Beneath elegance and perfection.

I woke up to a loud knock on my door.

I didn’t even know when I had dozed off.

The sharp knock came again.

I got up slowly and opened the door.

Aaron stood there, dressed in a tux, different from what I had seen him in the morning.

His eyes scanned me from head to toe, and then he looked angry “You aren’t dressed?!”

“Dressed for…?” I was about to ask when it dawned on me. Shit! Dinner at his parents. I had completely forgotten with the way I had dozed off.

“I’m sorry. I forgot. But give me a few minutes I’ll be ready soon” I said hastily.

He looked so angry “I specifically told you twice this morning. Elizabeth, with every minute that passes, you give me reasons to dislike you even more”

I dislike you even much more, I screamed in my head. But the words couldn’t get out of my mouth.

“I’ll leave in fifteen minutes, with or without you,” he said angrily and left. He looked so irritated.

A part of me wondered why he was that way with me. He didn’t even know me well, but it seemed like he had this immense hatred for me from the onset. I disliked him too, correct, but for me, it wasn’t that deep.

***

I had shocked even myself with how fast I had gotten ready. I had never been ready so fast my entire life.

I had quickly whipped up a simple red dress from my recently arranged closet and grabbed the first heel I could reach without minding the color. My hair still had some styling from my wedding the previous day so I didn’t need to do much. I was so in a hurry that I completely forgot the jewelry.

The car ride to his parents was icy and the silence was very uncomfortable.

Aaron had been waiting in the car when I got in and he had not even spared me a single glance.

He was on the phone all through typing away. I wondered if he was texting his girlfriend.

That reminded me, that I had not seen Vivienne with him in the morning, had she left earlier or she was still in the house? With how big the house was, she could still be in there and I wouldn’t notice. I didn’t care though. Whatever.

We arrived at his parents’ place which was two times bigger than his. I had grown up in money but the Vanderbilts took wealth to a whole new level. These people were freaking billionaires.

I noticed a familiar car in the garage. Were my parents here?

My question was answered when we walked in and I saw my parents and his sitting together sharing a laugh. I didn’t know my parents were going to be here.

“You guys are finally here,” his mother said excitedly walking up to me and engulfing me in a bone-crushing hug “Elizabeth darling, you look so good”

She looked very excited to see me.

“Hi ma’am” I greeted. I didn’t know how to address her.

“Call me Joyce dear. With time you’d get comfortable enough to call me mum” she laughed.

I watched Aaron greet his mother with a kiss to both her cheeks and then we exchanged our hellos.

I didn’t miss the look of disapproval from my mother, as usual. I probably didn’t dress enough to her taste.

We proceeded to the dining and had dinner. There had been small talks here and there but I had stayed quiet all through, not knowing what to say really.

“Elizabeth,” Charles Vanderbilt called “how does it feel being married to my son?” He asked.

Horrible, I wanted to say.

I managed a smile “Good sir” I simply said.

“Is he treating you right?” Joyce asked.

I already knew the answer to that but I didn’t want to say so I just smiled

Charles’ phone ringing at the moment saved me. He excused himself to go take the call.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t get to meet sooner. Everything happened so fast. But you’re welcome to the family and this is your second home now, you can come here anytime” Joyce said.

She was such a sweet woman. I liked her already.

“Ouch!” My mother gasped. We all turned in her direction. She had accidentally slipped wine on her dress.

My mother? Make a mistake? I almost chuckled, she wasn’t such a perfectionist after all.

Joyce stood up immediately and offered her a napkin “Oh sorry Alexis. How did it happen?”

My mother took the napkin and tried dabbing at the stain.

“My hand must have shaken. So clumsy of me” she said shaking her head “I think I need to use the restroom”

“Okay let me take you” Joyce offered.

Mum smiled “That’s so sweet of you Joyce but don’t stress yourself, just tell me how to get there I’ll be fine”

Joyce pointed her in a direction and she left.

My dad turned to me and kept looking as if trying to get my attention but I refused to meet his eyes. I had been ignoring him all through.

My stomach grumbled all of a sudden. I winced in pain.

“Are you okay Elizabeth?” My dad had asked, his voice masked in concern.

I quickly nodded “I think I need to use the restroom”

I felt Aaron’s gaze on me.

“Are you okay sweetie? Is the food not nice?” Joyce asked looking concerned.

“No I’m okay,” I said standing up “Excuse me please,” I said and quickly followed the direction my mum had taken.

I dreaded meeting her there and having to listen to her boring lecture. Normally I would have waited for her to get out but I urgently needed to use the loo.

I made up my mind to zone out totally as she went about with her lecture so I wouldn’t have to hear something that would piss me off.

I made a turn to the hallway and I was almost confused as to which particular one was the guest restroom. I decided to try the first door.

As I got closer I noticed the door was slightly opened. And I could hear hushed tones. I peeped and saw my mum with Charles. They were talking in hush tones.

What was this about?

I leaned closer to hear what they were saying.

“You betrayed me, Charles. You lied to me” my mum said.

“Alexis I did not. This is not the right time.  I have everything under control. Believe me, everything will go according to plan” Charles said.

I was even more confused now.

Plan? What plan?