Chapter 5

*AUTHOR'S POV*

The following week, Richard was done with all his work and so he moved out and returned to his own house. 

Nothing made Josey happier than seeing that Josey Stephanie leave her side. 

Most times, she couldn't fathom why a would-be mother in-law would agree to stay in the same house with her soon-to-be in-laws before the wedding took place. She thought it to be a shameless act.

Gabby's wedding preparations were even more intense as the date drew near and everyone was happy about it.

Well, everyone but Josey.

She just hated the names Stephanie and Richard.

Finally, the wedding day came. Josey was supposed to be Gabby's maid of honor and she couldn't back out just two weeks to the wedding, plus, she didn't want to disappoint her best friend.

If getting married to this scumbag really made Gabby happy, then she'd gladly support her.

"Hey, you okay?" Josey asked touching up Gabby's makeup.

"Yeah I'm good. Just tense"

*Yeah maybe it's because you're getting married to a scumbag" Josey spat.

" Josey!"

" What? It's true! He's still a scumbag for me. Just relax, it's because this is your first wedding. With time..." She suddenly stopped talking when she realized what she saying.

"How many weddings do I get then, Josey?" Gabby teased and they both started laughing.

"Hey, please help me find out if Richie and Stephanie are here yet, would you?" Gabby pleaded, going to sit in front of the mirror.

Josey just nodded as she walked outside the room. The wedding ceremony was supposed to begin eighteen minutes ago and neither had the groom nor had anyone in the groom's family showed up.

Gabby had no idea but Josey was much more tense than she was. She secretly prayed nothing went wrong. She still didn't like Richie but she couldn't bear to think of what would become of her friend if something did go wrong.

On her way to the wedding hall, she used her private number to call Richard. After the second ring, he picked up,

"Hello? Who's this?"

"It's the bitch who hates you"

" Why're you calling me on a private number, Josephine?"

Josey gritted her teeth. She hated the name Josephine, especially when it came out of Richie's mouth.

Sounded like poison to her ears.

"Your bride is waiting for you Richard"

"Bride? What bride?"

As smart as she'll ever be, Josey realized what has happening and quickly hit the call recorder button.

"What do you mean 'what bride?' You're getting married to my best friend Gabriella today. We've been trying to reach you but it's been futile. Don't tell me you forgot!* Josey yelled with urgency in her voice.

"Well, you couldn't reach me because I blocked you all, genius! I just didn't think you'd be smart enough to call me on a private number" Richie sneered.

"So you're not here on purpose?"

"  No, I totally forgot." Richie said chuckling as he ended the.

Josey blinked severally. She couldn't believe this was happening. No it couldn't happen. 

She dialed his number again, hoping he'd pick. He picked and she recorded the call conversation again,

"What is it again?" Richard spat.

"Don't tell me you're gonna ditch my friend on her wedding day!"

"You didn't think I was gonna marry someone who had never warned my bed, now did you! What if she chickens out on our wedding night? Or what if she denies me sex for the rest of our boring lives?"

" You know she wouldn't. She sent you pictures of herself in a lingerie."

" Oh please! That was a charade. Probably you dressed her up and asked her to strike those poses. By the way, all my friends saw those pictures and they thought she was hot. Don't worry, I now my friends. Soon, the whole world will know just how hot your friend is"

" You knew she was keeping her V-card for her husband, for you, right?" Josey asked calmly. 

Whenever, her voice became so calm, then she was losing it 

"She can give it to someone else. You're bothering me. I'm still talking to you out if the goodness of my heart. Right now, I'm in bed with Brittany. Say hi baby"

" Hi" Brittany said in a sultry voice.

Josey couldn't hold it anymore. She wanted to insult him so badly but she remembered her promise to Gabby so she chose not to do or say anything until Gabby heard the audio recording.

She quickly ended the call and made her way back to Gabby's room.

"Is he here yet?" Gabby asked, putting on her heels and standing up to face her, smiling.

Had smile quickly turned into a frown when she noticed a look of worry and pity cemented in Josey's face.

"What's wrong? Listen, I know you're worried. I need you to be rest assured that I..."

Josey interrupted her by playing the call recording,

" What do you mean 'what bride?' You're getting married to my best friend, Gabriella, today. We've been trying to reach you but it's been futile. Don't tell me you forgot!"

Josey tapped the pause button and this gave Gabby the chance to speak,

"Jojo, what's this? Why would you record your voice when talking to yourself? Have you seriously gone mad?" She said the last part, giggling.

Josey played the recording again,

"Well, you couldn't reach me because I blocked you all, genius! I just didn't think you'd be smart enough to call me on a private number."

The recording was paused again as Gabby aggressively grabbed the phone from Josey's hand, yelling into it.

"Richie? Is that Richie? Richie talk to me. Everyone is starting to ask questions. Please talk to me!"

Tears filled Josey's eyes and as she spoke, she felt her voice crack,

"Sit down Gabriella" She urged gently taking the phone away from her.

Gabby sat down quietly and the recording was played until it ended.

"So we eventually achieved our aim Josey. He came out clean." Gabby said in a low tone after several minutes of silence.

"Gabby..." Josey began.

"I'm fine. I'm not broken. He won't break me. I won't cry today. And he definitely won't be the one dumping me. Please have everyone moved to the reception. Let the caterers serve the food and drinks and give out the souvenirs. Afterwards, please announce that the bride decided to call off the wedding and apologize for any inconveniences." Gabby said.

" Gabby, are you okay? I think you need to give yourself some time to process all this"

" Time. Time is one thing we never have. Now please go do as I said" Gabby said again.

Josey looked at her with pity long and hard. She knew it was all a facade of courage. Shutting the sorry behind her, she let out a sigh.