The CEO's Second Choice novel Chapter 1

Elena

Dressed in a burgundy empire evening dress with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves, I put on my Mary Jane Louboutins and was ready to face the Dumonts. I left my hair to cascade in curls down my back and didn’t bother with over the top makeup. I had no one to impress, so why bother with frivolities?

As I descend our winding staircase, I spot my sister in the foyer. She was on the phone and seemed rather upset. The clicking of my heels alerts her to my presence and she kills her call. Turning to face me, she plasters a fake smile onto her face and walks towards me and catches my frown. “Wedding problems,” she answers with the roll of her eyes. I knew she was lying, but who am I to say anything? She clearly did not want to tell me what was going on with her.

I offer her a tight smile, “Eliana, you know…” I start, but decided against it with the shake of my head, “Never mind. Is everything ready for this evening?”

She looked relieved at my change of subject and nodded, “The Dumonts should be here shortly.”

Eliana looked nervous at this, where earlier she looked positively delighted to be seeing her fiance. We link arms and walk towards the dining area together. My sister relaxed a bit in my arm, but as soon as we entered the room, she stilled.

It seemed the Dumonts were here early.

Snooty and pretentious, both Mirabelle and Spencer Dumont oozed elegance. Mirabelle was a raven haired beauty who used to be a Prima Ballerina back in her day. She married Spencer when her dancing days ended. The Spencer Dumont was the wealthiest man in the UK, with Sebastian set to inherit everything. Not that the man needed to inherit everything, he owned half of the country already. And by that I mean the majority of the buildings in the country belonged to Dumont Enterprises.

“Eliana, Elena,” Mirabelle greets us in her haughty voice. The woman had nothing good to say about Eliana, but seemed to dote on me. How that worked, I would never know. Everyone always loved my sister. “You are both looking gorgeous.” She gushes as she walks over to us and gives us both kisses on either cheeks.

“Mirabelle, how are you?” I ask her, being as courteous as I could muster. “You look lovely.” I say, taking in her beautiful emerald wrap dress.

She rolls her eyes, “As well as can be expected, I guess. Another dinner party that could have been a text-”

“Mother.” Came the voice of Mr Ego himself, Sebastian Dumont.

Mirabelle rolls her eyes again, and this time it was aimed at her son. “Fine, I will play nice,” she says and winks at me while giving Eliana a once over.

My sister looks at me, “How did you bewitch that woman? She despises me.” She said sadly, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Eliana could charm anyone, but not her mother-in-law to be.

I stroke her arm, “I am sure it will change after the wedding, love.” How was this comforting my sister? Because she just turned a pale green.

Sebastian walks over to us and gives her a kiss on the cheek, “Excuse my mother for the millionth time, love. She will warm up to you.” He says and Eliana nods robotically as if she had heard that line many times over.

They had been together for three years, and Mirabelle seemed to dislike my sister more each day.

“Shall we?” Came the voice of my father, boisterous Lord William Whiltshire, second wealthiest man in the UK, second only to Spencer Dumont.

We all took our respective seats at the dinner table; my father at the head of the table, Eliana and I next to him on opposite sides of the table, the elder Dumonts were seated next to me and Sebastian was seated next to Eliana. My mother was seated at the opposite head of the table.

Dinner was served soon after and polite conversation was made, however, the air was fraught with friction. Something was going on and I have a feeling this was not just your average dinner party between influential families.

“Now, it is lovely to have you over again, Spencer and Mirabelle, but I fail to see why a dinner party was needed to discuss this. Surely a phone call would have sufficed?” My father, asking all the real questions now.