Chapter 8

Kendra and I arrive at the park just as the photographer is finishing setting up, “Good, you are here. Where is the groom?” she asks in an English accent.

“We had to take separate cars, but he is on his way,” I assure her.

“Very good. We will start with you,” the photographer proclaims.

After about twenty minutes, James and his family arrive. Thomas arrives ten minutes later.

“Where is Maxwell?” Thomas asks.

I shrug, “He told Kendra and me they would take the car behind us.”

Thomas pulls out his phone and begins trying to call Max. As he is calling, we see Max and three of his friends approaching. Thomas hangs up the phone and rushes to his son. After what appears to be a heated discussion, Maxwell walks over towards the photographer and me, “I apologize, I was looking for you at the other end of the park.”

The photographer nods, “We can get a few more shots, but we are almost running out of good lighting.” She has us pose in front of a fountain, “Hold hands and kiss. Stay in that pose for a moment.”

Max and I stand face to face. I push up to kiss him as he leans down. The moment our lips meet, I can taste the alcohol on him. I flinch back and look up at him. There is a smirk on his face. “Is everything okay, Ellie?” the photographer asks.

I nod, “Yes, just got a shock, is all.”

“Okay, well, we need to get the shot,” she replies. I lean back into Max. This time, when our lips meet, his lips are slightly apart. I do my best to follow his lead, but the taste and smell of the rum on his breath are making it difficult. Finally, the photographer has us move. She says, “Max, lean in like you’re whispering in her ear. Ellie, smile.”

I tilt my head to the side and smile. Max leans down and says, “Welcome to hell, Ellie.” He pulls back and looks at me. Max pushes my chin up, so I look at him, “I hope she got the look on your face.”

“I don’t understand,” I whisper.

Max smiles. Taking my hand, he says, “Don’t worry, you will.” Then he kisses me again. The kiss is sweet and leaves me confused.

We get a few more shots with everyone before the sun gets too low and we lose light. A limo waits to take us to the hotel where the reception will take place. I got in first, followed by Max. His friends get in next. I wait for Kendra, but they shut the door. “Could we let my friend in, please?” I ask.

Max shakes his head, “There isn’t enough room. If it wouldn’t look bad, I wouldn’t have you here.”

His words sting, but I don’t want to push the subject with all his friends watching. I stare out the window and try to focus on not crying.

Max and his friends are talking, but I don’t pay much attention until I realize they are talking about me. “Max, she isn’t that bad to look at,” one of them says.

Max replies, “Did I say she was ugly or nothing special? Nothing is striking about her.”

“What did you say kissing her was like? She went stiff?” another asks.

Max laughs, “She’s not the best kisser.” I look over at them. Everyone’s eyes are on me. I take a hard swallow and look away. Max says, “At least she doesn’t talk a lot.”

“What’s her name again?” one asks.

“Ellie,” says Max.

“What’s Ellie short for? Elliana?” the same guy asks.

Max shrugs, “I don’t remember.” Turning towards me, “What was your name again?” he asks.

I look up at him, in a soft voice, I say, “Elanor.”

“That’s right,” Max says. He looks at one of his friends, “Chad, didn’t one of your sisters have a cat named Ellie?”

Chad nods, “Yes, most annoying cat in the world. It feels weird meeting a person named Ellie now.”

We pull up to the hotel, and everyone begins to exit. Max stops me when we are the last two in the limo, “I’m not sure how good of an actress you are, but you better put on a good show tonight. I will go over the rules with you tomorrow. For tonight, you will act happy and dote on me constantly, do you understand?” he asks in a harsh voice.

“I thought you wanted to get married,” I say, confused.

Max shakes his head, “I want my father off my back. Let me explain this to you. You will earn whatever money my father has promised you to marry me. This will not be the free ride you believe it is. I’m not sure what hole you crawled out of or how you convinced my grandfather that you were worthy of me, but I know the truth about you.”

“What truth?” I ask in disbelief.

Maxwell holds disdain in his voice, “That you’re a gold digger and nothing more.” With a smirk, he says, “What kind of woman willingly enters into an arranged marriage without it being cultural? No one of high class, that’s for sure.” I feel tears well up in my eyes. Max shakes his head, “Don’t cry. Your tears mean nothing to me. Save them for your pillow tonight.” I blink a few times. Max smiles, “Good, now, let’s go make our grand entrance. There is an open bar.”

We exit the limo. Maxwell and I walk hand in hand into the reception. I do my best to smile. Max keeps an arm draped around my waist. On occasions, he will kiss me on the cheek. I meet his colleagues and old family friends. After about an hour, Max whispers in my ear, “I’m going to hang out with my friends. Be sure to entertain the guest.”

I nod but don’t respond. Once he leaves, I feel more relaxed. I take my time mingling with the guests. Kendra soon finds me, and we spend time talking with different people.

Glancing over at the bar, I see Max and his three friends. A group of girls are chatting with them. One girl has her hand on Max’s arm. Kendra and I exchange a look. “You need to go over there and set the boundary that his flirting will not be tolerated,” she says.

I give her a pleading look, “I don’t want to do that.”

Kendra looks around. She knows there is more to the story, but that now isn’t the time. We continue to speak with the guest. We see Thomas and begin chatting with him and his close friends. The friends tell me about Maxwell growing up and how he always seemed to find trouble. In the middle of one of their stories, a bartender approaches Thomas and whispers to him.

Thomas looks at me, “Ellie, it is getting late. Perhaps it is time for you and Max to head to bed.”

I nod. Thomas comes with me to find Max. “The bartender has cut him off. I am sure he is blackout drunk. Just get him upstairs and out of sight.” I can hear the desperate plea in Thomas’s voice.

“I will put him to bed,” I reply.

We find him sitting at a table with his friends. He is barely conscious. “How much did he drink?” Thomas demands.

One of the guys at the table says, “He had at least two whole bottles of rum. He and Taylor split a bottle on the way to pick us up before meeting for pictures. Then we drank nonstop here for an hour. Jessica had already taken Taylor upstairs.”

Thomas looks furious. He is about to say something, but I interject. “I’ll take Max upstairs. Please tell everyone goodnight for me and thank them again for coming.”

Thomas nods. He begins scolding the other men at the table while I help Max to his feet. He leans against me, and I help guide him towards the door. Max mumbles while we walk, but I can’t figure out what he is saying.

We finally stumbled into our suite. There is a sitting area before the private bedroom. I have Max lie on the bed. With a lot of coaxing and maneuvering, I am able to get his shoes, belt, jacket, and tie off. I put Max on his side and a trash can near him.

I take a shower, making sure I get all the makeup and hair product off me. I called Kendra and asked her to bring me a spare change of clothes in the morning, then called Thomas and asked for clothes for Max. After hanging up my dress and Max’s jacket, I find an extra blanket and sleep on the couch.