Chapter 4. Rose’s Sister

Rose’s POV

I didn’t realize I wasn’t walking as quickly as I was earlier. I almost bumped into someone, and that was when I realized I was almost walking in the wrong direction. I broke eye contact with the strange man who had been staring at me for God knows how long.

I was very close to the exit, so I just picked up the pace and finally left the hall. I breathed in the fresh air outside. A lot had happened at once inside the hall, and now I was just trying to remember what I needed to do next.

I had come to Germany with a small bag. It didn’t have much in it, just some money to travel back with, lipstick, as well as my passport and other important stuff I thought I might need on the trip.

Luckily for me, I hadn’t listened to the girl earlier who asked if she should put my bag away for me till after the wedding.

I had the clothes I had gone in with inside the bag as well. I would have to send the clothes I was given here back to Anastasia some other time, probably when I have gotten back to the bar. If I couldn’t send it back, I would just make a transfer with the equivalent of whatever the clothes and shoes cost. My time here was over, and I needed to get going.

I started walking briskly towards the main gates. When I had walked for a while, I realized I had exited through the side of the main building that I had come in through earlier. I kept walking, ignoring the stern-looking guards that I passed on the way. I finally arrived at the main gates and was about to make my way out of the compound when I felt two hands hold me back from behind. I turned around to see two of the guards standing behind me.

My heart started racing. What was going on?

“Is there a problem?” I whispered, trying not to melt under the gaze of these two giant guards standing in front of me with blank expressions.

They didn’t respond. They didn’t even move a muscle. I turned around and tried to leave again, and this time around, one of them grabbed my shoulders and shoved me backward.

I almost fell to the ground when I lost my stance, especially because of the heels I was wearing. I caught myself on time and stood up straight, fear engulfing my entire being. I felt tears rushing to my eyes. I felt so awkward and helpless.

Maybe I should go get my sister…

“Lass sie gehen.”

The guards suddenly backed away from me. The speed with which they created distance between themselves and me… was alarming. The entrance to the gate was also cleared. It seemed like I could freely leave if I wanted to now. It was almost like they were suddenly… avoiding me. I heard someone say something in the distance, but I didn’t know who.

I turned to look at who had spoken…

It was him.

The man inside the hall.

He was walking towards me now, looking straight at me. I shivered. How could the state of a complete stranger affect me so much?

“Wohin gehst du, Schöne? Die party ist noch nicht vorbei.”

I stared blankly. I wasn’t sure if whatever he said was directed at me or someone else, even though he was looking at just me right now. He was standing close to me now and just looking, a small smile on his lips. His voice was so thick… so manly… so captivating.

No one said anything for the next few seconds. All I did was look into his eyes just as he did mine.

“I believe you can speak English at the very least?”

I was still lost for a moment until I realized I could understand what he was saying now. “Yes… Yes, sir.”

“Are you taking your leave already? The party hasn’t even begun.”

I thought about the answer I wanted to give him. I needed to be cautious of what I said next. I didn’t know why the guards at the gate stopped me from getting through. Maybe they thought I was sneaking away, and if they found out I was leaving in clothes that didn’t belong to me…

“Miss?”

“I… I need to get going. I have some distance to cover.”

“If you were invited by the couple, you can be sure of shelter for the rest of the evening at least. One of the men would take you…”

“I deeply appreciate the offer, sir, but I… I need to go.”

The man didn’t say anything else. It seemed like he wasn’t impressed by my reply. He simply nodded, and I took that as my signal to get going.

I turned to leave when I heard a familiar voice yell my name from behind. I turned again.

Shit.

My sister.

I doubt she would be so interested in me again, now that I had fulfilled her wish to attend the wedding. Maybe she could let me go now.

“What are you doing here? You should be at your wedding…” I started to say as she got closer.

“Where do you think you’re going, Rose? You can’t just leave the mansion without an escort, at least.”

“I didn’t come here with an escort, so I doubt I would need one to go home with.”

She looked at me, confused. “You’re… you’re going home already? So soon?”

“Well, yes. I attended your wedding as you requested, so I need to go back now.”

“Oh, Rose…” She came closer and took my hands in hers. “You don’t need to leave right away. I have made arrangements for you to stay for as long as you wish. Your room is ready, and everything is…”

“I would have to decline your offer,” I said sternly and pulled my hands away from hers.