Heirloom

"This was Desmond's grandmother's." Olivia slipped it into Elsa's wrist. "I want you to have it now."

Taken aback by the sudden gesture, Elsa quickly pulled her hand back. "I-I can't—" She widened her eyes in shock. "This is too much—"

It hadn't been ten minutes since she met the Fedorov's and she was already receiving their family heirloom? It didn't feel right.

"You are going to be the lady of this house," Olivia smiled. "Nothing is too much."

"I—" Elsa was about to request her to take the bracelet back when her eyes landed on Desmond who was now standing right behind his parents.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored all gray suit and tie. His hair was perfectly gelled and combed back. There was no doubt that the man is fucking hot and handsome. But the most intimidating part in his body right now was his eyes which were drilling into hers.

Desmond's gaze was fixed on Elsa since the moment she entered the mansion.

The maroon trumpet off shoulder dress she was wearing hugged her body perfectly. The slit ended a little above her knee, making her look both alluring and sexy.

Desmond had seen Elsa a couple of times after she returned home from college but he had never really looked at her. She was their enemy's daughter, he didn't even bother to bat an eye on her.

But now when he was LOOKING at her, she was beautiful, more than he had expected her to be. Though her curves screamed sexiness, her eyes were as innocent as a dove.

"Desmond, why are you standing there? Come and greet your in-laws." Olivia couldn't help but chide her son.

Without tearing the eye contact with Elsa, Desmond approached the Marino's and greeted them, starting with Enzo, then Ricardo and finally Marco.

"Why don't you take Elsa around to meet our guest?" Henry placed his hand on his son's back and nudged him forward.

"Elsa, go with Desmond." Enzo nudged his daughter too.

When Desmond extended his hand hand for her to take, Elsa accepted it and followed him further inside.

"I do not like this," Marco hissed with his eyes glued on Elsa and Desmond who had just walked away.

"Endure it." Ricardo advised his younger brother as he tried to suppress his own emotions.

….

After greeting a couple of people, Desmond guided Elsa towards the bar for a drink.

"So are you going to talk or what?" They had been walking around for almost ten minutes and Desmond hadn't said a word. This made Elsa feel very awkward.

"What do you want me to say?" Desmond asked flatly.

Sensing the disinterest in his voice, she shrugged her shoulders. "Fine, don't say anything. I was just trying to start a conversation. You don't have to be so grumpy."

Desmond frowned and was about to retort when someone grabbed their attention.

"El—"

"Ferdi?" Elsa quickly left Desmond's side and approached the man. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Well, I didn't know you were getting married with—" Ferdinand looked at Desmond, who was glaring at him.

Desmond raised his brows at the man who had the audacity to glare at him. Only if it wasn't a family event, he would have shown him what happens when you glare at a Fedorov that too under their roof.

But right now, Ferdinand didn't bother him but Elsa did. He didn't like the way she rushed towards another man, leaving him alone.

Did she share a close relationship with him? Did she have feelings for him?

Even if she had, why the fuck should that bother him?

Desmond scoffed at him before chugging down the champagne. Elsa could have all the feelings she wants for any man and it wouldn't bother him at all.

This was nothing but a marriage of convenience. He had no expectations from it.

"I was going to call you," Elsa lied. She has no plans of calling Ferdinand to tell him about her impromptu wedding because she knew he would overreact. She was too tired to deal with him.

"And when were you going to do that?" Ferdinand snapped at her. "After you take your vows for the man you barely know?"

"Ferdi stop—" she frowned. "Don't create a scene here. This event is very important."

"Elsa—"

"We will talk later, okay? I am a little busy right now."

"No, I want to talk right now."

"I think she said she is busy." Desmond stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Elsa's waist. "We have a lot of guests to greet."

He felt Elsa's body turn stiff as soon as he touched her. But he couldn't care less.

The way Ferdinand was behaving was enough for him to understand that he had a thing for Elsa. He was very easy to read.

Elsa on the other hand was hard to read. It wasn't easy to see through her. He was still not sure if she had a thing for the man or not.

But irrespective of that, this was his house and his would be wife. There was no way Desmond would let a teeny tiny man like Ferdinand Longhart overpower him.

Desmond smirked when he pulled Elsa closer and she gasped a little. The sudden intimate action made her feel uncomfortable and awkward but she didn't let her emotions reflect in her expression.

This woman had already impressed him on so many levels.

Ferdinand glared at Desmond before looking at Elsa. He opened his mouth to say something but chose not to. Instead he silently walked away.

"Isn't he the oldest son of the Longhart family?" Desmond scoffed. "Does he think he is invincible or something?"

"I—"

"Look at your two—" Carl chuckled. "You both already look like newlyweds."

Ignoring Desmond's glare, he looked at Elsa and smiled. "Well, we haven't officially met yet. My name is Carl, I once shared the same womb as your would be husband."

"Really?" Elsa looked at the twin brothers simultaneously. "How can two people who have shared a womb for 9 months be so different? One sounds so warm and welcoming while the other one—" She looked at Desmond. "Is so grumpy and—"

"Old?" Carl chuckled. "Don't mind his wrinkles. It's because of the immense amount of stress he unnecessarily takes."

"You are calling me old?" Desmond scoffed at his twin. "We are of the same age."

"You were born twenty minutes before me, so mathematically, you are older than me."

…..