Heart of Stone

Married

Eloise Winters stood in a crowded ballroom. Today was the day her husband returned home, but he would not be coming home to her. She had never actually met him. Sure, she knew what he looked like, as did every other woman in the country, but she had never been in the same room as him. The day they were to be wed, a signed contract appeared in his place with his power of attorney, and he'd left on a business trip. He'd agreed to marry her, but it was clear he was only doing so out of necessity. Therefore, she probably didn't even exist to him. She doubted he would even be able to pick her face out of the crowd.

So she felt at ease among the people around her. Despite the less than ideal arrangement, none of them made her feel particularly unwelcome, but neither did they go out of their way to associate with her. Truth be told, she preferred it that way. She was only 19 when her grandfather convinced her father to sell her off in exchange for the money.

It hadn't been quite that way, her family cared for her, but she'd certainly felt that way when they'd told her she was to be wed to Alexander Pearson; the oldest son of a wealthy businessman. He was the opposite of what you might expect. Children of important financial figures usually bring to mind partying, sex, and drugs, but not Alexander. He was stoic, cold, and disliked associating with most people his own age. He was only 2 years older than Eloise, but he took his life very seriously. His father had every reason to be proud. He was easily following in his footsteps and one day would make a great CEO for the family company.

Any woman would be lucky to have him, but not Eloise. Truthfully, although she'd felt slighted that he didn't even bother to show up at the courthouse to at least meet her, she had also been relieved. She hadn't wanted to marry him, someone she herself had never met before. He had absolved her of any responsibility towards him, and for that she was at least a bit grateful.

5 years had passed since then, and much had changed in her. She'd never been with anyone else. Despite them being married in name only, it somehow had still felt wrong to her. So it gave her an excuse to reject any and all potential relationships going forward and with the money provided to her, it allowed her to live a comfortable life where she was able to focus on her passions.

"Eloise." Her father's voice brought her out of her reverie.

"Yes, father?" She asked, turning to him.

"You should speak with him tonight." He suggested.

She sighed heavily. "I told you, if he wanted anything to do with me, he would have showed up that day, but he didn't. I'm inclined to keep it that way." She said.

"How do you intend to keep a marriage you refuse to participate in?" Her father questioned.

"It wasn't me that left the country. I've been here the whole time." She said incredulously.

"But he's here now, and we need the money." Her father pressed insistently.

She sighed again, brushing her caramel colored hair out of her face and downing her drink. She walked away from him, her slender legs making long strides as her black dress flowed behind her. It was a simple thigh length dress with spaghetti straps that had a sheer over skirt dotted with sparkles here and there, resembling a night sky. Her father always managed to ignite a fire in her chest. Did he not care for her, for her happiness, and what she wanted? Did he only see her as a way to get more money? What would he have done instead if she had refused to marry Alexander Pearson?

So caught up in her whirlwind of thoughts, she accidentally collided with someone, a cold splash of liquid catching her in the abdomen. A warm hand reached out and grazed her elbow to steady her. She looked up the broad chest and tanned column of throat only to find him staring back at her.