Saved by the sea

Chapter 9

The ride in the limo seemed to go on forever. It would be fair to blame it on the anticipation of getting there, but it would not be true. I was not excited about getting there. The feeling of wrongness was not leaving me and the need to run, to leave was choking me out, but I could not get out of this easily.

The deafening silence was not making any of this easier. It made the tension in the car that much more suffocating, not helping that silent panic that was already running wild in my mind.

Sitting in this stuffy limo that smelled like fake vanilla and whatever overly sweet perfume that Oliver's mother was wearing made me dizzy. The dizziness was followed by nausea. I don't think the older woman would appreciate it if I threw up on her... and ower my wedding dress... but maybe if I threw up they would cancel all off this...

The need to laugh at the ridiculousness of this idea was borderline crazy. I had to dig nails into my palm to keep myself from releasing a sound, because once that floodgate would open then there would be no stopping it. It would start with laughter, but turn into full-on sobs in seconds.

After forcing myself to take a calming breath, I looked around the car for the hundredth time.

I was so out of place here, ther was no denying it.

All this, however you would call it... was not me.

The dress was so uncomfortable and itchy, even though it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. My face felt so heavy and itchy, that I wanted to rip off my own skin... and then my hair... the short front pieces were brushing my cheeks, reminding me that my hair was gone. With every touch to my cheeks I got flashbacks of seeing it fall to the ground, and it made me want to cry.

But the worst part was the feeling in the pits of my stomach, the heaviness, the uneasiness and general feeling of wrong.

It felt like I was making the wrong decision, that I was making the wrong choice, but there was no changing it now.

A part of me wanted to jump out of the moving car and run. I was not sure where I would run to, but I wanted to run.

My inner fight was interrupted by the car stopping, bringing me back to the current moment.

So this means we have arrived and there was no tuning now, I had to face reality.

My doors opened and there stood my father with the brightest smile on his face.

Dressed in a dark gray suit that I know he bought for this occasion, he looked great in it and so happy.

As I looked at his happy face, I felt a deep sting in my heart, making me realize that I couldn't stop this wedding, not when it made my father so happy.

"Beka... you look so gorgeous...your hair... it's... it looks so fresh..."

The comment about my hair was fake. He knew that I loved my hair, and he liked it long also, but I still loved that he tried to cheer me up. So I played along and gave him my best fake smile and changed the subject, because if we stayed on the topick any longer, I was sure that I would start screaming.

"Daddy, you look so sharp."

"Thank you sweet cheeks, but today is your day and I'm so happy for you. I hope Oliver will make you as happy as I know you deserve to be... I know that I wasn't the best father..."

"Daddy no. You were the best and there was never a moment when I didn't feel loved or..."

My objections were silenced by him pulling me into a hug and out of the car.

I felt hot tears running down my cheek and I knew that I was tuning my make-up, and I would get scolded by Oliver's mother, but I could not stop myself.

A moment later, my father pulled back and brushed off the tears from my cheek and laid a kiss on my forehead.

"No crying today, come on, we shouldn't keep Oliver waiting."

I smiled and nodded, letting my father lead me inside, while ignoring the stomping emotions and sinking feeling of wrongness in my chest.

The whole place was decorated with different shades of pink and... it was so pink... like the amount of pink was a bit... okay way too much, but I ignored it as I looked up at my father's happy smile.

He led me into a big room filled with over a hundred people and Oliver was waiting in front.

At first glance, I was almost certain that I knew no one here. Not that I cared or was surprised by it.

Father led me to the front of the room and placed my trembling hand into Oliver's cold one. Oliver looked perfect as always. In a light gray suit and a pink flower pinned to his lapel of his jacket.

I was staring at that flower when the ceremony started, and it took me a moment to even realize that I spaced out. In what felt like a moment later, it was over.

Before I knew it, the ceremony was over as Oliver leaned in for the kiss.

The kiss was more like a peck, no passion or love in it... more of one you give your grandma on the cheek. It was so far from what I imagined it would be on my wedding day.

But before I could think about it more, Oliver took m hand and led me outside where a group of journalists were waiting for us.

That was a surprise for me as I did not expect them here.

Oliver answered all of their questions as if they were all pre-planned... and I had the feeling that it was just the case.

He was selling them our story and how happy we were to finally start a family. Of how excited I was to quit my job and how happy I was to start working for his mother's charity.

I stared at him in complete shock, it might have looked like something else, but it was complete shock as this was all news to me and I was trying to stay calm and not cause a scene, but I was at my limit.

What made me almost crack was when Oliver began talking about my father's company and how happy he is to help my father run it as he is going to take over next year, when my father is retiring.

The whole thing seemed like it was a scene from a nightmare.

There were cameras flashing... controversial questions floating around me as I tried to wrap my mind around what I just heard.

And then it was over as Oliver was raging me back inside. I was about to ask him what the hell just happened, but before any words left my mouth, he stopped me by saying.

"If you cause a scene, I will make you regret it..."

A cold shiver ran down my back as I felt his fingers that wrapped around my hand squeeze in a threatening way.

And so I kept quiet in complete shock with a fake smile plastered on my face.

The rest of it was all a blur.

We had our first dance. After that, he walked around showing me off as if I was a trophy or any other expensive toy.

Then finally, he led me to the main table, saying that he would return, telling me to stay here and stay quiet if I knew what was best for me. The clear threat in his words sent a shiver down my back.

Still in shock, I sank down into the chair and took a glass of champagne that was placed in front of me.

I never liked it, but at that moment I didn't really care, I needed something to take my attention away from what was happening.

Part of me wanted to cry while the other part of me wanted to shout and run.

I felt hurt... and stupid...

So stupid.

My self-pity party was disturbed by my father as he walked over to me at some point.

He looked so happy and his smile warmed my heart.

"Honey, I'm so happy for you."

His cheeks looked flushed and, by the way, he had a hard time constructing sentences I guess he was pretty tipsy.

"Daddy... why don't you sit down?"

"Oh honey... Do you know how much I love you?"

It was kinda cute.

"You are so pretty...you look just like your mother... oh how much I wanted..."

But he couldn't finish what he was saying because Oliver's mother made her way to my table and led my father outside. I guess to a car that will take him home.

I looked in the direction my father was led, feeling sad for him... he never got over her...

My thoughts were disturbed by a woman dressed in pale pink suit.

"Ms, why don't you follow me? I will show you the room you will be staying in."

I silently nodded and followed her out of the room.

She led me inside to the second floor. We turned left a few times and entered a big bedroom. It was beautiful, but cold at the same time.

When she turned around and met my eyes, I saw pity in them.

"Mister Oliver will be here in a moment. I was told to let you know that you are expected to be ready for him."

After saying that, she closed the door and left.

I was sure as hell not going to get ready for anything, until he tells me what the hell was that press conference and all that bullshit about my fathers business.