Chapter 7 The engagement

Chapter 7

PRESENT DAY

Emma stood looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her dress was dazzling but it wasn't something she would have picked herself if at all she was given the opportunity. It was a bit too much or maybe it was just her nerves speaking. Her engagement dress was sleeveless and had a floral lace design. It held her bust but spread from the waist down, sweeping the floor. The designer really took floor length to another level.

Emma still wondered if she was making the right decision. She had doubts that this wasn't the best decision she could make. What if after everything, she loses her child and her mother? She looked outside the window. The weather looked dreary but even at that, she heard chatting and rejoicing from the guests. The hotel in which they were holding the engagement party happened to be one of the Templeton's hotels. It was one Emma had put in enough hard work to make it become what it was, now. She took in the dreary weather. Even the weather wasn't on her side so what if she was actually making a mistake this time? Should she run? It's not like anybody would actually notice if she ran away now.....well that was an understatement. Godson would notice and so will Hugo although she was sure Hugo will move on very quickly but not her cousin. Godson was out for blood and he would take anything from her. A knock sounded at the door making Emma snap from her thoughts.

She adjusted herself and tried to look every bit the happy bride she was supposed to be.

"Come in." She called out.

Godson walked in with a smile on his face.

"How is the bride feeling?" He asked her.

"What do you want?" She asked him icily.

"Now, that's not a nice way to talk to your cousin right?" He asked her.

"I don't really care. What do you want?" She asked him again.

"Nothing much. I'm just here to ensure you don't think about backing out of this. Our grandfather wouldn't like that." He said to her with a smile.

"I already gave you my word. I'm going ahead with it." She said to him,

"Well, I'm not so sure. I saw you staring outside the window when I walked in and just to clarify, how exactly did you think you would get out of here?" He asked her.

"I never said I was...."

"You did not plan on running away without any plans right? No vehicle? Don't tell me" he said with a gasp.

"I....."

"You planned on running barefoot? You would skip and fall and then maybe kill your baby. Is that what you really want?" He asked her with a smirk.

Emma leveled him with a hard look. If looks could kill, then Godson would probably be six feet below. That was just how irritated Emma was.

"Get out." She said to him through gritted teeth.

"You can't...."

"Get the fuck out or I call off this engagement and place a the blame on you. You and I both know how much grandfather wants this to go on." She said to him,

"I'll leave but don't think your threat did anything. Grandfather trusts me not to fuck up and just some few words from a nobody and lowlife like you would do absolutely nothing to make me hated by him." He said to her as he adjusted his suit and walked out of the room.

Emma breathed out a sigh of relief once he was out of sight. She knew that threat actually did nothing to her vision but it was worth the effort. There was no way she could escape from this, especially not this way. Her life wasn't just hers anymore. She was living for both herself and someone else.

The door opened and Lydia walked in. Emma smiled. At least there was one person she trusted in this den of lions.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Lydia asked as she approached her.

"I'm nervous. I'm also scared this may be the worst decision of my life. What if...."

"Stop that. You've made the decision, there is no use in turning back now and besides, don't think you are doing this alone. I'm going to be with you every step of the way." Lydia said to her.

"Thank you. I appreciate that." Emma said gratefully.

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Kevin: You really went to the engagement party?

Benji: What engagement party?

Kevin: Emma Templeton. We were talking about this the other day.

Benji: Oh, it slipped my mind. But Brandon, what the fuck are you doing at the party?

Alec: Because he is in love with Godson. He just doesn't want to tell us.

Brandon: Oh my god.

Carson: Seriously? We've been mates for years and even had that dinner just some few nights ago and you never said anything?

Kevin: I had no idea my brother was gay and we shared the same womb.

Brandon: Wtf?

Benji: You could have done better though. Godson really isn't that good looking.

Alec: Yeah. Benji is more handsome than he is. * GIF of Benji checking himself out in a mirror.*

Carson: Oh my god. *Laughing emoji*

Kevin: Benji looks hot.

Brandon: Sexy even. I like his type more.*kissing emoji*

Benji: Right? Come back over here and let's get to bed. * Wink emoji.*

Carson: Do not break the bed, you two.

Kevin: ......

Alec: My new fantasy.

Kevin: Do not dream of my brother and his friend when you are getting off with your hand.

Alec: But it will be so hot.

Carson: Benji doing the kabadam!

Benji: And Brandon begging me to stop in his small tiny voice.

Kevin: Um guys, I feel like we are deviating right now. I really don't want to imagine one of my best friends doing the kabadam though.

Benji: Ask Brandon if he is against it.

Brandon: Definitely not. I think I'll be cute.

Alec: Of course you will. Girls dig this stuff. I should write a manga about it.

Carson: About your fantasy being about your two best friends fucking each other?

Benji: The book will not sell. Not one bit.

Alec: What? I think it will.

Carson: It wouldn't although the part about you having off may sell.

Benji: I'm with Carson on this.

Brandon: Hold up. How did my attending an engagement party turn into Alec writing a book about me and Benji?

Benji: True. Back to you. Why the fuck would you attend the engagement party?

Alec: Are there cakes?

Carson: Of course there would be. It's an engagement party hosted by the Templetons.

Brandon: Um guys, I have to go now.

Carson: What? We are not done here.

Kevin: Come back here, Brandon.

Benji: What the actual fuck? He is not replying?

Alec: Maybe he is with Godson now or perhaps Emma. You know how they dislike each other.

Benji: Which is exactly why we don't understand what he is doing there.

Kevin: Speak for yourself.

Benji: Sorry. Which is why I don't understand what he is doing at the party.

Kevin: Now speak for us.

Benji: A GIF of Benji giving him the middle finger.

Brandon smiled and decided it was time to put his phone on silent mode and place it in his pocket. His friends could go on and on with the most ridiculous conversations without stopping a bit.

There was really no reason for Brandon to be here. It's not like he was friends with Hugo but then, Godson had been the one to deliver his invitation and there was no way he could just ignore that. He knew there was a reason why Godson had done that and he really wanted to know what it was. But apart from that, he was also curious about Emma. He had tried calling her but she never replied to any of his calls nor did she answer any of them either.

Brandon took a glass of champagne and hung out at the back of the room. There were various activities going around him. Celebrities trying to suck up to other celebrities. Some of them had tried striking up conversation with him, trying to find out what he was doing at the engagement party while some others blatantly asked him out in the open. Brandon smiled and just told them he could at least show a bit of support and it wasn't like the invitations were restricted. Not all of them bought it but at least most of them gave him space after that. Emma had still not made her entrance but when he heard a sudden change of music, he knew she was making her entrance.

There was something different about Emma. She had always been attractive, that wasn't something new to Brandon but this time, she looked like she was glowing. Maybe she was really happy with her engagement to Hugo although Brandon could hardly imagine her being happy married to a man like him. Hugo stood next to her beaming like someone who had won a trophy and it irked Brandon that he could move around with Emma on his arm when he was literally in bed with some other female a few days ago.