Beauty And The Beast

Prologue

"Tommorow.. Tommorow you'll be mine, untill death do us part" I whispered and she giggled.
"I love you James" she said cuddeling up to my chest.
"I love you too. Forever."
***

"How could you? Oh Charlotte" I sighed looking at our picture.
She left me at the altar. She never came. I waited after all the guests left. She never came. She boarded a plane to London and never came to our wedding.
A knock on the door snapped me back to reality.
"Son?"
It was dad.
"Come in dad. It's open" I said sitting straight.
He took a seat next to me and noticed a picture in my hand. He took a deep breath.
"Oh, James.." he sighed.
"It's been a year since she left. It's time to move on. You need to live or life will pass you by while you're grieving. She is not worth all this. She never was" he said calmly.
"I loved her! Worth or not! I loved her and she left me! For what dad?! I don't know! She never said anything, she never called, send a letter, nothing!" I yelled and threw the picture.
Glass from the frame was all over the floor.
"James, calm down. Charlotte left! I know about your feelings. You need to move on. The world is not going to stop just because you're heartbroken. The company needs you. We need to merge it with the Douglas company. Stephen has been calling for the past month and I've been making excuses out of respect for your pain but what is enough is enough. Stephen is offering his other daughter, Elena."
"I don't want her. I don't want anyone" I replied pacing up and down the room.
"Don't be so stubborn. We need investors. We need partners for expansion in Europe and they need leadership. Consider the offer. Promise me you'll consider it" he asked with hope in his eyes.
I nodded and he strode out of the room.
"And for God's sake call someone to clean that garbage" he motioned to the picture and left.

Elena

"Dad, I said I'll do it."
"Are you sure? I hope you realize what is on stake here. Our lives, our bussiness, all we have and what we are" he said frowning.
"Dad, why do you think I accepted? Because I'm eager to get married? There was no way out. I'm used to doing Charlotte's dirty work" I said looking at him, dead serious.
He sighed and stood up.
"Charlotte did what she did, none of us know why. I thought, by the way she spoke, I thought she loved him. I have no idea why she ran away" he said despair obvious in his voice.
"Charlotte is a spoiled brat, that's why. She got scared of commitment and hit the road. I just feel bad for him. God knows what consequences all that mess left on him" I said biting my lip.
"You'll get a chance to find out. They invited us to dinner tommorow. Elena, remember, you're doing this for all of us."
I nodded and left the office.
I went to my room and heard mom yell.
"Elena!"
I looked at her.
"What are you going to wear to the engagement dinner?" She asked excited.
I took a deep breath.
"I don't know. I just found out" I said tired.
"You better pick something stunning. Some Charlotte's dresses are in the closet" she said and nodded.
I laughed and shook my head.
"I don't think James would appreciate if I showed up wearing one of his ex's dresses. The same ex who left him" I waved my finger.
"Elena! Please, try to refrain yourself and that mouth tommorow. And get some sleep, you look like crap" she said dissaproving.
I smiled.
"Will do. I love you too mother. Good night" I whispered kissing her cheek.

I woke up to the ringing of my phone.
"Hello?" I asked half asleep.
"Is this Elena?" a man's voice asked.
I nodded and then realized he can't see me.
"Yes. I'm Elena. Who is this?" I asked jawning.
"James. I wanted to ask you if you could meet me at Night in half an hour. We need to discuss something" he said serious, his voice never changing tone.
"I'll see you" I replied and hung up.
I got dressed and combed my hair. I don't need make up this early.
"Mom! I'm leaving!" I yelled as I opened the front door.
She just made a sound and I took it as okay.
I drove to Night and entered. I looked around and noticed him. I mean, that must be him, he is the only one in the bar. I never actually met him. Weird, not knowing your sister's fiance. She just said he is handsome and has the most beautiful teeth in the world.
I approached him and took a sit on the high chair.
"Isn't it a bit early for whiskey?" I asked smiling.
He turned around, his steele gaze sent shivers down my spine and the smile on my lips vanished fast.
"It helps me think straight. You should try it" he spoke.
Same voice as on the phone. Cold, cold, freezing.
"I could" I said and motioned the waitor to get me one.
"So, you're Elena" he said observing me.
I nodded.
"You look completely different than Charlotte" he commented and I drank the whiskey.
"So I've been told. I'm sure that's not a bad thing in some occasions" I smiled.
He laughed.
Dammit, Charlotte, you're right. White as pearls. Shit.
"Why did you want to meet except to play spot the difference?" I asked leaning on my elbow.
"I want us to declare our engagement tonight, during dinner" he said calmly.
"We got engaged? When did that happen?" I asked faking to be surprised.
"Don't play with me. You know what I'm talking about" he said shaking his head.
I nodded.
"Of course. I agree, we have nothing to wait" I said looking in his eyes.
He nodded and stood up. He left the bill for the waitor and left.
The sooner we do this the sooner I get to live a normal life again. As Mrs. Carter.