Upendo ni nuru ya maisha.
Swahili for “love is the light of life”
Justin and Adrienne arrived at a luxury hotel in Florence. It was more like a luxurious, sophisticated home than a hotel with its elegant townhouse façade, neo-classical furniture and centuries worth of art collections in a four-story structure.
They were greeted warmly by all the staff dressed in expensive suits and uniforms.
Adrienne blinked back at Justin, obviously in awe of the VIP treatment they received. Justin smiled and whispered to her. “I rented the whole place for the whole week. So we are their only guests.”
Adrienne’s eyes widened. “Justin!” she hissed. “That’s too much!”
“What’s the point of eloping if you cannot have some sort of privacy, right?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.
A couple approached them. Justin smiled at the sight of his cousin. Mason. The only cousin that Adrienne hasn’t met yet. His wife, Abigail, accompanied him.
“Justin, my man!” Mason greeted him warmly as he approached them.
The two guys gave each other a manly hug. Justin hadn’t seen Mason in almost a year and among his cousins, Mason was his best friend. Sadly…he was…not in good terms with his parents. Justin couldn’t forget the day he pulled everything off so he could get their private plane to get Mason out to Italy. And since then, Mason never looked back.
In a way, Justin couldn’t blame him. Mason was black and blue and being held for ransom by some poker sharks he owed a lot of money to. Half a million dollars in exchange for his life. Mason’s parents refused to pay up. They didn’t even believe him. They thought he was orchestrating the whole thing to get more money from them.
Justin couldn’t let anything happen to Mason no matter how many mistakes he made. So, he paid the money out of his own pocket, took Mason to the hospital to have him treated, and then boarded him on their private plane to Italy to where his long-time girlfriend Abigail lived.
He felt glad to see that Mason learned his lesson. Justin gave his cousin a fresh start. He ultimately gained his own casino hotel in the city and from the looks of it, it did quite well.
Gambling didn’t sit well with their family but Justin loved that Mason made good use of his talents for a change.
Justin turned to Adrienne and said, “Mason, I’d like you to meet, Adrienne. My fiancée.”
Mason smiled widely. “Nice to finally meet the woman who straightened my big cousin out.” He grinned. Then he turned to the woman beside her. “And this is the woman who straightened me out, Abi, my wife.”
Adrienne smiled at both of them and shook their hands. “How many more of your cousins are you still hiding from me?” she asked Justin.
“He’s the last one, I promise.” Justin chuckled. Then he turned to Mason. “All set?”
“Three more days, cuz,” Mason replied. “Your last minute requests are going to be the death of me.”
“Please do everything that you can. I don’t want anybody to come and put a stop to this whole thing, you know,” Justin said.
“Are you scared that there’s somebody more powerful than the formidable Justin Adams?” Mason joked.
“I know there is,” Justin muttered. “His name is Jac Adams!”
“Oh, you’re right. How’s everybody at home?”
“Still crazy,” Justin replied curtly. “But no one’s crazier than you, of course.”
Mason laughed heartily. “I refuse to relinquish the crown. Neither Jordan nor Gian seem fit to wear it.”
“Considering you took mischief to extremes, you’re probably right,” Justin said. Even when they were growing up, Mason got into a lot of things. Pot, drinking, smoking, gambling, gangs, street fighting and some underground stuff. He made Justin, Jordan and Gian look like angels.
“So which room do you wish to stay in?” Mason asked. “They have twenty, all for your own disposal.”
“Justin…this is too much,” Adrienne hissed beside him.
He put an arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Just because we’re eloping doesn’t mean I’m going to make it a rushed, less romantic experience for you, honey,” he said, looking down at her. “Come on, we need to pick a room.”
They all entered the small elevator, which took them to the top floor.
There were only two rooms on this floor. And they were both elegant, covered with cream-colored wallpapers with gold trim. Both the rooms had a four poster king-sized beds, crystal chandeliers, walk-in closets, fireplaces and sitting areas with lavish couch sets. The big balconies provided astounding views of the city.
“Which one do you want to stay in, honey? I’m okay with either of them,” Justin said to Adrienne.
Adrienne had her back on him. She was looking at the view of the city. Then she spun around and looked at Justin. Her eyes were twinkling and she gave him a dazzling smile. Justin had to blink back. He felt his heart skip a beat and he still wondered how she could steal his breath with just a simple glance or a sexy smile.
Justin felt that familiar feeling of desire creeping through him again, and suddenly, he had this urge to push Mason and his wife out of the room so he could have his way with his fiancée. It had been three weeks since he last made love to her…three weeks since his desires has been catered to. He didn’t mind being celibate for that long. For the previous weeks, his only focus had been how to get out of the prison his parents sent him to. Funny how the thought of marrying a girl he didn’t love was enough for him to stop thinking about sex at all.
“When are we getting married?” Adrienne asked him, her eyes sparkling and he could tell that she was up to something.
“Three days.” Justin whispered uncertainly. He was trying to figure out what was on her mind.
Adrienne smiled at him widely. “I’ll take this room. And you can take the one across the hall.”
Justin didn’t think he heard that right. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, I will take this one. And you could take the other one.”
Behind him, Justin heard Mason snickering.
“Why?”
Adrienne shrugged innocently. “Because we’re not yet married. Surely, we couldn’t share a bedroom until then.”
Justin stared at Adrienne as if she had completely lost her mind. He couldn’t get why she asked for that. Wasn’t she counting? It’s been three weeks!
“Adrienne…” He took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. “Honey…we’ve slept in the same room before. In fact, we’ve almost been living together until…you found out what my parents set me up with!”
Adrienne gave him a small pout. She approached him and put her hands on his chest. Her touch almost burned him. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
“Well…you rented like twenty rooms,” she said innocently and he knew she was doing this deliberately. “It’s a shame if we don’t maximize it as much as we can. If only you rented one room, then we wouldn’t have a choice to but to share, right?”
Behind him, Mason couldn’t help laughing. Justin wanted to punch something and he’s climbing high up on the target list.
“Honey…” Justin took a deep breath. “This isn’t funny. I’m serious.”
She stared up at him. “So am I, Mr. Adams,” she said. “You’re going to have me for the rest of your life. That’s in three days. Surely, you can wait, right?”
Justin took a deep breath. Then he inclined his head to the right. “Can you leave us, please?” he gently asked Mason. He and his wife, closed the door behind them.
Justin turned to Adrienne again. He wanted to kiss her and throw her on the bed and make her scream his name over and over. But now…she’s saying to him that not only were they going to stay in different rooms, but they were going to wait until their honeymoon to do the things he wanted to do to her in bed.
Justin drew a frustrated sigh. “You’re killing me,” he whispered to her.
“Do you really love me or are you just after the sex?” she asked. “Because if that’s the case, then let’s not get married. Let’s just stay in bed all day for a week and then go back home.”
He pulled her to him a little too roughly that startled her a little bit. “You little minx. You know I love you. And you’re not getting out of Italy until you become Adrienne Adams.” He gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. He traced her lips with his tongue and invaded her mouth in a kiss that left her breathless and wanting more. When he pulled away from her, her face was flushed and she looked disoriented. Her breathing was ragged and Justin knew she was as lost in desire as he was. He grinned at her. “I lasted three weeks. Surely, I can last three more days.” With a mischievous smile, he added, “But I will make sure you’ll be begging for it, too.”
Then he released her. Adrienne had to lean on one of the couches for support. She looked disoriented and innocent and Justin just wanted to take her right then and there. But she asked for three days. And the gentleman he is…he will give it to her. But he refused to be the only one hurting and burning every time they touched.
Adrienne looked up at him. “We won’t make love until we’re married,” she said but her voice no longer carried much conviction. “Do we have a deal?”
Justin took a step closer to her. She took a step back, as if she feared that her defenses would crumble if he touched her.
“That’s the only thing we cannot do, okay?” he confirmed. “Consummate the marriage before we say our vows.”
She smiled and nodded.
Justin grinned at her. “You’re playing with fire, Adrienne. It’s a dangerous game.” He narrowed his eyes at her and gave her a devilish smile. “Are you sure you want to play against me? I am, after all…Justin Adams. What did you use to call me? Manhattan’s most notorious playboy?”
Justin didn’t miss her hard intake of breath and he smiled at her. He took a step closer to her. She took a step back. He took a step towards her again, and she kept backing down, until she hit the wall behind her. Justin took a final step towards her, trapping her against the wall and his body. He caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Adrienne put her hands against his chest, giving him a gentle push that wasn’t convincing.
“Justin…” she whispered.
“Can you really stop me, Adrienne?” he asked her.
“Justin, please…” she whispered.
He smiled at her and then he leaned forward and took her mouth in his. She opened up to him like a flower. And Justin reveled in the fact that he had so much effect on her, the way she had so much effect on him.
Soon, they were kissing each other like they wanted to make up for all the weeks that they lost. Justin nuzzled her neck and made her moan. He felt himself completely falling. She was getting softer and softer by the second, making it easier for him to break her resolve. And Justin knew he, too, was gently drowning into that trance. One more kiss, one more pull will make it impossible for him to control himself.
There was a tap on the door. They both stopped, realizing that Mason and his wife were probably still waiting for them outside. Justin leaned his forehead against Adrienne’s. He took deep breaths. Then he looked into her eyes and smiled gently.
“You’re putting us both through hell, you little sadist,” he said to her and gave her a kiss on the lips again. “God, it’s going to be so hard to put my hands on you and then stop halfway through.”
Adrienne giggled. “It’s tradition, Justin,” she asserted. “The bride and groom are not supposed to do it until the honeymoon, remember?”
He inhaled the scent of her. “Hmmm…” he murmured. “I’m not really one for traditions.”
She laughed. “You’re not the only one suffering, you know. It’s hard for me, too.”
“And yet, I’m not the one who made the rules!” he muttered.
She laughed and kissed him gently on the lips. “Three days, honey.” she whispered. “And I’ll be all yours.”
He pulled her to him one last time and kissed her forehead. Then he took a deep breath and said, “I can hardly wait.”
***
They had dinner with Mason and his wife in one of the garden restaurants in the hotel. They discussed the arrangements for the wedding.
Mason knew some people and used his connections to ensure they got quick approvals for their marriage license. It would be a garden wedding to be held in one of the largest estates in Tuscany. Justin used the word ‘estate’, but it was slightly more than that. He wanted it to be a surprise for Adrienne.
Abigail gave them all the details about the flower arrangements, venue decorations, famous photographers and videographers who will be flown in from the States. And of course, Adrienne’s gown.
“Wait!” Adrienne interjected. “This sounds like a grand wedding.” She turned to Justin. “I thought we were going to have an intimate and simple one.”
“It’s going to be intimate. With just you and me, and these two as our witnesses. But I want it to be as amazing as it could be. Like your dress… I want you to wear a wedding dress like you’ve always wanted. You will only get married once, Adrienne. Sure, we can renew our vows in a couple of years, but this is your wedding. And I want it to be close to what you’ve dreamed of.”
Adrienne smiled at him and nodded. Her eyes were a little bit teary and it broke his heart just a little bit to know that she wished she could have some of her loved ones with her on this day. Justin took a deep breath and pulled her to him. He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I love you.” Right now, that was the only thing he could do to make her feel better.
“I love you,” she whispered back to him.
“We’re going to go look at some couture tomorrow,” Abigail said. “You will have to try on some dresses, choose one and finalize everything so they could get it ready in time for the big day.”
Adrienne nodded. “Okay. Anything else we need to do?” She let out a sigh. “I’m nervous now.”
Justin chuckled. “I’m sure these two got it covered. They’ve been working on it for weeks.”
Adrienne stared up at him. “Weeks?”
Justin nodded. “I’ve been asking them to make the preparations while I made… my arranged fiancée’s life miserable enough for her to reject me.”
“What happened to that anyway?” Mason asked. “How’d you successfully get out of it and sooner than you planned?”
Justin shook his head. “I didn’t.”
Mason’s eyes widened. “Shit, man! Your parents are going to kill you! Don’t get me wrong. I love this whole rebellion thing going on with you. But I worry about how Uncle Jac is going to react.”
“He’s going to get pissed for a while,” Justin stated, smiling. “And then I’m hundred percent sure he will forgive me.”
“He loves you,” Mason asserted. “Wish my parents were as forgiving.”
“You cannot get what you do not ask for, Maze,” Justin said.
Mason just grunted. Then he asked, “How sure are you they would accept you guys?” He looked at Adrienne. “No offense, Adrienne.”
But Adrienne smiled and answered for Justin. “Because our parents are going to find out that I and the girl they arranged for him to marry are one and the same.”
Mason and Abigail stared at both of them for a long while, unable to believe their ears.
“Seriously?” Mason asked.
Justin nodded. He gave Adrienne as gentle squeeze. “Destiny, isn’t it?”
Mason and Abigail nodded in disbelief.
“So why are you eloping? Everybody at home will be delighted to be at your wedding.”
“I don’t want to give our parents the satisfaction that they were right to meddle with our lives like this. It gave me hell for a long time. I just want them to know that they can’t do that to me. Even if I liked how it all ended.”
“That is one hell of a love story.” Abigail smiled. “Then let’s make the wedding as magical as possible.”
“I don’t understand this arranged marriage thing,” Mason informed them. “When Justin first told me about it, I warned him. That’s going to be his life imprisonment.”
“You were almost right. During those times, I contemplated why I didn’t run away with you three years ago. It was our grandfather’s wish, I think. He felt that…he owed the family’s fortune to Adrienne’s grandfather. When he was penniless and all he had were great ideas, Adrienne’s grandfather financed his first venture. And he never asked for anything in return. Our grandfather always felt indebted to him. They were like brothers. They wanted to connect our families together through marriage. But he never had a son. Neither did Adrienne’s grandfather. When they learned of our existence they just decided that we’ll be the ones to make their dreams come true for them.”
Adrienne’s head snapped back at Justin. “Learned of our existence?”
Justin shrugged. “I meant, when we were born and they knew they have a boy and a girl on either side. That meant a marriage was possible.”
Adrienne let out a sharp breath. “I was my mother’s daughter from her first…relationship. At first, my mother thought her father wouldn’t be able to forgive her if he found out about me. I think…my mother told me that when my grandfather heard about me…that I’m a girl…he forgave her and asked her to bring me home.” She sighed sadly. “And I thought he really did want me to be part of his life. Maybe he accepted me because finally…he had something to offer to your family.”
Justin saw that Adrienne had suddenly gotten upset. She felt unwanted all her life. She was raised by a woman who wanted nothing to do with her. And she just realized that her grandfather accepted her because she had value. She was a bargaining tool.
Justin wanted to deny that, but he couldn’t lie to her or speak for her grandfather. Maybe that really was his intention, but Justin didn’t know. And the last thing he wanted was to lie to her just to make her feel better.
He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. “Well… he didn’t have to offer you to me, you know. I’d take you even if it’s against his will. I’d steal you away even if he promised you to somebody else or you belonged to somebody else.” He paused and said, “Wait, I think I actually did that.” He smiled at her. “Because I want you to be part of my family…my life. That’s how much I love you, hon.”
Adrienne smiled at him. Then she leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder.
“You said you were trying to make her miserable.” Mason asked. “What did you do?”
“I actually sent Jordan to pretend to be me and be a total ass!”
Adrienne laughed. “It worked! My God, I wanted to kill him! He’s…despicable!”
“But he didn’t find you hateful, actually.” Justin said, remembering that day that Jordan first met ‘Andrea Blanc’.
Jordan called him immediately after the meeting.
“Dude, are you crazy?” Jordan asked on the other end of the line. “This girl is beautiful!”
“Don’t really care,” Justin said to him.
“Not just cute. Not just gorgeous. But beautiful! And she’s not even wearing makeup!” Jordan said. “And she’s…cool! She wasn’t even rude to me, although I understand she just tried her best to be polite.”
“Again, I don’t care,” Justin said. “Don’t tell me you’re backing out of this deal?”
“It’s just that…” Jordan sighed. “She doesn’t deserve this, man,” he said. “Can’t you at least get to know her? You might like her. Hell, I like her and I’ve just met her!”
“You like her? Then you marry her instead!” Justin snapped.
“Dude, I’m too young for that stuff! But if her folks can wait five more years, yeah, I’d take her. I am a part of this family, too. So it’s basically the same thing.”
“Jordan, just do what you’re asked to do!” Justin said in a more authoritative voice. “Or I’m keeping my 911!”
That threat actually made Jordan work on irritating Andrea Blanc even more. And it worked. It brought Justin comfort that even if the ruse didn’t work, he would still be marrying Adrienne one way or another. But he really did prefer it this way. Here. In one of the most romantic cities in the world. Just the two of them.
“I was being nasty to Jordan!” Adrienne said, bringing Justin out of his thoughts.
“Men generally like feisty girls,” Mason said. “When you think you were repelling us, you are actually getting us intrigued. And when we’re intrigued, we tend to come back for more.”
“Oh my God. Then I should be thankful that Jordan was a fake!” Adrienne rolled her eyes.
“Did your mother tell you, you were engaged to him before you met him?” Mason asked.
Adrienne shook her head. “I told her I would try to befriend her friends and their kids. I told her I was waiting for my fiancée to set himself free.” Then she stared up at Justin. He pushed a lock of stray hair away from her face. “I’m glad you still fought for us after I set you free.”
Justin smiled at her. “I would never give up on us, honey. I would never take another woman for a wife. I want to be as happily married as my parents.”
Adrienne sighed. “I planned to be happily married. My own parents separated even before I was old enough to remember my mother. And the mother I’ve known had a twisted concept of love and happiness.”
Justin leaned forward and kissed her lips. “I promise you will be happy, honey. Your happiness will be my top priority. You’re done being sad now. Your stepmother and your stepsister can no longer touch you…or do anything to hurt you. If they do…they will pay the price. And it’s not going to be cheap.”
Justin’s voice held a hint of a threat. And he meant what he said. Adrienne has suffered too much at the hands of her family. They belittled her and crushed her. In becoming Adrienne Adams, no one could question her, doubt her or look down at her anymore. Well, she is an heiress by her mother’s family anyway. Becoming an Adams just sealed her place in the world of the privileged.
Justin smiled at the thought. He didn’t believe in destiny before. But now… he couldn’t help thinking that Adrienne was born to be with him. And he was born to love her for the rest of her life. Even if they didn’t meet each other at Blush or live next-door to each other…or even if Jin Starck didn’t find her. They still would find a way to be together. They would still fall in love with each other. He would still choose to marry her and spend the rest of his life with her. Because Adrienne is and will forever be his destiny... his choice.