The first semester in Oxford has already started. Balancing between studying to become a lawyer and life in general, Julia Eden has found herself sitting across from a shrink, or in better words: a psychologist.
It only gets worse when the old man s...
dedicated to SraEaton46. thanks for the constant comments and votes and rants. <3
___________
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Julia downed another half of the Loperamide she had treasured in her clutch inside the oversized guest bathroom. She'd have to climb upstairs and rot in her room for the rest of the night anyway. At least, there was a concierge service; she might as well have some disgustingly delicious cheesy pretzels to rot with. Too bad, she contracted diarrhea at the time she could be enjoying a feast.
With an audible groan, she shoved her Givenchy Noir Couture mascara in her clutch, tempted to snort a few lines of coke before joining the soiree. Instinctively, her jewel-like blue eyes darted to her reflection. Not many things in her life were as perfect as her face. A cocaine nose reconstruction surgery was the last thing in her mind. The Eden women had never touched needles near their skin. She was willing to keep it that way.
Without giving into her temptation, she walked out of the bathroom and caught a glimpse of her father's study through the ajar door. It was just across the foyer, behind the hand-picked dryad statue her mother had flown in from a New York art gallery. However, her father being here with so many guests out there was bizarre. She sighed before turning, suddenly startled at the creaking sound of her father's study door.
Nicholas Eden ambled out, clad in a shiny, navy-blue Armani suit; her mother's favorite one. A good sign. A man in a tailored black suit followed him outside, a head taller than her father, familiar. They exchanged words and her father grinned at the man. Even though her father not noticing her was fortunate, the man behind him spotting her with no difficulty was. His eyes flashed with recognition. Those were a distinctive shade of gray. Julia didn't falter as he fixed his eyes on her while he followed her father to the patio. This was the minimum of reaction. Most people commented; some whistled and gave filthy looks, while others admired from afar. She was used to it by now.
Then again, she recognized her rescuer, the gray-eyed man who had helped her climb down the wall when she was trying to sneak out. Could it be that he was complaining it to her father?
Ridiculous.
He seemed like he had lots of important things to do anyway.
Sighing, Julia took the longest route to the patio, the one from her own bedroom; through the spiral staircase from her balcony. A cloud nine dogwood tree concealed it from the patio, an unpleasant scent emanating from it. The gazebo was now empty, void of the lectern for the auctioneer and the upholstered chairs for the bidders.
Thank God for that.
Julia halted halfway down the stairs when she noticed her parents on the far side of the gazebo, near the glass atrium that had an alternate exit of the property. Her parents were engaged in a heated conversation. At one point, her mother was jabbing a finger onto her father's chest. Almost out of instinct, she met Skrein's blue eyes. He gave her an apologetic nod, standing a few feet away from her parents, possibly to block the view from their guests.
