Page 60 of Bittersweet Legacy

“He’s my brother, and it is an important event in my life, he has every right to be here.” Caleb stood straighter “I wanted him here. He belongs here, just as much as you do.”

As Caleb and his father entered into their subdued argument and his mother was talking with Theo with clear pleasure I slipped away, hoping to find Taylor and spend a little bit of time with my friend.

I moved around and changed my mind when I noticed Mike now standing in the great hall.

“I thought you were his brother.” I accused, joining him in the hall.

“And I thought you were ‘just Esme’,” he replied, matching my tone.

“That’s who I was before. That’s who I’m working on getting back to being. You had weeks to tell me.”

He shrugged again. “I’m Theo’s assistant therapist – I have been for about two years. I do care for him very much and I’m not to share patient’s names, you’ve got to understand.”

I nodded. I did understand, it just took me by surprise. I turned my head and frowned when I noticed Antoine slip into the cloakroom.

“Mike, would you excuse me?”

He nodded and I walked as silently as I could with my stilettos clacking on the marble floor.

I looked around before going into the cloakroom myself. I didn’t need to be found in a compromising position with the biggest flirt in town.

I gaped at the illicit scene happening in between the racks, Antoine was kissing someone with so much passion, it made me blush.

He broke the kiss and turned toward me, paling as soon as his eyes connected with mine and I noticed the young flustered waiter against the wall.

He wiped his glistering lips with the back of his hand. “Esmeralda it’s not-” He stopped, there wasn’t much he could have denied – this was not the kind of kiss you shared with anyone other than someone you desired deeply.

I came into the cloakroom to find secrets and I found a deadly one – one I could probably use to get anything I wanted.

But no matter what, it wasn’t something I would use, ever. I would not sink that low. I would not become them.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, turning around briskly exiting the room.

“Esmeralda, wait!” he called after me.

I kept on going as fast as I could in those damned heels.

“Esmeralda please,” he huffed ,catching my wrist, nudging me to a stop.

I turned around, wide eyed still reeling from what I’d discovered and looked at his worried face.

“Please,” he begged, pulling me further down the corridor.

“I won’t tell anyone Antoine, I swear.” I whispered trying to calm him. “I would never –”

He sighed with relief looking heavenward. “It’s complicated.”

I smiled kindly resting my hand on his arm. “It really isn’t, you can’t choose who you love.”

He smiled back but there was so much sadness in his smile, it almost broke my heart. “Not in our world Esmeralda, not in the life we lead.”

“But,” I looked toward the ballroom. “I thought your father had the reputation of being more open minded.”

He laughed, but it lacked humor. “Compared to Astor and Forbes, yes he does, but it’s a pretty low threshold. My father suspects,” he admitted. “Where your father would have sent me into one of those torture rehabilitation camps without a second thought, my father said what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors. It’s his way to say I can love whoever I want as long as it is a secret to the world.”

“Is he expecting you to get married?”

Antoine rubbed his jaw and nodded. “And to produce an heir.”

---