Taming The Mayor!

The Bridal Shower!

They say that as a woman is getting married, she starts seeing everything in white around her.

Everything seems to turn into beautiful colors of rainbow; clean and sparkling.

She feels more of herself than ever. She feels her heart, body, mind, soul and even her skin breathing. She feels her true self being free from the entire world as it's the only true happiness that she deserves to be dissolved in.

A woman only wishes to get married when she senses that it's in the right of her mind, best in her interest and best of her soul to have it at peace of finally settling it down with the person she loves the most and wants to spend the rest of her life.

Well... For me!

Everything seemed to turn darker by every passing second. The more faster the day of marriage approached the more darker everything around me was getting. I felt more suffocating by every passing second.

Brandon's words from last night scared me even more than ever. Now it was only an engagement but if it actually turned into a binding relationships of a marriage, he was going to suck the soul out of my life.

I felt chains everywhere around me. Because that's exactly what this marriage was going to be for me. A punishment for a sin I didn't even commit.

"Oh Gosh! What are you doing? You haven't even gotten ready yet?", Margaret barged into my room holding a huge bouquet of roses.

"Your grandma and Hazel are on their way already.", She told me as I sat still in my bed looking at the void of life that was nothing for me now.

I held a pillow in my hand that I squeezed down every time a fearful thought of the marriage happening for real crossed my mind.

"Who's this from?", I asked looking at the huge bouquet.

"Well... There's no name but it just dropped by the gates and I thought about placing them in the bride's room. It's considered as a good luck.", Margaret cheered and something about the bouquet felt off to me.

"Now get ready... And be down in twenty.", She asked making her way out.

I fluffed down the pillow in anger.

Sarah and Margaret had been busy throughout the day planning for an amazing bridal shower for me as they thought I was being forced at first but now I'm more happy then ever to be in this marriage wedded to Brandon.

I slumped my head back in frustration.

Everyone had so many expectations from this marriage. Even Brandon who had already mapped his plan of torturing me once we were married.

And here I was again! Planning on running away the second I got an opportunity or even just get out of this wedlock.

"Come on Connor! How long!", I hissed in frustration.

I couldn't contact Connor or know his progress on decrypting the files. But I was hoping for Fel to appear and a miracle might as well take place today.

I got out of my bed and looked at the dress placed on the hanging stand.

It was simple embellished beige and with shades of plum floral pattern spread all over it. It had a patterned net fabric embellished at the upper chest until the neck.

A smile spread across my face, followed by a pressure of guilt on my chest

Everyone's doing so much for me and here I am deceiving them.

I went ahead towards my dressing table and saw the damn ring placed on it.

I slapped my forehead remembering all the trouble the ring had caused.

I went ahead and looked down at the bouquet of flowers placed on the center table.

A smile crept on my lips as I looked at the beauty of those flowers. It was huge with freshly picked roses of different colors, red, pink, white, even purple. But something caught my attention.

A purple orchid, stood singularly in the center of the entire bouquet.

My eyed widened with shock. It wasn't just a coincidence. These flowers didn't just dropped at the door. There's only one person who sent me such flowers.

My heart beat pounded more faster and louder, a drop of sweat ran down my spine.

His words ringed inside my mind.

"You're unique. You're like a single orchid standing alone in the bouquet of different roses. Because you stand out!"

Was it possible that it was him?

Of course the entire world knows by now that I'm marrying Brandon. And why wouldn't he. But why haven't I seen him anywhere? I saw Elizabeth multiple times already. And now these flowers.

Something rang inside my brain.

The initials E.P from the gun that was used to attack Brandon.

A flashback hit me.

"You're going to regret this moment!", He yelled at me as I stood right in front of him across his table in his office.

"I didn't come here to fight!", I told him trying to sooth down the situation.

"Then why the f**k did you come here, after that lunatic Rodgers sent that threat to me, why'd you even come? Aren't you happy that I'm going?", He said in a mocking tone.

"Eric, I respected you and this friendship but after what you did... What was I supposed to do?", I defended myself back.

It was stupid of me to even stand there right in front of him try and save what he completely ruined. But I still felt the same soft corner for him inside my heart. I perhaps didn't respect him the same but I really did had a regard of our friendship.

"You.... You're a player. A nice one! You're temptress.", Eric mocked. His words hurt me even more, completely loosing my stamina over standing in front of him anymore.

I turned over my heels and walked towards the door, leaving him behind to whatever sinful, cheap and disgusting thoughts he was left with. I couldn't possibly make him understand when he was constantly quivering and blaming me for saving myself.

Perhaps I was stupid to even go there that day, thinking that Eric and I could rekindle our friendship.

Before I could reach the door knob, he held my wrist and violently pulled me towards himself making me crash in his chest.

He dug his nails into my arms and grabbed both of my arms hitting me back against the wall, hurting my back harshly.

It took me back to the unfortunate night and I pushed Eric's growing weight on me with my entire force.

I didn't care whether I hit him bad or not. I continued hitting him on his chest and face.

He shook me vigorously and looked me dead into my eyes making me look at him in horror.

"No! I'm not going to have you now!", He said psychotically brushing my ruffled hair off my face, "Where's the fun in that? You'll come to me...", He pulled my face towards him as I tried looking away from his hungry and scary gaze.

I had closed my eyes so I couldn't see him but the worst was I could feel him as his weight on me grew suffocating me even more. I felt his hand holding my waist as his body completely collided in mine. His one hand crept around my neck pushing me towards him as his mouth that touched my ear opposite from the side he held me.

"You'll come to me as a gift.", He said as he moved more into me and I moved back with eyes close wishing to get somewhere absorbed inside the wall I was held back to.

"You'll come to me and then I'll have you on my bed screaming and asking for more and then I'll show you....", Before he could complete his words I stomped my heels on his feet making him step away groaning in pain.

I immediate ran off, away from him and his office. I had tears streaming down my face.

I wasn't only hurt by his words and how low he thought for me. But because I had only good and high hopes and wishes for him. I always thought good of him. I had built a huge respect for him in my heart and he played me. He thought for me as nothing but a good and fine f**k for him that he just wanted to conquer down his bed and he didn't even had any feelings of love for me but rather he felt lust over my body.

"Amy!", A female voice broke me out of my thoughts of flashback as I shivered and looked up at Hazel who stood watching me with disbelief.

I didn't realize I was scared to death as I looked at those flowers.

Hazel walked towards me closing the door behind.

"Hey! What happened?", She asked as she looked down at me. I sat at the corner of my bed, trembling with fear and thoughts of horror.

It still disgusted me to even think that he existed that close to me.

I pointed at her towards the bouquet placed down at the table. She and grandma were the only two people except for Mr. Rodgers who knew everything about Eric.

She looked at the followers and recognized them as well. They were the same as they used to get delivered to my office every day back two years ago.

"Did you met him?", Hazel asked looking at me with concern.

"No!", I let out a small mumble holding back my tears.

"Then this...", She asked looking at me with confusion.

"There's no name to it. But I know it's him. No one sent me such flowers. And we both know why.", I made my point by putting forth my theory.

"Does anyone here...?", She asked.

"No... Not that I know of. I don't think so.", I said adding my point.

"Well... Then I'll just ask the housekeeping staff to throw it away and you just need to get up and get ready. Everyone's waiting for you downstairs. Come on.", She said as she bent down meeting my face and I immediately leaped her into a hug.

I couldn't imagine my life without her and all the effort and courage she's put in me to make me feel happy and better about myself.

"Always remember! None of this was your fault. You don't need to worry about anything.", She patted my back lightly.

Her words made me realise that my life was a complete mess.

From day one, nothing was in the right place, nothing felt okay and nothing was going to be okay.

*************

I got downstairs and my eyes gleamed with glow the entire Hall room had.

Margaret had turned the house into a bride itself. I rather felt bad at the amount of effort they'd put in and everything seemed to be in vain within a short span of time.

The colorful decorations and the gleaming sides were all pointing at hard work. It seemed like a ballroom of some nineteenth century house room party. But everything was exceptional and my guilt grew by ten folds inside me.

One wall was decorated with hangings and writings on the wall in cursives with a huge "Bride to be" written on it.

I stepped towards the corner where all the gifts were wrapped and placed.

"She's here!", Someone's yelled and a huge crowd of ladies walked into my directly almost taking me off by surprise.

"Woah! I didn't expect you guys to be this much", I said honestly thinking that only a few people would've showed up.

Margaret, Sarah, Hazel and Grandma stood in the front of the haze of the entire crowd.

"Step aside ladies, I'm here for my future daughter.", Aunt Monica's voice called out as a space between the crowd cleared and she walked down right in front of me.

She was as studded as she always was. Perhaps that how you carry the title of first lady?

"Oh you look lovely my dear.", She spoke softly cupping my face in her hands and bending it down to kiss my forehead.

"Thanks.", I smiled lowly.

"No wonder my son lost his heart over you. He definitely got struck by your beauty.", She said and a wave of giggles rushed through the entire crowd.

Okay! This is awkward. Your son wants to kill me.

I smiled lowly at her words alongside everyone.

"Well.... Let's get started with the gifts.", Margaret announced and the crowd rushed me towards a couch placed in front of the decorated wall.

"Mine will be the first one.", Aunt Monica announced.

As soon as I sat she came and sat right next to me with rest of the women sitting around me and the chairs placed.

They looked at me and Aunt to see what wonders of gifts she had brought down for me.

I was the main point of center of attention and I definitely didn't enjoy that at the moment.

Aunt Monica sat and a woman carried a huge basket and sat that at the table.

The entire crowd which I didn't even know who they were, cheered and wooed at the size of the basket. It was definitely larger than life for me.

"This is out traditional Mayhew bridal basket that the mother prepares down for her daughter and daughter in law before their wedding. You should remember everything in here because you'll be doing the same for your children.", She said and everybody awed while I just smiled awkwardly.

The guilt hit me again. I'm playing with so many people's feelings.

She then grabbed another box from the lady's hand that previously brought in the basket and placed it down in my lap.

It was blue rectangular box with velvet covering over it. I guessed it as a jewelry box.

I gulped down hard hoping and praying it wasn't what I was thinking what it might be.

"It's yours.", She said through a weak smile and squeezed my hand.

"Open it!", Sarah said excitedly.

"Yeah open it!", Grandma pushed along.

Oh God! If this is what I think it is I might as well lose myself.

I opened the box with a heavy heart and my brain pounded with a heaviness and explosives burst inside my heart at the mere sight of the same necklace.

Brandon once gave me that saying that it belonged to her mother and she gave it to him to give it to the woman he loved.

It left it behind and returned him alongside the letter that I left him.

I looked at Aunt Monica and my eyes were already filled with mist, "I... I don't know what to say.", I said holding back my tears.

I definitely couldn't take that.

"Aunt Monica...", I began but she cut me off.

"What did we decide about calling me?", She said through furrowed eyebrows.

Oh God this is getting nastier for me to play along anymore.

"About that... I... I have never called anyone mom besides....", I held back my tear from escaping as my voice cracked down with heaviness.

"Oh dear... Why didn't you tell me that earlier?", She said holding my face and pecking me on the cheek.

She was too good for this. She didn't deserve being hurt. After I find my way out of this marriage, she'll be the one I'll be most guiltful of hurting.

"I... This necklace is beautiful but I know that you gave it to Brandon and...", I began but she cut me off.

"And he told me to give it to the woman he'll choose as his wife. And here we are. I don't see anyone besides you as the perfect fit for his wife.", I smiled lowly at her words.

The guilt inside me was consuming me by every passing second.

"Amy... I've seen Brandon go through a lot in his life and I could sense you feel his pain.", She said holding my hand down and squeezing it lightly, "He could be a bit difficult to handle at times but don't give up on him. Not now or ever. To bring you back in his life, I was actually concerned for you two but now I realised that God has His plans. He didn't bring you back for nothing. Every fierce man needs a much more courageous and fiercer woman and to Brandon that's you. I look at you and I see you're not just afraid of him, you're afraid for him and that's the par of love that I'm the most happy to see. I'm so happy for my son that he found you.", She finished down her words and I felt breaking into tears.

A part of me denied that I loved Brandon, I was still hurt by his words I wanted to scream that I hated him for putting me into this situation but a part him would still kiss him back again if I could.

I wiped off my tears and smiled looking down at the beautiful diamond necklace.

"Okay now my turn! Time for a break from the sad sad!", Sarah cheered everyone up as she came and sat right next to me.

She grabbed down a box covered in pink and silver wrapping and gave it to me.

I took in and shook it a little to have an idea what might be inside it.

"Just open it up!", She said through a bored expression making everyone laugh.

The box was small and light and it created a little crackling voice.

I opened it up and inside was a beautiful golden pendant. It had the initials S&A carved on the gold plate underneath. The initials were in matte gold giving them a much more visible view on the gold plate.

"This...", My air got caught in my wind pipe somewhere.

"Mom made us this and told me to give it to you on your wedding.", She said and the guilt grew much more inside me as I felt tears streaming down uncontrollably.

"I.... I... Don't know... You guys are making me cry...", I said through a weak laugh and everyone watched in awe as Sarah and I hugged for a long moment.

"My turn!", Hazel spoke.

"G.ma and I have gotten you a basket!", She said placing out a a huge purple basket right in front of me.

It had a brown handle that extended out from each sides and inside was placed a beautiful bottle of champagne, and boxes of different colors that I needed to dig in more to see.

I decided to explore and first came down a box of black wrapped with a red ribbon.

I opened it up and my cheeks instantly hit the red blush. Inside was a lingerie and on the top was placed an underwear with "s***k me daddy" written all over it.

"This has to be Grandma's idea!", I interjected looking down at the slutty lingerie.

Everyone started laughing at the sight of the lingerie.

One after the other one everyone gave down their gifts.

As everyone started dispersing around for food Margaret came towards me. I was standing with Aunt Monica and some of Brandon's female cousins that she was introducing me to.

"Can I have her for a minute?", She asked Aunt Monica who desperately seemed to be already possessive of me.

She nodded in agreement and Margaret grabbed my hand walking me upstairs.

She took me back into my room.

"Well... Your mother in law already seems to be obsessed with you.", She said puffing out exhaustion.

Looking at her like that instantly hit me with pain and guilt.

She'd done the entire arrangements and set the entire house like a doll just for me. Everybody expected so much of me and I wasn't even going to end up in this marriage.

I immediately walked towards her and leaped her into a hug.

She was taken aback with my sudden affection.

I felt tears streaming down my eyes as I continued hugging her.

"Hey...", She said breaking down our embrace, "What happened?", She asked once settling us both down at the corner of the bed.

"I...", I sniffed hard and looked down at my fingers not even having the stamina to look her in the eyes.

My guilt was growing by every passing second and I couldn't contain myself with it.

"It's just that.... You guys have done so much for me... And I... I don't know how to thank you guys.", I said wiping the tears of my cheeks.

She chuckled a bit.

For her this might've been my innocence but I knew how bad I was going to hurt them all.

"I'm doing this for my daughter and no one else.", She patted my head lightly. She got up and opened my dressing drawer and got a box out of it. She walked back and sat right next to me.

"I thought about giving you this on your wedding day but I guess today is already the day of emotional gift so here you go.", She said placing down a rectangular box on my lap.

It was small and elliptic and seemed like a jewelry box.

I opened it up and it was a silver bracelet. It was beautiful and the design was old giving it some old association.

"It belonged to my great grandma, who passed it down to her daughter; my grandma, who passed it to my mother and she gave it to me. I want you to have this.", She said squeezing my arm with a light hug.

Okay! That is it!

The guilt now seemed to passed on an ultimate level of extremism inside my heart. I had nowhere to go for now.

"I... I can't take this. This belongs to Carol.", I said trying to rationalize my guilt.

"I don't know... If it belongs to her or to someone else but I want it to be yours.", She said smiling and holding down my hand.

I leaped her in a hug and let tears wash away my guilt.

Soon the door to my open flew open, I looked up to see Fel.

"Amy! I think you should come with me.", She said stepping near me in a hurry. She had worry and distress plastered all over her face.

I knew exactly what the emergency or the hurry might be about.

"What? What happened?", Margaret asked in distress.

Fel's changed her expression in a sudden as she saw Margaret's face.

"Oh... It's... It's a small surprise from me and Laura.", She said grabbing my hand and picking me up to practically run besides her.

We ran past everyone in the Hall room who looked at us in dismay.

"Excuse me... It's an emergency surprise!", Fel yelled passing through everyone in the hallway area.

I simply smiled awkwardly at everyone whom we ran past. Everyone had awkward expressions on their faces including Aunt Monica whom I waved my hand in particular.

Soon we got inside the car as Fel sped the car.

"Jeez slow down fast and furious lady.", I told her as she sped the car in an inappropriate speed. "I don't want to die. Well I wouldn't mind given the guilt I have dancing around my entire body and veins."

"Connor did his homework.", She told me making her look at her as she pointed down at my ring, reminding me that it was bugged.

Well.... This was it then!