Chapter 4
1519 Words
Knock knock, someone was at the door. Thank God! Claire breathed.
“Who's that!? Logan asked impatiently. Claire used the distraction to release his hold on her and moved to answer the door. It was another staff.
“Mr. Langston would like to see you.” She said quietly.
Claire followed her immediately to the living room. Lincoln was already there waiting for her. She greeted him and he motioned for her to sit.
“I heard you came to visit. It's nice to see you before the wedding.” He smiled.
Claire looked at the man that was the cause of her misfortunes lately. She wanted to ask him why he couldn't just help her father without asking for something ridiculous in return.
“How are you sir?” She asked instead.
“Oh I'm good. Except for the wheelchair, I'm not lame or anything. The doctors say I don't need to walk around too much.” He chuckled.
“Oh …sorry about that.”
“You came to see my son? I hope there's no issue?”
“No, there isn't.” She flashed a fake smile, “I just needed to discuss something before the wedding.”
“Oh, that's great. And how are you preparing for the wedding?”
“Just fine. Everything is going well.”
“Good to hear.”
“I have to leave now, I need to run an errand for my father.” She lied.
“Okay dear, say hi to Mr. Grey for me.”
“Goodbye Mr. Langston.”
Was it normal to wake up in a bad mood on your wedding day? Claire asked herself. Wasn't she supposed to be so happy she could burst with excitement? This was supposed to be a special day for her, but her father has totally ruined it by making her get married to a scum like Logan. Someone who didn't care about her feelings. She turned to look at the wedding dress lying on her bed. Designed by the great Camille Laurenti, who had probably slept with Logan before, she was sure about that. She looked at the wall clock, it was almost time. The makeup artist would arrive soon, so she needed to quickly take her bath.
Claire had never had so many people attend to her at once. Someone helped with her hair, another did her makeup, and another helped with her dress.
She wore a slim fitted long gown made of a material that was filled with thousands of tiny stones and a split underneath. The back side of the dress was completely bare and it formed a v-line at her waist. The dress showed a little cleavage at the front. It was pretty but not really her style she thought. She wanted something more flowy, a dress so long that someone would have to hold it at the back side.
“You look beautiful, daughter.” She turned, her father was looking at her with teary eyes.
“Thank you father.”
“No, thank you for doing this for your father. I am so proud of you.”
“I'm glad.”
“Lincoln Langston wired me the money this morning.” Grey said, smiling and revealing his complete set of teeth.
“Oh.”
“You have to promise me you'll be a good girl. Don't do anything to upset Logan. I heard he has a temper. Be the obedient and submissive girl I raised you to be okay?”
“Okay father.”
“Good. Now hurry up, we don't want to be late for church.”
The reception was out of this world. It was held in the Langston mansion. She saw so many dignitaries, so many important people she never thought she'd meet in her entire life. Even Camille Laurenti was there.
Logan introduced her to so many people that she couldn't remember all their names at one point. They smiled at her and told her they would love to see her again. She promised she would visit, but she wondered if they actually wanted to see her again or if they were just being nice.
“Oh, I would have loved to design your dress, Mrs. Langston.” Another designer told her. “But not to worry, I'd love to work with you. Has anyone told you that you look like a model?” He said and winked at her.
“You're the first person to say that Mr. Valentine.” Claire giggled.
“Oh so cute. I have a fashion show coming up soon and I have the perfect dress for you to wear on my runway. Trust me, you will look fabulous and it's not for free. I wouldn't use such beauty for free.”
“Oh I would love to…”
“ My wife isn't available, Mr. Valentine.” Logan interrupted, “but thanks for the offer.” “If you'd excuse us, we have other guests to meet.”
“I wanted to do the job.” Claire told Logan after they had left, “why did you stop me?”
“If you think I'd let my wife walk the runway, then you must be dreaming. You are a Langston now, as much as it pains me to say. The earlier you learn to start acting like one, the better for you. Don't disgrace me.”
He gave her a glass of champagne. “Drink! You need to look relaxed. Do you want everyone to think you were forced to marry me?”
She collected it from him and sipped it. It did help her relax a bit, she realized.
“Can I talk to you Logan?”
It was Camille, her hands were on Logan as if she was the bride instead of Claire.
She turned to Claire, “Do you mind if I borrow your husband for a while, I promise to return him.”
“I don't mind. I'll go look for my father.”
Her father was having the time of his life. She was sure he saw this as an opportunity to make new connections as the father of the new Mrs. Langston. He didn't care about her, it was all about him all this time. She promised herself not to cry on her wedding day. She already felt her eyes tearing up, so she excused herself and went outside for fresh air. There was no use now thinking about her miserable life. This marriage was going to be hell, she knew it. Langston was going to make sure of it.
Speaking of Langston, where was he? She saw them leave the house, so he must be outside. She wanted to go back inside but on second thought, decided to search for him. She checked around but didn't see him, then she sighted him and Camille coming out of his car looking suspicious. She walked over to meet him.
“I thought you didn't mind me borrowing him for a while?” Camille spoke first.
Claire ignored her and faced Logan. “What is going on?” She asked him.
“Leave us alone Camille.” Logan instructed, and Camille left.
“Aren't you supposed to be inside Claire?”
“Aren't you supposed to be inside with me? Why are you coming out of the car with Camille?”
“You dare question me?” He said and gave her that dangerous look she was scared of.
“I….I just want to know.”
“We were discussing business.”
“In your car?”
“I’ve known Camille for a long time now and we're close. I wouldn't want you questioning my business with Camille in this marriage.”
“Is it fair that you'd do this to me on our wedding day? Couldn't you wait until after today?!”
“Don't raise your voice at me young lady! Let's go back inside.”
“No.”
“Now!!”
She obeyed and they moved to go inside. Someone was standing in the doorway and it looked like the person was waiting for them.
The man looked familiar, Claire thought, and as she got closer his face became clearer. It was him, Luther, the man at the bar, the man she had a one-night stand with. A night she hadn't forgotten. What was he doing here? Was he following her around? Did he know today was her wedding day and came to crash it? Is he going to tell everyone about their steamy night? Her heart began to beat rapidly, she was scared and also excited at the same time.
He walked towards them and Claire was sure her heart was going to explode from beating too fast. Logan offered his hand to the man and shook it.
“I didn't think you'd come.”
“I wouldn't miss your wedding.” He turned to face Claire.
“This is my wife, Claire. Claire meet my uncle, Luther Langston.”
“Uncle?” Claire asked. She was visibly shaking now. Her situation just went from bad to worse.
- Writer
