Five

After the dinner when the arranged marriage was announced and how Nathan and I spent the night together at Thalia’s place, everything has been nothing but hectic. It’s not like we slept in the same bed, but I have to say, he was a bit clingy to an extent.

None of us bothered to talk to the other once we went our own ways.

 My family and Nathan’s family are taking this wedding seriously and they're spending a tremendous amount of money. Haven't they gotten the memo that it will last for just a year? It's their loss, not mine. I don’t care about any of this. They can do whatever floats their boat.

I'm supposed to hate everything about this wedding, but I can't help but fall in love with my wedding dress. Is there any woman on this planet who has the guts to hate a dress from Zuhair Murad?

“Wake up, beautiful bride.” Mum sounds extremely cheerful and I find it hard to believe that she understands that this marriage is nothing to me but an arranged marriage. Bold of her to assume that I have slept last night because I haven't. Honestly, I'm nervous. How can I not? I'm about to take a new step in my life. A step that didn’t exist two months ago.

Sometimes I find myself wondering if I have made the right decision or not, but there's no turning back now. We signed the contract last night. I signed a year away from my life, but it's worth it. We are talking about ten million dollars here. Anyone would have made the same decision I made without hesitation.

“I'm awake,” I mumble, pushing myself up. “I'll get dressed so we can leave,” I yawned, forcing myself out of my bed. This won't be my bed for the next year. I'm going to live with Nathan Rodriguez for a whole year in his mansion. I’m certainly going to miss my room. It has always been my safe haven.

There's no need for me to shower. I will be showering at the resort where the wedding is to take place. It’s one of the biggest resorts in Miami.

“Honey, have you been eating?” Concern coats my mum’s voice that I frown. I look at myself in the mirror and I see that there's a very slight change in my body. I have lost weight, but nothing more than three kilos; I'm sure.

“Wedding stress,” I assure her before disappearing into the bathroom. It takes me twenty minutes to wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, and throw my hair into a ponytail, then I make my way downstairs.

I quickly munch on the pancakes plate before me, then I hurry with my mum to her Mercedes.

“You seem weird,” Mum comments as she drives.

“How do you think I should look, Mum? Why are you acting like I'm marrying the love of my life? I'm marrying Nathaniel Rodriguez! Someone I have despised ever since I can remember and before you say anything, I'm not victimising myself here. I agreed to do this and I'm benefiting from this, but nobody has the right to control how I feel about this whole marriage!” I burst. I can feel my heartbeats quickening in my chest.

I wait for her to say anything, but she doesn't, which is a relief. I can really use some silence right now.

We arrive at the resort and mum gets the key to the bridal suite, then the two of us head there. Once I am inside, I make my way to the bathroom and take a needed hot shower in hopes that it may relax my strained muscles.

Everything is happening so fast around me that my mind can barely process what's going on. In the blink of an eye, I'm ready. My make-up is perfectly done and so is my hair. I'm wearing my wedding dress and the hairdresser is adjusting my veil. I'm a bride. This feels surreal.

“You're stunning,” Thalia, my cousin and my best friend, gushes once I'm all set. I wish I could give them a real smile, but this all feels wrong. Marriage shouldn't be like this, but I also can't let go of this opportunity. Just a year, Linnea. Just a year.

“Thank you.” I give her the best fake smile I can ever form.

“Linnea, I want to give you something,” Mum says, making me look at her. No, I don't want anything about this day to feel special. This day isn't special, and they need to understand that. This isn't a real wedding. It's a show.

She opens a black velvet box, and my eyes widen at the sight of what's inside the box. An amazing bracelet lies inside, and I instantly recognise it. This is a family heirloom. Does she want to give me this valuable piece of jewellery when she knows that this marriage will come to an end in a matter of twelve months?

“Mum…” I start, “it's so pretty, but I shouldn't take it,” I tell her, trying to maintain a calm tone.

“Just let me live the moment, Linnea,” she almost snaps that I am taken aback for a second, but I quickly recover. “Even if this is an arranged marriage that has a purpose, let me treat my only daughter on her wedding day in the way I have always dreamt.” Her words held a bit of frustration and even… despair, that I find myself nodding.

I watch as she puts the bracelet around my pale wrist and clasps the tiny lock, then she pulls me into a warm hug.

“You're gorgeous,” she murmurs and I give her a light squeeze.

After being escorted to a room closer to where the ceremony is held, I do nothing but wait. My heart is hammering in my chest that I feel like it's about to leap out of it. Dad comes to escort me and for the first time, I feel my legs shake. It's like realising that you've just submitted an important project with a flagrant mistake in one of the codes and this mistake is going to ruin your whole work.

I link my arms with his and do my best to not let my fear and anxiety show. Nathan is standing at the end of the alter and I have to admit, he looks freaking handsome, but I will never admit it. I can never satisfy his ever-growing ego.

 My eyes are glued on him, and I swear, for a moment I notice a hint of surprise. Why does he seem surprised? Did he think I was going to walk down the aisle in a satin pajama and a messy bun?

Once we reach him, my dad kisses my forehead and hands my hand to Nathan. “Take good care of her or I'll kill you,” my dad jokes, but I'm also aware that he's not entirely joking.

“You should tell her not to kill me,” Nathan laughs as he takes my hand and kisses my cheek, leaving me stunned. Why did he kiss my cheek? “You cleaned up well, Geek.” My desire to punch him surfaces.

“I wish I could say the same, but the suit looks bad on you,” I lie. The suit looks flawless on him. And perhaps this is how my life for the next year will be. Full of sarcasm, lies, and endless desires to beat the hell out of Nathaniel Rodriguez.