Chapter 6
Sebastian
After having the much needed respite from reality in the form of whiskey, I was finally able to comprehend the unexpected development that happened today.
Finally an agreement had been reached by the two parties. Can't say this day isn't the most bizarre one of my life.
"Alphonse," My grandfather called. He tilted his head and signaled me to follow him.
"Good luck man." Micheal patted my shoulder.
I stood up and followed his unhurried pace into the hallway. He stood with his hat pulled low, his back inclined to the wall and a stick of cigar on his lips.
"This is the most unfortunate. Our plan have been thoroughly upended and totally disrupted. We'll need a new plan," he snapped his fingers and puffed out smoke, "as fast as that."
I watch the smoke curled and spiral around before disappearing, wishing I could do the same.
I took a deep breath, and still the words wouldn't come. The hallway was cold and dark, filled the smell of mold and now smoke.
The darkness did a great job of hiding the scowl on my face, but not the bitterness that laced my words like poison.
"I can't marry her." I told him. I yanked my hair away from my face and scrunched my nose at the smell. I wasn't the biggest fan of smoking.
His laugh was low and husky, the stub on his lips igniting a fiery glow in his eyes.
"Surely, you do not expect me to continue with this farce?" I quizzed.
He blew the last of the smoke and stomp viciously on the glowing embers. His smile was tight.
"Im afraid you have no choice, dear boy. Everything depends on you playing your part and playing it right. The media is agog and the journalist are having a field day at our expense." He held my shoulder and stared into my eyes.
"You'll do anything to clear up our name and make sure the victory is Delacy's." For a man in his seventies, his grip was like steel bands against my shoulder.
"Tell me you understand? This is really the opportunity we've been waiting for. It's time to kill three birds with a stone." He leaned over me and whispered against my ears.
"Take back what is rightfully ours. Break them and make them pay."
The lights were flicked on and the sudden brightness hurt my eyes. I groaned and covered my eyes, ready to shred whoever it was to pieces.
Theodosia's father and mother were standing on the other end of the hallway with her lady maid?I wasn't sure what the lady was to her. Theodosia was standing beside her father.
Her glasses was once again perched on her nose in that slightly crooked way. Her mouth was pursed tightly.
"Isn't this such a cozy scene?" He observed with an oily smile.
His sallow skin and greasy hair was enough reason to loathe the man,if he wasn't already evil and in the list of my grandfather's most hated enemies.
I noticed her father's death grip on her wrist and could see the faintest bruises forming. The sight turned my stomach. I clenched my fist tightly beside me.
"Go to them, they're your family now." He murmured to her. I saw her visibly recoil and her eyes bulged out.
"We're all family now. Aren't we?" He grinned at my grandfather.
"But of course. We're all family now." My grandfather replied smoothly.
A slight smirk curled on his lips as he regarded the slimy man and his family. The cold fury in his eyes were unnoticeable to anyone but me.
He was fairly itching to throttle the man and show him what a bitch karma could be. But then, so am I.
"Theodosia will be staying with Sebastian, naturally." My grandfather began in the smooth business-polite voice.
I saw the greediness flare to life in her father's face and he started to smile, before the next words rubbed it off his face.
"Before our divorce, that is." Theodosia informed politely.
Her smile was graceful, though a little too wide and her back look like it'll brittle anytime soon.
"If that's all, we should take our leave." He clapped his hands together as he announced.
"Oh Theo. Im so sorry." Her mother wrapped her into an embrace, "everything will turn out alright. You'll see," she hiccuped.
Theodosia returned the embrace stiffly.
"Grace is going with me of course." She turned to her father.
He smiled in that patronizing way and shook his head. He resumed his death grip on her wrist.
"That wouldn't be quite appropriate, now would it?" He chuckled.
"We already agreed on this," she hissed under her breath.
"That was when I thought you'd be marrying Ethan. He was amenable to the idea." He scowled at her, but she wasn't backing down.
I saw my grandfather nod appreciatively. He loves it when people have the spine to stand up for themselves.
After everything that had just happened and the turn it took, the least he could do was agree.
Before he could agree or disagree, the words tumbled out of my mouth.
"I don't mind. She can bring the whole bloody town if she wish. There's enough space for everyone." I announced.
I felt the hot glare of my grandfather digging a hole into my head but I don't really care... much.
"Well that's settled then!" He replied jovially and literally shoved the unsuspecting woman to her.
I saw Theodosia breathed out a relieved sigh and her gaze conveyed gratitude to mine. Gratitude and nothing more.
"We should get going. I have a flight to catch." He made a show of checking his wristwatch.
He dragged the sobbing woman along and quieted her by whispering something inside her ears. She whimpered and followed obediently, wiping her eyes.
I was disgusted. How I will enjoy crumbling him to dust.
"Shall we get going then, husband?" The words were filled with so much anger and resentment.
She smiled sweetly at me.
I smiled at her. A feral thing_my smile. She smirked right back.
"Let's go then, wife." I growled.
"Happy married life." Micheal chimed, his brows raised comically into his skull.
"Welcome to the family, Theodosia. The more the merrier." My grandfather told her and she nodded at him.
"Indeed. Just not in this case." With that, she walked out with her back ramrod straight and Grace scrambling to meet up with her.
Michael's booming laugh echoed around the hallway at my grandfather's surprised face.
Same, grandfather, same. I thought inwardly fighting back a smile.