“Monsieur“Merci, Omar. Comment allez-vous“Je vais bien. Merci.”
“Ah, this is my fiancée, Ms. Alayna Hart.”
He looks fondly at Alayna and smiles. “What a lovely bride!”
Alayna smiles back. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.”
He lightly touches the tip of her hair. “Just call me Omar. Oh, come, come. Monsieur Katrakis called me this morning. Luckily, I am here in town. When he told me you are coming today, I cleared my schedule to show you my newest design.” He takes us further inside as he talks, walking past the showroom and his employees. He snaps his finger in the air, and two attendants swiftly shadow him.
After that, we head to another door leading to a spacious room that houses his designs and office.
“I could’ve made something else for you, but I’m afraid a designer needs more time, and you already need it this Sunday, yes?” he asks.
“Yes, that’s right, Omar.”
“Okay.” He clasps his hands. “So! Shall we get on to business? I can assure you everything here is haute couture!“I believe you. Show my fiancée everything you have, please, so she can choose,” I say. “And get me something that matches hers.”
“No, problem. Come here, Mademoiselle. I need to get your measurements too.” He extends his hand to Alayna. “This may take a moment, but you’ll look even lovelier. I’ll make sure of that.”
Alayna glances at me with a gleam in her eyes, and grins. It’s a pleasure to me that she’s ecstatic about this. “See you later.”
I kiss her lips softly. “I’ll be here.”
“Miss Hart.” Omar’s employee courteously attends to my fiancée as they follow the couturier into the black room and through the curtained divider within the room.
Then I find a seat by the designer’s desk after they disappear inside. I hear my fiancée’s lovely voice as she speaks to them.
I scroll on my inbox to check if I’ve missed anything important to address and call Ms. Garcia, but I find 7 missed calls from Pauline, 35 text messages, and 3 emails in the last twenty-four hours.
What the fuck!
I read one random message.
Where the hell are you, Brandon?I move on to reading the next.
Please stop making me look stupid in front of my dad. He’s been asking a lot, every day, about you. You ditched him with your meeting, and you completely ignored me in the last four fucking days, Brandon.I agreed to marry Sebastianos for only a year. For ONE fucking year, Brandon, but he acts as if he has a claim on me.I agreed to this because that’s what you told me to do, so my dad would stop forcing us. I didn’t want Dad bothering you anymore with a marriage you don’t want. I respected that. I respect because we were supposed to be friends.I sigh in frustration. She’s my friend—that’s all to it. I may be the only one she ever has, so I made sure she was in good hands before proceeding with my plans. She has helped me enough in the past, and it’s only right I pay her back for everything she has ever done for me.
But guess what, I liked it better when he was forcing us rather than marry this asshole.I know Sebastianos. I spoke to the man once. He has a good reputation, is brilliant, and is thriving on his own. Fortunately, the man agreed to this one-year marriage setup for her. But his intentions are not my business to know.
Sebastianos is an ass. Let me tell you now. Why would you keep sending me to assholes? I’d rather have Oliver and divorce him later than this ruthless caveman. I only listened to you because you said you’d help me get away from him later. However, you keep ignoring me like this makes me think you don’t care about me anymore.Why do you keep hurting me like this? Won’t you even ask me what Sebastianos did to me?First, he asked me for a one-time dinner. I agreed. But then he told me he’s only marrying me for a certain reason. I wish to tell you in person.It’s completely ridiculous.Can’t you ask Oliver to do this instead? Or maybe Cassius. I’m envious of Penelope. Charlie is fond of her.When are you coming back to New York?It’s only a matter of time before Sebastianos knows I am here.Please reply.Dad is asking about you again. If you can help me, please reply.She has a new message after Alayna drops the call.
You PUT me into this situation, and while I’m desperate like this, you dare get your happy ending? How cruel can you get?Oh, I hate this fucking life. My father keeps forcing me to marry someone I don’t even love. Can’t I have my own life? And you, my best friend, are oceans away, about to marry the woman he loves.I’m envious, Brandon. I really am. But I’m so angry at you and Dad. I AM SO ANGRY that because of all of you, I am miserable like this.I don’t like Sebastianos, Brandon. Please.Or just kill me already—all of you.I stop. I can’t read the rest anymore.
My head breaks, reading all her messages. I wanted to block her number right away, but it was indeed my fault she was with Sebastianos now. Having spoken to the man, I set him up so she could get away from my supposed fate with our marriage. My conscience is telling me I have to talk to her.
I type a reply.
You can tell me everything about Sebastianos. But I’ll only talk to you here in Seattle. You can come and attend my engagement, but I’m not discussing anything with you before that. Let me have my moment if you please. As much as possible, I can’t keep making my fiancée angry, so be on your best behavior. I’ll tell Alayna I invited you. I’m doing this as your friend, and nothing more. Lastly, take Sebastianos with you so he won’t misunderstand.I hit send.
I massage the nape of my head and open my email. I have each from Ms. Garcia and Constantine.
This is what happens if I ignore my email for a few hours. I read and reply to my executive assistant first, then open Stan’s message. His reply is fast. It’s his response to what Oliver and I discussed earlier.
Subject: RE: Oliver’s NewsOliver called me. He told me about your engagement and extended an invitation. Congratulations.
But Alayna’s having trouble?
Constantinos Katrakis
CLO, C&C Legal Co.
______________________________________________
Subject: RE: re: Oliver’s NewsYes, thank you. Please come on Sunday.
And yes, I need your help with something.
Find out anything you can about Drake Mallory, the current mayor of Seattle, and Senator Donovan Mallory. They are father and son.
The mayor is Alayna’s ex-boyfriend. I’m sure Oliver already briefed you.
Brandon Katrakis Lucien
Chairman and Founder
Grethe & Elga Enterprises
______________________________________________
Subject: RE: re: re: Oliver’s NewsYes. I heard we are looking after a potential criminal case, and this mayor is also harassing your fiancée. I can specifically have a background check on both of them first. I’ll try to give you an answer as soon as I can.
I’ll see you on Sunday. Again, congratulations.
Constantinos Katrakis
CLO, C&C Legal Co.
_____________________________________________
Subject: RE: re: re: re: Oliver’s NewsThank you.
Brandon Katrakis Lucien
Chairman and Founder
Grethe & Elga Enterprises
I shut my phone. My head already feels like exploding after reading those back-to-back messages from Pauline and Stan. I’m only supposed to focus my time on our preparation. I can’t ignore both of them, anyway. After Athens, Pauline’s case is still in the works, and I need Stan to handle Alayna’s case now too, on top of assisting me in my responsibilities as a chairman of my own venture.
Can I even afford to take a break?
The curtains suddenly finally open, breaking me away from my thoughts, and my beautiful fiancée reveals herself wearing an elegant shimmering black evening dress with lace patterns that display her long, slender leg up to her thighs. I specially told her I didn’t want black, but she’s utterly breathtaking…
It defines her delicate shoulders, proportioned body shape, narrow waist, and ample hips. She makes me stand on my feet.
“Look at how gorgeous my creation is on your beautiful bride, Monsieur,” Omar brags, and even he sounds breathless. “This is an off-shoulder mermaid style engagement gown with a one-meter trail, and I used the highest grade chiffon fabric from France with this dress.”
I ignore everything the designer said and ask my fiancée, “You chose this dress?”
She shrugs with grace. “Yes, I love the color. It’s elegant, Brandon. Don’t you like it?”
“No, no, no. It’s beautiful.” I walk up to her and take a closer look. Only then do I realize her breasts have grown in size, giving a rounder appearance. “You look exquisite…”
Her cheeks flush. “Then can we take this?”
“I have a custom-made suit that matches this dress, monsieur—if you would like to try,” Omar offers, but I still can’t take my eyes off my bride.
“Yes, please. We’ll take it…” I brush my thumb on her cheek and stare at her face. I can never get enough looking at her.
Omar clears his throat. “Monsieur“Yes, Omar?”
“I know she looks very enchanting right now, my work of art—” He laughs “—but I will need your measurements too.”
I take my hands off her. I might not be able to resist the temptation to snatch her and bury myself inside her in that dressing room. “Oh, of course.” I chuckle.
“Ladies, come with me!” Omar snaps his fingers again and walks to the door. “Get me the suit…” The couturier’s voice trails off as he disappears outside.
I cup my fiancée’s face and claim her lips as soon as we’re alone. She manages a gasp of surprise as I bruise her mouth with mine.