Against Her Will

Episode 2

They both sat down rather stiffly next to each other, Leilani more than Ricardo because she was sitting next to her uncle as well, it was a long table so her and her new husband were sitting at the head and the others sat down both sides of the table. Her uncle though was sitting next to Lucas and Isabella, she knew he wouldn't do anything obviously with the public around them, but it just felt so much like a threat that it had her tense up even more. It was now time for the maid of honour and best man to give their speeches and since this was not a rehearsed marriage, the maid of honour and best man had not sorted out who's going to give their speeches when so they both accidentally got up together before looking at each other awkwardly.

"Oh uh...I'll just sit down." Isabella said quickly a little embarrassed as she sat back down next to her brother.

"Oh, no it's alright, you can go first if you like." He said as he smiled at her with a heart-stopping grin, he was really handsome in a more cute kind of way and Leilani could see the way he was staring at her best friend and vice versa and she didn't know what to think about it since she didn't know him at all so she would see later. Once she's got a good idea of who he is as a person and he's still interested in her friend then she would either approve of him or give him a piece of her mind for even looking at her friend like that.

"Uh, are you sure, I mean I can totally wait." Isabella said flushed as she talked to him, she couldn't tear her eyes from him, it was impossible not to, he was absolutely gorgeous. Then she tried to come back to reality, where her best friend was being forced into a marriage that she did not want to be in because of her asshole of an uncle who threatened her and her brother's life, why did she have to be so self-sacrificial? She loved her to bits but she hated the fact that she was throwing her life away for them, though she did appreciate not being dead.

"No, it's fine, you can go first." He said smiling at the beautiful girl, her eyes were so pretty, he's never seen such beautiful eyes and he couldn't help staring at her, her smile, the way she flushed, he was completely mesmerised.

"Uh, right, ok, um hi, I'm Isabella Grace Anderson and let me start by saying that I am the most luckiest girl in the world to be the best friend of the gorgeous bride that I myself had gotten ready, doesn't she look just amazing? Anyway, moving on, me and my brother have basically been by her side since we were little kids in the sandbox, we've been there through all the obstacles that life, the vindictive b***h that she is, decided to throw at her, we've been there when she was laughing her ass off so much she actually fell on her ass, we've also been there when she was crying floods of tears and all we could do was hold her and tell her that it'll all be okay, basically we've been there for most of her life and we couldn't have asked for a better friend. Today is supposed to be the most happiest day of a girl's life where she finally gets to be one with the man she loves so I want to say to my best friend that I hope you live the happiest life with your hunk of a man, great choice by the way, what is he Adonis? Ok, uh, moving on, from this guy's really generous genes, I am going to end this beautiful speech that I completely forgot to write and am totally winging it, by saying that I love you Lani, you are my best friend, you always have been and I wish you the best in this new journey in life but as a side note, if you need a break, just give me a call and I'll be there to kidnap you for as long as necessary." Isabella finished with a wink at her friend, in an effort to calm the nerves she could clearly see all over her face, before sitting down as the hall erupted in laughter and applause, she looked at the best man to start his own speech only to notice him staring at her until her best friend's new husband elbowed him slightly and he seemed to jolt out of his trance as he cleared his throat and stood up.

Leonard had been trying not to laugh through her speech but he did snort a bit at what she had said about his friend, who had coughed looking slightly embarrassed. He couldn't help but stare at her as she talked so lovingly about her best friend, she was cute and for the first time in forever, he actually liked a woman, he's never liked any woman before in the many social gatherings he unfortunately needed to be a part of, they always had ulterior motives when talking to him, his family's money being the main reason but looking into her eyes, he got a different vibe from her. He was quite skilled in reading people, it was hard not to be with how rich he was, he needed to tell who was being genuine and who was not, what motive they truly had and what they fakely portrayed, he needed to know it all so reading people was a great skill to have and he was particularly gifted so he could see that this girl was different. He was so caught up in his thoughts about her that he hadn't realised it was time for his speech until Ric elbowed him in his side and he coughed straightening his blazer as he got up and began his speech.

""I am Leonard James Hernadez, or like Ric likes to call me, Leo, I have been his friend for a long time, our grandfathers were best friends, our fathers are best friends and unfortunately the disease has spread down to this generation as we are best friends too, though there are times I wonder why, I mean he's the complete opposite of me. One example of this is that he is the world's worst workaholic whilst I, on the other hand, love having fun, clubs, girls, parties, you name it, which he disputes every chance he gets, not that I listen to him, your welcome gals by the way."

Leilani knew that as he said this, he wasn't a good match for Bella, she knew her friend, she wanted someone to love her, to settle down with her, to marry, have kids, basically the entire white picket fence idea, she basically wanted the whole package but from his words, he was clearly a womaniser and could potentially hurt her friend. She didn't want to judge him because of that but facts are facts and she cared about her friend, she didn't want her getting hurt but truthfully after the things she's seen, she could be swayed if she could see them going somewhere, right now she'd just wait and see but she vowed to herself that if anything did potentially happen and he ended up hurting Bella, then she would kill him herself, with a steak knife, and some salt, and her target, the place that hurts the most, she nearly grinned evilly at the thought before calming herself down, she didn't need them thinking she was crazy but if she sees one single tear in her eye because of him, then believe me he would meet crazy, okay she was definitely going way too far with this, there was a possibility of nothing happening between them and she used that thought to calm down as the best man continued.

"I honestly never thought he would ever get married so this day is like a dream come true for me and especially his parents and let's not forget, little Daniel who will finally have someone to call mother." As he said this Leilani jolted in her seat, she was marrying a guy who had a kid? Why the hell didn't she know about this? Immediately she felt a tight grip on her arm and she hid her wince at the pain as her uncle leaned closer to her and whispered, "Not a word, you know the consequences," before retracting his hand and she discretely rubbed it under the table. Lucas had noticed the movement under the table and when he saw her wince he knew what had happened and he clenched his fists in his lap to prevent himself from pummelling his best friend's sorry excuse of an uncle into a hospital bed. It was clear from his sister's face that she had seen too so he grabbed her hand to help calm her down, they couldn't make a scene here, even if they wanted to demand the reason why they had not known about the guy already having a kid, it was clear that even Lani had no idea which must have been why her uncle had threatened her right now so that she wouldn't say anything.

"So what I'm trying to say through this very bad speech that I had written down just a few minutes before the wedding, is that I am very happy for you Ric, after everything that has happened, after everything I've watched you go through, you deserve the world and I hope you'll find that in this marriage, I hope that you'll live the most happiest life with your kid and your wife because I know I may not say it much but you're like the brother I never had so I wish you and your new wife the most fulfilling and loving marriage, now let's all raise a toast to the newly weds." He called out and immediately everyone raised their glasses in tandem before Leonard sat down and everyone began eating. He knew the arrangement of this marriage, he knew that the last thing Ric wanted was someone to love but he hoped that this girl might be the one to break down the walls his best friend had long ago encapsulated around his heart, he hoped that this girl might be the one for Ric after the disaster of his last relationship.

"What on earth was that?" Ricardo asked his friend when everyone began eating.

"What on earth was what?" Leonard said playing clueless.

"You're being deliberately dense, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Ricardo said annoyed at his friend, this marriage would in no way be loving, fulfilling or happy, the girl would only be there to care for his kid and maybe meet some other needs of his, it was part of the blasted contract anyway, to consummate the marriage and provide one child, thank God he already had a kid so that clause was unnecessary, he hadn't said anything against consummating the marriage because yes, he didn't believe in love and yes, he'd rather not have married the girl but a guy had needs and if he had to stay faithful than she could at least fulfill them.

"I was just providing some necessary encouragement." Leonard said innocently.

"Encouragement? Seriously? You know the circumstances of this marriage, this is definitely not going to be a happy one least of all a loving one." Ricardo hissed at his friend in irritation.

"But it can be. Look, you know exactly why you're going through with this, for your kid and the promise you made to your parents and you never break a promise, least of all to them so you're not exactly getting out of this anytime soon..." Leonard began but Ric cut him off.

"Gee, thanks, way to make it sound like I'm being chained to someone for the rest of my life, oh wait, I am." Ricardo grumbled pissed off, he didn't even bother to keep his voice that low meaning Leilani heard everything but she had expected this so it didn't really bother her, what could he really do to her that hasn't already been done?

"Calm down Ric or you're going to make a scene. What I was saying was that since you can't get out of this, why not actually put effort to make this marriage work, what could you possibly lose, you don't even need to be like other couples, but being friends is better than nothing." Leonard advised making sure that those next to him couldn't hear him but the chatter was so loud that it would be very hard anyway.

"This marriage was doomed the second I signed that frigging contract, she may be wife on paper and she may legally be my kid's stepmother but no way in hell will I ever treat her like that or even as a friend, she's in this for the money, a gold-digger like the rest of them and I refuse to ever even give her an ounce of my affection, she doesn't even deserve my respect." Ricardo spat back at him but he actually kept his voice down this time, he didn't want the guy sitting next to her to hear this, he assumed that must have been her father so obviously he would get pissed off at him and he didn't want to make a scene, it would reflect poorly off them and he didn't need his and his family's reputation ruined. He had actually not even bothered to research anything about the girl, he had enough trust in his parents judgement to make sure that they wouldn't marry him off with someone who would hurt his kid because that was his only worry.

"I know it's in your nature to be judgemental but a piece of advice, don't judge before you know her, I mean, you don't even know her or her story and who knows, she may just surprise you." Leonard advised before he talked with the other people at the table though he did send side glances at the maid of honour a couple times discretely.

Ricardo just ate his food stiffly, he couldn't even taste it in his anger, it was all bland. His eyes found the plate next to him and he looked at it confused, her entire plate was still filled, was she going to eat or something? He looked at her for a second before his eyes went back to his plate, she looked...well, for lack of better word, she looked sad but why would she be? She got everything she wanted, she was marrying a frigging billionaire for heaven's sake and she's still not happy? He internally rolled his eyes at that, there was clearly something wrong with her, any girl would kill to be in her position but here she was looking like that. Didn't she know if the cameras catch that expression they're going to realise something's wrong and that the story they had weaved for them was fake? He bent his head towards her and to others it would look like he was telling her something sweet but it was the total opposite because what came out of his mouth was, "Turn that frown upside down or we're going to have a lot of problems. You are to act like my wife in public or there will be consequences, do you understand me?"

Leilani just snorted slightly and put a sweet smile on her face so the others would think he had just said something complementary, that's what he wanted wasn't it, but what came out of her mouth was not what he had expected, "I may have agreed to this marriage but do not think for one second that you can order me around, I will act the way I want to act and since I have enough respect for your parents I will act as your wife in public, not because you told me to but because I want to. And out of pure curiosity, what would these consequences, as you say, entail exactly?"

He looked at her shocked, this was the first time a woman had stood up to him but he quickly schooled his features before others could notice and answered, "Do not test me and keep your mouth shut for the rest of the wedding, you are not to argue with me in public or you will have a very intimate meeting with those consequences."

"This is our wedding Mr Adamos, if the bride stays silent the entire time people will think something's up so no, I will not keep my mouth shut unless I want to and if you say something ridiculous or stupid, it is my sacred duty as a wife to make you see right and in order to do that because I doubt you'd listen any other way, I will have to argue with you, it is perfectly normal, no couple in the world doesn't fight so I will not agree to that either." Leilani said before taking a sip from her glass, she had kept her voice very low to make sure her uncle doesn't hear her but he was busy chatting with the other guests, which she was thankful for because if he had heard what she said, she would be in for a hell of a beating.

"I said do not test me, my patience is already thin so I really do suggest you do as I say whatever your name is because I assure you the consequences will be severe." He threatened again just to get it through her skull, she could not disobey him, it would reflect badly on his reputation.

She scoffed at him before she said, "I will rather face these consequences of yours than act like someone I'm not, I don't know what you expected from this marriage, but I will certainly not be a meek, submissive woman just to please you and the blasted public. They will remain judgemental no matter what we do so I really don't care about their opinion therefore I will act as I see fit."

Ricardo saw red as she kept on challenging him, no one had ever dared standing up to him before and yet here she was doing exactly that with no care in the world but just as he was about to snap back at her it was actually time for the dance he had been dreading alongside Leilani who had tensed up at being in that close proximity with him, this is going to be so awkward.