Lessons In Butterflies

Chapter 21: You don't deserve this-

Shella's POV:

- The Weekend - 

As Cheryl and I approached the massive mansion, the grandeur of the place hit me like a ton of bricks. 

It looked like something out of a period drama, all elegant arches and huge stone walls with ivy creeping up the sides. 

Great, just the kind of place Cheryl would love—luxurious, fancy, and probably full of people I didn't want to meet.

I adjusted my blouse for the tenth time, tugging it down nervously. The black high-waisted skirt I was wearing was supposed to help me look a little more put-together, but I still felt... awkward. 

The heels Cheryl insisted I wear weren't helping either, making me wobble as I followed her up the pristine stone steps. She was dressed immaculately, as always, in her tailored suit, looking every bit like she belonged here.

The door creaked open, and standing there was a man, tall, dark-haired, and serious-looking. 

His sharp features made him look like he belonged in some kind of business magazine.

"I'm Dominic," he said, his voice calm and formal as he shook Cheryl's hand, then barely glanced at me before stepping aside to let us in.

Dominic. The older brother, I thought, recalling Cheryl's endless talks about Elias and Dominic, the successful sons of Melissa.  

We had never met, but Melissa spoke of them like they were gods. Elias was the one Cheryl kept going on about.

As we stepped inside, the air was filled with the smell of freshly polished wood and something floral that I couldn't quite place. 

Before I could think too much about how out of place I felt, Melissa appeared. 

She swept into the room like she owned the place—which she did, technically. She had that same sharp look as Dominic, though she softened it with a wide smile for Cheryl.

"Cheryl, darling!" Melissa embraced her, but not before she quickly scanned me up and down like she was assessing every detail of my appearance. 

I fought the urge to shift uncomfortably under her gaze, my cheeks already burning. 

Amazing way to start, I thought bitterly.

Melissa's smile returned to Cheryl as they hugged. "It's been too long!" she said with exaggerated delight, guiding us further into the house.

I trailed behind them, my steps slower, my head buzzing with thoughts. 

Why did I have to come? Why couldn't Cheryl just have come alone? This whole thing was a mess waiting to happen, I could feel it. 

But of course, I couldn't voice any of that to Cheryl. She had been so insistent about this meeting. "You'll have fun," she'd said, completely oblivious to how much I wasn't looking forward to any of this.

We were led out to the patio, and I had to admit, it was breathtaking.

The sun was bright, casting a golden glow over the perfectly manicured gardens. The vibrant colours of the flowers and the sprawling green lawn looked like something out of a magazine.

 I adjusted my glasses, the glare of the sun hitting my eyes, making everything seem a little more surreal.

I glanced around, wondering where Elias was. What would he look like? Would he be as formal as Dominic? Or would he be more laid-back?

As Cheryl and Melissa launched into a conversation about God-knows-what, I tuned out, my mind wandering. 

I grabbed the menu that had been set in front of me and slid it down to my lap.