My new man

My hands were shaking as I held the phone close to my ears, still trying to process what Leo had just said.

"What do you mean something came up Leo?” My voice came out cracking in a way I hated.

"I know princess, I'm so sorry. Something very important came up and I can't help it."

He ended the call before I could respond and for a minute, I was too stunned to react. I moved close to my window, just in time to see Savvy retreating to his car.

“God, what was I expecting from a stranger?” I whispered under my breath as I fell to the floor.

Thinking he might be pulling a prank on me, I called him back. Fifty times. It went straight to voicemail every single time.

“This can't be happening,” I muttered to myself.

It was only a few hours before the wedding and he canceled on me, so when Estelle called, panic was evident in my voice.

“I hate this feeling.”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down. What's wrong?” Estelle asked.

“He's not coming.”

She went quiet for sometime, before asking another question that almost made me yell at her. “Who?”

“Who else?” I raised my eyebrows and rolled my eyes, wishing she could see me. “Leo.”

“I'm sorry, come again.”

She sounded shocked, so I could not get angry at her. “He just called and said something, then hung up and maybe blocked my number or whatever.”

“Why would he go as far as blocking your number?”

“I can't tell and just assumed that part, his phone isn't connecting. Plus I'm being directed to voicemail.”

“What the fu—” she cut herself off. “Okay, don't panic, maybe he's planning something.”

“Elle, this is not the right time to joke. Everyone thinks I have a man in my life, somehow even my mother is aware.” I pressed my palm on my forehead. “I will look like a complete fool, if I show up alone.”

The thought of how Ciara would smirk at that,made my heart ache.

“Don't sound that way, you won't be alone. I'll be right there with you.”

“You're a darling, but that's not the same and you know it.”

I ended the call after that, because listening to her was like putting myself through more torture.

“Okay, all I need to do is find a replacement.”

I went back to the site but after five hours, it was obvious that luck was not on my side.

“Maybe they'll all forget, I'm probably thinking too much about this. Maybe, just maybe—”

A chuckle let itself out of my mouth, cutting me off midway my soliloquy.

“You're going to be the laughing stock of the century, mark this.”

If there was one thing I was very good at, it was telling myself the truth and this was one of those moments.

Trying to forget about all of this, I grabbed a bottle of wine and drank to my heart's content before the world disappeared before my eyes.

Something weird was touching my face, so I woke up with a shriek. “Jeez!”

One look around and I noticed that it did not feel like evening, so I picked up my phone to check the time.

It was 5am!

And the day of the wedding!

I rushed to get ready, because timing was everything for me even if I was not a big fan of this wedding.

By the time my makeup artist arrived, I had convinced myself Leo forgot how important today was. After all, I was probably just a job he decided wasn't worth showing up for.

“So much for trusting a random stranger.” I whispered as I did the zip to my dress 

I took a look at the green dress that hugged my body, making me look curvy. Even if the color was hideous, I was one person who could make trash turn fashion worthy once I put it on. If I was going down today, at least I was going down looking flawless.

The drive to the Rios estate felt like the longest drive of my life. My mother texted three times asking where my man and I were, she was being a pain in the ass but I could not exactly tell her that.

Just when I thought she was letting me take a breather, another text came in sounding more like a threat.

*Zariah, I hope you have not lied to me about this man. You would not like me if you did.*

I shuddered a bit as I turned my phone face down on the car seat, tightened my grip on the steering wheel and drove the rest of the way in silence.

The venue was packed by the time I got there, with white flowers on every pillar and string lights everywhere. It was the kind of wedding that made it clear Savvy's family had no fixed budget for it.

I rushed to the bridal room, just in time to see Ciara getting dolled up.

“You had me scared, Zariah. I almost thought you were not going to make it,” she said with a smile I knew was fake. 

“Something came up.”

Why did that sound so familiar?

“Is your new man still making it?” Ciara asked.

Oh, it was the exact words Leo had said to me. I chuckled when I remembered it.

“What's funny?”

I stared directly at Ciara, when she asked that question. “Nothing, you look great and yes he is.”

Heavens know I had no idea why I lied, but I was not about to lose to Ciara on this.

“Thank you.” She pulled me to her side. “We are literally going to be each other's shadow today, don't you go anywhere.”

I raised my brows and smirked as I nodded my head. The rest of the event continued as a blur to me— her father walked her down the aisle, I was right beside her when Savvy kissed her and the priest declared them husband and wife.

Reality hit me when the reception started in the open space, that had been set aside for it.

"There she is," someone whispered as I walked in. "Where's the man, her friend bragged about?”

I forced my chin up and smiled as I sat in my designated seat near the front, feeling different pairs of eyes on me.

Ciara caught my eyes from a far end of the space and smirked, it was evident she was enjoying every second of my humiliation.

The whispers were multiplying like a virus, when my mother appeared by my side.

She had a smile on for the camera, but her grip on my hand was saying something else. “Where is he?”

“Mom, I don't—”

"Do not embarrass me today, Zariah."

I opened my mouth to respond when the sound of a car engine came from outside, the kind of expensive sound that made everyone's head turn at once.

I watched a sleek black Rolls Royce glide up the driveway and come to a smooth stop. The whispers around me died, as everyone was curious to know who had just made such a grand entrance.

The driver stepped out first to open the passenger door, for whoever was in the back of the car.

When the dark hair and broad shoulders of the man came up first, something inside me told me it wasn't true. But I had studied the pictures he had sent me so much, just to be able to recognize him.

His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me, confirming my thoughts. He walked towards me like every single person staring at him was a formality he had to walk past.

"Sorry I'm late, princess," he said loud for everyone to hear, before closing the distance between us in a few strides. "I had somewhere to be first."

I was still in disbelief, when my mother took control of the situation. “You don't have to worry about that, it's fine since you made it. I was worried for nothing.”

He turned to her in slight confusion, then whispered in a low voice. “I'm sorry, who are you?”

“This brat.” My mom hit me, making me aware of what was going down. “I'm her mother, you can call me Anna.”

“Forgive me, for the misunderstanding. Can I call you mom?” He asked, before winking at me. “We're going to be family after all.”

“I love your confidence,” my mom said with a smile plastered on her face. “I'll leave you two to it.”

When she left, I tried to smile to mask how I felt. “What happened?”

“You're upset.” He reached out pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I had to handle a situation.”

My heart skipped three beats in excitement, but it felt weird because I knew for a fact I did not love this man.

Somehow my eyes met Ciara's and I could see her looking upset, so I raised my glass up to her.

“Is that our enemy?” Leo asked in a low tone.

“Mine.”

“What's yours is mine,” he paused then added. “Enemy incoming.”

“Hi,” Ciara's voice floated to my ears. “I'm Ciara the bride, Zariah's friend.”

“It's an honor, I've heard great things about you.”

She put on a smile. “ But I got nothing on you, thanks for attending the wedding.”

“I'll do anything for my princess.”

Leo stared at me with eyes that looked lovestruck, making me blink hard. Savvy must have noticed Ciara was not by his side, because he made his way towards us.

But the minute he saw Leo, his face turned pale like he had seen a ghost as his eyes darted between Leo and I. "Zariah, what are you doing with my brother?”

My heart skipped a beat as I looked back at Leo. "What?"