Chapter four

Everyone joined him in the toast, glasses clattering, renting the air. Zach was the owner of ZACH TECH. The largest tech company in the state. His gadgets were in high demand. He was Michael's best friend. A wiry short guy in his early thirties. Michael chuckled and nodded in appreciation.

          When everyone had had enough with the casinos, they returned to the energetic strippers, raining the dollars from the casino table on their asses as they twerked and wined rhythmically. This was a congregation of the who-is-who in the city. Companies and conglomerates owners, politicians, award winning blockbuster actors, multi award winning musicians, distinguished personalities and millionaires. Everyone reeked of successes. Everyone had met success early. This was his clique. This was those he kept for company. Like minds like him. Success stories like him.

              They had set principles that guided them to where they were presently. But that night, all those principles were suspended. Everyone was in a party mood. Hundreds of wine and beer bottles were uncocked and devoured. Weed, cocaine, heroine was in abundance for whoever wanted. A whole roasted matured pig well garnished, was displayed at the corner. It's fleshy and appealing body intact, spread like it was crucified on the cross. The party was just starting because tonight he wanted to party. He wanted to forget his nervousness. He wanted to ensure his last night as a bachelor was a memorable one. He lit his cigar, inhaled and exhaled through his nose in twin streams of smoke as he nodded to the party jams. 

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Next day.... THE WEDDING CEREMONY

        Savannah was in her best, completely in her elements. Looking stunning with her jet black hair sleekly coiffed, a vibrant emerald blue linen blazer bringing out the color of her eyes. Beneath the jacket, she wore a white sheath decorated with same shades of emerald. Balanced on her right palm was a white tablet she was scrolling through, walking in a haste, inspecting like a boss. "Jenny," she called to a colleague she had put in charge of decorating the cathedral, "everything in place?". Jennifer walked hastily, her smile giving the answer. "Yeah Sav, everything is ready. I've spoken to the guys in charge of every other protocol and procedure. We're good to go". They were standing outside the huge St Louis cathedral. The sun was bright smiling on everyone. It was really a perfect day for a wedding. 

              From the look of things, the guests were arriving in their numbers. looking so handsome and beautiful. As if they were in competition with the couple. Bouncers looking scary, security personnels in numbers mounted in their dark shades to ensure no one that wasn't invited, found his or her way in. Exotic and mind boggling cars kept trouping in. Distinguished personalities that was usually only seen on TV, were trouping in, in their stunning elements. Checking her watch she confirmed it was 9:30. Exactly 30 mins to the start. Everything was just perfectly in place. 

           A noise suddenly rented the air. A noisy clattering of a purple private jet bearing initials- MV was visible and audible. All the security personnels ran towards it. It landed and opened to reveal the groom of the day. She stood stunned. Wondering how someone could be this handsome. He looked like something out of heaven. Security and few other distinguished personalities, possibly close friends, stepped out and stood all around him like Jesus and his disciples, blocking most persons interested in the entourage from actually seeing him in his full elements. Jennifer tapped her bringing her back from her reverie. 

               "Something is wrong Sav". She said shouldering her to a corner. "What is it?" she asked alarmed. "The bride. She's not yet arrived. And every effort to reach her is proving abortive. It's just few minutes to the wedding." "What?" She shouted, panic and shock written on her face in capital letters. "So what do we do now?" She asked already pacing worriedly. "I'd advise you talk to Mr Michael Verrati. Maybe he'd have an idea where his bride is. Or call Sam, maybe he'd do the talking himself. Oh... I forgot... Sam is no where to be found too. I guess he wanted you to take charge today too". That was so unlike him. He usually never missed this sort of gatherings. 

                   This was a dilemma. But Jenny was right. She had to do something and do it fast. Her boss Sam would have been the perfect person to handle the conversation with the groom. Atleast he was a millionaire, he'd feel at ease holding such conversation with such a personality. Not a naive nobody like her. But he was absent. The ball was in her court. She wouldn't want this ceremony to turn out a national embarrassment. It could cost her her career. She summoned courage and walked searchingly in search of Mr Michael. And when she finds him, it'd be a normal conversation. Nothing could possibly go wrong right? She braced herself.

🌹🌹🌹🌹👫👫👫🌸🌷🌺🏵️🍄🌹🥀🌻🌻🌻🌻

Michael sat kingly in an annex room to the cathedral itself. The AC was the only thing keeping him calm. Turning towards his platinum watch, he noticed it was few minutes past 10am. The ceremony was to have started by now. He was getting impatient. Seated around next to him was Zach, he was quiet too, probably wondering why the delay. Outside the door, his guards were well positioned. The door opened shortly and Odogwu his chief guard came in, a giant looking Nigerian-American man. "Boss a lady is here to see you. She said she's the wedding planner. She said she had something to tell you." He nodded in approval. 

            Shortly the door opened to reveal a stunning beauty. From his guess, she wouldn't be more than 23. Wedding planners usually didn't look that beautiful or young. He had imagined someone in her late fifties or so. She held his gaze fully in a vain attempt to hide her nervousness. She was evidently in awe of him as expected. But he was shocked, that the feeling was mutual. He was fascinated by her features. Her perfect shape hugging tightly to her beautiful gown. He imagined all he could do with that slim waist sitting on an enormous hip in a split second but caught himself immediately from the trance.