Page 11 of Coming Home

It’s Friday, and after waking early, I spend most of the day with Aunt Emily getting ready for the gala. I forgot how much fun it is to go shopping and have a girl’s day out. As I slip on my jewelry (diamonds on loan from Aunt Emily), I stand back and take in my appearance.

It has been so long since I have been dressed up like this that I am actually lost for words. My golden hair is softly curled and runs down my back, long and flowing. My makeup is soft and subtle, but my blue eyes pop with copper and gold eyeshadow and are framed with my lush long natural lashes. My skin is smooth and tanned, such a sun kissed Australian look for a city like Boston. My dress is gold, and it sparkles in the light as I move; I have never felt more beautiful than I do tonight.

It is nights like tonight that I get teary thinking about my family and miss them greatly, but I have mourned for the past year, and although I know I will still think of them daily, and especially on nights like tonight, I do know that they would want me to go on with life and experience everything they can’t.

I pat the corners of my eyes to prevent the tears from spilling over and straighten my spine. Filling my body with the confidence I know I will need to get through the evening.

Uncle Ray and Aunt Emily are already downstairs, but there is a soft tap at the door. I know it is Stephen, ready to take me downstairs to make our grand entrance. Uncle Ray wants me to enter the room on Stephen's arm, so I will be more relaxed. I think the fact that Uncle Ray has a niece that no one knows much about, he wants to make a powerful statement, especially one the important businesspeople of Boston will remember.

While I have changed my name, to prevent people knowing about my horrible history, the family connection will remain. We think it is unlikely anyone will dig deep enough to find out about my family and the media circus that followed, and hopefully, only those we tell will ever truly know the full details.

I open the door. "Whoa, oh my god?" Stephen says as he holds out my arms and admires my appearance. "Scarlett, you are stunning." He is grinning like a cat who caught the canary. "The single men downstairs are going to fall over themselves. Actually, even the married men are going to fall over themselves to get to you tonight." I look at him with worry. "Don't worry, I won’t leave your side, I promise," he replies quickly, knowing that a room full of people all looking at me is my idea of torture.

"Thank you," I breathe out, very relieved to hear him say that. I am slightly nervous, but I am also confident and experienced. I know how to walk into a room and demand attention. I just haven't done it in a while.

Stephen and I make our way down the grand staircase and walk outside to the beautiful, large marquee that has been set up on the tennis courts and surrounds. It looks stunning; the tables are adorned with flowers, fairy lights sparkle around the room, champagne is flowing, no expense has been spared.

As I look around, a hand reaches out to mine. "I thought the fairy lights would be a nice touch for you, my dear. I remember how much you liked them as a child." Uncle Ray is grinning ear to ear as he looks at me. "Scarlett. you look beautiful tonight," he says kissing my hand, "I am so pleased you decided to come to America, and I look forward to introducing you to the who's who of Boston." He looks sternly at Stephen. “Do not leave her side tonight."

Stephen laughs. "I won't," he says with a sly grin, and we both laugh.

Uncle Ray and Aunt Emily start to walk through the crowd, shaking hands and smiling and making small talk. "Ready?" asks Stephen.

"Ready," I reply, feeling like my makeup is my war paint, and my dress is my armor, I take one step in front of the other and start my journey to meet the business moguls of Boston.

We walk into the room, and I am sure I hear gasps, and I begin to feel very self-conscious. I look at Stephen, and he is grinning as he leads me straight to Governor Geoffrey. "Scarlett, my dear, how lovely to see you. Ray told me you were here, and I couldn't miss seeing you again and saying hello. You remember my dear wife, Margaret?" he asks, clutching my hand and looking toward his wife. "Hello, dear," she says wrapping me in a motherly hug. "You look so beautiful tonight."

I have met the Governor and his wife a few times before with my dad and Uncle Ray on one of our trips, so it is nice to see familiar faces. They are the only people in the room tonight who know my true identity. While the police haven’t caught the intruders that killed my family, the police investigation has uncovered that they are paid assassins, and we still don’t know who paid them, so the threat to me is still very real.

The night progresses, and Stephen introduces me to what feels like hundreds of people. However, all through the introductions, I have a weird feeling, like I am being watched. I know that I have security watching me, but this feels different. I ask Stephen if we can take a small break from meeting people, and he leads me to the bar. As we walk over, my eyes scan the room. I can see Frank, my personal bodyguard, he is eyeing me suspiciously, he can no doubt feel my tension. He has been with me long enough now to know my body language, and he is excellent at picking up my moods. I see him work his way closer to the bar, to make sure I know where he is. It eases my mind.

"Hello, Stephen," a voice bellows from behind me. The voice is soothing, and I feel like I have heard it before. I turn around to see who is speaking, and my eyes catch his, and in an instant my legs feel weak as I take in a small breath. It is Shaun Marshall. He is again standing right in front of me, looking extremely handsome, and my knees nearly buckle beneath me at the sight.

"Shaun, great to see you, my friend," Stephen says shaking his hand in the standard business greeting. Shaun looks at me. “Scarlett, nice to see you again," he says as he takes my hand, and he lifts it to his lips and kisses my knuckles like an old-world movie star. I think I am going to faint on the spot.

"Nice to see you, Shaun,” I breath out, totally awestruck by his handsome appearance, in a well-fitted suit. He looks every inch like James Bond and commands the eyes of every female in the room.

“I am surprised to see you two together, I thought you were still dating Amelia, the Italian model?" he asks Stephen. I can't speak, my nerves severing my voice box as I shift from one foot to the other and nervously look at Stephen.

"Ha. Ha. Nothing gets past you, my friend. Scarlett is my cousin. As you know, she has recently arrived here from Australia, and hopefully is going to be with us for a long time to come." Stephen looks at me and glows with pride; he is proud of me, and I smile genuinely back at him.

"Well, Boston is a lovely place, I am certainly feeling right at home already." I finally find my voice and thank god it is strong and confident. Shaun looks at me. It doesn't escape me that he hasn't let go of my hand, nor I, his. Our hands are still connected, hanging by our sides like we are boyfriend and girlfriend back in high school. It is cute and feels natural, except for the dire need in me to run my hands all over his body—my own body heating at the thought.

"Well, Shaun, I need to get Scarlett back out to meet a few more people, but I want to chat to you later about the financials of our project. There are still some things we need to iron out.”

Shaun nods.

"Have your team contact mine, and we will set up a meeting” Shaun replies, and although he is speaking to Stephen, he is looking directly at me as he speaks. The sexual tension is as thick as butter; I think I am going to pass out from heart palpitations, it is beating so fast in my chest. Is this normal, to be feeling this way?

Stephen drags me away and leads me to a quiet corner. He passes me a glass of water. "You okay? I know tonight is a bit intense with all the people."

"I'm okay. Thanks, Stephen, but Shaun is a little intimidating." Stephen laughs. “He is actually a nice guy once you get to know him. His father never got along with dad, so there is a lot of groundwork we need to do, but I firmly believe that working together with Shaun and his business can be prosperous from both us and him, and Shaun sees it too. Dad just won't have anything to do with it, making it hard for us to commit to anything.”

I think through all Stephen has just said for a moment. My feelings for Shaun aside, Uncle Ray is certainly stuck in the old ways in many respects, but he is a ruthless businessman, so he must have his reasons for not wanting to partner with Shaun.

I wonder what they are.

15

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