Chapter 25

The next morning, I wake up to nerves, uncertainty, and regret. Regret that I let Julian push me into doing this and that I didn’t ask more questions before today.

I text him again asking what I can expect. He still hasn’t answered my question from when I asked him yesterday. When he still hasn’t answered by the time I get out of the shower, I call him instead. He answers on the second ring.

“What is this ceremony about?” I ask. “What is going to happen today.”

“Don’t worry about it, baby.” He answers nonchalantly. “It’s just some old dumb tradition. You don’t have to do anything. You’ll be fine. Hey, I have to go, but I’ll see you later.”

That doesn’t answer my question, but I don’t get a chance to tell him that before he hangs up. I groan with frustration and toss my phone on the bed.

Maybe the power of the internet can help me. Grace won’t be up for a little while, so I take the opportunity to do a quick search. I remember it’s called an Heir Ceremony, so I start scrolling.

The power of the internet gives me a lot of search results. Heir Ceremonies are apparently something that exist in a lot of different cultures and countries. It shows me different names for them and various traditions, but nothing quite fits. I can’t find anything about something in this country.

By the time I need to go get Grace up, I’ve decided the internet has failed me and hope that someone else can give me some more information.

Grace is already up and dressed by the time I get to her room. I take the brush and start braiding her hair when I think to ask, “Grace, do you know what the Heir Ceremony is?”

She nods excitedly, which does nothing to help the neatness of her braid. “I asked daddy about it once. He told me it’s something where important families come together to honor traditions and that I’ll get to go when I’m older.”

“Did he say anything else?” I ask hopefully.

She shakes her head. “Nope!”

Figures.

The day drags on. We don’t leave for the ceremony until late afternoon, so I have a full day to struggle against my growing anxiety. Occasionally, when Grace is busy, I pull out my phone and try a new internet search. I have no luck.

I text Erica and she helps to search too. She also comes up with nothing.

What has Julian dragged me into?

By the time I need to get ready, my stomach is in knots and I’m feeling nauseous. At this point, if texted Julian to tell him I’m too sick to go, it wouldn’t be a lie. Except I would feel like a coward and Adrian already got my dress. It would be a shame not to wear it.

I put the dress on, fix my makeup, and start in on my mess of hair. The dress is just as lovely as the first time I tried it on. I may be nervous, but at least I look good. If only my hair would cooperate.

I wrap a strand around my curling iron and spray the hairspray, begging the curl to stick. Instead, the strand gets caught around the iron. I struggle to get it loose when my finger touches the hot iron and a loud frustrated curse escapes my mouth.

I toss the iron in the sink and let out an angry groan that could morph into a scream if I didn’t have the self-control to stifle it.

“What is going on in here?” An indignant female voice asks coldly from my room.

I poke my head out to see Susan, hands on her hips, and a scowl on her face. I really don’t have the energy for her at the moment.

“What’s going on is that I’m getting ready for a ceremony I know nothing about and my hair has decided to be a rat’s nest. That’s what’s going one!” I snap.

Her scowl deepens and I feel a little guilty. “I’m sorry.” I say. “I’m just frustrated. My boyfriend won’t tell me anything and I feel a little lost and unprepared.”

Her face softens a little and she shoos me with her hands back into the bathroom. I’m more than a little surprised when she orders me to the chair and picks up the curling iron and my brush.

Susan has been nothing but cold and a little rude to me from the moment I walked through the door. I half expect her to start burning my hair off with the iron, but she gently brushes out the knots and starts styling my locks into a soft curl.

“Thank you.” I say softly as she continues to work.

“When you first came here, I thought you were just another silly girl with fantasies about seducing the boss. I care about this family a great deal. I have worked in this house my entire life and I hate to see Adrian or anyone in his family hurt or used.” She says. Her voice still holds that no-nonsense tone, but I’m beginning to think that’s just her voice.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.” I say.

“I know.” She answers. “I’ve seen how you are with Grace. You care about her, and she has started to come out of her shell. She loves you and trusts you.”

She isn’t apologizing, but I realize this is as close as it will come to it. The housekeeping is making a peace offering. I reach out to take it. I could use a friend in this place.

“Do you know anything about this ceremony?” I ask.

“Julian should have told you about it.” She sighs heavily. “I don’t know much. Just stay close to Adrian and you’ll be alright.”

I notice she doesn’t say anything about staying with Julian and I don’t have the heart to ask.

Once she is finished, I look in the mirror and smile. I have never seen myself like this before. The dress is gorgeous, and I feel as beautiful as I know I look. I’ve never felt more confident. I thank Susan again and she waves me off and tells me to go before they leave without me.

As I make my way down the stairs, I see Julian and Adrian standing at the door. Both are in black tuxes. Julian looks handsome, but the tux looks out of place on him. Like it’s wearing him and not the other way around.

He looks up at me and smiles. As I get to the bottom of the stairs, he places a hurried kiss on my cheek and checks the time on his phone. “Ready to go? Or do you need another half hour to fuss with your hair?” he laughs and I roll my eyes.

“I’m ready.” I sigh.

I glance at Adrian. If Julian looks out of place in his tux, Adrian is his complete opposite. He fills the garments with distinguished ownership. It fits him in every possible way so perfectly, it was as though whoever created the tuxedo, did it with him in mind.

My cheeks flush as I realize he’s looking at me. His eyes seem heated and intense, but he just gives me a gentlemanly gesture to proceed before him out the door. Julian heads out ahead of me toward the car.

Once inside, Julian sits across from me in the limo. Adrian sits on the bench next to me. Julian immediately opens his phone and puts in a headphone, content to listen to rock music all the way there.

I turn to Adrian. “Can I ask, what is this ceremony? What will happen there?”

He turns a confused look to me. “Did Julian not tell you anything?”

I glance at his son guiltily and then shake my head. “No, not much.” I confess.

He sighs. “Some of the families with our similar backgrounds will gather and publicly announce our intended heirs. It’s simple and you will be expected to do nothing but observe. I just acknowledge Julian as my heir another family or two will do the same, then we are done.”

I sigh in relief. The information I have been needing all day finally grants me the ability to breathe. “Thank you.” I say to him.

“You look beautiful.” He says quietly and my heart beats a little faster to hear him say it. “Just stay close to Julian or me and you will be just fine.”