After Memory Loss, I Have Fiancé (Business Empire Heir 2)

Esmeralda's POV

“Mr. Stone, is this your new girlfriend?”

“Mr. Stone, what do you have to say about Ever-fresh’s shade to your company in their new advert?”

“Mr. Stone, who is this young woman?”

He doesn’t answer any questions as his bodyguards pave way for us to pass through. His thumb continues its slow seduction and it takes all my willpower not to let out a soft moan.

Have some self control, you idiot.

“You only have to interact with people for the first half of it, by the time it gets to the second half, everyone will either be too drunk or too tired to socialize with new people” He says and I nod just as we step into the big hall.

I loop my arms around his arm and we walk into the party. People start approaching him and his expressionless face slips on as we move further into the room. He stops occasionally to talk with some people before we continue moving around.

My eyes widen when I see Jack on the other side of the room talking to a tall man with grey hair. Fortunately for me, he doesn’t notice me. Of course I should have known he’d be here; he belonged to this circle of the rich which is probably what gave him so much arrogance and made him think he could treat me anyhow he wanted.

Our relationship lasted for a year and a half and I really did love him in the beginning or at least the man he had first pretended to be. After about six months, his true colors started to shine through and I tried to hold on thinking it was just a phase.

It wasn’t and our relationship was toxic in every sense of the word.

He still had a pull on me but not because I still love him but because it’s impossible to care for someone for that long and just be able to stop all of a sudden.

However, I hated him for how humiliated he made me feel ever time he appeared in the papers with another lady.

He kept our relationship secret from the media with the excuse that he wanted to keep me away from the public eyes scrutiny. I should have known back then that he was only protecting his image and not mine. But even after everything, I’d still take him back because I was naïve and I believed myself to be in love.

Not anymore.

Mr. Stone finally guides us to a table and pulls out a chair for me and I thank him before sitting down. Seated at the table are his sister, the two guys I ran into a day before; Tyler and Blake I think, two elderly couple and the tall elderly man Jack was talking to earlier. My heart hurt for unknown reasons because of how frail the latter looked. He doesn’t look well and he’s currently staring at me like he would a ghost.

“Mr. Heart, this is Esmeralda, my assistant” Mr. Stone introduces me to the man with a worried crease between his brows.

“Oh…It’s so nice to meet you Esmeralda. You look a lot like someone I used to know” The man says wistfully as he extends his hand to me with a weak smile.

Let me guess? It’s Daisy. Again.

I accept his handshake with a fond smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Heart”

A man takes that moment to walk onto the stage and everyone finds their seats and settles down as the program begins.

The MC greets everyone and chatters on for a while before inviting Mr. Stone up for a speech.

My stomach tightens as Mr. Stone stands up in all his 6’4 glory and walks to the podium. I could very well almost see the drool dripping from most ladies’ mouth; I’m not sure I don’t have drool falling from my mouth either. My eyes refuse to move away from his figure as he begins his speech and my brain tries to comprehend why I feel so attracted to him; well apart from the fact that he’s gorgeous.

He finishes his speech by inviting the kids from the orphanage the donations are going to for their musical recital.

For the next fifteen minutes, everyone is enraptured by the kid’s voices and talent and they are rewarded by a standing ovation making huge grins appear on their cute faces.

The real band invited for the evening then start to play and most people start getting up to dance. I search the room for Hunter and I see him talking to the girl who brought my dress to the office. Jennifer, was it?

Since the elderly couple sitting at our table has already gotten up to go and dance, I’m left alone with Mr. Heart. From the side of my eyes, I see how left out the man feels.

“Will you dance with me, Mr. Heart?” I ask before I can think again.

His eyes light up and he smiles at me before taking my hand. As he stands up, I’m surprised by how huge the man actually is, he definitely doesn’t look frail while on his feet.

We walk to the dance floor and start dancing. By the time we’re done dancing, I’m laughing with tears in my eyes; the man is hilarious.

“I’d like to meet this lazy dog of yours. King, right?” I say with a huge smile as we stop dancing to go back to our seat.

“I have a feeling he’d be happy to meet you t…” Mr. Heart doesn’t get to finish his sentence before someone interrupts him.

“May I steal this lady for a dance” I turn around to see Jack standing right behind me with a wolfish grin on his face.

“Sure, If the lady wants to” Mr. Heart responds.

Since I don’t want to cause a scene, I reluctantly take Jack’s hand and try to smile without it seeming forced in Mr. Heart’s direction.

“You look beautiful Esme” Jack says.

That never stopped you from cheating before. I snipe at him in my head but instead of saying that out loud, I say;

“Thanks”

Given my rotten luck, a slow song starts playing and he pulls me close as we start swaying from side to side. My mind knows it shouldn’t feel comfortable but a part of my heart is a traitor. It still cares for the asshole; no matter how small that part is.

“I miss you so much Esme. I know I was a jerk but I love you, I really do, please forgive me” He whispers in my ear and I start praying for the song to end fast. I’ve had enough of his lies.

Oh, how I wish Keesha was here.

I look over his shoulder to see Mr. Stone dancing with Jennifer and I break a little more.

God Esme, you always choose the worst kinds of guys to fancy. Either he’s a cheater or he’s already taken.

“Esme, please look at me” Jack says tilting my head up.

“I want; no I need you in my life. I know this won’t change the past but those girls meant nothing to me. You’re the only one I care for”

His audacity! When will this damn music end?

A tear slips from one eye unwillingly. Jack always brought out this feeling in me, always making me feel like I’m not and will never be enough for a guy like him.

“Just stop” I croak out.

“May I cut in?” The deep timbre of Mr. Stone’s voice rescues me from the dark pit of self-pity I was sinking into.

Thank heavens.