Chapter 29: Tougher than I look
If Emmaline had thought that the previous day's celebration was extravagant, she was about to be proven very wrong.
Brunch was served in the ballroom and Emmaline couldn't stop staring at the chandeliers that sparkled in the sunlight.
Before, she had thought that brunch was a casual affair with friends.
An eggs Benedict or platter of pancakes in a cafe with a hot latte was brunch.
The ten course affair that started with caviar and ended with some intricate chocolate dome that required a mini hammer to shatter in order to eat was not brunch.
But according to the Wrights, it was.
No wonder the tea time and dinner event yesterday had been considered casual despite the champagne and lobsters.
Emmaline sneaked a glance at Ashton.
He looked normal.
Normal being, very handsome without really trying.
But normal also meaning, as if he didn't find anything wrong with anything that happened last night.
This morning, she had woken up on the bed.
She had frowned blearily at the soft sheets and the plush mattress. She could have sworn she had fallen asleep on the floor.
But then she had a brief recollection of strong arms lifting her in the darkness and she covered her mouth with one hand.
Surely, it couldn't be…
She had peeked over the side of the bed and true enough, there he was.
Ashton Wright, heir to Wright Enterprises, was sleeping on the floor!
Kicked out of his own bed!
Quickly, she patted her head and her chest, making sure that her disguise had been intact throughout the night.
The thought of Ashton carrying her to bed so that she could sleep better was warming to say the least.
She was just a nobody and yet, he treated her with so much care.
That thought had stayed with her all through brunch.
Ashton treated her as sweetly as always, and not for the first time, Emmaline was sorely tempted to tell him the truth.
To confess everything and apologize and hope he didn't hate her.
Because somehow, making sure he didn't hate her had become very important.
She liked him.
Not because he was rich and handsome.
Not just because he was respectful and kind.
But because he really saw her. For her talents, and because he never once stopped believing in her.
It wasn't love or anything serious. Emmaline was far too sensible for that.
But in another life she would have had a really huge crush on Ashton Wright.
And she had blown all her chances because she had lied to him from the start.
As the cake was wheeled in, Emmaline almost didn't register how massive it was because she was so wrapped up in her head.
It didn't matter that she liked this guy.
Her chance was ruined and her mother's health was always more important.
At least it was just a brief infatuation and nothing more serious than that.
That's what Emmaline told herself as the sound of loud applause filled the ballroom at the end of the happy couple's speech.
The celebration weekend ended more quickly than Emmaline expected, and at the same time, not soon enough.
She longed for the familiarity of her own house and people she knew, away from the glitz and showiness of this world.
Although Sienna and Damon Wright were the most sensible rich people she knew, she still felt out of her depth.
"Thank you for having me here," Emmaline had snuck away from the crowds of people doing some last minute showing off before the party really ended.
Great Grandmother Wright had distanced herself from the hubbub and was watching the guests mingle from a velvet seat on the mezzanine level.
Emmaline had spotted her and went up to say her goodbyes, as was only polite.
Great Grandmother Wright regarded her with bemused eyes, "I heard you caused quite a commotion yesterday."
Emmaline blushed and looked down, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause a scene."
"Nonsense," Emmaline looked up in surprise at the older woman's firm tone, "You look so fragile but it's good to be able to hold your ground."
The support made Emmaline crack a smile, "I'm tougher than I look."
Great Grandmother Wright's expression grew more solemn, "This party is just a microcosm of Ashton's world. It's going to get a lot tougher the longer you stay."
It was a warning and given with good intention.
Meeting the matriarch's gaze with an unflinching look, Emmaline nodded.
"If it's for him, I can handle it."
It was evidently the right answer because Great Grandmother Wright rewarded her with the faintest of smiles.
"Run along," She patted Emmaline on the hand, "This old lady is boring compared to all the young people downstairs."
Emmaline shook her head, "You're the best conversationalist here."
This time, Great Grandmother Wright succumbed to a full smile which she hid by shooing Emmaline away.
Emmaline ducked past people to reach Ashton as they waited for the valet to bring his car up.
Most people were taking their leave as their drivers arrived or valets brought their cars to them.
Only a scattered few guests were still milling about and lingering to speak with Sienna or Damon.
That's when a cherry red convertible pulled up and a very pretty girl stepped out in stilettos.
Emmaline frowned, confused.
This girl definitely wasn't a driver for someone else.
But if she was a guest, wasn't she too late to the party? It was already over!
The girl was in a tight outfit and despite there not being much sun, she had on a pair of sunglasses.
When she stalked over to Ashton and Emmaline, the girl lifted her sunglasses for a second to stare at Emmaline.
"So it's true," She remarked, "You're really dating a guy now."
Emmaline resisted the urge to adjust the collar of her turtleneck sweater, "What's it to you?"
The girl gave Emmaline another pointed look, her red lips pursed, "I'm the one he dumped to date you!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
friedpotato
friedpotato Drama alert! Poor Em can't catch a break.
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