“I’m not marrying that man,” she then stated.
Randle took her in his arms and hugged her head to his chest. “Look Princess, I know this is all overwhelming right now but trust me. You will be in good hands with Thomas.”
“But how can you say that?” she asked as she gazed up at him. “Randle he almost got me killed.”
“No he didn’t,” he then began to explain. “Thomas didn’t owe that man money. Charlie was an enemy to both of us. He saw you and Thomas having dinner together and assumed you were involved. He nabbed you with the intent to extort money from Thomas in exchange for your safe return.”
“So what now? I have to marry him out of gratitude? I don’t think so!”
“Princess you know better. And I have known Thomas for many years. He would never bring you harm…I promise.”
As he spoke Lia could see the pain in his eyes and still couldn’t believe he was going to make her go through with this. She couldn’t believe he was putting himself through it. But then she tried to make herself understand the fact that if the powerful Randle Malcolm tried to back out on a deal once he gave his promise there could also be severe consequences to pay that could possibly bring an end to both of them.
“I guess I have no choice then,” she nearly whispered.
Randle stepped back and ran his hand down the side of her face as he stared lovingly back into her sad eyes. “Good night Princess,” is all he said before he left her sight.
The next morning Lia dressed and grabbed her purse. Any other bride to be would be happy and excited about shopping for her wedding day but not this one. She slowly made her way down the stairs and could see Marc already standing next to the limo waiting outside to take her into town. Randle had already left for his office so she would be going alone.
She crawled into the backseat of the car followed by Marc and James was already in the driver’s seat again. She never spoke a word to either of them as they made their way to the bridal shop and she clearly knew now that they had already been informed of what was about to occur by the way they too stayed silent.
As she made her way around the shop the sales lady followed her every step trying to assist her in selecting the perfect gown. Lia was becoming annoyed at this all too happy and jolly woman. This is not a happy wedding she so badly wanted to bolt out at her but refrained. It wasn’t this woman’s fault she was being forced into an arranged marriage nor did she care to share the details of it.
She went through what seemed like hundreds of dresses and tried on so many she had lost count. The sales lady kept picking out the most beautiful and most elegant gowns she could find but Lia just wasn’t happy with any of them. She really didn’t think there would be one made that she would be content with under these circumstances.
“Miss Lia if you would just give me some idea of what you are looking for maybe I could be of better help,” she finally insisted. Lia could tell she too was becoming frustrated.
Finally she thought for a moment then answered her. “Something plain and simple…not too fancy and nothing sparkly either. And I really don’t care for a long train, just plain and simple,” she repeated.
The lady once again disappeared to the backroom and Lia returned to the dressing room to remove the gorgeous designer gown that she really did think was about the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on but her heart just wasn’t accepting it.
“Here try this,” the lady then insisted as she reached her arm through the curtain of the dressing room and handed Lia another gown.
Her eyes quickly scanned it and she thought this one may actually have potential. She slipped it on then called for the lady to come in and help her zip it. She walked back out into the viewing area and stepped back up on the small podium that was just in front of a huge mirror. Slowly she turned in a circle and looked it over from top to bottom and finally announced this was the one.
“And a fine choice too,” the lady agreed, Lia fully knowing she didn’t care, just wanted her to make up her mind already so she could move on to her next customer.
“And I guess I’ll need the veil to match,” Lia then added. “And shoes too.” She just couldn’t make herself get into the feel of being a bride.
“And what about your bouquet?” she then asked.
“Yea sure,” Lia muttered out. “Why not?”
The lady just looked at her with a little concern as she reached under the counter and brought up a book full of pictures.
“If you pick one out I will make sure it’s ready in time for the wedding,” she then informed her. “We can deliver it to the house the day before.”
Lia flipped the pages finally picking one. The lady finally rang up her purchase and Lia handed her the credit card. The lady tore the receipt from the printer and placed it on the counter then reached for a pen.
“Are you feeling okay today Miss Lia?” she then asked surely because of Lia’s unhappy behavior all morning.
“I’m fine,” is all she stated.
“Well I bet Mr. Randle is beaming with joy,” she then implied.
Lia looked up at her. Now she almost laughed but it hung in her throat and wouldn’t move any further.
“I’m not marrying Randle,” she threw at her coldly.
The woman’s eyes widened with disbelief and her mouth fell open but she never uttered another word. She simply pushed the receipt in Lia’s direction for her to sign so they could complete the transaction.
“Thank you for all your help,” Lia then told her feeling a little sorry for this woman. Surely she felt like an idiot now for making such an assumption.
When they made it back to the house Marc helped Lia carry her packages up to her room and they threw them all on the bed. To her surprise he finally spoke out about what was fixing to happen.
“I’m gonna miss you something awful Lia,” he admitted at last.
Now she knew for sure he was informed. Randle had probably told the entire staff by now not wanting them to be placed off guard when the wedding was so suddenly taking place.
“Thank you Marc. I’m actually gonna miss you too. And James and especially Betsy. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you guys.” Her eyes began to water and she knew this time she wasn’t gonna be able to hold back the tears.
“I better get going,” Marc made the excuse to leave for his eyes too were turning red.
She ran to her bathroom for a tissue and blew her nose and wiped her face dry from the tears. Then made her way back into the bedroom and put all her things away in the closet.
Finally she decided to join Randle for dinner and face him at last. Maybe if he could see just how miserable she was at the thought of marrying this man he would somehow find a way out of it but in the back of her mind she knew it was impossible. The risk was just too great and as the big day grew closer the angrier she found herself getting at him. Had he not chosen this deep dark and secret lifestyle of his, this wouldn’t be happening to her. And it wouldn’t be happening to him as well. She so much thought about running again and leaving before the big day but she knew better. She knew she couldn’t because too many of his business partners knew who she was now and she would only be risking her own life as well as Randle’s, especially after Vegas. She was the one that pulled that trigger and fired the fatal shot that time, not Randle and as much as she didn’t want to think about it, she knew she was now branded.
As she descended the stairs she could see Randle seated at the table. His head turned as he caught sight of her making her way down. He actually produced a smile when she walked through the dining room doors and pulled back the chair and again sat next to him.
“Well it’s about time you come out,” he stated with a smile as if he were trying to put her in a better mood.
She didn’t speak at first, just sat silently while Betsy placed the dishes of food on the table before them then again left them alone in the room together.
Randle reached over and grabbed the already chil
ling bottle of wine from the center of the table and began pouring it into her glass first then his own.
Finally after finding the strength to swallow her first bite of food she reached for the glass and took a quick drink. The entire situation was uncomfortable for both of them now and neither of them could seem to find a suitable subject to speak of. She could tell by glancing to Randle he was having the same problem.
Finally after a few more minutes of silence Randle dropped his fork to his plate and faced her.
“Princes, please tell me you understand,” he blurted out as if pleading with her to forgive him for what he has done. The guilt seemed to be taking over his conscience now as his blue eyes seemed glassy.
She swallowed another bite of food then took another sip of the wine trying to take her time before responding, wanting to find just the right words to explain it to him. Finally her hazel eyes met with his.
“Actually Randle…I do understand. I wish I didn’t but I realize that if we don’t go through with this there could be severe consequences that neither of us would like to deal with.”
She had said it now as if they were a team. As if this was something they both had to do together just to survive. And in all actuality, she knew that was exactly what was happening here but what a price to pay she thought as she held his gaze firmly.
Randle lowered his head in shame as he looked away from her. Knowing that she did understand didn’t seem to make him feel any better.
“If you don’t mind I’m gonna go to bed,” she then stated as she rose from the table.
Randle watched as she made her way out of the dining room doors and back up to her room but stayed seated for a while longer and stared at the wall as if lost in deep thought.
Lia showered and dressed for bed. She felt like a zombie knowing her wedding was approaching much too quickly. But now she was trying to shift the mood and think positive things if at all possible. She kept telling herself that Thomas was a gorgeous man and treated her with nothing but respect and kindness when they were together in Vegas. And Randle assured her he was a good man as well and that she had nothing to fear being with him. Finally she was able to close her eyes tightly and fell asleep.
Chapter 6
The next two weeks had passed far too quickly for Lia and now it was the eve before her wedding to Thomas. Nervously she was trying to ready herself for bed but Randle had avoided her purposely all day and she hadn’t even had the chance to plead for one last attempt to stop this madness. She spent the day before packing up as many of her things as she could and her bags were sitting all along the wall of her closet. Randle had already informed her he would have her things shipped to her new home immediately after the wedding except for the things she would be taking with her on the honeymoon.
The honeymoon she then thought as her eyes widened. How will I ever do this? How can I sleep with this man? Her head was beginning to hurt again as all these thoughts were clouding her mind.
Then just as she was about to climb into her bed she heard a light knock at the door and knew surely it had to be him. She froze a moment now almost afraid to open it but finally got the nerve and walked over and turned at the knob.
“Come on in,” she whispered out to him as he stood nervously himself outside the door.
Finally he entered the room and looked sullenly into her eyes. Then he placed his hands on the sides of her face and began to speak at last, not at all with his usual powerful and demanding voice, but much softer.
“Princess you know this isn’t what I wanted to happen either. Surely you know that,” he insisted.
She only nodded but couldn’t find any words. Randle went on. “I promise you will be fine. Thomas will treat you with as much respect as I have.”
“But he’s almost a total stranger Randle. And I have to admit for the first time, I’m scared. Even more afraid then having a gun to my head,” she finally admitted.
Randle could only pull her head to his chest and hug her ever so tightly. “You have nothing to fear my Princess. You will always be safe…I can promise you that.”
But to Lia she just couldn’t understand how he could be so sure of this. How he could actually make this promise and keep it? He would no longer be there with her to protect her and neither would Marc or James. She would be out in the world alone with Thomas.
“I guess I just have to trust you then, huh?” she muttered out.
Randle pulled her head back and used his finger to pull her up to face him once again. “Yes Princess, you can always trust me.”
Lia actually found herself tip toeing up and kissed him gently on the cheek. Randle smiled a little grin but the pain and agony in his face was evident. Finally he reached for the door.
“Good night Lia,” he then said just before disappearing from the room.
With that Lia had a cold chill running down her spine. “Lia?” she whispered to herself.
Then her mind wondered and she suddenly felt weak. Suddenly she realized that after tonight she would no longer be “Randle’s Princess”. She would become someone else’s wife completely and no longer tied to Randle Malcolm. But more confusion was setting in. Would this mean she would no longer be a target for Randle’s enemies to take out revenge against him? Would she at last be able to walk the streets of this world alone without body guards? The thought of it was almost intriguing but for some reason was of no consolation to her because she also felt powerless knowing she would no longer have this man watching over her.
She walked over to her closet and with both hands pulled the skirt of her wedding gown toward her and stared at it. Maybe I can do this after all she thought.
The next morning Lia was up early and nervously made her way to the dining room to eat what she knew would be her last meal ever in the house she had lived in now for so long. The wedding was scheduled for 2 pm and her nerves were getting the best of her. Much to her surprise Randle was already seated and waiting for her.
“Good morning,” he greeted without any facial expression at all. Lia could see his pain but only wondered if he could see and feel hers as well.
“Morning,” she mumbled back as she took her seat and began placing food on her plate.
Finally after a few minutes of silence Randle faced her. “I’ll be up promptly at 1:55 to get you,” he informed her.
Again chills ran down her body. “Okay,” she stuttered back without ever looking up at him.
The wedding was to take place in the main ballroom and Lia briefly looked over her shoulder when she heard noises behind her and could already see the decorators coming in with the flowers and chairs. Randle had taken care of all the planning knowing she wasn’t at all interested in helping out with this event. Her only duty was to show up and do as she was told.
“I think I’m done here,” she stated as her stomach was churning and she couldn’t force down another bite. She pushed her chair back and rose from the table. Randle’s eyes followed her every move and he looked as if he so badly wanted to tell her something. She glanced at him for a moment as if waiting for him to say it. To suddenly announce that he had figured out a way to stop this…but it didn’t come. He was struggling too she could see and for the first time reality had hit her and she knew there was no way out.
She retreated back to her bedroom not wanting to ever come out again. She sat on her bed holding a pillow firmly in front of her and stared at the clock. In just a matter of hours she would become Mrs. Thomas Bransford.
Finally she found the strength to rise and take a shower. Time was nearing far too quickly. She dried her hair and in only her robe and undergarments she again walked to her closet and brought out the dress then unzipped the bag and pulled it from inside. She carefully laid it across her bed and stared at it.
Then she made her way to the window and pulled back the drape for a quick look. Cars were lined all the way around the driveway and a few parked out on the street. The guests were arriving and awaiting the big event. Dropping the
curtain she made her way to the bedroom door and slowly and as quietly as possible pulled it open just enough to see down into the ballroom. People were stirring everywhere chatting amongst themselves without a care in the world and for the first time she saw the ballroom completely decorated. There were rows of white fabric covered chairs in the middle of the room with an aisle down the center with a red carpet runner waiting for her to make her descent down it. A gift table was set up on the back wall and just a few feet in front of it a huge white wedding cake. And again servants were working the room handing out drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Then just as she was about to shut the door she saw him. Standing to the front of the room speaking with the minister was her future husband…Thomas. Only this time he didn’t see her. He was busy speaking with the minister as if giving him final instructions and was smiling and laughing as if he were the happiest man in the world. Lia just couldn’t feel his sentiment.
Her eyes scanned him entirely in his black tuxedo and bow tie and his white dress shirt and a white boutonnière pinned to his left shoulder. Again she tried to close the door but found herself pulling it back open again for one last glimpse of him. He turned his head to greet another guest and Lia couldn’t help but to think again what a handsome man he was indeed with his perfectly groomed black hair and sparkling brown eyes. Maybe I can do this she found herself thinking.
Finally she was able to close the door and look at the clock again. She had about twenty minutes before Randle would come and get her. And again she thought it all rather ironic. The man who had always kept her as his own possession all these years was the same man who now had to give her away to become someone else’s wife. Then she suddenly began feeling sorry for him. What will he do now? How will Randle cope with losing me? He has loved me for so long and now he is being forced because of his own mistake and transgressions to give me away.
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