Devil’s Dinner

Episode 09 Call my Name

Princess Vivian felt so embarrassed with Uncle Grimes attacking her with words, she clutched tight on her long skirt and flashing the palace maids her angry stare,they scampered away.

“Hmmm,my lady” Mr.Grimes said after clearing his throat.

He then moved closer to her and whispered something to her ears.

“As long as you obey me,we will not have any problem”

Mr.Grimes left and Vivian’s bodyguard approached her after seeing her disturbed.

“My lady are you okay?” May,the female bodyguard questioned.

Princess Vivian’s sore eyes could now be visible and her eye bags so pale and red as if she has not been sleeping.

A devilish smile tugged at her lips and she finally voiced out.

“May... what if we stop this wedding?”she snorts.

“My lady,we must not act based on Mr.Grimes words,and as it is they all believe you are not a smart lady but someone who is obsessed with wealth and shopping only.

I will advise we keep operating on the low and then shock them later” she proposed with concern.

Princess Vivian heaved a heavy sigh and crouch on her knees.

“I feel so lonely... I want the king back immediately and the only way to guarantee that is to stop the Grimes from having the wedding” she said.

“How can we stop the wedding when it is just a week away? The Grimes always put trusted people in charge of their events so we can’t possibly pull any stunt “ May explained.

“That bride is too pretty to be killed, even if she is going to die I don’t want to be the one killing her” Vivian uttered.

“Why don’t we scare her again?” May proposed with feeling of excitement clinging to her tone.

“We scared her once and how did that end up again?” Vivian muttered knitting her eyebrows as she could feel stress descending on her.

“My Lady, fear is not something to be forgotten so easily like that, we can just do this instead” May said.

“What?” Princess Vivian questioned with keen interest as she wait patiently for May to explain herself.

Days passed by and Xander grew colder each passing day which shows the wedding is arriving so fast.

Ashley felt so confused and lonely these days since Xander seems to be opposite of the side he has been showing her the first time she arrived.

Someone that agreed on a contract marriage but now acting like a complete stranger to her.

Indeed they promised not to disrupt each other’s privacy but before they do talk and eat together.

Now Xander does neither of it anymore.

It is the day for their pre-wedding shoot and Michael was invited over to drive them to the location.

He is a close and important friend to the family anyway.

Michael arrived at the Grimes Mansion looking so cool as always.

He said his greetings to the elders and soon Xander came to join him in the parking spot.

“Where is your to-be-bride dude?” Michael asked teasingly.

Xander gave him no response, instead he adjusted his coat and checked his wrist watch for the time.

He then glance back at the door and then Ashley appeared with two maids escorting her out.

ASHLEY

The maids walked me out and as soon as I stepped outside,my eyes caught Xander standing by the car looking so handsome and calm as ever.

Deep down I think he is the kind of man so capable of many things and full of principles.

I could already tell by his appearance on the first day but seems he is holding back for some reason.

I really wish to be different for him,as the 4th bride and the last.

The maid called out my name in respect and that smacked me back to reality as she hands over my bag to me.

I flashed her a soft smile and I could tell she was happy to get a smile from me.

After that,I walked gracefully towards the car and that was when my eye caught Michael too,that gentleman that saved my life the other day.

Genuinely thinking now, I feel bad for not calling to thank him personally even if he is a family friend.

I bit my lower lips and turn to face him immediately I arrived at their presence.

“Hi Michael,I’m so sorry for not reaching out till now, thanks for the other day” I said in an apologetic tone.

He flashed me a smile without taking much interest in it.

“Its okay Miss Ashley, if protecting the family’s honor includes physical aspect too, I’m ready to be of help” he said as he spread his hand forward to take my hand to his lips.

Before he even lift my hand forward I knew what he was going to do as a gentleman.

He kissed it gently and with a known grin on his face which I was left confused about but I know he meant something with the aura he dissipated.

Now feeling the softness of his lips on the tender surface of my skin,I could tell he must be a gifted kisser.

I felt myself going red and cheeks blushing bad from inside so I immediately withdraw my hand from him.

Oblivious of the fact that Xander was still watching.

Xander saw everything but retained his indifference icy look and hopped into the car without getting the door for me.

I felt so embarrassed at my emotion bursting out, indeed I wish my heart would flutter by Xander’s actions only and not anyone else.

“Do not worry Miss Ashley,I already promise to watch out for you” Michael’s voice rang out with care and my sadness deserted me.

He opened the car door and I entered carefully to the back.

Michael soon hopped into the driving seat and in a short while,started the car and drove out of the mansion.

An unidentifiable figure stood by the roadside clad in a hoodie and a cap with a nose mask.

The person watched as the car leaves the mansion then walked to the mansion to knock on the gate.

With a response from within,she dropped a box and ran off before the men guarding the mansion appeared.

The box had a writing on it which states “To Xander Grimes”

The girl watched as the box got picked and was handed over to the maids inside the main house.

She made a satisfied face then turn around to leave.

DREAMWAY

Kayla could be seen in class staring out of the window spacing out completely out of the lecture room.

Rachel knew the teacher might notice her absence sooner or later so she tried hard to call her back quietly.

She tore some parts of her book and rolled it to small hard ball before flicking it her way.

It got stuck in her hair instead and the teacher happened to see this.

“Look at someone being so absent minded in class” the teacher said carefully but the tone and content of her statement is not quiet the action she gave out.

It appears she was being careful since Kayla is part of the Grimes.

“I’m sorry ma’am “ she muttered wearily and buried her face in the textbook on her table.

Jeremy knew something was going on with her and he stared at her out of worry and love.

Immediately the bell rang for another period which is their Lunch break,he went to Kayla and grabbed her hand before pulling her out of class.

Rachel followed as well.

They arrived at the school open field and sat down on the bench.

“Kayla what is going on?” Jeremy questioned even though he knew it must be about her sister.

He was not surprised with Kayla having a hard time with the Grimes,not to talk of the loneliness her sister must be facing.

This was not new to him with the fact that his distant cousin was the first bride of the Grimes before she was found dead on the wedding night.

Remembering this again made his heart sank to the far bottom just thinking of how to console Kayla next time.

Kayla sniffs in and that shows she has been crying inside since class.

She tilted her head to the other side to hide her tears but Rachel caressed her hair then directing her head towards them.

“We are friends,you should not hide your tears from us” she said teary eyed as well.

“She might explode any minute,please don’t t cry” Jeremy said with a tired face trying not to show his fears too.

Kayla smiled and then wiped her tears away,she showed a wedding invitation card to their face,it appears she has been holding that in class and crying.

“You both are invited to the wedding” she said with a forced smile.

She handed it out to them with a fake smile then turn her face away.

“Kay” Jeremy called out her name.

She did not reply but Jeremy continued anyway.

“Do you by chance want to postpone the wedding?” He blurted out of contempt.

His suggestion caught Kayla’s interest and she turn back immediately to him but then another thought hit her.

She have no power to postpone the wedding.

“What power do I have to do that?” She cooed.

“At least to buy time to convince your sister to run away with you” he explained.

“Even still,that doesn’t look so simple for her to do alone” Rachel cuts in.

Kayla could not find the courage to explain her plight about not having enough money to run away even if they want to.

“Thanks guys, I know I should not be doing this since my sister seems to have a plan, she asked me to trust her despite her knowing everything” Kayla explained.

Rachel ruffles her hand through Kayla’s hair playfully.

“You pitiful thing” she sniffles then pulled her in for a hug.

Jeremy watch them do their thing while he remained quiet.

David’s Royal Touch

Michael pull up in front of a very big building and before he could get out of the car,two attendants dressed in formal dress welcomed them then ushered them in.

A very sassy man in his mid 30s welcomed them with a smile,he is got a brown hair with a pink hair clip strapped on it.

“Welcome young master Xander and my young lady Ashley” he said in the weirdest accent of English.

“You can call me David” he added.

Xander’s eye caught the couples bed decorated with rose petals and wedding ducks made of plastic facing each other.

He knew the shoot is going to be so intimate.

“Who chose this concept?” he inquired tinged as he examine the surrounding more.

Having to do the same thing over and over haunts him of his dead wives and that gives him bad headache.

“What’s wrong? You don’t wanna do it?” Michael questioned.

“No, that’s not it... but I don’t think I will be able to do it” he announced.

Ashley became so surprised and broken hearted.

“But why? You hated this marriage that much?” She questioned.

“If I do then I would not be here” Xander retorts.

“We both know why you are here young master,I always have this believe that you are one independent young man and I find you attractive to my liking but these days you have started falling my hand so bad” she yelled then dropped her bag on the couch.

Everyone continued looking at her as she pour her heart out.

“I mean you can’t even act alone, you can’t make decisions by yourself and do you even know my name till now? No you don’t, young master I am Ashley! Ashley White so stop referring to me as hey, truth be told you’ve never even addressed me as Young lady.

Why are you being such a cold cruel jerk? I don’t want your love if that is so difficult for you, at least stop making me feel like a desperate soul here” she blurted.