Chapter 5: A Stranger in a New World

Elsie struggled 

The city was a total cacophony of noise, lights, and chaos. Elsie stood in the penthouse, staring out over the sprawling metropolis beyond the floor-to-ceiling window. The skyscrapers rising so high, the endless stream of cars, and the hustle of pedestrians; it was too much for her. She had never actually seen anything like this before, and she truly felt very much like a stranger in a world she hardly understood.

Damian had tried to add warmth to the place, with lavish furniture, expensive artworks, and every comfort one could think of. But none of those things gave any comfort to Elsie; it was so impersonal and cold. She longed for the simplicity of her village, for the warmth of her family, for the familiar sights and sounds, and smells of home.

Days passed, and little by little, Damian began introducing Elsie into the elite class that surrounded him. He took her to fancy restaurants, high-end boutiques, and posh parties, all to help her adjust to her new life. But Elsie felt out of place wherever they went. The women in Damian's world were polished sophisticates with conversations filled with references to things Elsie had never heard of—luxury brands, foreign vacations, and high-society events. She forced herself to smile and nod along, but inwardly, she felt like an imposter: a country girl pretending to belong to a world of which she was not a part.

Elsie embarrassed Damian

One night, Damian scheduled a dinner at the penthouse for his most significant business associates. The table setting was exquisite, with china and crystal glasses, foreign smells wafting from the kitchen of gourmet food and fine wine. Elsie sat upright at the head of the table, her heart racing as she attempted to recall everything Damian had taught her about etiquette.

But as the night wore on, Elsie's nerves took over. When one of the guests turned to her with a question about an art exhibition the group had attended recently, her mind had gone blank. "I...I don't know much about art," she stammered, feeling heat rush into her face with embarrassment.

"You don't?" he raised his eyebrows. "I thought everyone in Damian's circle had a certain appreciation for the finer things."

Elsie's stomach churned as she stared down at her plate, hands shaking. Muted whispers erupted among the other guests, and Damian, seated at the far end of the table, tried to change the topic. It was too late.

After the guests had left, Elsie sank onto the couch in the living room with Damian. While his expression remained calm, disappointment gleamed in his eyes. "Elsie," he said, tone gentle yet firm, "I know this is all new for you, but you have to try harder. These people are important to me—us. You can't keep embarrassing yourself like this."

Tears filled Elsie's eyes, and she nodded, her heart heavy with shame. "I am really sorry, Damian. I just...I don't know how to be like them."

Elsie required proper training.

The very next morning, Damian woke early, his mind swimming with ways to assist Elsie to fit into her new life. He could not face the prospect of being humiliated again in front of his associates, yet he did not want to destroy her spirit. She was his wife, and he loved her, but her being terribly ignorant of living within this world was something to be urgently attended to.

Damian summoned his assistant, ordering her to enroll Elsie in an exclusive finishing school. "She must learn how to comport herself in elite circles," he said. "Etiquette, conversation—everything. Money is no object. Just make sure she gets the best training possible."

When Damian told Elsie about his plans, she felt something between relief and apprehension. She wanted to make him proud, she wanted to fit into his world, but the thought of that finishing school frightened her. "Do I really have to do this?" she said, her voice trembling.

Damian took her hands into his and coaxed her with a gentle expression. "Elsie, I know this is hard for you, but it is essential. You are my wife now, and you must be able to hold your own in my world. This school will help you, I promise."

With her heart heavy, Elsie nodded. She did not quite know whether she could, but when it came to try—she had no choice but to do it for Damian.

The next day, Elsie found herself facing an imposing structure, its façade grand compared to the plainness of her tiny village. She inhaled and with trembling hands pushed the heavy wooden doors open. A lady with sharp features entered, elegantly dressed in a business suit, her expression serious.

"Welcome, Mrs. Cole," the woman said, her voice crisp and business-like. "We have a lot of work to do."

As Elsie's heart sank, she followed the woman across a long, deserted hallway that echoed with their footsteps. She did not know what was ahead, but one thing she knew for certain-this would be the toughest thing she had ever had to face.