Heal my heart.

23

Gracie
I smoothened out the creases of my black dress. Alastair had told me that he wouldn't be able to pick me up. I knew the reason. It was because of Paige obviously. She would definitely come for her father's dinner party. Is this how it will be?
I take the keys for my car and set out towards the venue. I get down in front of the place Google maps has directed me to. It's a very calm, scottish place with a warm ambience. I like it instantly. The doors are wooden and the security guard smiles at me as I he holds the door open. I smile back and look around for the table. I see Mr. Roberts and another man of his age on the table. There is also a young guy, probably of our age. It's a six seater table. The two other men are sitting together while Mr. Roberts has two seats beside his empty. A bag has been placed beside him so I head to sit towards the young guy. He has chocolate sandy coloured hair and pale hazel eyes. Our eyes meet and he gives me a very happy smile. I nod my head at him.
"Mr. Stark, this is Gracie Hyde, the editor in chief of TCT. She is the business head we have merged with. Ms. Hyde, this is Mr. Stark, the owner of the biscuit factory who will be advertising with us. This is his son, Greg Stark who is handling the business along with him." Mr. Roberts very diligently introduces us.
"Hello Sir." I give a firm handshake to the grey haired spectacled man who sits there.
"Hello. Good to meet you." He nods.
I sit down beside Greg. "Hey." He whispers softly while the two men go about their talks.
"Hi." I say.
He's about to say something more when I see someone who makes our heads turn. It's Alastair along with Paige. Paige who is wearing a sparkly red dress, sticks to his arm and looks down at us. When her eyes settle on me, she gives me an angry look but probably seeing my expression, her face sets onto a smug grin and she scoots even closer to him. He looks unfazed and very confidently meets Greg and Mr. Stark. When he looks at me, his eyes soften but he frowns when I look at Paige. They both sit side by side on the chairs opposite us. Directly opposite to me, Paige quickly sits so that I'm not face to face with Alastair, and he quickly sits opposite to Greg. Like girl come on, I understand your jealousy but it's not like I'm going to jump on his at the moment. Paige quickly launches into a mode where she flirts with Alastair, then looks at me haughtily and then again touches him somewhere. It would be a lie if I say that it's not killing me. It hurts like hell, but I can't do anything about what is right here in front of me.
"Is everything okay?" Greg asks from beside me.
"Yes of course." I say, trying to ignore the burning sensation in my eyes.
"There's something in your hair." He says looking at something on my head. I place my fingers there. "Is it out?"
"Not yet." I run a hand through my hair. "Gone?" He just smiles. I dust my hair again. "Is it out yet?"
"Wait." He gently extends his hand and from my curls near my shoulder, brushes out some furry thing.
"Now it is out."
"Oh thanks."
I look straight again, to see Alastair glaring at me. I take a sip of my wine and glare at him right back. Great, he didn't even greet me once. Why should I care about him?

Alastair
That bastard does something to her hair and whispers in her ear, to which she smiles at him. If I ever get hold of him, I'll wring his neck off. And now she's glaring at me. Why doesn't she fucking understand anything? I can't even look at her for long, Paige is constantly running her hand over me as a warning. Though Gracie looks alluring, I can't do anything about that. The way she stares straight ahead, full lips in a full pout, with eyes unblinking and long hair cascading down the shoulders, I have to be careful. She'll probably eat me up alive. Paige crosses her limits when she kisses me on my cheek. Like who does that in front of unknown people in a crowded restaurant? And then Gracie's eyes water. We aren't even past our starters and I'm losing my sanity. I try to be as involved as I can in that conversation with the old men but I'm so screwed up right now. Gracie continues talking to that Stark son. Is she ignoring me? I can't even blame her as I can never seen tolerate her talking to another guy and she has to watch me being kissed by someone else. The waiter comes with a bottle of wine and starts pouring fresh drinks in our glasses. "Ma'am do you need some more?"
She grins at him and says,"Some for my to be husband too."
Now what was the need to say that? I slide my gaze over Gracie. She looks so awestruck. Paige once again keeps her hand on my hand on the table, on open display. The waiter smiles back politely at her. "That's good to know."
"Yeah. We're so madly in love, I can't wait to get married." She says, this time looking pointedly at Grace.
Gracie chokes on her drink and fucking Greg keeps his hand on her upper back.
"Excuse me." She whimpers and rushes away. Paige scoffs while I try to control my anger. As on cue, the glass of wine tilts and falls on my hand. I'm quick to get away but it has wet a part of my sleeve.
I mutter under my breathe and excuse myself. Running quick I go out into the backyard to see Grace standing near the fences, wiping her eyes. I fucked up again.
I go behind her and keep a hand on her shoulder. She slaps my hand away. Her nose and eyes red, she scoots away from me.
"Enough okay. You won't touch me now."
"Gracie you know I wasn't liking it."
"It wasn't about what you liked or you didn't! The fact is, you didn't do anything about it!" She yells.
"What could I even do in front of her father?"
"Whatever. But just tell me, do you love her? Are you okay with her? Cause that's what it seems like!"
"Shut it Gracie. You're speaking nonsense."
"Make me."
"What?" I run a hand through my hair, messing it up more.
"I won't shut up. What you did was wrong, you were enjoying that freaking attent-"
I hold her hair from behind and kiss her square on her lips.
"Alastair." She moans from beneath my lips on hers.
"Shh." I mutter as my tongue finds her. She holds on to my hair and collar for support as my hands rake over her back. She is angry, and her rage flows out as she bites my lip with her teeth. Just when I thought I was in heaven, I hear a voice from behind me.
"Excuse me?"
Paige.
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I've been noticing that I have a lot of ghost readers, please please vote and comment. Just because I don't ask for it doesn't mean I don't need it. Vote if you like the chapter or comment if you have to criticise. But just make your presence known. Much love.