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“I never did anything for Ada’s wedding,” I tell them honestly. Maybe they are confused. “Maybe she brought someone else?”
“Unless there is another Vanya Castellanos living out there, I doubt it,” the mother, Svetlana, insists. “I may be old, but I’m not senile.”
Fortunately, the bridal consultant interrupts before any of us could go on. I’m not in the mood to argue with a woman who looks as if she came straight out of the Valkyrie homeland. I’m not sure how old she is, but I’m pretty sure no one else her age looks as fit as she does. I’m actually unsure of who I fear more. Adrian or his mom.
Soon the conversation is forgotten, and I am beckoned into the shop with gusto by Mary, the owner. We are all handed glasses of champagne and told to browse the dresses to our heart’s content and let them know if we need anything. Apparently, the shop is closed for the day just for us.
Oh, goody.
Anton stands off to one side, his body facing toward the window while another man stands facing inward. I recognize him as the burly asshole who held me while Adrian nearly fucked me with his gun. I say nearly only because it had been too shallow to actually penetrate the important bits. I’m sure my dearly beloved, soon-to-be husband thinks he’s going to be the one to rid me of my cherry. Well, he can think again.
Arrogant asshole.
“You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” Yelena grins at me while the shop attendant measures every inch of my body.
“Thanks,” I murmur. Are they aware that this isn’t a marriage of choice? Are they involved in that side of Adrian’s life? What did he tell them?
“What kind of dress are you looking for today?” the attendant, Junie, asks.
“Umm, something simple but classy, I guess,” I tell her nervously. “I’m really into the Bohemian lace look.” Junie nods her head and smiles at me.
“Great.” She beams. “I’ll go search some styles out for you and we can go from there. How does that sound?”
I tell her it sounds great and minutes later I find myself down to my underwear and slipping on dress after dress. It only takes a few before my eyes land on the perfect one.
“This is such a good choice,” Yelena whispers when I pick it out from the rack. “Justin Alexander is such an up-and-coming designer. And this is the perfect desert wedding look.”
She’s right. The dress is everything I imagined my dress to look like when I’d been a little girl dreaming of her prince charming and happily ever after. A piece of me wants to ignore it and go with something else. Something less like my dream because the thought of wearing it in this tainted union seems wrong.
But I can’t seem to let it go.
Might as well get my fairytale wedding if I’m not going to get my fairytale marriage.
Adrian isn’t a prince charming. He’s more of a black knight. A dark king. His moves are precise and calculating, but the moves of the knight are limited, and the king has to be protected. He’ll soon learn that the queen is who dominates the board.
I’m lost in my thoughts as I step out of the dressing room. I hadn’t even bothered to look in the mirror of the dressing room, I’d just stepped out onto the dais where Yelena and Svetlana were waiting.
“You look beautiful, dear,” his mother smiles gently at me, but on her face, it is the smile of a shark. A predator.
Taking a long breath, I turn and face the wall of mirrors behind me.
Shit. This dress is stunning on me.
The pale ivory of the material softens my fair skin. It’s a long, chapel train A-line with a lace bodice that plunges between my breasts. The lace coasts up my collarbones to the edges of my shoulders. The sleeves are long, the lace edges peeking out just over the top of my wrists. The top half of the dress blends seamlessly in with a chiffon skirt that trails out behind me. There are small cutouts of lace running down the back, along the train, giving it a subtle tie-in with the bodice. The back is wide open, exposing my pale flesh.
Junie comes over with a rose gold necklace that drops between my sternum and down my spine. It’s brilliant and everything I ever wanted.
“I love it on you!” Yelena squeals. “Adrian is going to drop dead at the sight of you.”
“One can only hope,” I grumble beneath my breath, but Yelena hears this and giggles while Junie stares at me with rounded eyes.
“Just make sure it’s after you say I do, so you get the assets.” Yelena winks at me and laughs. Even Svetlana cracks a smile that doesn’t appear menacing. Poor Junie must think we're a bunch of gold-digging psychos. “Come on. Let’s go find you some shoes and stuff.”
Yelena bounces off with her third glass of champagne while I return to the dressing room and strip off the dress. It’s even the perfect size. At least that is one thing I won’t have to worry about. Adrian hasn’t exactly been open to when the wedding date is supposed to be, so I am working in the dark. Svetlana seems as if she wants to help. Maybe I will let her choose the venue and caterer. She probably knows more than I do about the when.
The door to the shop chimes as I step back out into the main room, a glass of red wine in my hand. I’ve never liked champagne. Too bubbly and sweet for my taste. I look over to see a blonde bombshell of a woman strutting into the shop as if she owns it, a large briefcase in one hand, cell phone in the other.
“Sorry, I’m late.” She doesn’t look up from her cell phone when she offers a half-ass apology to the room. Whoever she is, she looks bored and inconvenienced. Does she work here? Looking up from her phone, she spots Anton by the door and gives him a coquettish smile. One that drips seduction. “Anton,” she practically purrs at him.
