My throat tightened. Dad really did find a groom and I'm just walking right now into his arms like a bride in love.
"Wow, she's so surreal" a guest whispered in the background as I walked down the aisle.
I saw a figure standing beside the priest
This is getting real
I couldn't see the face properly because of the veil and the distance. But I saw my grandfather for the second time. The first time I ever saw the man was years back.
He was nodding his head in approval alongside his business partners who had come.
Why is everyone but me happy right now?
I hastened my steps to see the groom. The wait was killing me
My jaw dropped. I blinked countless times hoping I was dreaming but I wasn't. My father had hired my worst enemy to be my groom.
August Sinclair? Of all people.
"What the hell Dad?!" I murmured
"Maya, just get on with it, getting here already was hard.
I looked at his face through the veil and faked a smile.
"Sure"
"Here is your bride" Dad handed my hand over to August. My hands trembled when they met his but I forced myself to stay composed. I couldn't have imagined what was happening even in my wildest dreams.
He took my hand, his face gave nothing away. He never had. He was always expressionless. Made me wonder how his girlfriend coped with him.
That's right! How did he even agree to this, what about his girlfriend Tracy Reed
Thousands of questions were on my mind but I smiled instead as we stood side by side with my head high. The wedding started without us saying a single word to each other and none of the guests noticed anything. The wedding was more of a business meeting. Filled with people who wanted to use the networking opportunity.
"Please come forward for the vows"
Clarke Harrison, my best friend, came up to me.
"Here, let me help you with the gown… I know this isn't ideal but you look hot babe" Clarke said while gathering the dress from the floor.
A soft smile came from me
"Thanks babe" One thing about Clarke, she would always shower me with compliments about my outfit even in a midlife crisis.
I slowly walked up to the priest. The slow-paced music in the back was soothing my soul unexpectedly but not for long. My heart was pounding, and cold sweat broke from my temple as I raised my head to look at August.
I tried to read him but I couldn't. He was so good at putting a font on.
His breath was steady and calm almost as if he had practiced it countless times before he got here. The tiny dark circles around his eyes suggested that.
"Do you take Maya Matha Matins as your wife?" The priest's voice echoed in my ear
A sickening sensation erupted in my stomach.
Get it together.
I cleared my throat making the sound less obvious.
The silence was deafening. My nails dig into the bouquet.! My lungs froze. If he said no…
He nodded his head
"I do"
Oh wow
For a moment I thought he would back out. And I get to walk away but that didn't happen,
All the guests focused on me when it got to my turn and I answered the priest immediately. They won't get a reaction from me.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said with a big smile.
The crowd cheered especially my father… The man was in his element
"Now you may kiss the bride"
Kiss me? Can he even do th-
But before I could even process what was happening. August raised my veil. Then our eyes met.
His eyes looked down at my lips and my heart started racing fast, I'm losing control. Which was weird. He bent his back— the height difference between us was crazy. Our lips met and I felt a slight sensation erupt in my body. The kiss was soft and delicate unlike what I was used to. August broke the kiss which was a good thing. It ended before it even started but I wasn't happy about that.
Why didn't you break it first?
I cleared my dry throat and sat down.
He raised his hands to look at his wrist watch for the hundredth time since the wedding started.
By evening, I was really exhausted. And the wedding was coming to an end.
"Maya." My dad's whisper cut through the noise of clinking glasses and laughter.
I leaned closer, already exhausted from smiling at strangers. "When can I leave? The wedding is over." My heels burned and the dress weighed a ton.
"Now," he said. He pressed something cold into my palm.
I blinked at it. "What's this?"
"A key to your house. Your wedding gift from your grandfather."
The room seemed to tilt for a second.
A house. Our house.
I hadn't even let myself think about what came after this farce of a wedding.
My dad nodded his head
"He is really pleased with the wedding" he pointed at the key in my hand
"This is the proof"
"Sure," I said, anything to get out of that situation. I felt drained and I had no energy left in me to rebel
My eyes darted across the hall looking for August but he was nowhere to be found.
Did he run? He should have done that earlier.
Just then I saw him coming my way, slipping his phone into his pocket.
He had removed his suit jacket, his expression was unreadable but the tiredness in his eyes was obvious
and for a split second I pitied him but then I remembered he was here and that must have come at a cost.
I brushed it off quickly. He had a choice and he chose to be here. It was his choice.
I lifted my chin and met him halfway, maintaining eye contact.
"Let's go home, shall we? I asked sarcastically keeping my eyes locked on his.