The Murder

Chapter 1. Preparations

“How the hell did you open my car?” Ivan turned to the figure gaining comfort into his vehicle, There was no response . “Here’s the cash, you get the rest when the job’s done” Ivan handed him the parcel.

“Am I still carrying it out at the wedding?” Smith’s gravelly voice broke the silence. His eyes full of much bitter and desperation.

“Yes”

”you’re a crazy man”

“Just get the job done!” Ivan said igniting his engine. Smith left slamming the door, they were done with their conversation.

John, Ivan’s younger brother would be having his wedding few days from now. Ivan’s plan is to get rid of him before the D- day. Full rights ownership of the well known 'Blazing hotels' Newyork city USA, owned by the famous Grayson family would be given to John on his wedding day. Ivan can’t sit and watch his younger brother inherit such wealth.

Maya’s Pov

Today’s the engagement party and the bride Maya is in her room, getting all dolled up . She’s seated in front of a mirror with her best friend Ellie standing behind her. Her outfit is a total game-changer. The dress, in the coolest shade of electric blue, it perfectly hugs her curves, it has these mega-reveal slits that adds beauty to the dress and makes Maya look like a million bucks, her make up blends perfectly with her dark skin tone accentuating her natural beauty. She’s putting on a frontal wig that perfectly hugs her face and her edges are well seated on the sides.

"Aw, Ellie, it's the same as yours," Maya said with a grin, while she tilted her head slightly.

"Yeah, I had it made specially for you," Ellie said with a beam smile, her arms folded.

"It's beautiful, thank you,"

"No, thank you for standing by me all these years," Ellie reached out to squeeze Maya's hand gently.

Maya's facial expression quickly changed sober, her gaze drifting to the floor for a moment before she looked back at Ellie with a heartfelt smile.

"We stood by each other," Maya said.

"No, if not for you, I wouldn't have accomplished most of the things I've accomplished in life," Ellie leaned closer to the chair Maya sat in.

"You want me to cry and spoil this makeup," Maya wiped a tear that had escaped her eye with the back of her hand and took a deep breath.

Ellie smiled warmly, her eyes welling up with tears. "Maya, we're a team, always have been, don’t just forget this whole friendship thing when you get married.”

“Neverrrr” Maya twitched her face.

“Good” Ellie laughed.

“You look so beautiful” Ellie said in between giggles

“Making gestures with her hands with a grin Maya said and you too...just a Little.”

“You can’t be serious” Ellie cracked up.

Ivan got back, his wife was busy on her makeup, she too was preparing for the big engagement party, she had this heavy eyeliner on, dark eyeshadow, deep or red lipstick, contoured cheekbones, and well-groomed eyebrows. It contrasts sharply with anyone's normal makeup. It made her bear resemblance to Cinderella's stepmother. Courtney shot a gaze at Ivan through the mirror she sat in front of. “Is it done?”

“Yes my love” he caressed her hair in his hands while twitching his lips”

“Soon you’ll be King”

“And you’ll be my Queen”

She tossed her hair to the other side and gestured for him to kiss her neck

He kissed her, and kissed her again and again and again till her lower neck, she smiles in pleasure and bites her lower lip.

Maya and Ellie are ready and they move downstairs where the guests are all seated at different corners of the big event center in Blazing hotels some are still walking in.

One could tell that millions and millions of dollars were used to set up this beautiful enterprise. The hall was well designed for the event, the chandeliers, gives the hall a warm glow, the walls are designed in floor to ceiling draperies in rich regal colors adorned in ethereal patterns that seems to shift and come to life. Oversized golden mirrors hang throughout the hall. The guests are seated in groups of round tables. The tables too are made of gold, mirror like, showing reflections. It’s almost like one can see the future through it. The hall is heaven.

The wedding, exudes people of high ranks, dignitaries worldwide and nation wide, an event Newyork city will never forget. The media are in attendance, filming and taking records of every single thing happening, from the outside as people walk into the hall, they are everywhere.

Maya’s phone keeps buzzing, she continuously rejects the calls, Ellie noticed her mood.

“Who’s that?” Ellie asked furrowing her brows.

“It’s Derick, he won’t stop calling.” Maya's voice heavy as though words were struggling to break free.

“No, no, no blacklist him.” Ellie makes waving gestures with her hands.

“I’ve tried but he keeps calling with different numbers.”

Derick is Maya’s Ex, They’ve both known each other for a very long time before John came into the picture. Derick and Maya were madly in love, in fact they were married the only difference is that the big event had not been carried out.

They spent all their time together, sharing meals and everyday chores. Derick was totally smitten, always wanting to be near her. Days without her felt empty and lacking.

Maya got her first ride from Derick, he was obsessed with her.

Well, things took another turn when Maya’s dad took a loan from Blazing hotels managed by John and couldn’t pay back. John asked that Maya be used to repay the debt by becoming his wife.

“Hey baby.” A 6’4 dark-skinned guy who seems to be in his early 30’s walks in on their conversation, the stones on his suit jacket, a rich navy green fabric perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders and trim waist caught the lights in the hall with a brilliant bullet-like glow, looking like tiny stars. It made him look powerful. It was John, Maya’s fiancee, Ivan’s younger brother. He just arrived from the press meeting he had with the hotel staffs, and is just in time before the party kicks off.

Maya immediately drifted her head to the direction of the voice, she raises her head and swallows.

“Hi babe.”

He pecks her and she returns it.

“How was the meeting?” Maya asked. Her facial expression made her look like a kid wanting to use the restroom. She seemed to be under some kind of tension.

John was running his gaze at his soon to be wife as if trying to spot something.

“It was greeeaaaat, oh hi Ellie,”

“Hi John” Ellie says with a grin, she’s standing within earshot from them.“

John holds Maya by the hand still accessing her “Thought we spoke about this dress?”

“I tried the other one out, I felt that this is better”. Maya replied, she still looked tensed.

“Well I don’t think so” He says with a mischievous smile.

“C'monnn John, this dress is per-fec-ttt.” Ellie rolled her eyes. John ignores her.

A young man walks in on their conversation. He’s putting on a double breasted suit, tall, brown – skinned, he’s built is sexy. Not too buff, but too slim. He is John’s best friend and also his best- man for the wedding.

Ronald cup- shapes his hands and announces.“Th-e gr-oo-m is i-n the ho-u-ssse.

He shook hands with John. Ellie blushes from the position she stands tilts her head slightly and shoots a glare at him.

“Now, I have just seven hundred and twenty seven things to worry about.” Ronald cracks up.

“That’s why I chose the best man to be my best man."

“Let just hope He lives up to that expectation.” Derick wiggles the shades on this eyes with a grin and they both laugh. “Now if you’d excuse me, I have to borrow the best woman to go sort out some schedules.” He leans back to where Ellie is standing holds her hand and they both walk out leaving John and Maya.

John holds Maya by the hands and they take a little walk, not too far from where they stood he looks at Maya in the eyes, in between his teeth he says

“change the dress.”

Maya looks at him and didn’t utter a word, she goes to her room to change, and John disappears.