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Chapter 37
Tormented Heart
Sakura woke up late the next morning, feeling extremely tired and pissed. She was tired because she couldn’t get to sleep until four in the morning and pissed because Sebastian and his stupid kiss kept playing in her mind.
Oh, God! Darcy. He had seen her running from the pool area, half-naked and dripping wet. He’d looked so shocked that he didn’t know what to say to her. She’d also noted there was something in the expression on his face, as if he were in deep, dark pain. She’d wanted to go to him and explain but had found he stiffened as if he didn’t want to know what happened.
Her stomach fluttered. “Darce,” she whispered his name under her breath. Why did she feel like he was upset with her? Oh, Darce.
She groaned loudly and got out of bed, even though all she wanted to do was to lie there, close her eyes, and make everything disappear from her mind by sleeping. But of course she couldn’t do that because she’d promised to go to the Princeton Hotel with Mary and Katherine to sort out the decorations for the wedding reception.
She showered quickly and got dressed, wearing a pair of super skinny jeans and white blouse. She French plaited her hair and let it fall down her left shoulder, leaving some tendrils dancing about the sides of her face.
Toby barked at her, wanting to come along as well.
“No, you may not,” she said. “You stay put and be a good boy, okay?”
Toby sat obediently and licked her hand. “Good boy.” She got up, grabbed her bag, and headed out, leaving the door open so Toby could go out as he pleased.
She came down to the kitchen and was glad no one was around. It was pretty late in the morning, after all. Lunch was only a few hours away. She made quick work having her breakfast of cereal with some fruit and milk. Just as she was about to finish, Mary walked in.
“You look horrible,” Mary teased. “I hoped you’re not going to look like that on my wedding day.”
Sakura chuckled. “No need to worry. After all, a makeup artist does do magic.”
“What happened?” Mary asked. “You look like you haven’t slept.”
Sakura sighed, got up, and washed her dishes in the sink. “I was working a bit late last night.”
“On your online business again?” Mary asked.
“Yeah,” Sakura lied. Damn! She couldn’t believe she was lying to her best friend.
“Well, as long as it’s going great,” Mary said. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yeah, I’m done,” Sakura said, grabbing her bag.
Once they were in the car, Sakura said, “So just curious and all… Where’s everyone else?”
“Out,” Mary said. “At the hotel.”
“Right,” Sakura replied and then drove out.
Some twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Princeton Hotel and Resort. It was a very grand building of nine stories and had the beautiful private beach conserved specifically for guests and a great view of the ocean beyond. They parked the car in the reserved lot and headed into the main lobby via the grand entrance. A few minutes later, she came into the main hall on the first floor where the wedding reception was to be held. Sakura was surprised to find that both Richard and Peter were already there, talking to the wedding planner and the hotel manager.
“Hi,” Mary said, kissing her future husband on the cheek.
“Sweetheart,” Peter said. “What do you think?”
Both Sakura and Mary looked around the great hall. It was beautifully decorated with red and white roses. The tablecloths, a beige color, were of the finest quality, and the lighting was just perfect.
For a couple of hours, the wedding planner explained to them what had been done, and then Peter and Mary told them what needed to be changed as Sakura stuck around, trying to help out with ideas as best as she could. When by lunchtime they finished, Sakura excused herself to go and find Daddy James.
She came up to his office on the top floor of the hotel and gave the door her usual three knocks before going in. Once inside, to her surprise, she found Sebastian and Nicolas there, and Daddy James was nowhere in sight.
Sakura bit her lip and her heart thundered within her chest the moment her eyes met Sebastian’s. The handsome man raised one nice brow at her and gave her that sly grin of his that told her he was very pleased to see her indeed. She scowled at him to tell him that she wasn’t in the least bit pleased to see him, however. Nicolas, on the other hand, was oblivious to their silent bickering and gave her a smile.
“Sakura, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Er, Daddy James?”
“Meeting with Mr. Marlow,” Nicolas supplied.
“Oh, right.” Sakura turned to go.
“No, wait, come in here.”
“What?”
“Dad said you’ve been helping out a bit at the hotel.”
Sakura shrugged her shoulders. “Just here and there. Nothing special.”
“Dad’s asking me to take over.”
Sakura raised her brows. But then again, she wasn’t surprised. “I see.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s great. He’s ready to retire. I think you should,” she said.
Nicolas pulled her by the arm and led her to the armchair near the window. Sebastian watched her intently. Their kiss last night was still fresh in his mind, and right now he felt the thrill rushing through his blood.
Sakura caught him looking at her. He grinned at her, his blue eyes intense on her person, telling her he would like to do it again right now if he could. Sakura gritted her teeth and glared at him.
“You think I should?” Nicolas voiced loudly, interrupting her anger simmering nicely.
She quickly turned to smile at him. “I definitely think you should. I mean, if you don’t take over, then who will?”
Nicolas relaxed back in his seat. “Thing is, I’m not sure if I’d do a good job.”
“It’s all from experience, isn’t it? You can’t quit before you begin. You won’t know if you don’t try.”
Nicolas chuckled. “Since when did you become so philosophical?”
“Oh, I’ve always been philosophical. Daddy James always asks me for advice, not that I’m very good at it. But I think it helps him see things from a different perspective.” She turned to smile at him then, her head cocked to one side. “To be, or not to be, that is the question,” she said softly. “To take over, or not to take over, that is the question.”
Nicolas felt a thrill of warmth coursing through his being. His silvery-gray eyes lit up, and he chuckled softly. He turned to Sebastian then. “Well, what do you think, Sebastian?”
“I already told you,” Sebastian said. Damn, he thought, the bite mark on his shoulder hurt. He glanced at Sakura, who met his gaze for a split second before glancing away again. She was still pissed with him; he could tell by her stiff posture. But truth be told, he was pleased. That meant their kisses last night were also still on her mind as it was still on his.
“There you are, Sakura,” James said as he walked through the door. “I was looking for you.”
“Hey,” she greeted him.
James took one good look at her and said, “You look dreadful. Didn’t you sleep last night?”
Sakura chuckled, her cheeks burning hot at the reminder.
“Working on your photos again, are you? How many did you sell this week?” he asked.
“A few. My regular doesn’t seem to be interested for a few weeks now. Maybe he didn’t like the last one.”
“Maybe you need help with Internet marketing,” James said. “Nicolas has online businesses.” He turned to his son. “Maybe you could help Sakura.”
“I’d be glad to,” Nicolas said. “What do you sell?”
