"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. I don't get what you're talking about. You're getting me confused." He said. Sam started seeing stars in anger. "Shut the hell up Zino. Are you trying to get me nuts? You'd surely pay for this. You and all your impotent boys will pay dearly for this." He shouted, pointing around as if he was addressing an apparel of zino before him. "Boss. She's here. The lady we kidnapped, the bride to be, is still here. We didn't fail you boss. We got her." His anger was replaced with confusion. "What d'you mean she's there? Are you trying to deceive me? I'm watching a life broadcast of a wedding and you're telling me you got the bride?" He was loosing his voice shouting.
"Boss. She's here. I'm looking at her right now. We got her. I didn't get the wrong person. I mean, she's a popular model, I've seen her on TV numerous times. She's asleep now. Let me show you." He connected the phone to video call and Sam stood shocked and confused. She was indeed there and tied, fast asleep. Still in her wedding dress. There was no mistake. He turned towards the television in confusion, seeing a veiled bride and Michael Verrati standing before a priest. He was going crazy with confusion. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride." The priest said. Sam drew closer curiously, looking back at the video call and the TV in turns, wondering how a person can exist in two places at the same time. "Am I hallucinating? What the actual fuck is going on?" He wondered loudly.
Michael Verrati gracefully unveiled his bride and drew close for a kiss to a loud applause from the audience. The camera flashed and zoomed on the bride's happy face. Sam drew even closer to the TV in shock. He had his face resting on the TV screen, hoping he didn't see clearly at first. He was dumbfounded. His knees wobbled and he almost lost balance as recognition dawned on him. "Noooooooo!!!" He screamed loudly. "Boss? Are you okay boss?" Zino's voice sounded in concern and confusion. "Noooooooo!!! he shouted again, hurling the phone forcefully to the TV screen, shattering it.
*
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*
It was joyful. The diamond rings had been exchanged. The happy vows had been said. She was happy. He was happy. He was pleased. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride." The smiling priest in long flowing white apparel said in his tenor voice. She was so beautiful even under the veil. He shivered in anticipation. He tried hard to hide his nervousness. But couldn't. Thankfully, the curiosity to see that full beauty beneath the veil, spurred him on. He walked closer. She smiled nervously beneath the veil. Immediately she felt his hands on her veils, she paused as if hypnotized. She couldn't take her eyes off him. He unveiled her. Their eyes were fixed. The whole world blacked out from their consciousness. They didn't notice the gasp of shock and confusion from the distinguished attendees as they noticed it wasn't Amanda Fortune as written in the flier. Others peered at the flier, wondering if their sights were failing them. Others didn't care.
He leaned closer and closer, bit by bit. Then their lips connected. Their souls connected. There on the altar, their souls were sacrificed to the goddess of love. They kept kissing and kissing, until the loud applause from everyone brought them back to consciousness. Savannah's stomach tightened in nervousness as she turned to the standing guests still clapping. It still felt like a dream. She couldn't believe it. Her mind couldn't fully comprehend the fact that, she was married. Not just to anyone. But to her lifelong crush. Someone she had always believed was far fetched. Someone that she never believed would even spare her a glance. Someone she was planning his wedding to someone else. Someone she barely knew. But she didn't care. She was Mrs Michael Verrati. The hair on the back of her neck rose as she felt hundreds of the gleaming eyes on her-eyes that brightened with feral anticipation and unhidden confusion at the sight of her, walking arm in arm with the city's golden boy-her husband. They walked down the aisle together gracefully. As if he knew her inner emotions, he held her firmly for support. They walked through the standing attendees still clapping.
Outside, there was considerable activities. There were hundreds of reporters, photographers, videographers and journalists. They rushed at them like ant to sugar, offering microphones to their faces, switching on tape recorders, scrambling on notebooks. Thousands of cameras flashed on them. Then they shouted loudly, asking hundreds of questions at the same time.
"Mr Verrati!"
"How does it feel to be married?"
"-Who is she-?"
"-What happened to Amanda-?"
"-Are you happy?"
"-Mrs Verrati. Is this an arranged
marriage?"
Michael Verrati still holding his wife, walked on, calm as Moses strolling through the red sea. "No comment..." He was barely done talking when his body guards arrived speedily. They cleared the path, standing all around the couple, pushing back the persistent reporters. They were led to a purple Limousine bearing the initials MV and ushered in. Then other exotic cars with his body guards and friends in it, followed behind. The long entourage immediately exited the cathedral with reporters still chasing after them. Above the entourage, the purple helicopter flew gracefully, displaying a trail of decorative poster that read-Just married.
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.
Coast of Tuscany, Italy Savannah laid in the large, cozy and warm bed in her pyjamas. She was alone. Mike was in the bathroom, freshening up for bed. Her mind has been a battle field of thoughts since they left the party and flew straight to blue pearl. First she couldn't get Sukey's threat off her mind. For one she had always wondered the class of women her husband was into, before her. Hearing three women-a celebrity and two multimillionaires, fighting over her husband and one of them threatening her, made her cringe. She didn't want to feel scared. But she was. She wanted to tell Mike all she'd heard. But something told her he'd see it as empty threats and simply advise her to pay Sukey and her threat no attention. She decided to do just that but then, her mind moved to Mike himself. It's her wedding night and as couples, they are supposed to make love. She remembered her answer to Sukey during the game. She had only said 'no' because sh
It was 6am. Bright and fair. Sam smiled brightly as he stood before the mirror, shaving. His jaw and cheeks full of shaving cream added to his smile made him look very funny and he laughed at his clownish image reflection. He wasn't supposed to be happy. But he was. He felt purposeful and alive again. Resolve, direction and purpose brewing in him. He took his time, making himself look younger. Rinsing his face, he stepped out of the bathroom to his ringing phone in the bedroom. Seeing the caller ID, he smiled. "Hello boss. A very good morning to you!" a husky voice sounded. "As much as I appreciate the pleasantries, I don't need them. How's it going down there? Have you done it?" He asked, taking a towel to wipe dry his face and hair. " Yes boss. Everything was done as you instructed." He smiled, nodding. "Okay. Tell the boys to lay low and wait for further instructions." He ordered. "Alright boss." Silence as the caller waited. "Where are you right now?" He asked. "