The next day, after an early morning sex. Daniella got prepared and was checking herself in the mirror when Leonard spoke up.
"How about the wedding? I'm yet to hear from you. Has he fixed the wedding date?" He asked.
"Not yet," Daniella replied while working on her scattered hair.
"We don't have time. You know that. You need to do something about it. We need him to move fast. The sooner you guys get married, the sooner we move forward with our plan. Any delay can cause disaster.”
Daniella took a deep breath and turned to him. “I know. I’ve tried everything, but he is not listening to me. He keeps talking about his business and how he had been losing contracts. I don't know how long it will take."
"Why will he keep delaying? Does this mean that he's sensing something?" Leonard asked.
"No, I don't think so. He has never suspected anything."
"Then why the delay?"
"To be sincere, he had been losing contracts recently, and it's weighing him down. We just need time." She said and wore his perfume.
"That shouldn't cause delay. Here is what you are going to do." Leonard began. "You are going to tell him that you are done with his excuses, that you are done with the delays. You are going to tell him that if he doesn’t set a date within the next week, you are leaving him."
Daniella stared at him. "What? But..."
"No buts, Daniella." Leonard interrupted. "You need to be serious. You are going to use the full force of your charm. You are going to tell him you are done being left out on a limb. You will tell him that you want to be a wife, that your friends are mocking you. That you need to be respected as such without further excuses. If you don't show how serious you are, he will keep delaying."
"Alright. I will tell him." She gave him a peck, and he escorted her out. She entered her car and drove home.
Desmond was just getting up from the bed when Daniella arrived.
"Hi honey, good morning." Daniella greeted and hugged him. Desmond smelled the perfume and noticed something odd. It smelled like a male perfume.
"Which perfume did you spray? It smelled like a popular male perfume I know."
"Oh! I don't know. It's my friend's own. Maybe it's for her boyfriend."
"Her boyfriend was there with you guys, and you said she was alone with you?" Desmond asked.
"No, her boyfriend traveled. He didn't attend the party. Maybe her boyfriend forgot the perfume in her house. You know...something like that."
"Alright. So how is your friend?" Desmond asked.
"She's getting better. She said I should thank you. She's grateful that you allowed me to stay over." Daniella said.
"You know.... I was angry with you. But I'm fine now. I hope you enjoyed the party, though."
"Yeah, I enjoyed every bit of it. It was great. Especially in the night. I would have missed a lot if I didn't go. I'm happy that you let me."
"Especially in the night?" Desmond repeated. "What happened in the night?" Desmond asked, and that was when Daniella realized what she had just said. Her mind went wild immediately, thinking of what to say for a cover-up.
"You know......" She began. "After her guests left, she brought food she kept special for me. After eating, I made sure she took her drugs. You won't believe I slept like a baby." Daniella finished, praying and hoping he would believe her.