Chapter Five

Aleksei

We got to the Greco’s estate and I have never been as irritated as I am now, Leonardo wouldn’t stop boasting about his estate and Father seemed to be enabling him just fine.

“ Father, can we just get over this?” I whispered to him

And he just gave me a tight smile and walked off with Leonardo

“ This is the greatest alliance of the century,” Leonardo said to him and they both laughed walking away together.

“ Brother in Law… or should I say soon to be brother in law?” Marco called out

“ Okay, you know I hate this duchebag, so I’m going to find a drink real quick and let you both talk,” Dmitri said escaping through the crowd

Just great! My eyes narrowed towards Marco walking towards me with so much authority.

The apple doesn’t seem to fall far from the tree.

“ Let’s have a drink.” He says

Picking a glass from the waiter passing by, “ Everyone, let’s raise a toast to the man of the hour, may this union bring us abundance and success.”

Glass click around

“ What do you want Marco?” I asked not in the mood for conversation.

“Oh! Calm down I just wanted a little chit-chat with my sister’s husband to be.”

Dmitri walked towards me and whispered in my ear, I was stunned at first. “Wow!! Alright let the game begin” I whispered back to him and he smiled.

“ What were you saying, Marco,” I asked with a new determination in my eyes.

“Just wanted a chit chat, my sisters mean the world to me and I don’t ever want her hurt, I just want the alliance to work.” He said with fake emotions that didn’t reach his eyes.

I snort, “But you're sending her into a marriage because of business, what a beautiful way to say you love her.” I said walking off.

Violet

“ He fucking sent a wedding dress” I say to Rochelle

“You are still mad, I know that’s why I rushed here immediately my dad said you were back home,” Rochelle said

“ I don’t know how they found me, but that’s not the only issue now, I still have no plan,” I say pulling my hair.

My phone rang, “It better be good news or I swear to God I’m going to kill you.” I screamed at my phone

“ huh, huh… Are you sure? Where did you get the info from… I know you are the best investigator, just shut it and continue, can you get it to me? What do you mean no, then how will I be able to? Okay, yeah… thanks but no thanks, you sure this option will work? Is that all you found out? I know it was hard to find, skip the preaching alright, thanks. I will wire it to you soon.” I said ending the call.

“ Any news?” Rochelle asked expectantly.

I tried my best puppy best and screamed “ yes!!” With so much excitement.

“ Aleksei Carmene, you just met your match,” I said smiling

***

The house was filled with so much preparation, I don’t even know how Papa was able to make this happen in barely two hours, guests were filing in with their fake smiles.

“ Fix that immediately, we don’t have all day.” I heard Papa telling a staff member from downstairs

“ Are you sure you want to do this?” Rochelle ask bringing me back to reality “Your dad is going to really kill you this time and me inclusive.”

“It wouldn’t be traced back to us, I just have to pretend that I have learnt my lesson and accepted the marriage,” I told her.

“Then how do you plan on slipping it into his drink” she asked.

“Who said anything about slipping it into his drink? That’s when the flowers come in.” I said to her

“ V, I should never get on your bad side,” Rochelle says

What if it kills him? I thought

“ Violet, I’m sending the dressers in and don’t dare struggle or pull a stupid stunt,” Papa said from the door.

“Papa, it’s fine, I just want to have flowers first and then the beautiful dress my husband brought me,” I said in the most innocent voice ever.

I heard silence from the door and then footsteps.

“ I have always had a latex spray can in my room, we just have to find it,” I whisper to her

“ V, what are you doing with a latex spray can?” She asked shocked.

“ Rochelle, I paint remember, just find it.”

I searched all over my bedroom and found it just in time when one of the servant knock the door.

I opened the door and fixed my smile.

“ Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful, peonies and Violet my ultimate Favourite, tell the dresser to be in my room in five minutes.” The servant stared at me with confusion.

“ yes ma.” And ran off.

“Great performance, Actress Violet.” Rochelle laughed.

I wore my gloves and quickly sprayed the flowers with the latex. Now perfume to hide the smell, Rochelle passed me the perfume.

“One graze and this wedding will be postponed,” I said

“What if, he doesn’t graze it,” Rochelle said.

“ He will.”

The dressers came in a few minutes later, doing my makeup and helping me wear the high-neck white dress Aleksei Carmene sent me, his name engraved in the hand.

He must really think this is so much of a love marriage.

***

One hour later,

My heart was hammering in my chest as I walked down the aisle to my husband to be with papa holding my hands, not out of fear of him but the possibility that my plan might fail.

I smiled widely, keeping the facade of a happy bride as Papa whispered to me through the longest walk of my life.

“ Respect your husband Violet, this alliance has to work, do you understand?” He asked

I nodded this was his last words to me, I held the bouquet in my hand with so much force.

Then my eyes landed on him for the first time, I was standing at the altar like he was waiting for a client not a bride, he looked good and that detail kinda annoyed me.

I stood in front of him at the altar, watching him to see if an emotion would crack but I got nothing

The whole exchange happened in a blink

“ Will you take this beautiful woman, Violet Vale Greco, as your beloved wife till death do you part?” the priest asked

“ Yes, I do,” he said, but didn't smile, just stood there like he was on some duty

“ Will you take this man, Aleksei Carmene, has lovely husband till death do you part?” the priest asked

The death may be in five minutes but till then, I smiled.

“ yes I do.” There was applause all over the hall.

“You may now kiss the bride.” the priest says.

This is the moment, I breathe in, adjusting my grip on my bouquet in a way he could graze it.

He reached for my veil carefully, his hands didn't touch the flowers. I didn't let my disappointment show, I was already thinking of plan B when his lips touched mine.

His lips were soft but the kiss didn’t last, he just traced his lips down my ears and whispered.

“ I can see you are going to be so much trouble.”