of grace and charm. She understood the importance of appearances and navigated these social interactions with ease.

--

"So, James, I heard about your great win in today's game! I hope my son was good in assisting!" Grant Charlemagne began to charm the young Beaufort as everyone sat around the dinner table, sipping on champagne after their meal. Adelaide was seated beside James, as expected, with her mother and father directly across from them.

"Thank you! And yes, of course, Miles is a great player and has tremendous potential for next year, though not quite as good as me!" James joked.

The rest of the table laughed, and Adelaide played along, her smile polite as James entertained the room. Yet, all she could see was the arrogance radiating from his face.

"You hear that, son? You're learning from the best!" Grant Charlemagne nodded toward Miles, who nodded back in agreement, sipping his champagne.

"And Adelaide, how is your swimming coming along?" the elder Beaufort asked, turning his attention to the young Charlemagne.

"It's going well. I'm currently performing the best I've ever done, but there's always room for improvement. However, my primary focus is on the performance and success of our business," Adelaide replied smoothly. She knew how to present herself to impress others, aware that the Beauforts had little real interest in her personal achievements and asked merely out of courtesy.

Before the elder Beaufort could respond, Adelaide's father interjected, "Speaking of business, shall we move to the boardroom for some more drinks?" He directed the question to James's father.