Chapter 2: A Forbidden Embrace

CHAPTER TWO

LATER THAT EVENING

The ballroom was decorated to its best and the room was filled with the elites of society. It was buzzing with discussion especially the announcement of Elliot's engagement. Elliot stepped into the room with Clara perched on his arm. They were picture perfect with Elliot's black suit with red embroidery and Clara's red hair, makeup and hair-do. They moved round the room exchanging pleasantries, accepting congratulations and cracking jokes throughout the night.

Jonah entered the hall to attend as he couldn't bear sitting at home with his thoughts. He moved round the room and decided to settle at the bar, needing alcohol to calm his nerves. While nursing his drink and staring at Elliot and Clara. A group of men stumbled to the bar area. "Hey, bartender! We need drinks the good ones not the juice they've been serving in the ballroom." One of them said loudly.

The bartender nodded in silence and started serving them. Another picked up the glass, sipped and groaned the alcohol probably burning his throat. " Man the Sinclair's always know how to throw a good party and this one is no exception." He said. They all nodded in agreement. "One can't help but be jealous especially of their son, he has the money, the fame and now the wish of every man in the room as his fiancee." The first man said. "

They seem so in love with the way Elliot has been all over since the party started." Another said.

The sound of the glass coming down so hard on the table startling the men. "Hey dude what's the matter with you?" One of them asked. Jonah ignored them and walked away tired of their conversation.

He walked back into the main hall as Elliot's father was giving the vote of thanks. "Oh finally it's soon going to be over." Jonah sighed gratefully.

"....I really appreciate you all for coming to celebrate our son.

We are so happy that our family legacy would finally be carried on. I am overjoyed to announce that a bigger event is coming up in two months and that's the wedding of our son to Clara!" Elliot's father said excitedly as his voice boomed out of the speakers. Elliot and Clara stand up to wave excitedly to the crowd while Elliot scoops her up into a passionate kiss. The whole hall breaks into applause and awws but Jonah is shocked.

He stumbles, red-eyed to the stage where Elliot and Clara sat everything else fading into the background.

Jonah gets to the steps before the stage but he's blocked by guards.

" I need to speak to Elliot now!" Jonah screams at the guards. "Well you can't, you're not on the VIP list." One of the guards reply him. " I don't care about any stupid list. I just need to see him now!" He continues to scream trying to push the guards away.

"Sir I advise you to keep your hands off us if you don't want us to get violent." Another guard warns. "You can hit me if you want to but I'm not leaving here without speaking to Elliot! Now let me pass!" He screams managing to push one guard aside but he's held back by another.

"What's going on here?" Elliot's father asked as the commotion drew his attention. "Sir he insists on speaking to your son but he's not on the VIP list." A guard answered. Elliot's father turns to him and asks, "Well what do you want with my son?"

"Well I am..." Jonah began to answer. "I'll take it from here dad." Elliot said appearing suddenly and dragging Jonah away to a dark corridor. "Jonah what are you doing here?" Elliot asked rubbing his forehead with two fingers. "A wedding?!" Jonah screamed. "An actual fucking wedding." He chuckled bitterly "You've not still answered my question Jonah, what are you doing here?" Elliot asked again.

"I don't know Elliot, I couldn't sit with my thoughts at home so I decided to come watch the love of my life frolick with another" Jonah answered his words dripping with sarcasm. " Thank God I came because I'm sure you wouldn't have told me about the wedding. You knew all along." He continued. " I didn't know anything Jonah, it wasn't planned. Father was just overjoyed and made the announcement in excitement." Elliot replies " What happened to having everything under control Elliot?" "What happened!" Jonah screamed. "First of all could you keep your voice down." Elliot whispered looking around suspiciously. "Of course you're ashamed. I should have known better than to trust a coward like you. " Jonah said.  "You know what I'm done with this, This time you either choose between me or Clara. Call the wedding off." Jonah said with a scoff. " You know where to find me when you've made your decision." Jonah said. "Jonah wait... Don't act this way please.." Elliot sighed.

Suddenly he grabbed Jonah's hand and pulled him towards him. Crashing his lips on him. The kiss was dominant as if Elliot tried to prove a point. Jonah at the mercy of Elliot melted into the kiss. His hands gripping Elliot's collar pulling him closer to him as they continued in a frenzy.

Pulling away for air. "I love you. I still want you and you are mine." Elliot whispered against Elliot's lips. Their breath fanning each other's faces. "Then prove it." Jonah said his voice trembling with pleading eyes.  Elliot looked over Jonah's face before crashing his lips on Jonah's once more. Jonah travelled down Elliot's neck leaving hickeys in his wake.

Elliot! Elliot!" A female voice called out to him.

Startled, Elliot pushes away Jonah and wipes his lips.  "You've got to leave right now." Elliot whispers to Jonah. Jonah with tears in his eyes runs away knowing Elliot will never choose him over Clara and his family.

Elliot punched the wall in frustration, he furiously ran his hand through his hair. Looking down he noticed a hard-on and laughed bitterly. Elliot! Elliot!" The female voice called out to him again. Still startled Elliot wipes his face and rearranged himself brandishing his best smile. "Clara honey, Is that you? I'm right here." He calls out. " Is that you?" She asks as she walks forward. "Yes it's me." He replies.

"What are you doing in such a dark corridor?" She asks giving him a hug. He plants a quick kiss on her lips and said, "I just needed some fresh air, you know how I feel around crowds." "But you spent an awfully long time down here and I just saw a man tearfully walk out. Is everything okay?" She asks " Oh about that, he's just a business partner and we were talking about how things have gone badly this few months and he may soon declare bankruptcy. The tears were because of that I'm sure." Elliot explained while trying to brush the matter off. "Are you sure everything is okay?" Clara asks concerned.

"I'm fine Clara, trust me." Elliot tried to reassure her planting a kiss on her forehead. " Then what are those red marks on your neck? And your lips look pretty swollen." She asks worry lacing her voice. Elliot panicking wife eyes said, "Oh those are wasp stings. I had a reaction but I'm okay now." He explained. "I'll just pick up a scarf so I don't draw attention from our guest." Elliot said trying to brush off the matter.

"Oookayy." Clara said while eyeing him suspiciously. " Let's head back to the event we've been gone for a while." Elliot tells Clara. He ushers her out of the corridor with his hand on the small of her back