The CEO’ s second choice novel Chapter 15

　　Sebastian

　　I walk out of Elena’s room with my mind in a haze. The girl who I had teased mercilessly for being slightly curvier than her sister, was hiding an absolutely stunning body. The last thing I expected to find was her naked on the other side of that door. Clearly, she was used to being naked in her own room, and now I had invaded her personal space.

　　Walking towards my room, which was down the hall from hers, I internally reprimanded myself again for my stupidity earlier this evening. What had I expected to gain today from having sex with Sarah? She was easy and willing, but did I really want to keep the affair going?

　　When I saw Elena’s face through the doorway, the hurt displayed there mirrored my own from long ago. Instead of bursting in and acting like the firecracker that she was, she simply closed the door and walked away. Any trace of lust I felt had evaporated when I saw the look of betrayal in her eyes, and I immediately stopped what I was doing with Sarah.

　　Elena was right, I had disrespected and insulted her on her wedding day. Even though it was not a real wedding to either of us, what I did was still wrong. If this marriage was to work, I would need to put in the work as well.

　　I never would have thought that I would end up with Elena, of all people. I am sure she doesn’t remember me from all those years ago, but I remember her as clear as day. It was Social Season about 3 years ago, and my mother had forced me to attend some or other masked ball for charity. I had just turned 20 years old at the time and was not interested in the social circles, but my mother advised me to attend as a Dumont representative.

　　I was standing at the hors d’oeuvre table, fixing myself a glass of champagne, when I spotted the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. Soft brown curls framed her heart-shaped face, bright blue eyes and a gorgeous set of lips I immediately wanted to kiss. She looked to be about 18 and had taken her mask off for some or other reason and was arguing with her mother. Calling the wearing of masks ‘stupid’ but relenting and attaching it again. This display of rebellion had made me want to get to know her, and when I asked a patron who she was, I was told she was Lady Eliana Wiltshire.

　　Approaching her, I introduced myself as the Dumont representative and noticed her mother had gone pale, then excused herself. The girl named Eliana had a frown on her face at her mother’s reaction but proceeded to talk to me, anyway. I asked her if she would like to walk with me and she obliged so I held my hand out for her to take and we walked towards the vast gardens.

　　“So, what brings you to this ball if you’re not interested in being here?” I asked her as we rounded the boxwood hedges and walked towards the rose garden. She shrugged, “It is sort of difficult to get out of a social event when it is being held at your estate.” She replied with a giggle and I suddenly felt dumb. Of course, The Wiltshire Charity Ball.

　　“Ah, forgive me. I am not too clued up with the social circles. My work tends to keep me busy.”

　　“Oh? And what do you do?” She had asked, clearly not recognizing me, and for some reason, I preferred that.

　　“I own a few companies in London. We’ve currently broken into the stock markets and are climbing each day. As CEO, things can get quite demanding.” I had told her and noticed the bored expression on her face. “Something the matter?” I asked her with a grin on my face.

　　She had blushed at this, “No, not at all. I just find the business world very boring.” Her hand suddenly flew to her mouth, “Oh! I do apologize, I didn’t mean to insult you and your work!” I said with a chuckle, then took her hand in mine, “Not to worry. I prefer honesty anyway, Lady Wiltshire.”

　　Flashing me an apologetic grin, we continued to walk and made small talk. In those 2 hours spent with her, I had never felt lighter or freer. I could talk to her about anything, and she would reply with a witty retort. She made me laugh as well. No other woman had been able to. Lady Eliana Wiltshire was definitely not your ordinary heiress.

　　When it came time to say goodbye, the both of us seemed to struggle to do so. I told her I would visit her the following weekend, and she accepted my invitation.

　　She was on my mind the whole week that followed, and when I told my mother to set up a meeting with Eliana Wiltshire, she couldn’t have more been happier for me.

　　The day of our meeting came, and I was a ball of nerves. I would get to see her again and it gave me butterflies, strange but true. No other woman had this effect on me before, and I might just be a little infatuated.

　　Arriving at The Wiltshire Estate, my Eliana greeted me at the door, but she acted strangely. She did not seem to know who I was and was confused by my being there. I tried to make a joke as she previously referred to herself as ‘podgy’ and she immediately took offence. Then, as another person descended the stairs, I realized something.

　　Eliana had a twin.

　　During my lunch with Eliana, I was so confused. Who had I met at the charity event?

　　“Were you present at the Wiltshire Charity Ball last weekend?” I had asked her and she shook her head, “Oh, gosh no I wasn’t. I was down with a terrible cold and had my sister, Elena, take my place as the Wiltshire representative. You met her this morning, she welcomed you at the door.”

　　Suddenly I wished that the ground would swallow me whole. I was on a date with the wrong sister, and this one was as boring as watching paint dry. We had nothing in common, nothing at all. There was no connection between us, as there has been between the Wiltshire twin I had met last weekend. Even our food tastes differ.

　　However, my mother wanted this union to work as it would bring about a useful connection for our family. So I had to keep up the pretence of being in love with Eliana for over 3 years and eventually proposed to her.

　　Whenever I would meet Elena, we always argued and fought. There was never a pleasant conversation between the two of us, it was always banter, and I absolutely loved it. Elena still did not realize who I was. I never told her my name at the charity ball and I had kept my mask on.

　　I think Eliana always suspected that my feelings for her were never true, which was why she found solace in my uncle. I must admit that it hurt to find out that she had been cheating on me for so long, but it quite relieved me to finally be rid of her.

　　“Unless we find a replacement.”

　　When my mother uttered those words at the dreaded dinner party, I knew what would happen. They were going to force Elena to take her sister’s place. I had agreed and stormed out, but deep inside, I was secretly happy; I was finally going to be with the twin I had fallen for so long ago.

　　But Elena could not have looked any more disgusted. I knew she fiercely disliked me, but I did not know it was to a depth I could never reach. Seeing her kiss Nicholas Addington in the gardens we walked through had made my blood boil and I had likened her to her cheating sister. But looking back, my ways hadn’t been exactly pure.

　　I had slept with Sarah countless times, even in my office, before Elena unexpectedly showed up. I was already so angry at the rumours flying around and insulting my name, that I pulled her into my office and forced her against the door. Being that close to her had done something to me, and after that stolen kiss, I knew she felt the same way.

　　We ignored one another after that for obvious reasons, but seeing her walk down the aisle had done something to me. I did not want to feel anything for anyone again, not after the Wiltshire twin mix up and Eliana’s betrayal, but Elena was stirring things up inside of me. Feelings of love and admiration got me into a loveless relationship and almost a loveless marriage, I think it’s why I have been keeping the affair with Sarah going. If I can get Elena to hate me, maybe I would start to hate her too. She was essentially the reason I had to court Eliana.

　　That was my mindset until we kissed in the limousine again. She felt the connection as well; I knew she did, and I had just extinguished it when she walked in on Sarah and I.

　　We just needed to keep this charade going for 5 years, then we could go our separate ways and never speak again. But in all honesty, did I want to let Elena go now when I finally had the right Wiltshire twin in my grasp?