The CEO's Second Choice

Elena:

I stared at my laptop, not believing what I was seeing. Then, I let out a shriek so loud that even my mother came running into my room.

“What in the world is going on, Elena?” she cried out, staring at me with eyes as big as saucers. I turned my laptop screen around and pointed towards it.

“I’ve been accepted, Mother! Harvard has accepted my application!” I responded with glee to a very confused mother.

She raised one expertly plucked eyebrow at me. “Excuse me? Harvard, as in the States?” Fighting the urge to roll my eyes at her, I nodded and couldn’t help but grin. Harvard Law School, my dream university, had accepted me! Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, could knock me off this high. I’d done it! I had proven to myself and my family that I could get somewhere without their influence.

I mean, I could have chosen Cambridge or Oxford, but that would have been too close to home and the Wiltshire name. I would’ve immediately been accepted if they knew that I was William Wiltshire’s daughter.

My face hurt from grinning, and I looked to my mother for a reaction, but as usual, there was none. And it was not the Botox.

“Well now, we’ll have to see what your father has to say about this. The States, Elena? Why not Oxford? It is, in fact, your father’s alma mater.”

Did I say nothing could knock me off this high? Well, my mother had just shot a bazooka straight into it.

I stared at her, a little despondent. I had expected this reaction, prepared myself for it even, but it didn’t hurt any less. Never in my twenty years on this earth had my mother been proud of me or shown it. The smile dropped from my face, and I sighed, “Can’t you just be happy for me for once, Mother?”

She looked at me as if I had trampled on her favourite Louboutins. “I will be happy when you reject that acceptance letter and agree to study closer to home. Come, you need to get ready for tonight’s dinner party. The Dumonts will be joining us this evening.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of my room.

I stared at her back and felt a tear slip down my cheek.

My mother, Susanna Wiltshire, was an upper-class socialite of noble blood, so I would always be expected to follow in her footsteps. My twin sister, Eliana, was able to slip into the role much easier than I could. Where I was brash and spoke my mind, she was reserved and soft spoken. A proper lady.

Speaking of which, a face popped into my bedroom doorway, a smile plastered on her lips. She was my mirror image—with a few alterations.

Where she had soft honey-coloured curls set in a natural balayage, I had more of a caramel tint to my balayage. Where her eyes were baby blue and sparkling, mine were more of an icy steel. We both had heart-shaped faces, almond-shaped eyes, and bow-shaped lips though.

People said we were blessed with our looks, and my sister seemed to believe them. Where she got stares and knew she was beautiful, I had the self-esteem of a rock.

“I heard the news!” she exclaimed and rushed over to me, engulfing me in a hug. “I am so proud of you, Elena! This is fantastic news!”

Trust Eliana to be my hype girl. I smiled against my better judgement, and a giggle escaped my throat. She let go of me and looked me up and down, her blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

“You get to live your dream instead of being forced to live the socialite life,” she said, knowing that would have been the bane of my existence. My bottom lip started to tremble at her words, knowing my father would never allow me to study at Harvard. The sudden realization hit me.

He would never agree to this. How stupid could I have been?

Eliana’s smile dropped from her face, and she regarded me with concern. “I was foolish, Eliana,” I started, “Father will never allow me to move overseas when he can just as easily get me into Oxford. Me and my stupid dreams.”

She offered me a thin smile then led me back to my bed. “You never know, Elena. Speak to him about it. Maybe he wants one of us to experience what the world has to offer,” she said. A knowing smile crossed her lips, and I had a feeling she was hiding something from me.

Call it twins' intuition, but I could always tell when Eliana was lying to me or withholding something. In this case, it was the latter.

I decided not to push the subject and nodded. “I will after this evening’s dinner party. I’m guessing Sebastian and his parents will be joining us?” I asked.

Ugh, Sebastian Dumont. The most arrogant man God had ever created. He oozed self-righteousness and had an ego ten times his body weight. The first time he came to our estate to visit Eliana, he didn’t mistake me for her at all—normally people did. He called me ‘podgy’ and said he did not understand why people confused the two of us.

Call me childish, but I never forgot that day. I had never been so embarrassed in my life. Of course, I never mentioned this to Eliana; I didn’t want her to think any less of her fiancé.

She nodded happily. “Yes, he is. Just a few last-minute preparations and alterations need to be made before the wedding. His parents wish to iron them out before the big day,” she said calmly, as if she weren’t marrying the wealthiest CEO in the UK.

“Oh, okay. Will I be expected to attend then?” I asked with a grin, already knowing the answer. She gave me a sarcastic look.

“My maid of honour wants to sit this one out? I don’t think so,” she responded and got up from my bed to leave my room. Then she turned around in the doorway and gave me another smile. “I truly am so happy for you, Elena. You deserve this little bit of freedom. Speak to father after the dinner party. I’m sure he’ll give you his blessing.” Then she was gone.

I flopped back down onto my oak four poster and sighed out loud. Would my father honestly be okay with me studying overseas? If my mother’s reaction was anything to go on, that would be a resounding no.

I took my cell phone out of my pocket, intending to call my boyfriend, Nicholas. He had been my rock these past two years and was the one who had encouraged me to apply to Harvard. This made no sense to me at all because I wanted to be close to him as we were to be wed in a year’s time. However, I started to realize that I needed to do this for myself. I needed to pursue my dream.

However, on the fourth ring, I put the phone down as my call went unanswered. Weird, Nicholas always answered when he saw it was me calling. I shrugged and tried to push my emotions down. I would tell him my news later. The Dumonts would be here soon, I had to make myself look presentable.

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 let my hair 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 decide 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 fiancé. 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. 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 she 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 kisses on both 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 Wiltshire, 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, the elder Dumonts next to me, and Sebastian 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.

We were currently seated in the parlour, having wine and our palette cleansed after a light four course dinner.

Mirabelle gets up from her chair, and I could tell she was completely livid, but sad. She gazes at everyone in the room and her eyes fall on Eliana. I followed her line of vision and saw my sister looking anxious, that green tinge to her skin again.

“William, Susanna, I am afraid we come bearing awful news this evening.” She said and looked straight at Sebastian, who had the same confused look on his face as everyone else in the room.

Everyone except Eliana.

Spencer stood up this time, “This marriage cannot be, Sebastian.” He said and his son frowns at the statement.

“What exactly is this about, Father?” He starts, “I know you all hate Eliana, but I love her and I will marry her in two months' time. Your blessing given or not.”

Mirabelle had a horrified look on her face, and she looked towards Spencer. “Tell him,” is all she said and sat down again. Spencer grins, “Even better, I will have someone else do it for me.” He says and the parlour door opens.

A man whom I have never met before, enters the room and I hear Eliana gasp. I looked towards my sister and saw that she had gone a deathly pale.

What was going on?

Echoing my thoughts, Sebastian asks the same question out loud. “Uncle Robert? What exactly are you doing here?” He added.

The man, Robert Dumont, looks towards everyone in the room. He was tall, well-built, and frankly, quite handsome. He ran his fingers through his curls in what I can only assume was frustration.

“Sebastian, you are being lied to.” He said and pointed towards my sister, “Eliana has not been as forthcoming with you.”

Oh no. Oh heck no. Eliana, what have you done?

Sebastian looks at my sister and frowns, “What exactly does he mean by that, Eliana?” He asks but his expression showed that he did not wish to know. Eliana looks up at him with tears in her eyes, “I am sorry, Sebastian,” she says.

Gosh, was I in a soap opera right now?

I take in everyone’s expression. My father seems livid; my mother looks put out. The Dumonts were upset and angry, whereas my sister seemed sad, but elated? Was that even possible?

“Sorry? What are you sorry for? What have you done?” He asks, taking a step back from her.

Eliana stood up and walked towards Robert Dumont, then faced us with a grim expression, “I am in love with Robert and wish to call off this engagement.”

Her statement sent literal shockwaves through us all. Sebastian looked as if his heart just got ripped out, my parents went ashen and me? I sat there with my mouth hanging open in a very ladylike fashion.

Eliana, the poised and proper Wiltshire sister, was going to cause an upper-class scandal.

Robert grinned and looked proud, “But that’s not all. Tell them the news, love.” He says in an incredibly sleazy way that I even got shivers.

Eliana gazed proudly at him, “I am pregnant with Robert’s child.”