Celeste's POV
"I didn't know what to do, Sofia." My voice was barely more than a whisper, rough from the tension that had been coiling inside me all day.
I took a tentative sip from my glass, hoping the cool liquid would calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. But my typical Sofia remained silent, her eyes fixed on me with that mischievous gleam I knew too well.
She stared in that way whenever she was about to do something reckless, silly, or something that would make me regret saying anything at all.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead, "Sofia… what are you about to say?" I asked cautiously.
"Nothing," she replied, her tone so serene it made my heart sink.
"Nothing?" I echoed, skeptical. She picked up her glass from the table with a gentle grace that mocked the chaos in my head and took a slow, deliberate sip. I narrowed my eyes on her.
"Come on, just do it," I urged, exasperation threading my words.
"You asked for it," she said with a grin, and then burst into that laughter that was so serious, loud, making me question all my life choices leading up to this moment.
My chest tightened as I watched her; the laughter was infectious, yet maddening, and for a fleeting second, I wondered if I had been wrong to confide in her.
"You done?" I asked after a moment, my voice tinged with frustration but hiding relief that she seemed to have settled a little.
She nodded, calm now, though her eyes still sparkled with mischief. "So… how did you handle the other guy?" she asked, tilting her head, her lips curling into that teasing smirk I could never resist.
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as the breeze outside played havoc with it. "I just told him to fuck off."
"That's all? No compensation? Nothing?" Sofia's tone was incredulous, almost scandalized.
I scoffed, adjusting a stray strand of hair from my face, "How is that even possible? He should be the one compensating me for making me a fool."
She laughed again, that light, teasing laugh that made my irritation spike even more, "I'm sorry, my friend," she teased, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"Stop that," I snapped, though the corners of my lips twitched slightly. She laughed again, deliberately, and I felt my patience fraying.
I glanced at my bag. "I guess I should just go home," I muttered, reaching for it.
"Come on, Celeste," Sofia called as she jumped to her feet, trying to block my exit.
I rolled my eyes but didn't move back.
"So… Is this new guy fit for the job?" she asked suddenly, snapping me out of my irritation.
"Yeah," I said tersely, keeping my answer short.
"So, when do I get to meet him? So I can get to be the judge," she pressed, curiosity burning in her gaze.
"To be the judge of what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Come on, Celeste… I want to be the judge of how hot and seductive he can be when you two finally move in together."
I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief.
"You are such a crazy girl, Sofia."
"That's why you love me," she said with a giggle.
"Well, you can't see him because you'd end up telling him something else. This is strictly business, and we are to stay away from each other's lively affairs" I reminded her, feeling the weight of the plan pressing down on my shoulders.
"I need to know who you'll be marrying. Isn't that safe?" she pressed.
I scoffed. "You will get to see him tomorrow at the wedding."
Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Tomorrow?" she gasped.
I nodded, pulling out my iPad and tapping the screen with a sense of purpose.
"I don't have any more time to waste. He will be following me to the office by Monday, and I want everything ready before then. We'll sign a marriage certificate binding us together for two years."
"Wow… I don't know what to say," Sofia said, staring at me with wide eyes.
"You don't have to say anything, baby. I've done everything that needs to be done," I replied, just as my phone rang.
I picked it up immediately. "Hello, wife," the voice on the other end said.
I froze. "Damien… what do you want?" I said, my voice tight. "And I am not your wife… yet," I added quickly.
"Well, you're about to be, right now. Text me the address of where you are. I'm coming to get you," he said, then ended the call.
I let out a shaky sigh. "I hope I don't regret this," I whispered, sending the address with trembling fingers.
"Your new husband," Sofia muttered aloud, reading my amused expression.
"Don't say it that way. Call him my contract husband," I warned, rolling my eyes playfully.
She scoffed but muttered it anyway. "Contract husband," she mumbled dryly.
Before we could continue, a man in a black suit appeared with Damien following closely behind. He was impossibly composed, his presence magnetic and terrifying all at once.
"Hi, wife," he greeted casually.
I blinked at him, confused, "What is going on here?" I asked, my eyes darting between him and the priest who had just stepped forward.
"We are getting married today," Damien answered, handing the rings to the priest.
"There's no way. We're supposed to do this tomorrow," I retorted, panic lacing my words.
"Change of plans, sweetie. I have an important place to be tomorrow," he said smoothly.
Before I could respond, he swept my iPad off the table, dragged my hand, forcing me to stand, and lifted me over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down!" I screamed, struggling futilely against his strength.
Sofia giggled from the side. "Can I help with her things, Damien?" she asked.
"Yes, please," he replied, striding away with me still in his grip.
In moments, I was placed at the center of an open space, my legs trembling and heart hammering.
"Priest, please… go ahead," Damien said, almost casually, as if this were normal.
We exchanged rings.
"Would you kiss your bride?" the priest asked, his voice calm but expectant.
"No! We are not doing that!" I replied sharply, my heart pounding in protest.
Before the priest could react, Damien pressed his lips to mine.
I froze at the sudden contact, my eyes wide, confusion and resistance warring inside me. I tried to push him away, to refuse him entry, but he was too strong.
My chest tightened, my mind racing, and the clapping around us only made my pulse beat faster.
"What the hell," I muttered under my breath, my hands trembling as I tried to steady my racing heart. And to make matters worse, Sofia was right behind me, jumping and giggling with pure excitement.
She was supposed to save me and not be thrilled about what had just happened! Her laughter rang in my ears, making the absurdity of the situation hit even harder. I turned to her, disbelief written all over my face.
Damien, who was standing only a few steps away, had finally returned his expression to that unnervingly serious composure he carried so effortlessly
"Well, thank you, Priest. That will be all," Damien stated, his voice calm, controlled, and utterly infuriating. He handed me a pen and a sheet of paper.
I blinked and when I realized it was our wedding certificate, my stomach twisted. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before glancing through it, ensuring it was exactly what I wanted, and then I signed.
"Alright, wife," Damien said smoothly, a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "See you on Monday."
And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving me stunned and utterly confused. My chest felt heavy, my mind racing.
"What is wrong with this guy?" I muttered under my breath, my eyes following his retreating figure until it disappeared from view.
Sofia, unable to contain herself, rushed forward and hugged me from behind, nearly squeezing the breath out of me.
"Congratulations, my friend! You are finally married!" she said, clapping her hands again like a little child on Christmas morning.
"That is not how it was supposed to go," I told her sharply, my voice low but tinged with disbelief.
She chuckled, brushing it off as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I don't know how it was supposed to go, Celeste, but one thing I do know is I like this Damien guy. And honestly? He suits whatever crazy things are going through your head."
I let out a slow, shaky sigh, the cool air from the open space brushing against my face as I watched Damien's figure fade into the distance. My chest tightened, my mind racing as I muttered under my breath, "I hope so too…"
But even as I said it, a small voice in my head whispered doubt. This wasn't just a wedding, it was going to be chaos wrapped in charm, and Damien's intentions were impossible to read. I had survived everything so far, but something told me this was only the beginning of another..
Just as I was about to turn back to Sofia, my phone buzzed violently in my bag. I froze as I stared at it, dread twisting my stomach into knots.
The message previewed on the screen made my blood run cold and I gulped harshly.