Breaking Beauty: A Second Chance Romance

by Stella Andrews

“No thanks.”

  “What do you mean, no thanks, how dare you disrespect your father’s memory by coming here dressed as a…”

  “Whore?” I finish her sentence and relish the way her eyes flash as she hisses, “Yes, a whore. Now go and change at once before I do something I regret.”

  “Nothing changes then.”

  She steps back as if my words strike a physical blow. Then I watch her regain her composure as she always does and pulls herself up, snarling, “Don’t be facetious. Now do as I say and change. Martha will help you and make sure you are dressed accordingly. You have five minutes so don’t dawdle.”

  She spins on her heels and heads back the way she came and I poke my tongue out at her childishly. I sense Martha’s disapproval and sigh inside. “I’m sorry, Martha, she always brings out the worst in me.”

  I detect a glimmer of amusement in Martha’s eyes as she says gently, “Come, I’ll help you find something.”

  Shaking my head, I make to follow my mother, “No thanks, I’m fine as I am.”

  I hear her sighing as I walk away and feel a little bad for her. I know I’m being rebellious which is totally the opposite of what I was growing up but I don’t care. If my family don’t like Angel then I don’t like them - period.

  Making sure to fling the door open for maximum effect, I saunter into the room and note with interest the select gathering milling around talking in hushed voices. I try not to giggle at my mom’s furious expression and lean down, grabbing a glass of champagne as I pass. There’s an awkward silence in the room as the people around me struggle to know what to do in the circumstances, so I look around and beam, “Hi everyone, fancy seeing you here.”

  My mom makes toward me but I turn and walk slap bang into a broad chest and the familiar scent almost makes me pass out on the spot. Two strong arms catch hold of my arms and as I feel the familiar grip, my legs turn to jelly and all my earlier bravado evaporates in a heartbeat. Time stands still as the past returns to collect its baggage. The world fades away as I am transported back in time to a place where I felt loved and cherished. It was an exciting time full of hope and enthusiasm that was shattered in a heartbeat one fateful night.

  Pulling back, I lift my eyes and stare into the deep velvet pools of my own weakness. “Hello Angelica.”

  “It’s Angel now.”

  Pulling back, I try to create distance between us but Sebastian doesn’t appear keen to oblige as he keeps me locked in his arms. It feels a little awkward because I can feel the tension in the room as the people in it watch with interest, until a sharp voice cuts in, “Look at the state of you, really Angelica, what happened to you, you look like a…”

  “Whore, yes, I’ve already heard that one, sis, you’ll need to be a little more original in your choice of words.”

  Sebastian’s arms fall to his side and I gasp for air. Anastasia stands by his side looking so furious it makes me giggle and she hisses, “Do you think this is funny? For god’s sake, show some respect. You may not be but the rest of us are grieving and this is not the time or place to make it all about you as you usually do.”

  I stare at her in surprise but before I can even answer my mother says loudly, “Now we’re all here, we need to take our seats in Harvey’s den.” Her voice falters as she brushes an imaginary tear away and I watch in disbelief as Mr. Featherstone takes her arm and helps her from the room. Anastasia grabs hold of Sebastian’s arm and says in a sickly-sweet voice, “Come, darling, I’ll need your support because this is sure to be extremely upsetting.”

  Seeing her hand on him, twists the knife once again and I swallow hard. Not daring to look at them, I turn away and follow the small gathering into my father’s den and once again the stench of the man himself comes back to bite me. Mr. Featherstone is sitting behind the huge antique desk and there are various seats set out around the room. My mother’s sitting at the front and she looks around and calls Anastasia forward to take the seat beside her. She half turns toward me, so I quickly take a seat in the furthest corner away from all of them and try to blend into the shadows. I note that Sebastian makes no move to sit beside Anastasia, much to her annoyance and sits across the room in my direct line of vision. He doesn’t shift his eyes from me and I shrink under the intensity of his dark gaze. Yes, there is unfinished business between us and far from being put off back at the cabin, he obviously appears keen to have his say.

  However, that will have to wait because Mr. Featherstone clears his throat and silence takes up residence while we all wait to hear the final will and testament of a monster.

  10

  Sebastian

  I should never have come. I almost backed out several times over the weekend but only the thought of seeing her again kept me going. Anastasia was angry that I left the funeral but I couldn’t care less what she thinks. I still can’t believe she’s still intent on going through with this engagement. It is and always was, a complete sham. As soon as we announced it to the world, my life ended. I had my reasons for agreeing to something I never had any intention of following through and I paid the highest price for my own principles.

  Seeing Angelica today has changed nothing and yet everything. When she stumbled into my arms, a bolt of longing surged through me and I held on tight. She’s mine and always has been. I longed to pull her close and lose myself in heaven. She always smelled amazing and still does. Those beautiful blue eyes that I used to drown in, looked at me with five years of hurt and betrayal reflected in them. Her bottom lip trembled, and it took all my strength not to take it with mine and taste the perfection that makes all other women seem second best. I saw the fire in her eyes and pictured her astride me using that passion for a different kind of battle and I wanted to sweep her in my arms and run off into the sunset with her like I should have done all those years ago. Now she’s sitting a few feet away and my mind is fucked. I can’t concentrate on anything but her and if I’m here for anyone - it’s her.

  “Excuse me, may I have your attention.”

  I hear the nervous voice of the attorney and my attention focuses on what he’s about to say.

  “Thank you for coming and may I begin by extending my sympathies to you all. Harvey Johnson was an impressive man and well respected by all who knew him.”

  There’s a gentle murmur of agreement and one incredibly loud yawn. Trying to stifle my grin, I see Angelica examining her nails with her legs crossed revealing the longest legs I have ever seen and I feel the lust making it uncomfortable to sit still, as the blood rushes to the part of me that has always made me hers. I see the irritable look her mother throws her and Anastasia shakes her head disapprovingly.

  “Um… yes, well… shall we begin?”

  He looks around for some kind of permission before shuffling some papers on the desk and clearing his throat.

  “Ok, there are many parts to this will and the people gathered here stand to inherit some part of his estate. I think it may be best to start with a letter he wrote that sets things out in its most simplistic form and then we can expand on the detail once the news sinks in.”

  He coughs again and takes a sip of water and then adopts a look of resignation before saying. “So, it appears that I’m dead.”

  Mrs Johnson sobs and yet the rest of the room is silent.

  “Um… anyway, well, I would have liked to see what freeloaders turned up to hear what I left them but it was not to be. Firstly, I would like to thank my wife for thirty years of boredom.”

  There’s a collective gasp as all eyes turn to the woman herself and Mr. Featherstone says apologetically, “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Johnson.”

  “It’s fine, just read the letter.”

  Her voice is tight and bitter and I watch with fascination as the grieving widow mask slips a little. “Um… well, to my greedy, grasping, bitch of a wife, I leave the house and everything in it. She can continue to sponge off me in death as she did all my life. Her income will come from a percentage of the profits from Johnson plastics
, which should keep her in the style to which she has become accustomed to. Then there are my two daughters, Angelica and Anastasia. Two further disappointments that were my cross to bear.”

  I look across at Angelica and see the fury in her eyes and feel like sprinting across and wrapping her in my arms to keep the cruel words from hurting her. However, she looks down and I see her digging her nails into her palms as she waits for the rest. Anastasia meanwhile, has started wailing like a banshee which only makes me irritated until her mother says sharply, “Pull yourself together.”

  Once again, Mr. Featherstone clears his throat and continues. “I never wanted girls but obviously never had a choice. Two weak minded little dolls who resembled their mother in wanting everything handed to them on a plate. Well, not on my watch girls and so this is what I have for you. Anastasia you get nothing, of worth, anyway. Like your mother your inheritance is directly linked to the company and you will receive a small share of the profits each year. Maybe one day that idiot of a fiancé will actually make an honest woman of you but I can’t really blame him for stalling.”

  I feel the rage burning up inside as I think of the man who wrote those words. The vile creature who orchestrated my downfall to suit his own agenda and is now labeling me weak for agreeing to it. I make a fist and wish he was still alive so I could end his life myself but I know he has had the last laugh, in this case, anyway. “And to my absent daughter Angelica, I leave…” Mr. Featherstone looks up and finds Angelica before saying kindly, “I um… leave… my company.”

  The room falls silent as all eyes turn in her direction and I see the shock in her eyes as she gasps, “What the fuck?”

  “Angelica, language!”

  Her mother looks absolutely ruined but it’s nowhere near as shocked as Anastasia looks. “You have got to be kidding me… her… why?”

  Angelica sits like a statue as Mr. Featherstone says firmly, “Let me finish. Yes, that’s surprised you, hasn’t it? Well, in the absence of actually having someone worth leaving the only thing I really love to, she is the best option. However, Angelica ran out on this family and may not even be listening to this little speech. She has thirty days to claim this inheritance and take her seat on the board, or it falls to her sister. Yes, I’m just glad I’m dead already because the thought of my youngest daughter getting her greedy hands on the family business would kill me all over again.”

  Mr. Featherstone looks up and I can tell he is hating every minute of this as he says softly, “There are many bequests and codicils to the will that I will discuss when you are ready but the bulk of the fortune falls to Angelica.”

  He looks at her and says gently, “Maybe if you wait behind, we can discuss this in finer detail after the rest is announced. It must be a lot to take in.”

  I can tell she is struggling and yearn to make everything better for her but she has the look of someone who wouldn’t welcome it as she stares at the attorney with a defiant look and says loudly, “No need. If you don’t mind, I’ll leave you all to hear the rest because I’ve heard enough. I need some air and so maybe you can forward me the details and I’ll study them in private.”

  She fiddles in her purse and pulls out a business card and standing up, heads across the room and hands it to the surprised attorney. Then, without even looking at her family, she walks from the room with a straight back and a bravery that makes my heart swell.

  Her mom turns back to Mr. Featherstone and says tightly, “Finish it.”

  As he starts to speak, I slip out of the room. Nobody sees me go and I only have one aim in mind. Find Angelica and check she’s ok. The rest can wait because if I know her, her world has just been turned upside down and she won’t know what to do about it.

  The door slams as I make my way into the hallway and I see Martha looking after her seemingly upset. I don’t stop to ask and just head after her and see her racing toward her truck. As she reaches for the door, I place my hand over hers. “Angelica. Stop.”

  Spinning around, she says angrily, “It’s fucking Angel, you idiot. Angelica died when her heart was ripped from her by a man who should have been better. A man she trusted and thought was everything. As it turns out that man was just like all the rest and a total dipshit.”

  “A dipshit?”

  “Yes, a fucking dipshit, and I’m looking at him now.”

  She puts her hands on her hips and yells, “What I don’t understand is why you’re out here at all. I mean, the woman you are supposed to be madly in love with is sitting inside probably wondering where her devoted boyfriend is. Instead, you’re out here chasing after someone who forgot you five years ago because you are a fucking dipshit who she can’t stand the mere mention of.”

  Despite everything I want to laugh and she knows it because she tosses her hair back and says ominously, “You’re a jerk, Sebastian and everyone knows it. Now fuck off back to your bad choice in life and leave me to get on with mine.”

  “No!”

  “No - are you serious?”

  “Shut the fuck up, Angel and listen to me, or so help me I’ll put you over my knee and spank you out here in broad daylight.”

  My words have the desired effect because just for a second she is speechless. Then she leans forward and sneers, “I’d like to see you fucking try.”

  With a quick flick of my wrist, I pull her toward me and then to my surprise she catches me with a move that shows she’s learned a thing or two and frees herself and pushes me hard with a force that shows the strength of the woman as she snarls, “How dare you lay your unwelcome hands on me. Don’t you ever touch me again because then I will have to kill you.”

  “Kill me, you’re such a drama queen.”

  “A drama queen, am I? Well, let me tell you, I don’t take kindly to men forcing themselves on me so be warned. Keep your distance and I may spare you. Touch me again and I’ll break your fucking arm, followed by your legs and finish with your neck, got it?”

  I feel the tension between us that she is trying hard to disguise with words and as she catches her breath, I reach out and push her hard against the truck and fisting her hair in my hands, I punish her bold filthy mouth with mine and do what I’ve been aching to do for five, long torturous years - lose myself and all my principles for just one stolen kiss with the woman I love.

  I almost think I’ve achieved the impossible and reversed time as we share a kiss. Not the first and definitely not the last if I get my way. Then, without any forewarning, I find myself falling to the ground clutching my balls as she delivers a knockout punch that steals the breath from my body. The pain clouds my mind as she breaks away and slams the door on me before reversing off in a hail of gravel, leaving me gasping for air.

  By the time the pain subsides she’s gone and all that’s left is the realization I am ruined forever because despite what happened next, that kiss reinforced everything I’ve known since she left. I love her and always have and now it’s up to me to make things right if I stand a chance of winning her back.

  11

  Angel

  I called him a dipshit. Great, way to go Angel, of all the things I could have said, I called him a dipshit.

  Groaning, I punch the steering wheel and raise my finger at the man who dared sound his horn as I pull out on him. Dipshit. For fuck’s sake.

  Strangely that’s all I can focus on as I drive, trying to create as much distance as possible between us and my fingers fly to my lips to touch the place where his fell. We kissed. I can’t believe we shared a kiss after all these years.

  I feel so angry with myself for loving every second of it and hate the weakest part of me that wanted more. Then I despise the woman in me who wasn’t content to stop there. I wanted him so badly I could have forgiven him the pain he inflicted on me just for a few moments of something so intoxicating it makes me an addict desperate for their next fix. Sebastian Stone is my preferred drug of choice and it will kill me in the end. I know that, which is what made me run. I can’t let him inside
my head, never again. It will finish me off forever but we kissed, and it felt as if I was where I belonged.

  The tears start to fall as I feel the loss all over again. How could he have done what he did and choose my sister over me? As betrayals go, it was the ultimate one and now I’m right back where we started because I still want him. Hell, I crave him like the oxygen I need to survive. I close my eyes and see him. I always have and in a moment of weakness I let him inside my head again. Now’s who the dipshit?

  It’s funny how he’s the first thing I think of after the knockout punch my father delivered. The air leaves my lungs as the words of his will sink in. The company - he left it to me. Why would he do that? I can’t believe it because I don’t know the first thing about it. What do I do? Take him up on his kind offer, or let my hated sister take charge and watch our inheritance disappear along with the company inside a year. Should I just let her have it along with him while I walk away leaving them to a happy ever after? It may be for the best because staying would only set me on their path on a daily basis.

  My mind shifts back to that kiss and the tears splash onto the steering wheel as I think about what I’ve lost. We were so happy and so in love which is why it doesn’t make sense. He chose her.

  Wiping my tears away with the back of my hand, I struggle to make sense of my thoughts. I need to decide quickly though because this is one of those forks in the road that has consequences.

  The attorney’s words echo around my brain as I think about what they mean. Thirty days to make an important decision and emotion needs to be discarded in favor of hard facts. Can I do this, can I really take charge of a company I know nothing about? Knowing my father, he’s left nothing to chance and there is more to this than meets the eye.

  I think I must drive around for hours because the day soon turns to night. As I turn onto the dusty track that leads to the cabin, I feel tired, weary and hungry. Maybe sleep is the answer and when I wake up everything will make sense. I certainly hope so because I don’t know what on earth to do next and have nobody to ask? I could make a call and run it through with my new family. Ryder would know what to do and it’s tempting. However, I rely on the Reapers way too much already and I need to prove my self-worth and make this decision based on what I want, not what’s the right thing to do. Can I walk away? I already know the answer to that before my head hits the pillow.