章節 3: Bourbon
'Is he tempting me?' Adele thought as she stared ahead. The sweet scent of bourbon infiltrated her nostrils, messing with her resolve. She could almost taste its sweetness, and somehow, she could hear it calling out to her.
'I could get up, ignore the deadly stare of my mother, and go to him.' Adele shook the troublesome thought from her head, 'What am I insane? I can't walk up to a stranger and ask him for some of his drink. That's absolutely unethical!'
Adele anxiously shook her leg, chewing on her nails as she fought an internal battle. Her urges told her to just do it, live in the moment, and worry about the consequences later, but her dwindling sanity was telling her otherwise.
Her mother would give her such a dirty look. Adele shuddered from thinking about it alone. She took a calming deep breath and tried focusing on anything else but the delicious, golden brown, vanilla, and caramel flavored, smooth...
Adele couldn't hold herself back anymore and stood up; fortunately, it was when everyone else stood to applaud the married couple who were sharing their first kiss as Duke and Duchess.
She released a sigh of relief and genuinely smiled as she applauded. Adele was so happy the wedding was over; she could hear the bar calling out to her!
Families and friends crowded the newly wedded to issue congratulations and well wishes. A frantic group of women stampeded through the crowd to the exit, hoping not to lose sight of the handsome prince they'd been eyeing the entire wedding ceremony.
Adele was hoping to sneak out quietly without being noticed by her mother, but when she felt a cold hand wrap around her arm and the menacing aura behind her, she already knew it was too late.
"Adele," Maria started with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry I immediately jumped to conclusions earlier." She held her daughter's hands, "I shouldn't have been so quick to think the worse of you."
Adele smiled, "Thanks, mom."
The Brazillian woman smiled, "So, where are you off to in such a rush?"
Adele cleared her throat before saying, "T-The dining area; I wanted to find my seat."
"Oh!" Maria smiled widely as she hooped their arms, "Let's go then."
Multiple tables and chairs covered by white cloths and ornamented with gold bows were neatly arranged in the large dining area of the luxurious hotel.
The band played soft, classical music in the background as persons filed in, looking for their names on the small placards on the tables set for four. There was a long table at the front of the room for the newlyweds and their special guests.
Adele went to the long table where Brianna told her she would sit since she was giving the wedding toast. She found her placard; her seat would be near the newlyweds and the matriarchs of both Brianna and Daniel's families.
Adele didn't mind her seating arrangement until she saw that she would be seated next to her mother. "I most certainly don't think so," she muttered under her breath before switching her seat with a woman who was supposed to sit near the end of the table.
"Did you find your seat?"
Adele jumped slightly in fright after suddenly hearing her mother's voice. "Yup," she responded, moving to the end of the table. With a smile, she pulled her chair, "I'm right here between..."
She looked at the placards on either side of her before continuing, "Prince Elliot Grayson and Governor Harold..." The smile fell from her lips, "Finley."
Maria smiled widely, "Splendid darling! I'm a bit disappointed we'll be sitting so far apart, but Governor Harold is good company." She giggled like a schoolgirl as she winked, "He's pretty cute too."
Adele sat down in her seat and grimaced as she thought, 'For grandmother, maybe.'
"Anyways," Maria started. "Do you have what you'll say for the toast ready?"
"Don't worry, mom," Adele said with a forced smile. "I'm pretty sure it's deeply engraved into my brain by now." She muttered under her breath, "All your pestering paid off."
"What was that?" her mother questioned.
"I said all the rehearsing paid off," Adele lied with a friendly smile.
Maria sighed happily as she hugged her, "I'm so proud of you, sweetie. I've never seen you this sober during a wedding before."
Adele was hardly tipsy even after two bottles of red wine and a small, hip flask of whiskey. Due to her inhumanly high alcohol tolerance, which scientists still try to wrap their heads around, she doesn't get drunk easily.
Adele's eyes widened, and she nervously chuckled as she took a tic-tac from her purse and slipped it into her mouth. Her mother pinched her cheeks, "Hold on a little longer, okay? We can't embarrass ourselves in front of the royal family."
Adele plastered a smile on her face as her mother released her. "I won't embarrass you, mom."
Maria kissed her daughter's forehead, "I know you won't, sweetie." With those words, she left to greet some A-listers and socialites.
"Was I seeing things, or did you and your mom just have a mother-daughter moment?" Brianna teased as she strutted over.
"No, you just saw her threaten me." Adele hugged her, "Congratulations, it was a beautiful ceremony."
Brianna chuckled as she sat down, "As if you were paying any attention." She furrowed her brows as she looked up and down the long table. "I don't remember putting you so far down."
"You did," Adele quickly responded. "You said you were hooking me up with that old...I mean, the governor, right?" Adele hid her pain behind a smile as she pointed at the placard with the governor's name.
Brianna giggled, believing Adele's lie as she praised herself for being an excellent matchmaker. "I knew you'd come around, Addie," she started with a proud smile. "The governor is perfect for you."
Adele rolled her eyes as she released a low hum. "How so, I wonder," she muttered, not bothering to hide her displeasure.
Suddenly, Brianna gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as she exclaimed, "Oh my God!"
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