Chapter 4

Viktor instructed I sell the house and get my belongings so I went to pay my last visit.

I unzipped the last suitcase with a shaky tug of bidding farewell to a place I once called home. Five years of memories fading away in the shortest span of time.

Admist it all was an innate excitement of moving into Viktor’s mansion. A reality that still felt like a dream, or perhaps a nightmare. Not sure yet.

A loud knock on my door startled me. I was not expecting anyone.

I moved swiftly to check who it was. I had barely creaked the door open when Naomi swept in like breeze. Her heels clicked against the floor.

"Well, well, well," Naomi said crossing her arms darting her eyes across my luggage. "After my warnings Layla, your agreed to marrying another man when the ink on your divorce papers is not even dry."

"Oh," I blinked and laughed. But I told you I'd be taking the opposite of your advice. Why are you being dramatic?"

"Dramatic?

I wasn't in the mood for her sermon this time so I brushed her off. "You're going to be my bridesmaid."

Naomi's expression hardened immediately. Bridesmaid? Layla, I would rather walk you to prison than down the isle again.

Excuse me? My smile faltered.  Naomi sounded more serious than I had ever taken her .

Yes, congratulations on being another Mrs. Since that's all you came to life for. 

Then my fury grew.

I had taken her insensitivity much enough.

At least I tried, I'm still trying, what about you ? You stand there mocking me when you're the one hiding behind insecurities and sharing a bed with different men every night. You talk about how men are trash   but you keep inviting them to your bed, why? Is it that you're scared of being alone yourself?

"Don't you dare---"

I will! I snapped. After all  you've seen me go through,  you're the last person I expected to judge me.. what? You think you're sensible? Oh no you're not, because if you are you would have thought even once that one of those men could be an assassin. That one night of bringing the wrong one home could be the end of you. When you stop  stop gambling with your life every night you can come back here and lecture me.

The silence in the room was dangerous after I dropped the last line. Naomi didn't say one more word.

"Get out Naomi"

I could see Naomi cracking slowly, her anger tangled with regret.

She finally turned to the door , then she glanced back one last time. You'll regret this one. You don't know what you're getting into.

She left slamming the door behind her.

I sank into my couch and the room came caving in. For the first time,  I wondered if I've lost the only true friend I had left.

Then I picked up myself once more and put on all the excitement I could wear.

I stepped into Viktor’s  gleaming penthouse.

The ambience was overly dreamy I could scream!

The floors reflected reflected the sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air.

It felt like I was stepping a life  I have only seen in magazines.

The wedding followed shortly.

It was a Lavish wedding in Chicago.

It was not my first wedding but the butterflies in my belly were certainly the first.

My phone buzzed with notifications. Headlines carried photos of me and Viktor. Media was on fire with hash tags: From scorned wife to CEO'S Queen. "Youngest billionaire bends for a common woman"

Some even asked , "who is Layla Douglas?"

It was a bit overwhelming. A life I wasn't used to. But for a fleet of moment, it felt good to be the center of attention in an entire country.

Whispers grew on and on. Words speculated on how I captured Viktor’s heart. How the fierce and dreaded King of Glaz Enterprises could be tamed by someone like me.

Viktor had tried to keep me off the media.

He said he was sure I couldn't handle the heat of being famous.

Stop reading the papers... he'd say in a deep rumbling voice.

Just a little. I can't just shut my eyes and mind from this new reality. It all feels like I'm living another's life... it's a bit too much.

Remained firm, it's yours now. No one will take it from you while I'm around.

Viktor’s soft expressions were falling my walls. I'd look at him imagining the rumours I had heard about him being ruthless... it all seemed like what it is  rumours.

I saw something else. I saw devotion,  attention,  care,  protection... more than what I've craved all my life.

He'd often say , "you're my wife, and you deserve nothing less."

Those words were resounding over and over.

Somehow, for the the first time,  I felt like I belonged somewhere.

Viktor said the kindest things;

This is your world now.

I'll stand by you every step of the way.

But it was more than those words. Even as the world  and press buzzed with gossip, the world inside Viktor’s penthouse felt like it was ours alone.

One evening over dinner, he had said casually. I'll make sure that anyone who hurts you pays dearly for it.

The intensity overwhelmed me. I didn't know whether to feel safe, scared, lucky or not three of them.