Wedding arrangements

VICTORIA’S POV

The vows were said, the lies concealed as I took Stefan Zoric to be my husband. My actions were forced, and the tone obviously robotic made it worse in my head. I had always dreamt of the day I would curl in the arms of my lover, but I guess those dreams hadn't been dreams, to begin with; they had been signs of the nightmare to come.

PRESENT DAY

I sat in the passenger seat of Stefan’s black Lamborghini with my nervous fingertips tapping my knee. I leaned my head against the car window, pressing my forehead against the cool glass to provide a reprieve to my sudden burning forehead.

A lot swirled through my mind at that moment, and the one thing I wanted more than anything else was for someone to wake me up.

Any moment from now, Grace would come yelling for me in my room, shaking me so that I would wake up and we could head out to the mall for our first girl’s outing as we had planned.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Instead, she moved to Chicago a couple of months later, for college. So, she didn't come and no one woke me up. No one did, not even my father. They had all abandoned me to the worst of fates and here I was married to a stranger.

I couldn't even dare move my face towards him, in fear of the sudden amount of hate I might see in his eyes.

The same one I had seen the minute we stepped into the car, away from the public. Which I would never expected.

My father, apparently on his end, had done so well in having me convinced over the fact that he was rich. And also for the fact that he would make a good husband and was obviously a man who’d support my education and assist me if I ever wanted any other degree.

The car ride was silent, as expected. Stefan on his end stared out the window and I stared out the other. Slowly, large lavish mansions were coming into view as we drove further away from the city.

I didn't need to ask where we were headed, because it seemed quite clear. We were headed for Stefan’s newly acquired mansion. The thought of that made my heart race with anticipation of what on earth was to happen next.

In less than a couple of minutes, we’d turned into a driveway and stopped at a gigantic black gate. A large wall stood on both sides of the gate alongside guards that paraded the outside property, stretched down to the inner property like a barrier to the outside world.

I sat up, now paying attention to my surroundings. Wondering why a man would have this much guard for himself when the driver pulled down his window and typed a code into the intercom. Just when he did, the gates rolled open.

Not that I was amazed, but I couldn't help my mouth from dropping when I caught sight of the outline of the mansion. Surprisingly, it was larger than my father's.

I stepped out a couple of minutes later, clutching on to my purse, feeling a bit lost on where to go. I looked over to Stefan, to find him glued to his tab barely noticing the confused look on my face.

“You’re welcome ma’am,” A middle-aged woman said, with a smile creased on her face as she reached for my purse.

I glanced over at Stefan, and to my surprise, he was gone. I swallowed hard, following suit from behind her knowing I was in for some bumpy carriage ride.

The luxury of this place was thrown in my face when I was met by a void. High ceilings, multiple chandeliers on every hallway. Stairs leading to more stairs.

“Right this way Ma’am,” The middle-aged lady cut in, snapping me out of my reverie.

“You will fit in, in no time. But first I’d have to show you to your room so you can get undressed and get some sleep,” She added.

“My room?” I questioned.

“I figured from the look on your face when you were talking to your friend, that you’re not too keen on sharing the same bedroom with me,” a familiar deep baritone echoed from behind me, and just when I turned I realized he’d been watching from a distance.

I felt my cheeks go bright red, realizing he had heard Grace and me talking on the phone.

“You weren't supposed to hear!” I snapped and then looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Actually, I wasn't so sure I had heard correctly but you just admitted it,” He responded, taking a step towards me.

I looked up at him and frowned, realizing he had just tricked me. And for some damn reason, a smile tugged at his lips, plus he looked pretty smug about it too.

That bastard!…

***********************

I woke up to a bad ache and was desperately in need of my usual pain relief meds. I perked up to my feet, strolling through the darkness, wondering where on earth they had the kitchen built.

As I did, the echoes of a tiny muffled voice from a distance alerted me to the fact that there was someone down the hallway.

I tiptoed my way down the hallway, headed in the direction of the voice. Surprisingly when I did, I found Stefan leaning on his desk with his fingers raking through his hair and the other stuck to his phone.

“I don't care how long it takes Gerald, I'm glad I finally got the old man off my neck from his usual pestering!” He snapped.

“I’ve done my end of the bargain and that's marrying the senator's daughter and I expect you to play your part !” Stefan added.

Silence…

“Cut the crap man, you and I know I don't love her. The wedding arrangement was obviously for the public’s eye,” Stefan said.

I felt a pang hit my chest, as I backed away for a bit at his harsh choice of words.

And all I could recall was that I was hurt and my head throbbed like someone had shoved a jackhammer in there.

I shook my head, a sharp pain through it as I did so. Everything was starting to spin around me, my eyes slowly welling up as I distinctly heard someone call out to me before it all faded to black.