Nora's POV
I am just returning from visiting the venue for tomorrow's wedding ceremony, so I decided to stop by a restaurant to grab something to eat.
*Beep... beep...*
My phone rang, and I smiled when I saw the caller ID—my soon-to-be husband, Jacob.
"Missing me already?" I teased, heading toward the exit.
"Yes, did you visit the hall again?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied, completely absorbed in our conversation. I was so distracted that I didn't notice the wet spot on the floor. "I'm just leaving now and—ahhh!"
I slipped, falling forward. Instinctively, I closed my eyes and threw my hands out to catch myself. Thankfully, my hands found something solid that stopped my fall.
When I opened my eyes, I realized with horror that my hands were firmly planted on a man's butt. He was bending down, tying his shoelace. The sight made me scream even louder.
He stood up slowly and turned to face me, his expression a mixture of shock and indignation.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but you can't just grab me like that!" he said sternly.
Grab him like that? His words ignited my anger. Yes, I had grabbed his butt, but it wasn't intentional, and he didn't have to make it sound so crude.
"Look, I didn't grab it on purpose, okay? So please don't make me look like some kind of pervert," I snapped, my face burning with embarrassment.
"You should apologize before defending yourself," he replied coolly.
I glanced at my watch, then back at him. "I have somewhere important to be. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go." With that, I hurried away, my heels clicking frantically on the floor. I simply couldn't afford to get into any drama, tomorrow was my wedding day.
"Hey!" I heard him call after me, but I didn't dare look back.
******
Today was supposed to be the best day of my life, marrying Jacob, the love of my life. Everything had been perfect until this moment. The doors swung open, and my father was there, ready to walk me down the aisle. My excitement grows with every step I take.
I stood facing the broad back of my soon-to-be husband, smiling with pure joy. But everything around me suddenly turned gray the moment he turned to face me.
This wasn't Jacob.
I whipped around toward the entrance, desperately searching for any sign of him. This has to be a prank! Or maybe the wrong hall! I screamed in my head as panic engulfed me. I stepped closer to the imposter and whispered urgently, "Where is my groom? Who are you and what are you doing here?"
I was hoping and praying that this would be some elaborate, expensive joke.
He just looked at me as if I hadn't spoken. No reply, no smile, nothing.
Nora, calm down, I told myself. Maybe he's just standing in for Jacob?
Right?
But we took our vows. He even kissed me. The moment the ceremony ended, I rushed outside, dragging my heavy white gown behind me like a bride fleeing death itself.
The second I reached the bridal suite, I dialed Jacob's number with trembling fingers. After several rings, he finally answered.
"Hello," the familiar voice said. That was definitely Jacob.
"Jacob, what is going on? Were you too busy to come to your own wedding?" I demanded, still clinging to hope for some reasonable explanation.
"Oh, that must be Nora. Listen, I'm not Jacob, and it wasn't my wedding ceremony. I only dated you for someone else, I believe you've met him."
"What are you talking about?" I screamed into the phone.
"Ugh, this lady is getting on my nerves," he spat. I could hear his irritation through the line. He had never spoken to me like this before, never lost his temper with me.
"Jacob, if this is a joke, I'm begging you, stop it. It's not funny anymore." Confusion clouded every thought.
"Just live a beautiful life with your husband. I have other clients waiting in line."
And just like that, he hung up.
I collapsed onto the floor, my wedding dress forming a pool around me as I tried to process what I'd just heard.
"No, he has to be pranking me," I whispered, struggling to my feet. "I have to go to his place."
I needed to see him with my own eyes. I flagged down a cab, my mind racing through countless possibilities of what could be happening.
When I reached his building, I ran to his door and knocked frantically. After my fifth rapid knock, it finally opened.
"Yeah, how can I help you?" A large, tattooed man appeared, cigarette dangling from his lips.
"I'm looking for Jacob, the guy who lives here," I said, not caring about the smoke wafting into my face.
"Don't know any Jacob. The last tenant moved out four days ago," he replied, then shut the door.
Four days ago? The questions multiplied in my head. Could what Jacob said actually be true? Who did I marry today? The horror terrified me.
I'd heard of fake relationships before, I just never imagined I'd experience one myself. I burst out laughing as I remembered calling those victims stupid for not realizing the truth. The irony was bitter.
How am I supposed to find the man I married?
Just then, a black SUV pulled up in front of what I'd thought was Jacob's house. I watched as two men in dark suits approached me.
"Mrs. Riley, we're here to take you to your new apartment," one of them said.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I hissed, my stubborn streak flaring.
They simply stood there, no forcing, no arguments, just patient waiting.
"What? Isn't this the part where you say 'I'm sorry, ma'am' and then lift me up?" I couldn't help voicing my confusion.
Still no response. They just stood there, staring at nothing in particular.
Fine. I sat down too, wondering how long they'd hold out.
Eight hours passed. Neither side was ready to move. My legs were beginning to cramp, but I wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of victory. Then the apartment door swung open, and the tattooed man emerged, furious this time.
"Why are you still on my property?" He reached out to grab me, but the man closest to him intercepted, flipping him around and pinning him down with a fist raised.
"Stop!" I commanded.
His fist froze inches from the man's face.
"We'll leave now," I said, making sure he released the tattooed man before attempting to stand. My legs had gone numb. Both men caught me as I nearly collapsed, carefully helping me to the car.
They drove me to what they called my new apartment before disappearing without another word. The place was beyond anything I could have afforded, even if I'd worked my ass off for a decade.
For a moment, I was genuinely impressed by the luxury surrounding me. In the master bedroom, I found a black credit card on the bed with a note containing the PIN.
I headed straight for the shower, desperate to wash away this surreal day. "This isn't as bad as I imagined," I thought as I sank into the hot tub with a glass of wine.
When I opened the closet, I found mostly men's clothing. I guess he lives here too, I realized. But when I explored the walk-in closet, I discovered an entire section of women's clothes, shoes, and handbags in my exact size.
I selected a casual outfit, a soft top and pink pants, before crawling into bed. Tomorrow I will explore the rest of this place and try to make sense of everything.
With that thought, I drifted off to sleep, temporarily forgetting all the day's sorrows.