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"Mind if I join you?"
Gwen jumps at the voice, although it's familiar to her. She didn't expect anyone to seek her company out, especially when there are so many important people around to rub elbows with, but at the same time Elias has always been the odd one out. That's why Gwen should stump her cigarette out and return indoors immediately.
"Not at all," she says out loud. "I'm not in a chatty mood though."
"That's all right." As Gwen turns around, Elias is right there next to her, lighting his own cigarette. "I don't mind silent company," he adds, smiling at her as he slides the cigarette between his lips.
Gwen watches him, smoking her own cigarette. She glances past him at the house they both have been invited to, noticing that the wedding party inside seems to be quite lively. She knows she should be there too, no matter how much she wants to piss her father off; there are important contacts she could get, eyes to catch. But she stays in the garden with Elias.
"I'm surprised you are here," she says to Elias, deciding to break the silence. "Dad has made it clear that you two don't have the closest relationship."
Elias shrugs. "It's a family event, and it just looks better to the world if the whole family is united. No black sheep running around ruining things." He smiles at her again. "I'm sure you know."
Stiffening, Gwen takes another drag of her cigarette.
"I don't know what you mean," she says, her throat tight.
"Let's not pretend that this family doesn't know every single thing about its members. People talk about you, Gwendolyn, and your career plans." Still smiling, Elias steps closer to her, causing Gwen to back up towards the trees. "They aren't happy with your- lacking ambitions."
"That's because they're old-fashioned and stupid," Gwen snaps. "They think there's only one way to have power. I'm going to show them something new."
Elias has the nerve to laugh at her.
"Exactly the kind of ambition our family doesn't like," he comments, looming over her. "But I do."
The urge to push him away, which has been growing within her, disappears in a blink.
"That doesn't mean anything coming from you," Gwen replies, embarrassed about how good it feels to hear someone react to her ideas with approval. But she is telling the truth; as good as it feels to Gwen, Elias's approval literally means nothing to her Dad, much less the rest of the family.
And as ridiculous as she finds the rest of the Bouchard family, it still stings to know they look down on her.
"I know it doesn't," Elias murmurs. "But I want you to know it anyway. Nothing would delight me more than someone putting the Bouchard family into its place, by which I mean the past." He steps closer to her, leaning over her so he can rest his hand against the tree behind her, his shadow swallowing Gwen. "And who would do that better than you?"
A nervous laughter escapes from Gwen. "Are you trying to flatter me?"
"I am. But it's also the truth." He drops his cigarette, stomping on it once it's down in the grass. His hand freed, he lifts it up to Gwen's face, stroking his long thumb down her cheek. "I think you are the future."
It almost feels as if he's flirting with her, which of course is impossible; they are family. But even though the air surrounding them is cool, Gwen feels warm all over, knowing that there is a blush on her face. He keeps touching her, tracing her jawline with the back of his hand.
"Future, huh?" she comments, licking her lips. "I would say- that's quite a lot of ambition."
Once the words leave her lips, Gwen feels silly about them, but Elias just smiles, holding onto her chin as he leans over to kiss her on the forehead. The soft touch of his lips makes her whole body tingle, and she bites her lip.
"Exactly what you should strive for," he says, encouraging. She chooses to believe him.