Forbidden Desire

Chapter 3

Claire looked in the mirror one last time. She looked presentable, she thought. Her future husband is probably used to those exotic girls he meets at nightclubs, five-star restaurants and vacations. And she looked basic, just basic. Not that she was poor, her father had money, although not as much as the Langstons, but she could look exotic if she wanted. But everytime she wanted to go luxurious shopping, or visit expensive salons and spas, what did her father say? That she was spending money she didn't know how to earn.

“The Langstons sent a driver to pick you up. Isn't that nice?”

She turned. Her father was standing in the doorway.

“Yes, but….”

He cut her short, “don't start Claire, this marriage will hold.”

“I know.” She dropped her head.

The meeting was at a restaurant, and it looked like they had booked the entire day because of the meeting, because not a single person was there. Claire sat down and waited for her husband-to-be. What a typical gentleman, she thought, making me wait for him when he's supposed to wait for me.

She waited for half an hour before he arrived. Pictures on the internet didn't do justice to Logan, she thought. He was more handsome and tall, his face looked like it was sculpted, but his eyes…they were cold and scary. She couldn't look at them so she lowered her head and stared at the table before her.

“Hello. Nice to meet you.” She rose and offered her hand for a handshake. But he only stared at her, then he sat down on the chair opposite her.

“Sit.” He said, in a rather commanding tone.

She dragged herself down on the chair and bent down her head again.

“Look at me.” He ordered.

Slowly, she raised her head and her eyes met his again. She tried hard to maintain eye contact, but he leant forward and looked at her in a very dangerous way. She quickly brought down her eyes again.

“It is good that you're intimidated by me. I can't have my wife rubbing shoulders with me.” Logan said with a touch of pride and arrogance in his voice.

“You look passable,” he continued, “not someone I'd choose for a wife but…. I can try to brush you up a bit, if that'd help, although I don't think it will.”

She said nothing.

“You look sexy though.”

Was he already sexualizing her? She asked herself.

“I'll send a designer to your place with a picture of what I want you to wear on our wedding day so she can collect your measurements. I really hope you won't argue with me about the choice of your dress. It's what I want. And I'd like it if you'd always do what I want because I hate disobedience.”

She was quiet.

“Speak!” He raised his voice. “You're making me do all the talking!”

“I…..don't have anything to say.” She began to tremble.

“Good.”

“Huh?”

“Your words don't matter to me anyway.”

“Oh…”

“What's your name again? Claire right? Look, Claire, don't expect anything from me in this marriage. Don't expect me to be a husband to you or to treat you like a queen or whatever. The only reason I'm getting married to you is to keep my inheritance, which is absurd to me, because you're not even worth the stress. I'd have loved to have my inheritance threatened because of a more beautiful and sexier lady but….” He looked at her like he was sizing her up, “it is what it is. Isn't it?”

He waited for an answer.

Did he really want an answer to that? Claire thought.

“Isn't it?” His voice was lower and colder, it made her insides tremble with fear.

“It is.”

“Good,” he smiled now, “I'm glad you know where you stand.” He got up and left without saying another word.

When he said he was sending a designer, Claire thought it was some ordinary person, but it was actually THE CAMILLE LAURENTI, every young lady, every female, every male, everybody knew Camille Laurenti. Wearing her designs was equivalent to wearing gold, and she was actually going to design her wedding dress. Maybe something good was going to come out of this wedding, Claire thought happily.

“Please sit. What can I offer you?” She said and giggled like a girl who had just met her celebrity crush.

Camille sat down and crossed her legs, her gold-like eyes were fixed on Claire.

“Wine would be nice.” She said.

She exuded elegance and style, something Claire wished she had.

Claire asked the help to get the best wine they had for their guest. After she was served, Camille showed her the design Logan chose.

“I can't wear this!” Claire rejected.

“Why?” Camille asked calmly.

“It's exposed.”

Camille looked at her and laughed. “So this is what Logan ended up with.” She shook her head.

“What do you mean?” Claire asked suspiciously.

“I'm only here to take your measurements. I can't believe he made me do this despite how busy I am. Couldn't you just email me your measurements?”

“I don't understand why you're angry at me.”

“Oh dear, you wish.”

They both worked in silence and Claire noticed how Camille would look at her in a certain way and shake her head in disappointment. What was really the issue? She thought. Maybe Camille and Logan dated, or are still dating and Camille is angry because he chose someone less beautiful. That was the only explanation she could come up with.

“Your dress will be ready before the wedding.” Camille announced.

“I'm not wearing that.”

She raised her brows, “I have instructions from Logan and unless he says otherwise, this is what you'll wear.”

“I'll talk to him. Change his mind.”

“You will?” Camille laughed, “Good luck with that dear.”

The Langston mansion was unlike anything Claire had ever seen. Only the exterior was shown in the papers and magazines, but the interior was far better, the designs spelled luxury and this is where she would start living very soon.

Logan told the staff to tell her to meet him in his room. Logan's room was bigger than her sitting room at home and she always thought their sitting room was large.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to talk about the wedding dress.”

He stood up from his work table and walked closer to her.

“What about it?”

“It's too exposed, I can't wear that in front of too many people.”

“You’re not wearing it for them, you're wearing it for me.”

“I still feel uncomfortable wearing that.”

“Oh don't worry Claire, there's nothing to hide. I'm still going to see all those things you're hiding once I get married to you. In fact, I can see them now, can't I Claire?” He moved closer, closing the distance between them. Claire tried to move away but he grabbed her hand.

“What are you doing Logan!?” She screamed.

“I have a right to see what I'm paying for right?” He said and grinned at her. He moved to touch her.

“Leave me alone!”

He grabbed her waist and she struggled to be free from him. Her heart beat faster, she was scared of what he might do to her, the look in his eyes showed that his intentions were not pure. What had she gotten herself into? She thought. Why did she even come here? Who was going to save her from this crazy man?