Chapter 7

• —Lena—
• We arrive at the ball at six on the dot.
• The street is crowded, lined with limousines and luxury vehicles worth more than my apartment. Flashes are going off right, left, and center. The paparazzi are scurrying around like rats up a drainpipe snapping away at those who pose on the red carpet.
• As we walk through the large doors, we’re blown away by the sight of it all. The grand ballroom is enormous. Its size big enough to hold all of the elite in New York City and then some.
• The tall ceilings are covered in rows of draped sheer organza fabric, creating a medieval feel with a modern twist. A large chandelier hangs from the middle, its crystals reflecting the light which shimmers on the dance floor. Scattered across the room are artificial trees with the branches draped in fairy lights.
• We sit ourselves down as Jeremy places his arm around my chair, drawing me in closer. He smells fantastic.
• “You look amazing tonight,” he whispers in my ear.
• “Not so bad yourself, Batman. Are you going to abandon me tonight with some emergency that needs to be taken care of on the roof?”
• “Unless it’s you up there naked, no chance in hell, gorgeous,” he teases, leaving a kiss on the side of my neck.
• My body is shivering in delight, my mind wondering how I can get on the roof. Is there some secret exit? Damn, he looks fine in his tux. Tim Gunn knew his stuff.
• I can hear Emma and Eric whispering the words ‘big hands’ and ‘I wouldn’t kick him out of bed’ but they are quite audible. I start to laugh. Eric always keeps things entertaining. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by amazing friends and a very handsome fiancé who I plan to tie up Cat-Woman-style later tonight at his apartment.
• “Ten o’clock, Lena. Oh damn, he’s the shiz. Wow. Oh, crap, he saw me.” Eric drops his eyes toward his shoes, pretending to be talking about something else.
• “Ten oh what, Eric?” I ask, confused.
• Eric nods his head toward the left.
• I look, hoping to get a glimpse of this so-called ten o’clock candy. My head takes a moment to catch up with what my eyes see.
• Green emerald candy which belongs to the one and only Killian Kelly.
• My mouth falls open, eyes widening, unable to turn away. Like a bad car crash, only it’s the opposite, the most beautiful sight you could possibly imagine walking toward me.
• Oh shit, he’s walking toward me.
• With a sudden urge to run, escape, and hide, the realization of his presence cripples my ability to do anything besides standing there, frozen in place. There’s no way out of this.
• “Lena, what a nice surprise to see you, again,” he greets, politely.
• My legs are threatening to cave. Killian is dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie, and I’m trying to ignore everything about him, but he looks so perfect. His accent is unfamiliar yet equally as mesmerizing, and it matches the handsome man standing before me.
• But this man, in all his perfect glory, is nothing but a stranger. Jeremy notices Killian, Fuck they know each other seeing that their packs share a boundary but Jeremy doesn't know that Killian was my mate that rejected me. This could go really badly.
• “Killian, this is Eric, my assistant, Emma, one of my colleagues, and Jeremy, my fiancé, I rush, trying to push aside my nerves.
• Why is he so calm and collected? I appear to be the only one panicked by this situation.
• Jeremy extends his hand. “Killian Kelly, CEO of the Kelly Group, I'm sorry I had to cancel our meeting the other day something important came up." He says looking down at me.
• "Its no problem at all. I understand congratulations are in order?" Killian answers surprisingly shaking Jeremy's hand.
• "Yes it is, this wonderful lady right here said yes to being my bride."
• I see anger flash in Killian's eyes but he masks it really fast. "Well that's wonderful but last i heard Lena had a mate and it wasn't you."
• Fuck i knew things were going to get ugly. I look over to Jeremy and he has a look of shock on his face.
• "How did you know about that?"
• "Oh, Lena and I go way back, isn't that right Lena." He says smirking like an asshole that he is.
• Before Jeremy can ask more questions the events co ordinator comes to get him as it is almost time for his speech.
• I walk up to Killian and I'm about to give him a piece of my mind but then he takes my hand and twirls me onto the dance floor. The sheer touch of him is causing a massive meltdown inside. He smells just like I remember—home.
• Careful not to close my eyes, I refuse to go back to that place. What was once a meadow filled with love, promises, and sunshine has become a dungeon torturing me with pain. Three years of trying to escape him, and now, he’s holding onto me on the dance floor as if nothing ever happened between us.
• “Lena, you really do look beautiful. Your favorite color, I see.”
• Pulling away, slightly, to distance myself from him, I stare him right in the eye. “What do you want, Killian?”
• “I see you at the restaurant, and you ran from me. I run into you again, and you avoid me. Can’t two long-lost friends catch up after three years?”
• “Do you have amnesia? Why do you keep saying we were friends? Because from memory, you upped and rejected and if i remember it clearly you told me you never wanted to see me again.”
• I quickly change the subject. Now isn’t the time nor the place to dig up old memories, and I don’t want Jeremy staring at us, wondering why my face looks ready to attack.
• "Now the truth what are you doing here?"
• "Would you believe me if i said I came here for you." I can't help the laugh that bubbles out of my mouth. But before I can reply him the music stops and we end our dance. Jeremy takes the stage to give his speech.
• And while I'm focused on him, Killian puts his hand on my waste and leans down to whisper in my ear. "Enjoy your last day of happiness my Lena, because I'm getting you back, you are mine and you belong to me, and I'll do anything to get you back including destroying your precious fiance."
• A cold feeling of dread runs down my spine and I turn around to confront him but he's gone.