Blast from the past
1068 Words
Minutes had passed since Giovanni left Olivia in the hotel room, bewildered.
After he'd left, she had searched the entire room for hidden cameras but found none
Overnight, her world had become a movie. A fairytale as other women would like to call it.
Under the silvery moon, she waited for her uber to get her home to the one thing she needed. Sleep.
It had been one heck of a day
A small crowd played in front of the bar as the music from the bar still rang through walls. A
a huge man dressed in a hat and suit caught her attention. She immediately recognised who he was.
Chills went down her spine and her hands turned cold suddenly
A blast from the past as others would call it. He started to walk towards her, with a sinister smile on his face. He knew she was terrified of him
She turned the other direction and began to walk as fast as she could. But she could make out other men as they cornered her. She recognised them also. She was surrounded.
She turned back and was facing the devil himself.
He pulled her close. His breath was laced with the smell of cigar and alcohol. He made her skin crawl
“Couldn't fool me with your new look baby”
He took a handful of her shiny blonde hair into his hands
“What do you want?” She pushed him away, repulsed by him.
“I want you back. Come work for me again sweet pea” He tried to pull her in again but she stopped him with her hands
“I'm done with that life. I told you” She said and watched in terror as his expression turned cold.
He snatched her hair and pulled at it. She let out a whimper
“I could destroy you, with the snap of my finger. You know what I mean” He threatened as tears fell freely down her face.
“I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. You know what happens next” He let go of her hair and she stumbled forward, almost falling to the ground.
She searched around and found no trace of him. He had disappeared the same way he came. Into thin air. Olivia put her hand over her mouth, holding back her sobs that made her body shake violently.
***
Olivia toiled all through the night. By morning, she had made up her mind. It was either a life where she always had to look over her shoulders or a life of luxury and comfort.
Nothing could take her back to the slum she had struggled so hard to crawl out of.
And Giovanni. A blessing in disguise. Answer to her prayer. Her last card.
He was the only one who could save her from her ugly past. If she played her cards smart enough, she could even get more than she bargained for from him. He offered her a good life, and she needed his protection
All of these only led her to one decision.
“I'll marry you” Olivia barged into Giovanni's office once again to say.
He studied her for a few seconds.
Her sliky hair was packed up into a messy bun. Her beautiful brown eyes had dark circles underneath them. Her full red lips were cracked and her cheeks were as flushed as her nose. She didn't look okay.
But he didn't see the need to ask about her well being.
“You sure?” He asked to get a confirmation.
She nodded almost immediately, afraid that he would change his mind and retract the contract.
“You seemed skeptical before” Giovanni said, still taken aback by her sudden decision to ahead with it.
“Just like you said sir, no one would say no to a billion dollars. Are we doing this or not?” She asked sternly
“Of course. One problem though, we can't get married with you dressed like that” He said, referring to her shabby clothes.
Her black sweatpants, grey shirt and a black jacket was an eye sore.
How she made it here looking like that was a wonder.
“I could change-”
“There's no time” Giovanni stated, snatching his coat from the coat rack
He reached out for her hand.
“We should make this look as real as possible,” He explained when she hesitated to take his hand.
She gave a curt nod as their fingers became intertwined.
He led the way out of his office and his staff turned to look in shock as they exchanged words in whispers.
Olivia particularly enjoyed the look of astonishment etched on Vanessa's face. As they both walked down the hallway, Vanessa glared at Olivia and trailed her gaze down to her hand in Giovanni's.
She looked like she would faint at any given moment. Olivia gave Vanessa a small smile before looking away.
***
In the empty hall, Giovanni waited for his bride at the altar.
With nobody to escort her down the aisle, Olivia made an entrance. Her cold eyes were filled with uncertainty.
Giovanni's breath seized at her appearance.
With his abrupt stop at a bridal shop, there hadn't been much time for her to dress up, but she still managed to look breathtaking in her gown. The simple yet elegant white floral gown stopped right above her knees, clinging to curves.
Olivia tugged at the dress, suddenly feeling nervous under Giovanni's scrutiny. He had a way of making her feel nervous by doing the bare minimum, like just staring at her.
She approached the altar and took a step to where Giovanni stood in his grey suit, looking dashing as always.
“Do you take this man, in the person of Miss Giovanni Verona, to be your husband?” The clergyman's voice echoed through the empty hall.
“I do,” Olivia responded. Her eyes were fixed on Giovanni even through the veil
“Do you take this woman to be your-”
“I do” Giovanni gave an answer, already growing impatient.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” The man said and pointed to some papers and a pen on the small pulpit
In the loneliest wedding ever known to man and simple signature, Olivia's life was now bound to Giovanni's.
- Writer
