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As Nick escorts me through a few hallways, I’m surprised to notice the color scheme and wall decorations are the same here as they are downstairs, in what I refer to as the dungeons. We approach a set of oversized, wooden, and ornate doors at the end of the hallway, and of course, there’s a security scanner on this door as well. I try not to roll my eyes. Nick waves his hand over the access pad and the doors slowly open, and when they do, my mouth forms a gaping ‘O’ at the sight before me. Ostentatious doesn’t even begin to describe the impressive, luxurious ballroom before me. Because of who my family is, I’ve been around some incredible ballrooms in my day, but none can compare to this display of opulence.
Nick releases my hand from his and threads it through his inner arm, linking us together. He gives me a reassuring grin, but since this is new territory for me, I can only reply with a halfhearted, shaky smile. We step over the threshold together as a couple and make our way into the ballroom. I look side to side, scanning over the enormity of the room. I’m in pure awe, not to mention this is the largest room I’ve seen in two weeks. “This is magnificent,” I whisper to myself.
“Yes, my love, I’m glad you think so. It’s a pleasure to have you on my arm this evening. I’m sure to be the envy of every man in this room tonight.” Nick uses his free hand to caresses my arm that’s intertwined with his. “Please, Julianna, let’s make this a lovely evening.” His eyes warn and plead at the same time.
He’s insinuating I am going to try my hand at escaping. It would be a stupid move on my part, since I’m unfamiliar with my surroundings, and with Travis gone, I certainly don’t want Nick’s wrath should I fail. No, I will bide myself a little more time, create a false sense of loyalty, familiarity, and then perhaps earn the right to have a little freedom as Nick said I could. Then, I’ll begin creating calculated, well-thought-out plans. I realize this’ll be the smartest way to strategize for a successful escape. Now, if I can just keep my temper and mouth under control to gain his trust, I might be home free.
“No, Nick, I won’t disappoint you this evening. I’m thankful to be out from down under.”
He smiles warmly at my statement and looks pacified. As we stroll through the ballroom, every eye in the room is seemingly glued to our presence. Everyone is dressed in glamorous gowns, and the men are dressed in high-dollar suits and ties. I almost feel as if I’m a star walking the red carpet while attending an awards event. All the stares, however, are putting me on edge; they’re making me feel uncomfortable. Nick picks up on my apprehension and squeezes my hand. He leans over to whisper in my ear, “It’s okay. All of these people are simply staring at your beauty,” he pauses, “and out of curiosity, wondering who has finally captured my heart once and for all.”
I don’t know what to say about Nick’s statement, so I turn my gaze away from the onlookers and take in the grandeur of the room. Soft music is playing in the background as I view the architecture of the high ceilings, something Adam and I always did together. I feel a pang in my chest just thinking about Adam, and I die a little on the inside, especially knowing I have to tamp those memories back down, locking them away in order to focus on surviving this evening.
I distract myself by looking at the oversized chandeliers above, and watch the light as it twinkles, reflecting off the large pieces of crystal. I then drop my gaze to the magnificent custom-made window treatments, which adorn the large windows before me, and my heart beats wildly just from the mere thought of having a peek at the outside world; perhaps I’ll see a tree. God, I’m going to go insane. I can feel it. A fresh waft of mixed colognes, perfumes, and foods assault my senses. The ambiance has been successfully tailored for romance and candlelight, and I feel everything but those things.
Nick guides us to a quaint little table for two, and it’s situated to provide us both a view of the entire room. He lets go of my arm and pulls out an ornate chair for me to sit in. I carefully slide my hand down, over the back side of my silky dress to avoid potential wrinkles when I sit down. Nick then scoots me forward in the chair so that I am close to the table’s edge.
A bird of paradise centerpiece adorns the table with a few lit candles surrounding the display. This evening has been prepared with painstaking detail to exude refinement, mystery, and charm. I can almost pretend I’m on a romantic date at an expensive resort, but the problem is I know what goes on behind these closed doors.
