The engagement party is way sooner than I expected. It does make me nervous, but Anthony's words keep replaying in my head and to some extent, they still reassure me. The engagement is going to be held at their house and Anthony told me he would send a driver, but I declined.

Franco can drop me off. It's quite odd that Sebastian has not even spoken to me yet. It may become problematic in the future.

A shriek causes my spine to snap up straight. I'm immediately held in a chokehold.

"You look so fuckable right now."

I laugh and turn to hug Fiona.

"Thank you."

The glittery gold bodycon dress attracted my attention as soon as I saw it through the display window. I knew I had to have it, so I bought it.

The fuckable comment is probably because of the slit that starts at my thigh, extending all the way to my ankle.

I look into the mirror and weave some golden flowers into my French twist.

I put in some chandelier shaped earrings, clasp a gold chain around my neck and turn to look at Fiona.

"I'm ready."

"Just gorgeous." She gives a chef's kiss and I give her a flying one in return.

"Wait a minute though." She stands in front of me and tells me to kiss her hand.

I do and a red lip imprint is left on her skin.

"Okay, now it's perfect."

I step into my strappy gold heels and we walk arm in arm to the car.

Franco has the back door held open for us. I get in after Fiona and thank him.

"Benson won't be able to make it?" I ask about her husband.

She frowns. "No. There's a shortage of staff at the hospital. He's needed there. He really wanted to come though. Put on a tux too. The call came when we were inside the car and let me tell you, I've never heard him curse like that on the road." She chuckles.

Benson was my first ever client. I thought it would be a woman, but perhaps I shouldn't have been biased. He placed all his trust in me to give his fiancé a perfect wedding and I did deliver. When I had met Fiona, we'd just instantly clicked. We've been friends since then, which was almost five years ago.

The drive doesn't take long, and soon, we're pulling into the circular driveway, with a huge water fountain in the center. Beyond the circular driveway are trees. Lots and lots of palm trees.

Franco drops us off at the front door and leaves, since there are tons of cars parked outside the gates. Several rose bushes line the front of the house. The black roses are a sharp contrast against the pale beige exterior of the house. They look majestic.

It feels like I'm a guest to my own engagement and the thought makes me laugh. If only.

Fiona let's out a whistle beside me, her eyes fixed on the house, and I laugh. There's two garages on either side of me and the front door swings open just as we climb up the last step.

A short middle aged woman comes up to me.

"You the bride, yes?" She asks in a heavy Russian accent.

"Yes." She grabs my hand and pulls me inside. I pull Fiona behind me. Hmm. I like this energetic woman. I don't have time to appreciate the grandeur of the foyer as I'm quickly ushered to the living area.

White couches are lined up against the white walls. Hundreds of shoes walk across the cream and brown marble flooring. Champagne flutes are being passed along with hors d'oeuvres.

My eyes find Anthony talking to a group of people. He's dressed in a tan suit, with a black shirt underneath. His hair is neatly gelled back and his watch is clasped to his wrist as always. It's the first time I actually pay attention to the tattoos on his hands. The hummingbird catches my attention for some reason. I would not have pegged Anthony Crosswalk to be a tattoo guy.

"Is that your future husband?" Fiona glances in Anthony's direction.

"That's Anthony, my future father in law." Heat creeps up my face.

That makes her let out a low whistle.

"Hot damn. Talk about DILF. Where's your future husband though?"

I scan the room again and there he is. Dressed in a cobalt blue suit with a light pink button down underneath it. His hair is neatly combed to the side and he looks like he wants to be anywhere but here.

So how does this work exactly? Am I supposed to announce my own arrival? A minute later, I feel a familiar presence beside me.

"Father." I greet him and go to hug my mom.

"You look beautiful Mom."

Anthony's voice speaks up and I haven't even realized he's been standing in front of us.

"Charles. Elise. Glad you both came."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Where's Sebastian?"

"Sebastian, come over here. Your father in law wants to speak to you."

I can see Sebastian gritting his teeth. I don't know whether to be annoyed or sympathetic. I totally understand his behavior. I can't even imagine the pain he must be going through. To love someone, but be forced to marry another? I'm glad I'm not in his shoes. But, at the same time, he doesn't have to look so annoyed for just making small talk. He doesn't have to be rude about it.

For a brief moment, I'm angry at Anthony. Why can't he just marry Sebastian off to the woman he loves? My eyes are laser focused on Anthony. I don't see an ounce of guilt in his golden hazel eyes.

His eyes snap to mine and I look away, focusing on the wall beside the giant flat screen. I'm aware his gaze is still on me and I shift in my heels.

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Daymond." Sebastian holds his hand out for my Dad to shake.

Dad looks pleased and goes for the shake.

I don't miss the flash of surprise in Anthony's eyes because I feel the same way. I was prepared for Sebastian to say something rude.

"Likewise, son. I was disheartened that you couldn't make it to lunch last weekend."

"I truly am sorry Mr. Daymond, but I had to attend the business summit in London. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Of course, young man. You are welcome to join us for lunch anytime at our place, isn't that right Elise?"

"Of course dear."

Something does seem suspicious here. When Sebastian's eyes land on mine, I swear his eyes turn hard and his lips are turned up in the barest of scowls. I look away and catch Anthony's eyes on his son.

Sebastian:

She doesn't hold a candle to Adeline. She's ugly. Her face is ugly. Her shoes are ugly, and her style is ugly. She gives me a smile, but I ignore it.

I can be civil to the parents, but to her? All cards are off the table when it comes to her. She's the wall standing between me and my Addy. A wall I'll go through any lengths to destroy.

My father goes onto the makeshift podium to deliver a small speech, which I tune out because I'm focused on Charlotte Daymond, thinking of all the ways I can make her miserable.

She must sense some malice in me, because she looks at me again, but this time she holds my stare. A nudge to my elbow brings me face to face with my father. His speech was over quick. He hands me a ring box and gives the other to the Daymond bitch.

I open the box and see a simple gold band encrusted in small diamonds. I bet he picked out the rings himself. He seems more invested in this sham of a marriage than the groom himself. Why can't he marry her instead? Then I could have had Adeline for myself.

I slip the gold band around her finger in distaste and hear claps around me. Why the fuck are they clapping? It's not an achievement.

She does the same, sliding the thicker gold band around my ring finger. If I had it my way, I wouldn't want this nonsense spectacle. But Anthony Crosswalk loves spectacles, so I have to play along with it. Though, I'm surprised he relented on the wedding ceremony.

The ring instantly weighs down on my finger, like a shackle.

"Congratulations to the both of you."

I want to roll my eyes, but instead I say, "Thanks Dad."

It's soon time for dinner and I'm made to sit beside my fiancé.

"Hi." I hear her whisper to my right, but I pretend I don't hear her.

"I know you can hear me." She whispers again.

"I'm no more excited than you are about this marriage. What do you think about becoming allies?"

"I say it's bullshit. Stay away from me." I whisper harshly back to her. Luckily, that shuts her up.

We're served dinner and we eat in silence, but my father keeps chatting with the Daymonds.

"Sebastian, I've heard that you don't want a wedding ceremony." Charles asks me.

I look over at Dad. Nothing in his expression gives me any warning.

"That's right." I cut into my Beef Wellington. I don't elaborate further and he doesn't question it.

"You're okay with that, aren't you Charlotte?"

She lifts her head from her stir fried vegetables to look at her father.

"It's fine. No biggie."

Biggie? What is she? A teenager? Her tits say otherwise. They're rather big for her small frame.

I must be glaring down the front of her dress because Dad clears his throat and glares at me. I quickly avert my gaze and am grateful Charles Daymond didn't catch me staring at his daughter's tits.

She however, didn't notice it because she's too busy eating her lemon tart. I glance down at her stomach and find it flat.

I stop wondering about her body, because it's none of my business and go back to finishing my dinner.

Charlotte stays back after everyone has left. I don't know if she isn't getting my hostile vibes or if she's just that dense. She should have left as soon as she sat next to me at the dinner table.

Unfortunately, she approaches me after listening to whatever it was my father had said to her.

"You don't have to see me as a threat Sebastian."

She comes even closer to whisper to me.

"I support your relationship with whoever it is you love." She looks back at Dad to see if he's listening. He's not.

"I'm stuck in this as much as you are." She smiles at me, but I don't return it.

"So what do you say? Friends?" She holds her hand out for me to shake, but I obviously don't take it. I turn on my heel and walk away.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see her full lips turned slightly downward in a frown.

Good luck sweetheart, because you are going to be wearing that look for the rest of this marriage.

______________________________________

Charlotte:

"He'll warm up to you." I look at Anthony and give him a nod.

"I hope so. I should get going as well."

Fiona had to leave, so I had Franco drop her off. It's strange that I entered this house as a single woman, and I'm now leaving with a gold band around my ring finger, engaged to be married. For a minute, it saddens me. I've always wanted love, but now? I know I'll never have it, unless I'm free from this marriage.

I tell Anthony I'm leaving and call Franco. He's there in two minutes.

I climb inside and the drive home is silent. Dealing with Sebastian is going to be a challenge.

I thank Franco and take off my heels as soon as I step into my apartment. I pour myself a glass of water and chug it down, staring at the ring on my finger.

It takes me fifteen minutes to get ready for bed and before I turn off my lamp, I remove the ring and put it on my nightstand. There's no need to remind myself of the marriage when I'm alone.

______________________________________

"Just a second." I say as I put the last pin in the bride's dress.

"There. Perfecto." I turn her around so she can look at herself in the mirror.

On cue, she bursts into happy tears and on cue, I hand her a box of tissues.

"You look beautiful sweetie."

She throws her arms around me.

"Thank you."

I rub her back for a couple of seconds and let her go, pinning her with a big grin.

"It's all going to be perfect. Don't you worry about a single thing."

"Char! Your phone's ringing."

I catch it perfectly on time as Harper tosses it to me.

Anthony. I hit accept before the call ends.

"Charlotte. Next month, you'll be a married woman. 26th of next month okay for you? I can prepone it, but postponing is out of the question."

I swallow. "26th is fine."

He ends the call without a goodbye and I stare at my phone in horror. Every time, after I get off a call with him, I feel sick. Absolutely sick.

The 26th arrives sooner than I expected.

So here I am, in the courthouse, in a white lace dress, all alone, rocking back and forth on my heels, tossing my bouquet from one hand to the other.

"Why aren't they here yet?" Fiona whispers to me.

I shrug.

"I swear if they ditched you, we're getting on the next flight to Vegas."

I hold a finger up.

"I do not object to that decision. At all."

"Are you sure the date is today?" The official asks me after one hour, not including the 40 minutes I had waited before that.

"Yes, I'm sure." He looks skeptical, but doesn't question me further.

"Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Come on Char, we're going."

I grin at her, despite the weight in my chest. I don't know why my heart feels so heavy, I should be happy that I'm not getting married. Maybe it's just the feeling of not being enough weighing me down.

I throw my bouquet in a nearby trashcan outside the courthouse and loosen my hair from its updo.

"That's right girl. Get ready to get wild in Vegas."

I suddenly bump into someone and apologize, before realizing I bumped into Sebastian Crosswalk.

He looks angry. Furious even. Suddenly, I've had enough of it.

I find Anthony right behind him, in a no better mood than Sebastian.

"Anthony, you don't have to do this to him. Look how angry he is all the time."

Anthony steps closer and closer till he's toe to toe with me. I have to crane my neck to see his face.

"You don't tell me what to do young lady. I know what I have to do for my son. You are not his mother, so don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do."

I take a step back from him and look at the both of them. Same jaws, same brown eyes, just in different shades. Anthony's facial features are harder and sharper whereas Sebastian's features are more on the soft side. He must take after his mother in that department.

"Let's go." Surprisingly, it's Sebastian who says this.

"Are you sure you have to do this Char?" Fiona whispers into my ear.

I give her a small smile.

"I can't get out of this any more than he can."

Both father and son whip their heads in my direction. Was I that loud?

"Geez, Charlotte, could you be any louder?" Fiona laughs at my side and my cheeks heat up, but I don't apologize. I don't feel the need to.

The official looks at me, then looks at Anthony and Sebastian with pursed lips. Sebastian is dressed too casually in jeans and a baby blue button up shirt, whereas Anthony is dressed in a three piece suit. I don't think I've ever seen him in anything else.

"Which one of you is the groom?" The official asks, making me blush and both the men scowl. Anthony urges Sebastian forward, making him stand right beside me.

After about an hour, me and Sebastian are officially husband and wife. At least, on paper.

The four of us celebrate by going to a restaurant for lunch. Much to his dismay, Sebastian is made to sit beside me. Anthony's phone rings while I'm in the middle of eating my lobster bisque.

I assumed he would ignore it, but he answers and I hear my father's voice on the other end.

"Anthony, Sebastian, congratulations are in order." My father decides to pretend I'm not there, which I'm pretty much used to. Nothing new about that. Nope. Nothing at all. I mean it hurts a little, but really, it's no big deal.

I clean the plate and get a toffee pudding for desert. Fiona groans and I turn to look at her.

"Where do you fit all that?"

"I guess it goes here." I discretely point to my breasts.

"Ugh. Your boobs are amazing. I'd totally do you if I were a guy."

I giggle at that. "You're such a pervert Fiona."

She shrugs and sips her milkshake. Meanwhile, the waiter delivers my toffee pudding.

It looks mouthwatering. I stare at my pudding in anticipation and catch Sebastian staring at me.

I blink at him. "What?"

He shakes his head in a mixture of disgust and dismay.

"Are you not done yet?"

"I've been waiting for this pudding. You guys can go ahead." I rub my hands on my thighs and pick up my fork.

I hear a scoff. Anthony stares at me blankly and excuses himself to take another phone call, so I know it didn't come from him. Sebastian, on the other hand, has his lip curled upwards.

"Who will pick up the bill? You?" He looks at me in disbelief and shakes his head.

"Yes. I thought that was the plan?"

"I think I'll be in debt after feeding you."

My cheeks flush hot with embarrassment.

"Hey!" Fiona exclaims angrily.

"You don't need to feed her. She's capable of doing it herself." Fiona says in my defense.

"Can she even afford it without her Daddy's money?"

I open my mouth to tell him I'm right there, but Anthony cuts me to it.

"Yes, Sebastian, she can most definitely afford it. She doesn't need your money, or my money, or her Father's money. She's Charlotte Daymond, a businesswoman, not Adeline Ruthfield, world class hoe."

I'm too surprised to register Sebastian's face turning red. I look at Anthony and find him glaring at Sebastian. The stare off is too intense, because neither of them relents. I clear my throat and say, "I'm done. Let's go."

Sebastian is the one who turns to me.

"It's about time."

The waiter comes out with the receipt and I slip my black Amex card into it, leaving a twenty dollar tip for the waiter in cash.

We leave after I stash my credit card back into my pocket.

Apparently, I have to go in the same car as Anthony and Sebastian, but Franco is already there, since I assumed I would be going with him.

I kiss Fiona's cheek and tell her to go with Franco.

"Call me whenever, and wherever you need. I'll always be there." Her words cause my eyes to burn and I can only nod at her.

"You bet your ass I will."

I get in the backseat of their black SUV, with Sebastian sitting beside me.

I slap my hands on my thighs.

"So your place or mine?" I grin when I see mild surprise on his face.

"I mean I'll need to pack my things." I correct.

"It's already done." Anthony says from the passenger seat.

"What? How?"

"Your father had it arranged." I slump back in my seat. Typical of Charles Daymond. Doing everything without considering the other person's feelings.

"Oh." It comes out more dejected than I had wanted it to.