Chapter Twenty
The next few days went by in a blur. I spent quality time with my dad but more with Nolan. I had so much fun and was genuinely happy to have them around.
Our pre wedding photos were released two days to the wedding. As usual the internet went into a frenzy, I legit had to put off my phone for a while. The photos came out beautiful, I expected nothing less though. We looked so perfect together, one would wish for what we had but there was nothing to it. It was all an illusion.
I had a small bridal shower with the girls, Stella as well as Tracy joined in the small party and we all binged on movies in matching pajamas with lots of snacks and drinks. Mine was pink while eveyone else had grey pajamas on. Stella went all out on this one. The pictures and videos we took must have filled Fiona's phone.
They all fell asleep late into the night while I stayed awake for obvious reasons. My wedding was the next day, I was developing cold feet, anyone in my shoes would. I had always dreamed of a beautiful wedding although not one as extravagant as this but here I was going into a loveless marriage with a wealthy man.
My heart clenched whenever I thought about the deal. It was not something I liked to think about but it was my reality.
Damien, my soon to be husband I had not spoken to in about two weeks. I had not set my eyes on him since the shoot. It baffled me how he never called, not even once, to hear from me. However was our marriage going to work? It was absolutely impossible. No, I was not in any way developing feelings for him, why would I fall for such a man? I just did not want us acting like strangers but from the looks of things, I just had to sit back and see what our marriage would bring.
I breathed out shakily, the cold night was not helping matters. I stayed on the balcony, too draped in my thoughts to notice a presence behind me.
"Ariana?"
I jumped in fright. I turned around and exhaled in relief.
"Nolan? You scared me!" I smacked him lightly on the arm.
"Ouch. Scaredy cat!" He mocked and I chuckled.
"Why are you here? I thought you'd be at the bachelor party."
Surprisingly, Damien asked for Nolan to join him at the Bachelor party which I just found out about that evening. Nolan attended so he could give us ladies space for the bridal shower, not because he wanted to. I deduced he was not very fond of my soon to be husband but there was nothing I could do to change his mind, I was not very fond of Damien either.
"I was." His jaw clenched, his mood suddenly turned sour.
"Nolan? What's the problem?" I asked, concerned at how quickly his mood changed. I truly hoped Damien did not say anything mean to him at the party.
"Ariana, are you sure you want to marry this dude?" He questioned seriously.
My breath hitched.
"Of course, why else would I have accepted his proposal?" I asserted. I hated that I had to lie to him.
"Ariana, I honestly don't think he's good for you." Nolan said.
"Why would you say that about the man I love?" I lied defensively.
"Love isn't everything Ari, sometimes you have to choose what's good for you." He stated.
"Tell me, what's good for me then?" I countered.
"You know what? Sorry I said anything, I hope he treats you right. But, here's my promise to you, if he ever mistreats you and I find out, I don't care about the consequences, I'm going to beat him to a pulp, I don't give a fuck about him being my boss or whatever his financial status is." He said fiercely.
I was quiet as I watched him storm out of the suite. I burst into tears the moment I heard the door close. I genuinely wished I could tell him the truth, I really did. Maybe he could have freed me from this but when I thoroughly thought about it, I knew there was no way it would happen.
I wiped my tears after a while and went on to wash my face. I had to make sure my eyes weren't puffy by the next morning so I decided staying up was not the best option. I put out all the lights and slid under the covers, slowly getting to sleep.
****
Damien's POV;
Aiden had been on my nerves all day. He did not let me work, giving some crappy talk about how it was a day to my wedding and I was supposed to be chilling out.
"Come on man, loosen up a little." He kept on saying while I kept glowering at him.
He had all my gadgets hidden and I could not do anything. He did not let me be until evening when it was time to get ready for the Bachelor party.
I had a casual pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, sneakers and a black leather jacket on when I stepped out. I heard from Miguel, Ariana's personal bodyguard that Nolan was around, I was not exactly happy about it but I invited him anyway.
I knew how close he was with Ariana and I had a hunch that he was really into her so I did not want him around her all the time. I was so sure that he must have tried to talk her out of getting married to me, I just hoped she had not revealed the truth behind our relationship to him.
I had one of my drivers bring him to the club where we were having the party. Aiden and I walked in with our heads held high. I looked around the place. It was a typical sight, neon lights, sweaty bodies and the strong stench of booze. We walked upstairs to the VIP section which was less crowded and definitely less irritating.
My eyes spotted him the moment he entered the club. I had my guard lead him up to where I was located. He had a frown marring his features as he walked up to me. I sized him up from head to toe. He was tall but I was taller, he had lean muscles but I was more buffed up. He was not bad looking, but I obviously looked better.
I know I sound cocky but he's just cute, I'm a real hunk. I had done a small research on him and I figured he was a typical nice guy, the type that Ariana would definitely want to fall for. Well too bad, she's mine.
"Hello there Nolan." I said to him.
"Hello Mr Damien Kingston." He stretched forth his left palm in a bid to shake mine. I ignored it.
I saw his jaw and fists clench before walking out on him but not before saying the words...
"Enjoy the party."
I picked up a glass of whiskey and sipped on it slowly just as Aiden came in again. Aiden being the social butterfly he was, introduced himself to Nolan and had him laughing in the next few seconds.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes at them.
Aiden ordered more drinks when my friends as well as business associates came in.
We had the whole VIP section of the club to ourselves so no unnecessary persons got in.
The drinks flowed just as the congratulatory toasts began.
Aiden, as expected, took the stage first.
"I'm still shocked man! I am..." He started, looking around to emphasize his point with dramatic gestures which had everyone laughing.
"When the news came in, just about a month ago, I laughed it off thinking it was a rumour. But then this grumpy ass man called to confirm that he was truly getting married. It's a bummer because I thought we planned on being bachelors forever." He continued. I just shook my head at him while everyone else went on laughing.
"I tried to change his mind but if there's one thing I know about this dude, it's that when he's mind is made up, it takes a lot to change it. I just had to be happy for him, at least I would have all the hot chics to myself now." Aiden had people bursting into rambunctious laughter at his last statement. He was such a joker.
"But seriously, I'm happy for you man. Now let us raise our glasses," he said seriously, and we all raised our glasses and bottles alike, standing up as well.
"To, Damien and his bride."
Claps and shouts followed as well as clinking of glasses.
"Cheers!" We said in unison.
"I wish you the very best man, you know I got you no matter what." Aiden concluded, I went over and gave him a bro hug.
"Thanks man." I said before we did our signature handshake.
With the main toast out of the way, other friends of mine decided it was best to give me their own congratulatory messages.
Everyone had something to say and at the end of the day, they took turns to give a toast to Ariana and I. We were about twenty men in the room so you can picture how that went. Nolan just said a few words and raised his glass, looking like he would rather be somewhere else.
At the end of the last toast, the party was officially declared open and by that, Aiden meant that it was time for the girls to come join in on the fun.
I watched as a troop of artificial looking ladies in skimpy dresses walked into the VIP lounge.
As expected, the men present aimed for who they wanted and had one lady or the other by their sides.
My eyes hovered to Nolan and saw how irritated he looked when two ladies tried to get their hands on him. I chuckled lowly.
Next thing I knew I had three ladies trying to put their hands all over me. I was not a fan of ménage à trois at all so I picked one who I assumed was the most gorgeous of them all. She smirked whilst the others glared at her and gave me longing glances.
I stared at her, she had massive curves with doe eyes and heart shaped lips, there was an innocent aura to her and it reminded me so much of Ariana. Maybe that was why I picked her in the first place.
When she rubbed her hands over my chest sultrily, I really wanted to grab her ass but I just could not bring myself to do it, I had to stop and give her a drink.
She came at me again and this time, decided straddling me was the best option.
As if the DJ was in tune with her actions, he played, Megan Thee Stallion's 'Body'. She started twerking according to the beat on me. Her actions earned hypes from everyone in the room and soon dollars rained on her for a job well done. She threw her body all over me and I really wanted to grapple it but I was just not in the mood for it. The usual me would have done bad things to her already but I could not, maybe because Ariana's friend was in the room. I almost punched myself in the face, somewhat regretting inviting him over.
I thought it was all over when the girl whose name I never found out got off me but no that dumbass Aiden just had to defy me by bringing in strippers.
The whoops did not end after that. I did not want to be a killjoy because I hardly had time for these things so I decided to just go with it.
The strippers, about five of them got down to work seducing everyone around with their dances. It was a wild affair.
Nolan walked up to me in the midst of the frenzy. He eyed me in distaste while I gave him my signature look.
"I can't believe Ariana is getting married to someone like you..." He yelled over the sound of music, just as he grimaced.
I signalled my guard over, I did not have it in me to exchange words with a love sick puppy who happened to be employee.
"Escort him to the entrance." I instructed, handing over a few notes for cab fare.
I swiftly walked out on him without looking back.
He could go and say anything to Ariana for all I cared. She was bound to me and there was nothing he would do to change it.
