As expected, she looked nervous. Standing clumsily, trying to straighten a dress that obviously didn't need straightening. She tried as much as possible to avoid his gaze, instead, eyeing her reflection on the mirror-like window. But he cared less about all that. He was Michael Verrati afterall. Who wouldn't be nervous around him? But he was loosing patience with her muteness. He hoped she didn't just come to stare at him. As if Zach noticed his growing impatience, he coughed to draw her attention. "Yo! you ain't dumb right? why the fuck are you here?" His rudeness was just the perfect tongue loosener because she caught herself and spoke.
"Mr Verrati. The wedding is about the begin. But your bride hasn't arrived. All plans to reach her too, has proved abortive." It took him a while to understand. Then he stood up abruptly. "What d'you mean? She hasn't arrived?" She nodded fearfully. He checked his watch. It was almost time to process in. "Odogwu!" he called loudly. The giant man quickly rushed in. "Gimme my phones". He handed the phones and immediately left. He placed a call to her. It was switched off. He called her bodyguards, none picked up. Immediately, a text notification appeared on his screen. He reread the text, to ensure he wasn't loosing his sight.
"I CHANGED MY MIND. I DON'T WANNA GET MARRIED."
kisses... Amanda.
He was shocked. Astonished. He sat dumfounded. Zach wasn't doing better. He was in worse state. "What? That bitch!!" He shouted. "She'd pay for this. She'd never get away with this. How dare she do this to you Mike? Oh goodness!!" He shouted again, holding his head in his hands. Michael sat quietly. Thoughts flying through his mind. He couldn't cancel the wedding. It'd be a national embarrassment. What will he tell his guests? To think this wedding was to be on national TV. He didn't know what to do. What to say. But he only knew one thing. He had to get married. And married he must be.
"What do we do now Mike?" Receiving no answer, he turned towards the now dumb wedding planner. "What else d'you want? Bounce. Get out!!" He shouted. She turned quickly, fearfully to leave. "No wait! Don't leave." Michael cut in. She stopped as if hypnotized, although reluctantly. "Don't leave," he repeated. She nodded, walking back in slowly, as if dragging her feet. "Zach excuse us." He said almost rudely. "Really Mike?" He protested. "Yeah... just give us a moment." Nodding, he stood up reluctantly. Glaring at her, he walked out.
Now alone with her, he stood up. Arranged his suit and walked closer to her. He held her gaze, as he stood before her. "What's your name?" He asked, noticing her amber eyes were darker now. "I'm savannah," she answered. "Nice. Will you marry me?" She stepped back immediately, shocked. Her mouth hung open. "Wh.. Wha... What?" She stammered. "Will you marry me?" He repeated. She was beyond shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her eyeballs popping out of it's socket as if he had suddenly developed horns. "C'mon." He urged. "You don't need to look that shocked. I need to get married. My bride just ditched me. I need a bride and I want you to be my bride. I'm ready to pay anything."
She suddenly looked disgusted. She had expected his condescending pride. One she knew most billionaires inevitably had. But she was disgusted he sounded so sure money was just enough to convince her. "I don't need your money. What d'you think I am? What d'you take me for? A bride on sale?" He scratched his head regretfully. "I didn't mean it like that..." "Of course you didn't," she cut in sarcastically.
A third sense told him to beg or plead persuasively. But he hadn't used the "please" word in decades. "C'mon. Let's just get married. It's just for a year. I really need to be married. I'm ready to accept any terms or demands you give. Whatever it is. After a year, I'd settle you with any amount you need and you'd go back to your life." First of all, she was shocked at the offer. It was totally unexpected. Secondly she was pissed. He was asking her with such arrogance as if he knew she can never say no. Common sense told her to tell him to fuck off and leave him to deal with his mishap. But here she was, rooted to the spot. Her tongue heavy to speak. She was shocked that she was actually considering the offer. she just couldn't help it. Of course, any lady on earth would jump at the offer with her both hands and both legs too. He is, afterall, everything a woman would ever want in a man. But she had always prided herself that she wasn't jus
"No! No!! That's not true!!! He screamed, rushing to the table to retrieve his phone. He dialed a number, pacing around the TV set as the number rang for a while. "Pick up! Pick up Goddamit!!" He shouted at the phone. "Good morning boss." Zino's happy voice sounded. "What's good about the morning Zino? Huh??" He wished he could punch someone. "Boss," Zino sounded confused, "I don't understand what you're talking about. What's wrong?" Sam held tighter to the phone, imagining it was Zino's neck he was squeezing. "Zino are you kidding me right now?!" He shouted angrily. "I gave you a simple job to do. A very simple job. Kidnap Amanda Fortune. So that the wedding wouldn't take place. And you couldn't deliver? I'm disappointed in you Zino. I can't believe you'd fail me like this!!" He shouted. He felt his eyes turning sore and red. Zino went quiet in obvious shock. Hasty footsteps was heard as he rushed and kicked open a door noisily. He was breathing heavily. "Boss.
Sam woke up and squinted his eyes. The room was unrecognizable. It actually felt too bright for his eyes. He tried to use his right hand to wipe his eyes, but his hand felt different. He looked to see a line of drip connected to it. That was when he noticed he is on a hospital bed. He was even in patient clothes. How he got there, he couldn't remember. He sat up, glancing around to study the room, trying to remember what happened last. Then he remembered. The whole events chronologically flashed back. At that moment, he wished it was all a dream, but it was to real, he was seeing the scenes play before his eyes again. "Savannah!!!" He screamed. The door opened. Jenny stepped in. "Boss. How're you feeling?" She asked, concern printed on her face. He frowned at her. He actually wished it was Savannah that walked in. "What am I doing here? How did I get here?" His head weighed a ton. He was beginning to feel dizzy. "Sir I found you lifeless on the floor at your office
Her husband. He was shirtless and well tattooed around his left hand and shoulders. Looking like something out a fantasy. Of course she knew he was handsome, but she never knew he was this hot. He had a broad shoulder. With few freckles of black hair strewn deliciously on his well toned chest. He was tan with well-defined muscles, a belly that looked hard and ridged like a farmland. His waist was slim, with a line of silky-looking hair curled around his bellybutton like a question mark and disappeared into the low riding waist of the blue shorts he wore, as if beckoning on her curious eyes to wonder about the territory that lay beyond. She tried to hold herself, but she couldn't help drool. His hands left her waist and she jerked off her revelries. He was smiling knowingly at her, his dimples appearing deeper. She took her gaze off him in a vain attempt to hide the blush that bloomed instantly on her cheeks. "Lunch is ready." He said and turned away, leading the
"No.. No it's fine." She recollected herself. Although he had said he'd settle her, money had not been the primary reason for accepting. She wasn't also expecting the sum to be this much. He was remitting 100 million dollars as if it was nothing, offering even double. Are all billionaires this extravagant? She wondered. She decided to go through the rest of the details. It was indeed a detailed one. A part of the contract states that, she is free to walk away from the marriage whenever she wants, if he breaks any of his vows to her. She signed the contract and returned it. He smiled. "You have a curious history. How long have you been a wedding planner?" "It's been a year now. All thanks to my boss that employed me and helped me maximize my skills. On the day I came for the interview, I lost all hope seeing the qualifications of others that also came for the job. Sam event planners is one of the best in the country and you can imagine the competition to get in. I
Of course he knew what she had meant. But she was the wine he wanted. The wine he wanted to share. She was still looking at him in alarm. He interpreted it as fear. Fear of wanting him too. Fear of the emotions and desire burning in her mind. Fear of her naivety. Fear that if they get that intimate, she'd not be able to hold herself. Fear of being so vulnerable to his charms. He turned, deciding to leave, but on a second thought, he moved closer to her. She was his wife afterall. Her head was still in the headrest as her eyes maintained contact and followed his closing movement. She wasn't moving, as if hypnotized by him. Getting to her, he felt her long, wet and silky hair. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as he massaged her scalp gently, touching, feeling. Arranging and adjusting her scattered foamy hair from her face, he leaned closer and closer. Eyes locked. The air wreaked of passion. He lifted her face to him as his face drew within inches of her face. She closed her eyes, pa
Rome, Italy. "Cheers to the latest couple in the world!!" Someone said. Everyone raised their glasses in accordance and clink-clink sounds were heard as they made a happy toast. Savannah was looking and feeling like a queen. She was the center of attraction. All the distinguished guests were moping and peering curiously at her. Although it was just five guests-three females and two males, noting their personalities, it felt like the room was too small to contain them. She and Mike had flown directly from the island to the grand city of Rome. It was already night. But Rome never sleeps. Everywhere was still buzzing. Full of different lighted artistic art works. Giving it a mixed macabre, medieval and ancient feeling. The room too was not different. She had wished for a simple wedding after party with few guests, and liked the choice of venue. One of the most exquisite suites in one of the numerous hotels she had come to realize, Mike owned. It wasn't
Mike frowned as he heard her. He knew all along she was up to no good. He actually didn't want to invite her to the party in the first place. But she was in Italy for a movie shoot, and had insisted to attend. Zeri and Keira clapped excitedly as they heard her dare. "Yeah... Kiss her." They exclaimed in unison. "Hey. Sukey. He's a married man. Savannah is here. How d'you think she'd feel about this?" Vince asked in astonishment. She laughed, obviously enjoying herself. "It's just a harmless kiss. If he can't do it, he'd say so, and serve the punishment." All eyes turned to Mike, waiting for his reaction and decision. But he kept a straight and very relaxed face, sipping his wine peacefully. Seeing his countenance, Sukey assumed he had accepted the dare. She stood up happily and walked seductively towards him. Savannah watched the scene in keen astonishment. Her mind was a conflict of emotions as she watched Sukey walking to go kiss her husband in her presence.