Until Then : Book 1 - Until Then Series

by Victoria Ashlee

  “This party is a drag.” She rolled her eyes.

  I looked around at the people dancing and talking. “I don’t know, I think everyone is having fun.”

  “Between you and me, these people are too stuffy for my taste.” She stepped forward as the line moved.

  “I might agree with you on that.” I laughed.

  She looked over at me with a side smile. “I love how much you ruffle their feathers.”

  “Who?”

  “The Donahues and Edwards. It’s quite entertaining. Everyone is talking about it.” She said it like it was just normal news that everyone knew.

  It suddenly felt as if everyone’s eyes were on me, but in reality they weren’t. I looked around the room at all the people, and I noticed Jessica heading straight for us.

  The woman ordered her drink, smiled, nodding her head, and then glided off at the presence of Jess.

  “Hi friend.” Jess slid next to me.

  I looked over at her, and then spoke to the bartender. “Seltzer Lime, please.”

  “Not drinking?” She asked, as she picked an olive out of the bowl.

  “You don’t have to be drunk to have fun.” I said dryly, and started to walk away.

  She continued to follow me, “Do you know who you were talking to?”

  “That woman?” I gave her a strange look. “No?”

  “She’s my aunt.” She smiled, and took a sip of her drink. “Let’s just say she’s a very important person in our society. I don’t know if you are really the type she would be rubbing elbows with.” She shrugged her shoulders. “You being low class and all.”

  I looked behind her and saw Stefan walking in our direction. He was the last person I wanted to talk to right now.

  I looked back at Jess, and did a sarcastic curtsey, “Sorry, I don’t think you’re the type of person I’d like to rub elbows with. Me being low class and all.” I smiled, and walked straight toward her aunt who was speaking to a group of people.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our conversation. My apologies.” I said to the woman, the group paused looking at me. My heart was racing, please speak lady.

  “Everyone, this is Sophia Brooks.” She placed her hand on my back, ushering me into the group. Holding her glass in her other hand. “She’s applied to intern for me.” She smiled, and nodded.

  I looked at her slightly confused, and then decided to go with it. “Yes, I am very excited for this opportunity.” I smiled.

  After a few minutes of conversation, she slowly introduced me to everyone in the circle. I came to find out; I was speaking to the Mayor and a senator. I almost dropped my glass when she said who they were. I also found out that her name was Olivia. The men eventually got lost in another conversation, as people kept coming up to greet them. Olivia and I stepped away, watching people dance in circles on the dance floor.

  “You would do well in this world. They loved you.” She said, as she gazed into the crowd.

  “You didn’t tell me you were a Donahue.”

  “Greenberg.” She corrected me. “I’m not too fond of that side of my family.”

  “It just caught me off guard.” I laughed.

  “Have you noticed?” She turned to face me, “What I said earlier?”

  I look at her confused. “Noticed what?”

  “You ruffle their feathers my girl. They can’t take their eyes off you.” She gestured behind her, in the direction of Stefan and Jessica’s parents. “You could bring them down, and you don’t even know it.”

  “I could?”

  She touched my arm, “Yes dear, I will be right back.” She walked off in the opposite direction of Stefan’s family.

  My eyes stayed on his family for a moment. His mother stared back in my direction. Bring them down? I don’t want to bring anyone down. I just wanted to survive tonight. She started making her way through the crowd toward me. I could have bolted, but I decided to hold my ground.

  “Sophia.” She greeted me, placing her drink on the table I was standing at.

  I smiled, “Hi”

  “You look lovely.” She looked out into the crowd.

  “Thank you. Your party is beautiful.”

  She cleared her throat with a small laugh, “Gala, but who pays attention to the details. I’m surprised you came.”

  “I was invited.”

  She paused for a moment, taking a sip of her wine, “Yes, but you came with a different date.”

  “I’m not here to cause any problems.”

  A smile appeared on her face, “Good. That’s what I like to hear.”

  A man with a camera appeared next to us “Picture?”

  Evelyn smiled, and touched my back, “Of course.”

  We both smiled, and I hoped that picture would never see the light of day, for the fear of Evelyn seeing my fakest fake smile.

  “I must go mingle now. Try the escargot. It’s devine.” She left me with a bad taste in my mouth from the thought of snails. Kind of like her personality.

  I continued to watch the people dancing, listening to the music play. My senses honed in on the piano, I could feel my fingers dancing along my glass to the song. Someone's hand touched the back of my arm. I turned to look and I was faced with Stefan. My entire body froze.

  I had been waiting for this moment all week. Here it was, I wasn’t crying, I wasn’t upset. I was just angry. “I don’t want to talk to you.” I snapped, looking away from him.

  “Sophia, let me explain.” He stepped around me, forcing me to face him.

  “You don’t deserve my attention right now.” I set my drink down on the table and walked away from him.

  “Please don’t do this.” He said as he followed me through the crowd.

  I stopped a few steps up the stairs, looking down at him. “I said, I don’t want to talk to you.” I could see each word causing him pain, but I didn’t care.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Sophia

  Stefan continued to follow me up the stairs, and down the hallway. He finally caught up to me, and then took me by the arm, ducking us into a room. He slammed the door behind us. A giant wooden table was in the middle of the room, with a grand piano off to the side. The fireplace had a roaring fire in it at the other end of the room, surrounded by a few sofas.

  “Talk to me.” Stefan pleaded still standing in front of the door.

  I turned around to face him, “You didn’t show up. You left me waiting, without even a call.”

  “My flight was delayed, I got held up at immigration, they took my phone.” He stepped closer to me, placing his hands on my arms. “By the time I landed I had to change in the airport bathroom into a tux that Tim brought me.”

  “You couldn’t call after you got your phone back?”

  His jaw tightened. “By the time I was in the car, you were already on your way here.”

  “How would you know?”

  “Cam told me.”

  Why would Cam not tell me that? He knew how upset I was. Asshole. That’s who he was texting in the limo. I pushed Stefan’s hands off of me, moving away from him toward the piano, and leaned against it.

  “You lied to me.” I said.

  He walked toward the table and sat down in a chair, “I did not lie to you.” He ran his hands over his face.

  “Ok, you kept information from me. You were in London with Jess.” I said sarcastically, “I had to find out from some girls at a party.” I could feel my emotions getting the best of me.

  “I did not go to London with Jessica. I was there with my family, who were meeting with hers. I didn’t know she was coming.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

  I folded my arms across my chest, “You didn’t think to mention it over the phone?”

  “How do you think you would have reacted?” He laughed seemingly annoyed, “A little like this?”

  “I would have been less upset. Plus, I don’t know what you were even doing there in the first place. All I knew was that yo
u were there with her.” My voice broke. “Because, you have made it clear that I am not allowed to know anything that is going on. Including your past!”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Let’s just say the girls were very descriptive in their experiences with you.”

  His face became hard, “That’s not fair. I had a past before you.”

  I waved my hand around, “Apparently, you have a past with everyone. I’m just one of those girls, aren’t I?”

  “Don’t ever compare yourself to them. You are more than that to me.”

  “Then tell me something to make me believe you!”

  He sighed. “You’re going to find this out tonight. So, I’m going to tell you now, even though I didn’t want to do it this way. Because I know you over think everything.” He paused for a moment. “I’m taking my position at my family’s company. That’s why I was there, and why the trip was so abrupt.”

  “You’re doing what?” Shock ran through my voice. “After everything they’ve done?”

  “It’s for you. It’s the only way I can figure a way out of this.” He looked me in the eyes, as if he could see every emotion I had ever felt. His words were so certain. “You are my future.”

  I stared at him, his eyes held mine. I felt safe in this room with him. I wanted to be angry with him, but I wasn’t, because I think he was telling the truth. How does he have this effect on me?

  “Nothing happened with Jess?” I sheepishly asked.

  “Nothing.” He said firmly and stood, stepping toward me.

  “Who was the guy those girls were talking about at that party?” I said quietly. “I don’t know that version of you. It’s why you didn’t want me to go, isn’t it?” I quickly changed the subject, because I knew if he came any closer, I would melt into his arms.

  His face became hard again, “Yes.”

  “It sounded as if you slept with every girl there. How do I compete with that?”

  He stepped closer. “You have no competition. Since I met you, you are all I see. I’m not that guy anymore, not even close.”

  I took in what he said, and for some reason I believed him. It was that easy; even though my mind was telling me not to. He had my heart and I didn’t know how to break away from him.

  “I should have listened to Tristen.” I said.

  “To who?” He snapped.

  I instantly felt uneasy from his reaction, “Tristen. He told me to hear your side of the story.”

  “I don’t know why you went with him that night. He’s a prick.”

  “You don’t get to say that.” I snapped, “I went with him because of you. Because of what you did.”

  “You don’t know him, Sophia.” He said sternly.

  I folded my arms again, looking away, “I didn’t think I knew you that night either.”

  He moved closer, now standing directly in front of me, “I’m sorry.”

  My voice calmed. “All he did was stick up for you. He was even surprised that he was sticking up for you.”

  “We don’t get along, let's just say that.” He rested his hands on my hips.

  “I don’t know your issues with him, but he was kind to me that night.” I said it, knowing he didn’t want to hear it, but I told him anyway because it was true.

  “I don’t want to talk about him.” He closed his eyes, as if it would erase everything that had happened. It won’t change anything. When he opened his eyes again, our gaze lingered as we stood in silence.

  He touched my cheek, “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” I whispered, slowly turning my face into his palm. He ran his fingers across my bottom lip.

  He turned my face gently. Hovering his lips in front of mine. In an instant I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in closer. It was true, I wasn’t wrong, I melted from his touch. I was not my own anymore, I had no control. He glided his hand down my neck, and the surface of my chest. My breathing was deep from every slow movement. He then pressed himself up against me, I could feel the bulge in his pants, and I needed him. Our kiss became more passionate. I knew better, but I don’t always make the best choices. Feeling him was so dangerous, I knew I was captive from the moment his hand grazed mine in the bar that first night.

  As he grew against me, my hands traveled down his arms, making their way to his hips. I took his belt buckle in my hands, he slightly pulled away looking down into my eyes. “I’m going to ruin you my sweet girl, and I don’t want to.”

  It sounded as if he said it as a warning, but I took his words in and at that moment I wanted him to ruin me. “You won’t.” I whispered.

  His eyes were so hungry, as he removed his tux jacket. He picked me up, resting me on the piano keys, causing a loud tune to sound. He pulled my dress up, and my grip on his shirt became tighter. His hands danced along the surface of my thighs, making their way to remove my panties.

  He ran his fingers along my inner lips. A slight whimper released from my mouth, as my head fell back. “Stefan, I need you.” I lifted my head back up to face him, and that was all he needed. A few seconds later his pants and belt dropped. He moved closer bringing me into a kiss. My body shuddered as his body immersed itself with mine. He buried himself in me, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

  He moved his hands under my bum picking me up, and moving me over to the table. He laid me on the surface, his hand slid down my body as I fell back. He started moving back and forth, in and out. I clenched around him, which brought a sensual look over him.

  “I missed how tight you are.” He muttered.

  I whimpered, “Shut up, and fuck me.”

  “My beautiful girl missed my cock too, I see.” He smirked, slamming into me again with such force that I cried out.

  My skin was on fire, my heart was racing. I had reached my highest point, and it was euphoric. As my back relaxed from the arch, Stefan moved his hands placing each one around my legs, as he thrust deeper. A few seconds later, his body tensed and he became the most intoxicating sight. He marked me again in that most personal way, and I was his.

  After he fixed his pants, he took me by the hand helping me sit up. I placed my hands on his chest, “I didn’t expect this night to go like this.”

  He took my hands into his, “I never thought we’d end up fucking in a museum, if that’s what you mean.”

  I laughed, “That too.”

  He helped me off the table, and I straightened out my dress, “People are probably wondering where we went.”

  “Those people aren’t even on my radar.” He said as he fixed his bow tie.

  “Still, we should probably emerge from our um...sex room.”

  He gave me a sly smirk, “If we must.”

  We exited the room, as a few people passed by. I felt as if they knew everything that had just taken place. I turned to Stefan, “I need to go clean up in the bathroom. I can meet you down there.”

  He pulled me into a deep kiss, and then started to walk away. “I will go find Keira and Leo. I haven’t even greeted them yet.”

  I made my way to a nearby bathroom. A bathroom attendant greeted me with the name of Rosie. I smiled at her, and then took in the sight of myself in the mirror. In all honesty I didn’t look that bad, considering. I tucked a few strands of my hair back into the clip. Flashes of the past 30 minutes flushed through my mind as I checked my lipstick which had smudged a little. Stefan does things to me that I've never felt before.

  My attention came back from the sound of a door opening inside the bathroom. Jess appeared next to me, and started to wash her hands. Neither one of us said anything at first, but I could feel her eyes on me in the mirror.

  “You think you’re cute don’t you. It’s never going to work.” She said.

  I looked at her in the mirror, “What are you talking about?”

  She smiled, and snatched a towel out of Rosie’s hands, “You and Stefan, you’re only temporary. He’ll get bored once he gets you out of his system.”


  I studied her, contemplating what my response would be. This girl had been such a bitch from day one, I didn’t care anymore, “That’s funny you say that, because he just took me to climax and back on the piano down the hall.” I continued to check my lipstick in the mirror. Rosie’s eyebrows went sky high.

  Jess stared at me blankly; I clearly caught her off guard. “You can only play dress up for so long, Sophia. I won’t say I’m sorry when you’re brought back down to reality.” She snapped and walked out of the bathroom.

  Relief came over me as she left. I placed my hands on the sink, accompanied by a loud exhaled.

  “Where I'm from we call girls like her la pute.”

  I noticed her strong French accent, “What does that mean?”

  “The Bitch.” She raised one eyebrow at me.

  I covered my mouth, and burst into laughter.

  “Don’t let that girl speak to you like that, you take your man and live life. Forget everyone else.”

  “I’m usually never that rude, but she has had it out for me from the day I moved here.”

  “She is just intimidated. You are so beautiful, look at you.” She gestured to the mirror, standing next to me.

  I looked in the mirror and smiled at her. She squeezed me from the side and I hugged her back. “Thank you.” I told her.

  “You are welcome. Now go have fun.”

  I did one last check in the mirror, and waved to Rosie before exiting the bathroom.

  When I arrived back at the top of the stairs that lead down into the gala, I scanned the room looking for Stefan. There were so many people, and every man was almost dressed in the same damn tux. I walked down the stairs toward the dance floor, continuing to search for him. A hand was placed on my back, his voice whispered in my ear, “Dance with me?”

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Sophia

  Stefan held his hand out next to me. I turned to face him, “You can dance?” I questioned with a small laugh.

  He smiled, “Eight years of ballroom dance.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

  “Don’t worry, you can trust me.”