This just got real, fast.
“I think this one,” she says. The older woman nods her agreement.
The dress is gorgeous. If this were my actual wedding, it might even be one I’d pick for myself. But it’s not, and this wedding isn’t happening. The dress goes back on the rack, and the women shuffle me to a vanity seat and start slathering makeup on me. Tutting over my “large” pores and eyebrows, which are perfectly maintained, I might add.
Jerks.
After my makeup is finished to their satisfaction, they start on my hair. It’s curled and pinned up. An over-the-top tiara is woven into the design, making me look like a fairytale princess. A very disgruntled fairytale princess.
A loud knock on the door startles me.
“Time to go,” comes a rough male voice from the other side of the door.
Oh God.I’m not ready. And I don’t mean that I’m not dressed yet. I can’t be forced into a marriage I don’t want.
No. Jasper will come for me. He will… somehow.
“Come,” the older woman says briskly, indicating she wants me to step into the dress that’s been picked.
I shake my head and put my hands out in front of me as if to ward her off. “No, this isn’t right,” I whimper.
“No one goes against Mr. Sokolov. Now get over here before we all suffer the consequences, you stupid girl.”
I could keep arguing, but can I really fight these women knowing that they will suffer too?
No, I really can’t. That’s not the kind of person I am.
Reluctantly, I let them dress me. They lace up the corseted top, and every tug makes my chest constrict. Not from it being overly tight—the dress fits perfectly—but from the reality I’m now living.
What am I going to do?
“Get married, stupid girl,” the older woman replies. I hadn’t even realized I’d spoken out loud.
“I can’t be forced into a marriage that I don’t want.”
The woman scoffs as the other messes with my already perfect hair.
“This is how it’s done in our world. Marriages of convenience. Arranged marriages. It is how it is.”
“I’m not part of this world,” I argue.
She throws her head back and laughs. “Mr. Sokolov owns this city. You will learn. Everything is his. Including you. Now put on your shoes. We need to go.”
I slip into the white stilettos just as the door swings open, and one of the henchmen from earlier appears.
“It’s time to go.”
I’m marched through the penthouse and to the elevator and straight outside to a waiting limo. My throat constricts, and tears well in my eyes as the car pulls away from the curb with me inside. I fight back the tears, knowing they won’t do me any good. I need a plan. I need to find a way to get out of this situation on my own.
We stop at a light, and I try the door handle—locked. Fucking child safety locks will be the death of me—maybe literally.
I haven’t come up with a single idea to get away from Dima’s henchmen by the time we pull up to the church. Within moments the door is opened, and I’m expected to get out. I want to just hide in here, but I know that’s not going to work. In fact, it’ll just get me hurt.
I slowly get out of the car and look around, fruitlessly praying that Jasper has found me. My heart sinks when I’m led inside.
He’s not coming.
I’m going to be forced to marry Dima Sokolov.