Saturday
“I hate you.”I’m hungover and trying not to throw up on my hairdresser.
“You loved me last night,” Val says way too cheerfully.
“That was so yesterday. Today I hate you.” I state simply because my brain hurts and I can’t think of anything else.
“Will you love me again if I get you coffee?” I nod, and the hairdresser curses.
“Sorry,” I whisper as Val disappears laughing.
“Heard the party last night was epic. Glad you got to have fun before all this.” Jorge has been doing my hair for years.
He’s a terrible gossip, and I take the opportunity to press him for info.
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Tell me everything you’ve heard.” He glances around and then leans in.
“Your future husband is a hottie. Good enough in bed to get anyone he wants, but he isn’t faithful, babe. Has a temper and has been rumored to have ‘gotten rid of’ a few problems.” He tilts his head in a way that says ‘read between the lines,’ and I nod.
“The moms or the babies?” Cause paying the problem away is one thing, but killing them was gonna be a massive problem for me.
“Both,” he says softly, going back to my hair.
“Anything else vital?” He bites his lip and points to one of the makeup artists.
“Actively?” I ask and he nods.
So he won’t be faithful and will kill a woman who refuses to abort his child, which also means he doesn’t use protection and might bring shit home to me cause I’m expected to have his kids.
FUCK.
Val comes back with my coffee, but I’m very sober after that conversation.
After my hair is done, they move on to my makeup and nails. The nail tech must not be in the know because she’s gushing over the makeup artist’s new boyfriend.
“You two make such a cute couple. When are you gonna make it official? I love weddings, aren’t you excited for today?” She jumps from the woman fucking my fiance back to me so quickly, I wonder if she really even wants the answers or if she just needs to speak as a nervous tic.
“Neverous more than excited. Arranged marriage and all. I haven’t even met him yet. I hear he’s handsome, but has a temper, though.” I answer and then turn to the makeup artist.
“Oh, me? No, no, it’s way too early for any of that.” She waves us off and goes back to mixing my foundation color.
“The dress is here!” Val calls out as more people enter my room.
It’s a beautiful gown. One of a kind, handmade in Italy for me. I hate that I won’t be getting married in it today. I’ve known it for hours. The more I hear about the man I’m to marry, the more certain I am that I need to get away from him.
I haven’t laid eyes on him yet. He’s a complete stranger, but I will not marry anyone like him. I’d be too afraid to live with them, let alone sleep beside them. And the thought of letting someone like that into my body makes me feel physically ill.
We wait for the makeup artist and nail tech to leave before I step into my gown. It features a million tiny pearl buttons lining my spin and gorgeous Italian lace covering my breasts over a sheer nude bodice.
I’m in the custom corset and panties my fiancé gifted to me to wear under it. Once the dress is in place, Jorge makes last-minute fixes to my hair while Val touches up my lips, and then we’re ready to head to the church.
The limo ride was short, and my stomach was already twisting in knots.
“I need the restroom,” I grumble, trying to keep my breakfast down.
My guards flank me as I walk through the Church to the small hallway to the private bathrooms the priest and nuns use. They’re the closest to the entrance we used and the bridal suite.
“I’m a good guy.” I stop them at the entrance and walk down the hallway alone.
