Lawfully His Book 1.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

PRELIMINARIES

Melissa Fernando

Tomorrow Am I dreaming?!

Has he really said that?

Tomorrow It's easier said than done...

I'm getting married tomorrow.

Hur-ra, hallelujah!

WHAT THE FUDGE! Is he insane, I'm still lying on a hospital bed, and he is talking about getting me married tomorrow.

But deep down, it makes me happy that he is not running away.

He can't wait to get married to me!

Who am I kidding?

He wants to rush because of those threats.

"Tomorrow?" I asked him to confirm if I have heard him right.

"Certainly."

Came his curt reply, how can anyone prepare for a wedding in one day? But then again, I believe His Majesty can do anything at the mere snap of his fingers.

"Okay, then we shouldn't waste time here in this hospital, I guess?" He looked at me like he was figuring something out.

What's cooking up in his mind? "Indeed." He stated after a long pause.

"Oh my gosh... God really loves me. You don't know how happy I'm for you, my dear daughter." A heavy sigh escaped my mouth.

My ears are going to bleed now, I'm sure of it.

It's been half an hour nearly and the end of her ramblings would never make an appearance.

"Are you sure you are happy for me or yourself?" I stated in annoyance looking at her over-excited expression.

"Oh no my daughter, I'm happy for both of us. I know you have a lot to tell me but you are welcome. I know you won't be able to thank me enough for helping you with such a great future."

More like your great future!

"Hmm, yeah sure," I said rolling my eyes at her dramatic gesture of trying to hug me.

"So let's not waste time now daughter, we have so much to do, the invitations, decorations, catering, this and that. And OMG, I completely

forgot about your dress. We should go to 'Primrose'. I did tell you about it, right? Andrea's boutique!"

"Oh my dear Melissa, you are here!" I didn't have time to greet her back when I was met by a bone-crushing hug.

"Look at you, such a fine young lady you have become, huh.. it's been three long years since I last saw you, sweetie. You and Demy both." The sweet lady said in tears.

I simply love this woman.

"Yes, it was on prom day. I know you miss Demy a lot, aunty. It is the same for me. How is she? It has been a long time since I talked to her. I hope she is doing fine. I just wished that I could have her with me here, especially for my wedding. Everything happened so fast and I didn't have time to tell her, but I know that even if I had told her, she wouldn't be able to make it in one day." I stated sadly.

Oh Demy, I really miss you, i***t!

"Yeah, she's doing well, she was asking about you the other day. And I know dear, it makes me sad too but we can't do anything about it. Maybe she can visit you after the wedding or maybe on honeymoon..." She said in a teasing tone.

I blush thinking about my honeymoon with Aries. But sadly that's not going to happen, aunty.

"Oh I think that's enough of conversing, let's take a look at the wedding gowns." I totally forgot that the hippopotamus was here too.

Why did she have to make her presence known?!

Aunt Andrea's face fell at my mother's commanding voice.

"Sure, this way!" Aunty led us to a room full of wedding gowns.

I was fascinated at the sight of such beauty.

Most of the dresses were white but some were pink, peach, baby blue and dark purple, but I prefer a simple white wedding dress.

"Oooh, look at this one Me- "

"Stop mother, I'll choose. Let me be."

She closes her mouth at my rudeness.

Anger enveloped her face. But to hell with her, this woman thinks that she will always control my life!

I walked ahead, not tearing my eyes from the dresses, I gaze at the particular dress. It was a simple one. It did not contain pearls or anything. It was full sleeves, and it had a lacy floral design on the sleeves, the upper part till the waist and at the end.

It was the Princess type with a floral skirt.

"I like this one," I said still gazing at the dress.

I heard my mother let out a sigh.

"But there are more a-"

"I will take this one aunt Andrea. I am the bride, don't mind her!" I said cutting off her protestations.

I could see her glaring at me from the peripheral view but she didn't dare to object.

Good for her! Kerry still hasn't arrived! Where is this girl?

I asked her to come, but she hesitated at first but then agreed, of course, after a good amount of blackmail.

She could have helped in choosing the rest of the items. At least I could have one of my own with me.

My mother is hardly considered as family.

"Melissa sweetie-pie, here take it. This is from my dear, your wedding gift. You only told me when you came, so uh I didn't have time to pack. I'm sorry sweetie.." She said embarrassingly.

Awww aunty was just too cute sometimes.

I look at the necklace set which was decorated with flashy diamonds, it was simply beautiful and looked fairly expensive.

"Oh, aunty thanks so much. Really it means a lot, I'll wear it tomorrow. Don't worry about the packing, it doesn't matter and just cut the formalities, you are being too formal today!" I pout.

"Darling, don't make that face, you can get your future hubby to do anything for you by just giving him that look, and I’m telling you. Mark my words." She laughs while my cheeks reddened thinking about Aries Alexopoulos.

Ahhh! My Alexopoulos in shining armour.

Yeah right!

"Melissa, stop wasting time now, let's go. We have a lot more to buy." And once again the hippopotamus had to cut me off.

Really?!

Where is my friend? I have been calling her for the past few hours but no sign of Kerry. Just where is she?

Finally, I decided to visit her. She is residing at the Crescent Bay Hotel down in Manhattan.

I told her to come with me. My apartment has three bedrooms, it would have been good to have her around but she refused. After the incident at the party, I have seen that she has become a bit distant.

She is more reserved than she already was. But who can blame her?! My mother must pay for her deeds one day! Maybe not today, not tomorrow, but the day will eventually come. I'm sure of it.

I locked the door and wasn’t in my car.

"Going somewhere?!" I gasped, placing my palm over my chest and turn around only to be met by the sight of a perfect Adonis.

Aries Alexopoulos!

"You scared the life out of me mister!" Truly?" He said, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"Yes..." Yes, you did.

"I came here to meet you f-"

"Oh, eager to see me, huh?!!" I said to him in a teasing tone.

He looked at me, his face full of annoyance.

"Just shut up and get in the car." Oh, there he is, the son of a beauty.

I was beginning to wonder if he was stuck somewhere on a tree considering that this man was talking to me politely but boy, was I wrong. I swiftly went to his car and got inside, not wanting to see his other side.

I still remember his warning the other day.

"I came here to meet you for something important." I have guessed it already.

"Yeah, so what is it?" I asked him curiously.

"It's concerning the second 'threat' that I received recently. And I theorized that I should let you know about this because one way or another, you are involved in it too." Now he has gotten all my attention.

Seriously, Melissa moved on.

"Yes, you're right, it concerns me too, so I should know about this".

"I am always right, Miss Fernando, as I said, this is becoming more and more grievous. So we need to make a move. On the previous night, when I returned home after you were discharged from the hospital, I received a call from the security guards of my office declaring that an accident had taken place during my absence. My secretary-" He paused and looked at me and nodded at him to continue.

"My secretary, Jane Bernard, was attacked last night when she was on her way back home, from what I've been informed is that someone had hit her with a solid item, on her head to be specific, and she fell unconscious. Surprisingly, she was not far away from the building so the guards saw her while patrolling. She was lying there unconscious but the most important piece is that a letter was disposed of next to her. The letter contains their second warning' as you would call it. Do you want to take a look at it?"

This was just too much.

Who is he or her or maybe them? What's their goal? What is it that they want from us? If it would have been only Aries, I would assume that they wanted money but why is this someone warning him to stay away from me? Is my life in danger? Worst if it's Aries’ life in danger?

All these questions were running through my head.

"I asked you a question Miss Fernando and I expect an answer." His voice snapped me out of my long chain of thoughts. I looked at the white piece of paper in his hand.

"Okay, let me see," I whispered, still gazing at the white piece. I took the wrinkled paper, it looked newly written and looked at the writing, and it was very beautiful handwriting.

Don't open the door which is locked for you. Don't trust its whispers. Leave it! Just leave the one who doesn't belong to you! -or I'll take them and BLEED them like dogs and RIP their soft skin OFF! Don't even think for once that the police can help you! You know exactly what I mean. Consider this as your last warning, Alexopoulos!

S.

I blink back the tears that threatened to fall. What is happening? I couldn't take it, I went out of the car in haste while stumbling. I leaned onto the car not trusting my legs to hold me. I felt him standing at my side holding my shoulders.

"Drink this." He hands me a bottle of water. I gulped down slowly letting the cold water calm my nerves.

I closed my eyes and sigh. I can't help it. Whenever I close my eyes, the sight of the letter, and the handwriting would appear. The handwriting was beautiful, but the fact it was written in dark red ink, could be blood for all I know. What did he/she mean by that? Who will they rip off...

I shuddered thinking about that. Did they mean that it is me who doesn't belong to him, to Aries? What is happening God? How is Aries coping with that? How did he sleep last night?! Who can be this much cruel?! Who?

"I think we should take this letter to the police station," I said worriedly.

He kept quiet instead of replying.

"Going to the police is our last optio~" he paused and looked at me as if I had said the most stupid things.

"It is not even an option, Miss Fernando. That would be dangerous. This person knows too much already, and the police can do nothing. They would just do some questioning acting like they are on duty but at the end of the day, all in vain. I know better than that and there is something that you should know Miss Fernando; I-don't-take-help- from-others. This is my problem, so I will be the one to solve it."

"This is my problem as much as it is yours. I'm also involved so I get a say in this too," I said, with the same tone.

"I said we are not going to the police and that is it. We are not going!"

"Don't tell anyone about this, not until we get married tomorrow." My heart did a flip at that.

The stress and scary feelings were there but just thinking about getting married to him makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine. I smile thinking about that.

"Okay, I won't." I smiled at him but, as well as expected, I didn't receive the same treatment from him.

Damn him, can't he smile just for once?

Rude pigeon! Oh, girl, he is surely not a pigeon.

Yeah, I agree.

He is a sexy pigeon!

Sexy pigeon?

Does that even exist?!

Damn it Melissa, concentrate.

But concentration is the last thing you can do when you are in Aries Alexopoulos's presence.