A planned engagement

chapter 18

The next morning buzzed with energy as the household stirred early, filled with bustling footsteps and animated chatter. Alexi's mother and siblings quickly prepared themselves, congregating in the living room before piling into the car. With Mike behind the wheel, they set off to shop for their wedding attire, the ride alive with playful banter and debates over fabrics, hues, and designs.

Meanwhile, Maxwell pulled Alexi and Kimberly away to a separate boutique for their own outfits. The journey was quiet, yet Alexi's pulse raced with the growing reality of her upcoming wedding.

Stepping through the glass doors of the bridal shop, they entered a luminous, refined space adorned with mirrors, gentle melodies, and rows of exquisite gowns. Almost immediately, Alexi pulled out her phone to dial Nico.

"Hello, baby girl," his warm voice answered. “ How are you.”

"I'm okay, love," she replied softly. "When do you think you'll arrive in San Diego?"

"I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "But I'll call you as soon as I know. Where are you right now?"

"Shopping for my wedding dress."

"Wow," Nico said, his tone brightening with a smile. "That's amazing. I wish I could be there—I'm tied up with work and really sorry about it."

"It's alright," Alexi assured him gently. "I just miss you terribly."

"I miss you too, baby girl. I have to run, but I'll call later, okay?"

"Sure," she said, hanging up with a sigh.

Turning back, she saw Kimberly emerging from the fitting room in a stunning gown that hugged her figure flawlessly, radiating elegance and poise—the ideal choice for the maid of honor. Alexi's eyes sparkled with delight.

Kimberly twirled before the mirror. "What do you think? Does it work?"

"Absolutely perfect," Alexi confirmed. "That's the one."

Beaming with joy, Kimberly dashed back to change.

Now alone for a moment, Alexi wandered toward the front glass door, gazing at her reflection. An uneasy sensation crept over her, as if eyes were upon her from afar. Her expression shifted from joy to caution as she peered out onto the street, scanning for any sign of someone—but it was empty.

She dismissed it with a subtle shake of her head, chalking it up to wedding jitters.

Then, a gentle touch on her shoulder made her gasp and whirl around, heart pounding—only to face Kimberly, who was grinning mischievously.

"What are you doing out here, Lexi?" Kimberly asked playfully. "Come on, it's your turn to try on dresses."

Alexi chuckled, pressing a hand to her chest in relief. "I thought I spotted someone outside. Sorry about that."

Linking arms, Kimberly led her back. "No problem at all. Let's find your dream wedding gown."

Alexi smiled and went along, her anxiety melting away as the thrill of the day reclaimed her.

Nico lounged in his luxurious hotel room in San Diego the next day, which was Sunday that afternoon, the sun filtering through the curtains like a golden haze. He had just texted Alexi, his heart racing with anticipation: "I've arrived safely, my love. Staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Room 512. Can't wait to see you." As he sank into the steaming bath, letting the warm water wash away the travel fatigue, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

From the bathroom, Nico's voice cut through the steam. "Who is it?"

"It's me, the waiter," came the muffled reply. "I brought the wine and glasses you requested, sir."

Nico hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Come in, just drop it on the table and leave. I'm in the middle of something."

The door creaked open, and the waiter—Walter, as his name tag read—slipped inside, his eyes darting around the opulent space. He spotted Nico's half-empty glass of rich, crimson wine on the nightstand, the liquid swirling gently from a recent sip. With a furtive glance toward the bathroom door, Walter reached into his pocket, pulling out a small vial of insidious powder handed to him by a shadowy figure earlier that day. His hands trembled as he poured the drugs into the glass, watching them dissolve seamlessly into the wine. A quick stir with a spoon, and it was done. He set down the fresh bottle and glasses, then vanished like a ghost, the door clicking shut behind him.

Moments later, Nico emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, his toned chest glistening with droplets of water. Excitement bubbled within him—Alexi was on her way, and tonight would be perfect. He picked up his glass, oblivious to the tampering, and drained the remaining wine in one eager gulp, savoring the bold flavor. Settling onto the edge of the bed, he scrolled through his phone, texting her a playful message. But suddenly, the room began to spin, a heavy fog clouding his mind. "What... what's happening?" he muttered, his vision blurring as dizziness gripped him like a vice. He leaned back, resting his head on the pillow, fighting the overwhelming urge to slip into unconsciousness.

In his haze, he felt soft hands gliding over his skin, sending a shiver through his body. Groggy and disoriented, he whispered, "Alexi? Is that you, my love?" The hands grew bolder, lips brushing against his neck in a trail of heated kisses. Nico's eyes fluttered open, and through the swirling vertigo, he focused on the face before him—a stranger, a seductive woman with dark hair and a sly smile, not his beloved Alexi.

Panic surged through him. "Who the hell are you? Get away from me!" he roared, summoning every ounce of strength to shove her off the bed. She tumbled to the floor with a gasp, but quickly regained her composure, her eyes gleaming with feigned innocence.

"I'm here to take care of you, handsome," she purred, rising slowly and reaching out again. "Don't fight it—let me make you feel good."

Nico's fury ignited like wildfire. "Who told you you could come in here? Get out—now!" He seized her wrist in an iron grip, dragging her toward the door, his bare feet pounding against the carpet. "You better leave before I call security and have you thrown out!" With a forceful yank, he flung the door open wide.

There, standing in the hallway like a statue carved from ice, was Alexi. Her eyes widened in horror, taking in the scene: Nico, half-naked in just a towel, his hair disheveled, clutching the arm of this mysterious woman who looked far too comfortable in his room. Time seemed to freeze, the air thick with betrayal and shock. Alexi's face drained of color, her lips parting in a silent gasp.

"Alexi, no—it's not what you think!" Nico stammered, his voice cracking with desperation as he released the woman's arm.

"What the hell is going on here?" Alexi demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and heartbreak, her fists clenching at her sides.

"I swear on my life, I don't even know her!" Nico pleaded, his words slurring slightly from the drugs coursing through his veins. The woman, sensing the storm brewing, wrenched free and bolted down the hallway, her heels clicking frantically against the floor.

Nico reached out, grasping Alexi's hand with trembling fingers. "Please, Alexi, you have to believe me. I was drugged—I think someone set me up. Don't go, let me explain..."

But Alexi's eyes filled with tears of fury and pain. She yanked her hand away, her voice breaking. "Explain? How can you explain this? I trusted you!" With a sob, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the hotel room, the door slamming shut behind her like a thunderclap, leaving Nico staggering in the doorway.

His heart shattered, Nico wanted to chase after her, to scream her name and beg for forgiveness, but the dizziness hit him like a tidal wave, his legs buckling beneath him. The world tilted violently, and he could barely stand. Clutching the doorframe for support, he retreated back into his room, collapsing onto the bed in a heap. His vision swam as he fumbled blindly for his phone, knocking over the empty wine glass in the process. It shattered on the floor, mirroring the chaos in his mind. Finally, his fingers closed around the device. With labored breaths, he dialed Maxwell's number, his voice a weak rasp.

"Maxwell... help... I think I've been..."

The phone slipped from his grasp as darkness swallowed him whole, and he passed out cold on the bed.