Elena
If I need you to accompany me somewhere, you will. No complaints and no excuses. - Mr Price's Rule book, no. 7
I braced my hands against the sink, my fingers pressing into the cool porcelain. My reflection in the mirror looked nothing like me. My dark red hair was swept back into a high bun with a few rebellious strands curling around my temples. My pale blue eyes was wide - they always were when I was nervous - and my dress…
My mother's dress - a simple black, elegant gown, which hugged my curves tight, accentuating my hips and curves made me feel like I was playing dress up.
Something about this whole marriage charade felt wrong.
I felt wrong.
I was going to attend a business meeting - which I couldn't say no to - with a man I met two days ago and hadn't spoken to since then. I knew nothing about him - except that he was cold, rude and stupidly perfect. Then there was the character quality list his secretary emailed me yesterday.
Really?
That had been my reaction. I was supposed to send in mine as well, but I hadn't gotten round to listing out my qualities and emailing them to my contract husband. I sighed warily, this whole thing was superfluous and maybe a bit more than what I thought I was signing up for.
But what did I expect?
"You look dashing," Tonia smiled, coming up behind me. "I bet he won't be able to take his eyes off you the whole night."
I rolled my eyes at my bestfriend. Somehow, I was thankful I invited her to help me get ready, on the other hand, I think I may have made a mistake by telling her the whole thing. Tonia never knew when to stop joking about stuffs, no matter how serious they were.
Right now, I was both grateful and pissed at her for it.
"Give me a list of all the impossible things that will happen in this marriage." I answered, rolling my eyes again.
She settled on the toilet basin, "You know, I still find it hard to believe that you are married to Evan Price." she suddenly looked like a love-drugged high school teen. "The Evan Price."
I shook my head. "The one and only," I said, heading to my room to grab my purse. Tonia followed.
She plopped into my bed, propping her head on her hand.
"What's he like? I've seen several photos of him but nothing that will ever beat seating across from him in his office."
Again, I rolled my eyes. "He's exhausting. And, it wasn't his office, he moved us to his boardroom."
"Boardroom, office, same thing." she stood to her feet, coming to my aid with a necklace I had been struggling with. "At least you got to see him from up close."
A knock sounded on my front door, making us both freeze for a minute before Tonia squealed excitedly, then rushed out.
"Oh my god. That must be him."
I rushed after her, catching the hem of her dress just before she yanked the door open.
"Thank you, but I can take it from here." I said, pulling her away from the door. "Wish me luck. If I don't come back, it's safe to assume I died of a heart attack or too much boiling anger and rage I never got to let out."
Tonia rolled her eyes. "Call me if he's being rude. I have this magic way of straightening people out." she laughed, raising her hand.
I laughed, more like I chuckled nervously before placing a hand on the door knob and turning back to face my friend.
"How do I look?"
Tonia smiled. "Like you are about to crush it."
I inhaled sharply, pressing a hand to my stomach - as if that was going to clear the butterflies - before turning the knob. I was going to crush it. For my mother.
A man in black suit stood outside with a blank expression on his face - Mr. Price's bodyguard?
"Mr. Price is waiting in the car." He announced with a deep, baritone voice, before I could flash him my welcome smile.
I flashed him a tight smile, stepping out of my door. Of course, he couldn't come up to collect me himself. Nodding stiffly, I stepped past him, walking towards the sleek, black and expensive car sitting in front of my home.
Probably the most expensive thing my neighborhood ever saw in years. I didn't need to look back to know Tonia was probably looking at us through the kitchen windows with a proud smile on her face and thinking, 'kill it, atta girl.'
I hated to break it to her, but the only thing I was killing tonight was going to be my pride.
The man in black, bodyguard stepped up, pulling open the passenger door for me. I stopped, hesitating for a second before sliding inside.
God, help me.
The door shut with a quiet thud and that was only when I noticed the other presence in the car, who was either was too engrossed in the phone he was staring into to register my presence or simply didn't care.
I turned to him. "You didn't have to come all the way here, you know." I started, thinking a drink would be good to chase all this butterflies in my stomach away. "I could have met you there."
"We arrive together." he said coolly. Detached. "That's how it should look."
Of course, there was a method to everything. A way everything should go and how it should be. I wish my life could be half as practiced and methodical as his was. Maybe everything would be perfect.
"I didn't know you were so broke…" he said, startling me. "At first, I thought we had made a wrong turn -" he glanced at me. "What the fuck are you wearing?"
I blinked, glancing down at my dress. "What?"
His eyes swept over my features, lingering - with a distasteful expression on his face - on my dress too long than was comfortable for me. "Your dress isn't suitable for the occasion. We are not attending a meeting for the less privileged."
I blinked even more, shifting in my seat, uncomfortably. "I-I'm sorry, what did you just refer to me as?"
"We will stop at a fashion store and get you a more… appropriate outfit." he continued, ignoring me. "I guess I'll have to add change of wardrobes to the list of things you will need in this marriage."
I bristled. How long could I take this insult till I stewed over and punched him in that annoyingly perfect, little face of his?
My itching fingers said not long.
He turned his attention to the driver, not caring that I was almost killing myself beside him. "Stop at the next dressing room."
"Of course, sir." the driver answered.
I took deep breaths in, trying and failing to dissipate the rage boiling inside of me. One, two, three…deep breath in, hold. One, two, three… breathe out. For mother. I repeated in my head. For mother…