The Rose

It's beauty is delicate, like grasping love for the first time. I knew a rose is what all the women here aspire to receive, yet I couldn't want something farther than a flower that will wilt and die. This barbaric ritual my family has sustained thus far will finally have a member that breaks the tradition.

My eyes scan the ball room that welcomes every wealthy family from across the world. I see many of the daughters gazing at the lone roses inside the left pocket of each suitable bachelor. I knew soon it would be time to dance and once a man gives you a rose... It extends a marriage proposal and each family discusses it before they can accept your hand in marriage. 

I wish at least the discussion could be more sincere as no one cares about the foolishness of love, happiness and the very idea of marriage. What they support is the reputation, the wealth and envy of other in their position. The way this event works is simply by trade and who has more to offer. I couldn't help but scoff at the women who seemed delighted to be at the Scarlet ball. 

They, like me are from a wealthy family, yet none were more dignified than my family which holds it's name in the residence in which they've all been invited to. Emily Scarlet is the name I was given at birth. If only I knew it branded me as the most sought after commodity to own. I'd just graduated from university, when my parents demanded me to come home. 

I didn't even get the chance to tell them about Emitry's Creations. I'd invested well through my school years and raised enough capital to start my own company. It wasn't in finance, like my family as I intend to specialize in all art forms. I'll have anyone who proves themselves, show case their work at my gallery opening. 

Each piece will be show cased on five floors. It will range from pictures, paintings, books, food and more. It will all be fit to sell and unlike any market, it will be shown in an elegant environment. "It's time." My mother exclaims excitedly as the violinist positions her violin and the pianist has his fingers raised above the keys, before a singer comes forward and grips the microphone. 

The song is painfully slow and I watch as the herds of men swarm around us. "You can't run this time." My father whispers into me ear and I step away from him, before he grabs my waist and holds me still. It was early in my school years, when my parents held a ball, quite like this one and once I knew that it had to do with marriage, I fled as fast as I could. 

I only lasted a few days before I came home wet and hungry. I knew then that my fate was set in stone, only I thought starting my own company would impress my parents enough to let me choose a husband for myself. I was wrong yet again as a man in a red and black suit approaches my parents and I. 

"Emily." The handsome man says and I find his disheveled hair charming compared to the slicked back style all the other men wear. It was his eyes that were alarming. I could see the intensity in his dark eyes and knew he stood in front of us not for my benefit or my parents, yet his own. 

"What do you want?" "What do you have to offer?" He asks as my parents laugh and I look at his unshaven face and wonder if he came to impress or to swindle. I'd find his appearance charming and dare I say it may have lured me in, had I not met him here. "Her hand but of course." My mother says happily and she laughs at her own response, while he stays focused on me. "Does she really?" 

I look away as my father elbows me to get me to pay attention. "I'm not for sale." I bite back and my mother nervously laughs, while my father stands in silence. "I wouldn't dare to buy you." "I would however like to ask you to dance." He holds out his hand and I knew my father won't hesitate to back hand me later if I don't accept. 

My family has never known love and once I accepted this... It made it easier to understand my parents and how all they could see was wealth and power. I give an awkward smile before I place my hand in his. "You're not like the rest, are you?" He whispers as he pulls me forward and into his arms. 

"The rest?" "I see your disdain and it matches my own." "I only attended this dance out of curiosity but I never expected this." "It didn't live up to your expectations." I laugh and he holds me closer. "It didn't, until now." He takes the back of my neck with his hand and tilts it before pressing his lips to mine. 

I push him away and everyone gasps as they see a pink rose pinned to my dress. I look at him in disbelief. I never saw a rose in his pocket, it's part of the reason I decided to dance with this fool.
"Now you're mine Emily Scarlet."