I DIDN'T PROOF READ THIS BECAUSE I WAS LAZY
I'M SO SORRY!
Chapter 8
Francis's lips traveled to her neck and a shaky breath escaped her throat. His hands traveled down her body and then suddenly both of them were on his bed. Mary wasn't even aware that they were moving. All she could think of was Francis. He left a trail of fire everywhere his hands touched her and she loved it. It was exhilarating. Both couldn't control the beating of their hearts, all they could think of was how they ever survived without the touch of one another.
However, something in Mary's mind made her open her eyes and saw how fast they were going and suddenly she pushed him off her and sat up on his bed. A billion thoughts were scattering through her mind and before anyone of them could say something, Bash walked into the room.
His widened eyes and mouth slightly gaping, Mary knew this didn't look good.
"Bash!" Francis screamed, he stood and started to button up his shirt. Mary didn't even notice that her hands were unbuttoning them. The look of anger and annoyance was evident in Francis's voice and facial expression. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I came here to discuss to you about an article I found," The look on Bash's face turned from shock to amusement when he connected the dots of what was going on. "But, it seems like you're busy. I'll come back later." He started walking backwards, his eyes not leaving Mary, whose dress was ridding up her body – showing of her long legs. As he reached the door, Bash smiled mischievously. "Also, forget about the drink tonight, brother. You two continue whatever you were doing. Don't mind me."
He closed the door with a thud, leaving Mary and Francis alone once again in the room. She pondered about what just happened.
"Mary, I'm sorry about that," Francis tried to touch her but she averted her body away from him and got up from the bed. Her eyes not meeting his.
"No," She said, clearing her throat. "This was stupid. I should go."
She started to fix her dress and hair, while Francis watched her.
"Mary –"
"I need to talk to Jem." She said, her voice changing a few decibels.
And with that, she exited the door, leaving Francis confused and with the sense of dejection.
"You did what?" Aylee, Greer, Kenna and Lola said at the same time over the phone.
It was a rare occasion when all of them actually answered Mary's call. A conference call with all of her friends was what she need right now.
"We kissed!" Mary cried to her friends. She closed the door of her room, afraid someone might hear, before moving to outside into the balcony. Her room overlooked the back of the Valois's grand and beautiful garden. The fresh air didn't do much to calm her nerves. The sky was getting dark, the sun looked like it was about to set. It looked like it was drowning in an endless sea of hues – Mary wished she could be drowned in the sky too.
"And?" Kenna urged. "That's all?"
"Yes." She answered. She silently thanked Bash for intruding on them. God knows what might have happened if he didn't.
"Mary, are you alright?" Greer asked, worry obvious in her voice. All of them were worried for their friend.
"I don't know anymore," She replied. She wanted to cry but couldn't bring herself to. "I agreed to marry him."
"What?" All of them said in union. Mary knew that by now Kenna has already informed them of what was going on.
"What happened?" Aylee asked.
"What changed?" Lola asked at the same time.
"I don't know!" This was ridiculous. She was sick of not knowing things anymore – especially her own emotions. "Both my parents agree on me marrying him. I have no choice."
"Mary, you always have a choice." Aylee said. She has always been the sweetest among them. "Do you love him?"
Mary has been asked this so many times, that even she wasn't sure how to answer it anymore.
"Of course she does." Lola said, "She allowed him to kiss him."
"A kiss doesn't mean love, Lola," Kenna commented.
"Guys, love is nothing but a series of chemical chain reactions in the brain." Greer said simply. She was the most sensible and safe in the group. Always being driven by her brain and never by her heart. It wasn't safe.
Mary groaned in frustration. What was she to do?
"Not helping, Greer." Kenna commented, sensing Mary's frustration.
"Sorry," Greer murmured.
"Ladies!" Mary shoutsed all of them going silent on the other end. "I need time to decide if I love him or not."
It was a silly thing to say. Love wasn't supposed to be calculated, it was supposed to be passionate but Mary knew passion wasn't going to get her through this situation. She needed to think practically.
She was going to marry Francis. She owed it to her family and to their companies. She has to marry him. However, love was still the question on her mind. Did she love him?
'Yes!' Her heart screamed.
'No.' Her mind screamed louder.
'Yes.' Louder.
'No.' Louder.
"Enough!" She screamed, but realizing that not one of her friends said anything.
"Mary, we didn't say anything." Lola mentioned.
"I know, " She breathed deeply, "I'm sorry. I truly am. And I'm not sure if I can make it in time for Lola's party."
Oops. She wasn't supposed to say that.
"What?" Lola asked, surprised. "Kenna, are you throwing me a birthday party?"
Kenna sounded like she wanted to deny it but there was nothing she could do. It was already out there.
"Yes," She admitted, "And please don't let us cancel it. Greer has already booked the venue."
"Yeah, and it's beautiful." Greer added, she seemed pleased with her work.
"And I've already sent out the invitations!" Aylee said, sounding as excited as Lola was unexcited.
Mary smiled as she listened to her friend's conversation. She missed them so much.
A knock on the door made her look back and saw Bash enter slowly with a folder of files in his hand.
"Guys," She interrupts their bickering. "I need to go now; I'll talk to you later."
She ended the call and walked up to Bash, who was standing by the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
Her relationship with him was… complicatedly simple. They had no relationship.
She never grew close to him because he never stayed at the house long enough for them to become friends. Catherine was the one to blame. But she has always been intrigued by him, she didn't know much about him, except from the basics. And now, she suddenly remembered that he saw her and Francis in bed – although only kissing she still felt embarrass about it – she tried to control the blush that was creeping up her cheeks but couldn't. She hoped he wouldn't notice.
"Henry said to give this to your brother but he isn't in the house," He said, showing her the files. "Well, I think he isn't. This house is huge!"
Mary smiled at his words, he had a point.
"Well, I'll be glad to hand it to him." Mary said, outreaching her hands and he gave the files to her. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," He said with a smile but when Mary smiled back, his face became serious. "I'm serious, don't mention it. Henry said to give it only to your brother. I don't think he wants you to see what's in there."
That got Mary curious. "Why?"
Bash smiled and she never noticed how lovely his smile was and how cute he was.
"I don't know but I think you should take a look and find out." Bash suggested.
"You're cheeky." Mary commented, not able to control her smile.
"So I've been told." Bash smiled, and it made Mary's heart double its rate. What was going on?
Silence lingered between them for a moment before Bash decided to exit but Mary stopped him.
"Bash, before you go," She started, her heart still beating rapidly. "Can you not mention to anyone and just forget what you saw between Francis and me?"
He just looked blankly at her for a moment, as if he doesn't know what she was talking about but then, a smirk appeared on his face.
"Of course," He said and jokingly bowed at her. "Good bye, Mary."
He said her name in a way that Mary never heard her name before. It sounded like music. It was strange. Her name was so simple – so mundane – and yet he managed to say it in a manner that made Mary love her name.
At dinner, Mary could only focus on her plate. The events of the day were still replaying through her mind. She was trying to make sense of it all. She glanced at the empty chair beside her and wondered where her brother was.
"Anything wrong?" Francis asked her, she looked up and saw the look of concern visible in his eyes.
"Everything's fine," She lied with a smile. "I was just wondering where Jem is."
"Oh, you weren't informed?" Henry asked at the head of the table.
"Informed of what?" She questioned. All of them turned to Henry, including Bash, who was awfully quiet.
"Your father has decided to extend your stay here," He answered and both Mary and Catherine looked surprised and angry with the information. "It's for us to further discuss this project development."
Mary wanted to scream but it was Catherine who beat her to it.
"Why?" She asked in slight anger. It was obvious that she was just controlling it. "I thought that deal was already made!"
"Catherine!" Henry called, controlling his wife was impossible. "We're not going to discuss your dislike of guest in our home, in front of one."
Catherine looked at Henry for a second before turning to Mary with an annoyed look.
"Your brother is handling your Visa's extension." Henry stated.
Mary just nodded and tried to eat her food again. Dinner alone with the Valois was awful.
Mary walked into her room with a huff of frustration. She wanted to get away from France and the Valois's but it looked like she was staying and she hated it.
She flopped down on the bed, pondering on how she could convince her father that she needed to go back to Scotland.
She turned to look at her side and saw the folder that Bash had gave her earlier. She picked it up and started reading the documents as soon as she opened them.
As she read, she got more and more angry. It were documents about the business deal and how when Mary and Francis are married, the Stuart enterprise was going to be given to the Valois cooperation. This wasn't an emerging of companies. This was a takeover.
Her father was going to hand over their company to the Valois's and Mary was just a piece in their game. Did Francis know about this? Did Jem?
"Come on, brother." Bash said, entering Francis's room. "You promised me a night out of drinking if I have dinner with Catherine."
"I can't, I'm sorry." Francis said, he sat behind his large desk and continued to read some legal documents and plans for the Santorini resort. "Change of plans. Father needs me to review these documents for tomorrow's meeting. A meeting, that if I recall correctly, you're involved in."
He looked up at Bash.
"Yes, but come now." Bash tried to urge. "A couple of rounds then we'll be back."
"Not in the mood, Bash," Francis said, looking back down at the papers.
Bash smirked, "You were earlier." That made Francis look back up at his brother. "With Mary."
"Get out!" Francis said, he wasn't angry but he needed to focus on what his father was making him do. And not on Mary! The sooner the deal was signed and sealed, the sooner he could go back to Santorini. If his father allow him.
"Okay, okay," Bash put his hands up in the air, in surrender. "I'm sorry but I think you should talk to her. I think she needs someone to talk to."
"Why do you say that?" He asked but Bash just smiled and walked back out of the room.
Bastard!
The next morning, while Mary was getting ready for the day, a knock on her door, made her stop in her tracks.
'No, keep calm. It's probably just Jem.' She couched herself. 'You need to talk to Jem.'
"Come in," She said, thinking it was her brother. She looked back at the mirror and continued to put on her earrings.
She saw Franc's from her peripheral vision, her breath stopped in her lungs. She didn't want to talk to him right now. She was still arranging her thoughts of what she found out last night.
"Mary, can we talk?" Francis begun.
"Francis, listen. I'm willing to marry you for our family and companies but please know one thing," She paused and took a deep breath. "I don't love you and I don't think I can ever will again, not after what you did to me but I am willing to give this – give us a chance. Because, you are correct. I owe it to my family." Mary said, avoiding his stare.
"But what about last night?" Francis asked, hurt and confusion obvious in his voice.
"Last night meant nothing," She answered. Lie. It meant everything, but she couldn't show him that.
It was funny how one day, you wake up feeling deeply in love. The next, your heart is broken into pieces.
That was how Francis felt when Mary said those words.
AN/Hello
I think it's safe to say that I'm a lazy person when it comes to proof reading my work.
If anyone wants to be my beta reading, I'm all for that.
Any volunteers?
Also, I go back to school tomorrow, meaning my updating schedule will be a bit hazy.
SNEAK PEEK: "How's Aylee?" Francis asked, trying to make conversation with her. "Still sickly as ever?"
It was a joke but by the way Mary looked, it seemed like he struck a nerve.
"She has cancer, Francis" Mary replied and Francis suddenly wanted to staple his mouth shut.
Anyways, review!
Please. They make me happy.
For any suggestions or questions just PM me.
