by S. S. Sahoo
“I see you two are getting along very well” I heard Zachary’s voice and I turned towards the entrance of the dining room to find him walking towards us.
“Oh very well,” mom told him beaming with happiness.
“It’s good,” said Zachary’s father as he too walked inside after him.
“So c’mon let me show you two your new room,” she said and that is when I began to wish that somehow the chair on which I was sitting super glue to me so that I remain sitting on it for the rest of my life. As insane it sounds I would rather stick to the chair than sharing a room with Zachary.
“C’mon” mom took hold of my hand and pulled me up from the chair. Like a fool, I glared at the chair for not accepting my wish.
She walked towards the door with me following behind her as I had no choice because she was still holding my hand literally dragging me. She seemed more excited to give us our room.
We walked out of the dining room and then walked past a hall. I kept on glancing at everything while we passed. Everything seemed so expensive and classy.
“We are here,” she said as we stood before a door.
“Oh, here it goes,” I thought.
We walked into the room only to find it decorated for a newly wedded couple. The rose petals that were on the bed, the flower curtains and the flower vines made me want to die.
But apart from all this, the room was very big. The walls were painted white and had woody painting frames hanged on it. The bed even had a canopy and it was covered with a net curtain. Everything in the room was either white or gray.
If it was some another day with other situation then I was sure that I would have jumped up and down clapping my hands feeling excited but today everything was different. Contrasting to it I was feeling gross out.
“Do you like it?” Mom asked and I gave her a nervous smile.
“What is this mom?” Zachary asked looking baffled as his eyes roamed around the room.
“What is what?” she asked looking confused.
“This! This all decoration” he asked as he pushed me and walked inside the room not even bothering to show some courtesy to me.
“I know isn’t it amazing? I decorated it myself” she beamed showing her perfectly sized white teeth.
“But Mo-” Zachary was cut off “Okay now you two rest. You must be very tired. Take a nap and later on you can go out for shopping for the reception party or maybe it will be more appropriate if I call a designer to the house. Rest well” she said and left closing the door after her but not before winking at me.
“Weird! Mine suppose to be mother-in-law winked at me” I thought staring at the closed door like a goof.
I gulped down the lump that formed in my throat and turned around to find Zachary standing on his spot with his back facing me muttering something to himself while he shook his head occasionally.
He walked straight which I guessed was the bathroom leaving me standing not even uttering a word for which I was genuinely thankful. I didn’t want any conversation between us because I don’t
want to get close to a man who killed my lover.
I didn’t forget what he did to Emmett.
I closed my eyes imagining his smile. I loved his smile. Whenever I saw him smiling I would always smile back. It was like a reflex. My lips twitched up every time I saw him smiling. He is so charming.
“I should say he was charming” I corrected feeling guilty that I couldn’t do anything.
I am the worst lover one could ever have.
I went towards the bed and sat on the edge and got rid of my shoes. I was so tired that I didn’t even think about changing my clothes. I turned towards the side and closed my eyes when I heard the shower running.
A few minutes later I felt the bed dip beside me. My eyes snapped open and I sat up in a jerk which made me feel little dizzy.
I saw him sitting on his side with his back facing me. He was now in a black Tee and a loose pant. He was raking his finger through his wet hair probably unaware of the fact that I was now sitting on my side staring at his back.
I got up from the bed and took the pillow and went towards the couch. I wouldn’t ever share a bed with a criminal. He was a criminal after all and I hated him with all my guts.
I threw the pillow on the couch and made myself comfortable on it. I turned the other side where I couldn’t see his face and hugged myself closing my eyes drifting off to sleep.
An annoying sound disturbed my sleep which made me groan in irritation.
I clicked my tongue in irritation.
I hoped the source to fade away but when it didn’t my eyes fluttered open and I looked around to find the room’s light off. The television was on and the light from the screen flashed on my eyes as the plasma Tv hung just in front of my couch on the wall.
It was the sound of the TV which was irritating me.
“Will you please reduce the sound?” I asked politely to him hoping that he would reduce it and let me sleep.
Surprisingly, the sound decreased and I sighed in relief. But it was only for a second because the next moment he increased the sound even more.
“Ugh! What the heck?” I groaned as I sat up on the couch glaring at him.
He sat leaning against the headboard with his legs crossed over each other. His one hand was above his head while another was on the TV remote.
“I am trying to sleep. What are you doing?” I asked irritated.
He chose to ignore me and he flipped through the channels not even bothering about my discomfort.
“Are you listening to me?” I asked and bit down on my lips annoyed.
I lied back on the couch and to my extreme annoyance; he chose to annoy me even further by increasing the volume to the level where my ears began to hurt.
“Ugh!” I took the pillow and slapped it on my ear trying to shield the voice to get into my ears.
“Why?” I cried as I sat on the couch cupping my ears.
As if it wasn’t the end he increased the volume to the end. The room boomed with the television’s sound as I kept on shrieking in irritation. I wondered how nobody in the house didn’t get annoyed by the terrible irritating annoying voice.
I yelled in annoyance and ran towards the bathroom.
But I was quite sure that through the horrible sound of the TV I somehow managed to hear him saying in triumphant “Score one for Zachary.”
14
“So which one do you like?” Mrs. Julia asked as she looked at me waiting for my answer.
“All are very lovely. It’s difficult to choose” I said as I looked at the dresses that were hung on the hook for us to choose.
In the morning, she came to our room and told me that she is taking me for shopping for today’s reception. I agreed immediately because it was supposed to be going to be the only time where I could remain away from him. I so badly wanted to go away from him and this was a golden opportunity.
But him being him, he allotted bodyguards with us to accompany us. As much as I felt weird and uncomfortable with three bulky bodyguards following us, Mrs. Julia looked as if she isn’t new to all this.
“So?” she asked looking at the beautiful dresses that she wanted me to select for the reception party.
“Umm,” I looked through them and shrugged.
It was difficult for me because usually Kiara or mom always selected my dresses for any special occasion because they knew what to wear and what would exactly make me look much better than I already look. According to them, I don’t have any sense in choosing a perfect dress.
“Aww it’s alright sweetie,” Mrs. Julia said and I looked back at her questionably.
“Do you mind if I select a dress for you?” she asked all of a sudden which made me sighing in relief.
“Thank God” I murmured and nodded my head Yes. She smiled at me before going through the dresses searching a perfect one for me.
“Tell me what length of the dress it should be?” she asked not even glancing my
way.
“Umm, full length,” I told her and she nodded and kept on going through the expensive fabrics trying to search for a perfect one. I was sure that by now she must have formed an imagination in her mind how the dress should look like because the way she was searching for the dress tossing away which she didn’t like gave the impression.
“Found it,” she said and took out a classy peach colored maxi dress with v neck in the front and backless dress. The dress flowed down from the waist and it was simple but elegant.
“It’s lovely,” I said and she handed me the dress.
“C’mon now, try it. I want to see” she said and looked around probably searching for the change room.
“There it is. Go” she said pointing her finger towards the north side of the shop and I obliged doing what she asked for me to do.
I went inside the changing room and took my clothes off before changing into the dress. I looked at myself in the mirror only to be awed by what I looked.
“Wow,” I muttered.
The dress fitted perfectly on me and the color of the dress complimented my skin complexion. I turned around and found that some strings were designed perfectly to make the dress look even more sophisticated. Even if the dress was backless I didn’t really mind if it wasn’t for those strings that crisscrossed each other on my back.
I walked out of the room and Mrs. Julia gasped at my sight.
“So lovely,” she said and I saw as her eyes twinkled with happiness.
“This dress is made for you,” the saleswoman said which made me smile.
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Julia said clasping her hand together.
“We are taking it. Right dear?” she asked me for confirmation and I nodded.
After we took the dress we went towards the shoe section where I chose lovely sandals and then after spending some more time in the mall we came back home.
“Home” I whispered to myself. I don’t really like calling it home. It makes me feel like I’m bound to call it home.
“Honey are you alright?” Mrs. Julia asked when we were walking back inside the house.
“Yeah,” I said giving her a small smile.
“What is it? You look pale? Are you not alright?” she asked with concern.
I nodded and assured her that I was alright although I was feeling a mild headache, I told her that I was alright.
“Okay. You sure?” she asked again and I nodded “Yes ma’am”.
“Oh no! I already told you. You can call me mom” she said.
I smiled at her and said, “Sorry... mom”.
“That’s better,” she told me and we walked inside the house and took our bags towards our own room.
On reaching my room, the first thing I did was to run towards the bathroom. I threw up inside the comord and sat near it feeling terrible.
“What the hell?” I muttered and threw up once more emptying my stomach. I felt my rapid pulse and closed my eyes feeling dizzy.
“Oh God”
I flushed it and after brushing my teeth and washing my face properly, I walked back inside the bedroom not really feeling good. I fell on the bed and restless tossed around, feeling light-headed. My pulse was still rapid. So I closed my eyes only for a minute but soon I drifted off to sleep. It was as if my body was shutting down on its own. I had no strength left in me.
“Get up” I heard a voice and groggily opened my eyes to find Zachary staring down at me.
“What are you doing sleeping this long? Get up and get ready. It’s already six in the evening” he said and walked towards the walk in closet, probably to get ready.
As much I didn’t want to get up, I had to for his family. I couldn’t embarrass his family before their guests. I sat up with utmost difficulty and felt the world rotating before my eyes. I had to hold my forehead because of a headache I felt. After a moment when I was feeling good, I got down from the bed. The floor was cold as compared to my skin. I took the bag and went inside the bathroom.
I had to clean myself up first.
“I am going out. You come after you are ready” I heard him from the outside of the bathroom and then heard as the door of the bedroom shut close.
I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin looked pale and there was sleep mark on my face probably because of me sleeping in an odd position. Filling the tub with cold water, I got out of my clothes and got inside the tub. It was soothing me. I sighed in contentment.
After I was done, I got out of the tub and dried myself using the towel. I wore my bra and panties and got into the dress that mom bought me earlier. I did my hair into a side bun because I had no strength left inside me to do a professional hairstyle. After I was done I did my makeup. I was doing everything opposite to what I usually do. It was as if my brain was not working. I just wanted to get it done. That’s it. It didn’t really matter how I did it.
I used mascara, liner, and light pink lipstick. Putting my earrings and other accessories, I was done. The time, I was wearing my sandals I felt my head spinning again and I had to get hold of the doorknob tightly from preventing myself from falling down.
Sheesh!
After I was stable I walked down the stairs and towards the front, where I could hear people chatting, music. The party must have started. As soon I reached the door, the door flung open.
“Oh, there you are. I was just going towards your room for you” mom said and eyed me up and down smiling.
“Oh you look so beautiful,” she said and smiled which made me smile too.
“C’mon let’s go. Everyone is waiting to get a glimpse of the bride” she said and though the only thing I wanted was to hop inside a car and drive away far where nobody could ever find me. I resisted the urge and nevertheless followed her towards where the party was held.
“Honey” she waved at her husband who walked towards us.
“You look amazing dear,” dad said which made me smile and I said a quiet ‘Thank You’ looking down at my feet. It’s not as if I was blushing or something but because I was feeling dizzy once again.
“Where is Zachary?” Mom asked dad and he shrugged in response.
“You are asking me? As if he tell me everything about what he does and what he doesn’-” he was cut off by mom herself.
“Honey! Will you please stop? It’s not the right place or time” she whispered yelled at him and he nodded adjusting his red tie.
“There he is,” mom said and we looked towards where she was looking.
We watched as Zachary talked to a group of man who didn’t really look like decent people. Because of the aura that they had, and the way their body was built it looked as if they were some wrestlers or something.
“Who are they?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Probably his business associates,” Mom said and I looked at her as if she had two head.
“Was she serious? Even a three-year-old kids could tell that were not some ordinary business people but mobsters or criminals. Was she really that naive or maybe she was doing it on purpose. Then that means she really does have an idea about her son business. Mafia business” I thought.
