5

"I think there's a mistake." Kim stood to her feet sharply. "I'm Kim!"

"Why would you choose this woman, she clearly had nothing to say, what has gotten into you?" His father banged his hand against the table aggressively. 

"I got this email, I was supposed to get married to you! Are you just going to send me back like that?" Kim sounded like she was about to burst into tears.

"She's right. I don't understand how there was a mix up in the first place but sending her back is not the right option!" Their dad argued. 

"I'll marry her then." 

Silence filled the air and everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice, Adrian. 

"What? Two marriages at once, it's not like I was ever going to find a wife anyways." He shrugged, unless of course, she has  a problem with that." He was talking like marriage wasn't a big deal.

Kim eyed this nerd looking man. Sure he was tall with a few captivating features, still he looked so boring. But he was a Dalmian, too. It was him or nothing. 

"I don't." She sighed in defeat and took her seat. 

"So it's settled. Wait outside ladies, we will discuss in private." Their father said.

Lily and Kim stood to their feet. Lily swallowed when she caught Kim's glare. Something told her this woman would not like her. 

"How did you get the email?" Kim folded her hands across her chest once they were out of the office. 

"I don't know." Lily sighed, reaching for her ringing phone in her purse. "Excuse me." 

"Mama Johnson, you will not believe what happened to me today." Lily did not miss any single detail, from the stains on her gown, to Kim's presence and getting married in two days. 

"I can't believe this!" Mama Johnson gasped. 

"Neither can I, isn't it fishy how rushed the…" 

"All of my dreams have come true just like that!" Mama Johnson squealed. 

"Seriously mum?" Lily rolled her eyes. "Applying for this was a mistake in the first place. Did you skip the part where I said his father hates me, or that the wedding is fucking two days away!" 

"You are not saying no though, are you?"

"I don't know." Lily sighed. 

"If you are making stupid decisions, pray you die before I see you again. Your sisters and I will inform our extended family and we can help you prepare." She warned her. 

"Miss Johnson, miss Wilson?" Louise interrupted from behind. " You can go back in now."

"I'll call you back mum." She sighed and hung up.

"You did read the terms and conditions right?" Their father wanted to know. 

"I did." Lily lied.

"Good so you know, you agree to getting married in two days."

"Yes sir."

"Our team will send you some assistants, they will take you wedding shopping, and fitting. Inform only your nuclear family, they deserve to witness it. Afterwards, our drivers will book a hotel for you…"

"Dad, we have twelve rooms, why do they have to stay in one hotel?" Adrian raised his brow. 

Lily swallowed. That meant the family lived together and she would have to see their father everyday. 

"I don't…" He began but sighed in defeat. "You will stay with us at the house." 

"Go ahead." Roman nodded at Louise. "We can all head back to our various works and get things done." He gave Lily one last look before dismissing them. It was hard. It was hard to read this man and the thoughts he had going on. 

She wondered if he ever smiled. He was nicer when he had stained her gown but even then, he'd had a stern look. When she saw the corner of his lips lift into a smirk, she realised that she had been staring at his lips. She looked up to meet his gaze and then she looked away sharply, holding her breath, "see you later then." She said and followed Louise and Kim out of the office.

"I'm sure you girls are super excited." Louise beamed.

"I'm kind of nervous." Lily admitted with an awkward laughter, oblivious to the turns they were taking on every step.

There was a driver waiting outside for them and they were escorted to the door by three men in similar suits. Louise waved them off at the exit and only one of the men went in the huge black jeep with them.

"Hi, I'm Anna, I'll take it from here. I'll be in charge of your fittings and shopping, nice to meet you ladies." A cheery voiced brunette with a high ponytail called from the passenger seat.

The driver took them to a bridal store twenty minutes away.

Lily was taken by awe at the sight of the expensive, beautiful gowns and she thought, maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

*

By evening, they had selected and fit the gowns to their sizes and were now heading to the mansion.

Kim had chosen a short body hugging gown. She couldn't believe how quick her dreams were coming true. She had no interest in the man she was about to get married to. The only thoughts that flowed in her head was that she would be a Dalmain in two days, and her career was going from zero to a billion.

Lily watched as they drove past busy cars and roads. She pulled her phone out to call her sister. She had not planned on not sleeping at home and she didn't want her cats to be lonely. Good thing the wedding was on a Sunday, that way she could go back to work and everything would be fine.

Lily gasped at the sight of the mansion in front of her. It looked like the scene from a Hollywood movie.

There were tall grasses neatly shaped and trimmed, lining the path that led to the entrance. 

"Are you seeing this Kim?" She whispered to her colleague' taken by awe.

Kim stared at her with irritation and didn't respond.

There were maids waiting for them in the living room - one of the living rooms.

Anna said her goodbye from there and the maids took it forward, showing the girls to their bedrooms.

Lily expected that the men were not back from work yet but if this was their home, then it was no surprise why they lived together. It was heaven here.

The couches looked like they were too expensive to sit on, everything smelled so elegant and flowers lined almost every part of the house.

They took a flight of stairs to the second floor and each lady was given a bedroom to herself, rooms side by side.

"Thank you-" Lily leaned forward to read the name tag on the maid's uniform. "Elizabeth."

"Of course ma'am. If you need anything, just ring room service." Elizabeth pointed to a telephone on the desk and took her leave.

Once the room was empty, Lily took it as her cue to bounce on the king sized bed with at least eight pillows. It had cream coloured sheets and a golden headboard. 

The room had black marble floors and the walls were painted white, not one stain on them. The ceiling to floor curtains shielded a window with the view of the garden and there was an empty closet across from it.

When she'd had her satisfaction with looking around, she did a video call with Mama Johnson and her sisters who could not stop screaming.

"Bitch, how has your life changed in just one day? You are literally getting married to one of the world's most famous people, are you kidding me right now?" Her oldest sister, Amy, commented.

"I know right?" Gaby said. "For once, boy, am I glad to be your sister!"

Lily wanted to respond when a knock came on her door. "Come in?" She said with doubt.

It was Elizabeth. "Dinner is ready, miss." She informed her.

"Look who is giving queen vibes." Gaby chuckled. "Tell us when we will be coming over."

"Thank you Elizabeth." Lily called and turned to look at her phone, "someone will come pick you up tomorrow I think. I'll call you later, I don't want to be late for dinner." Lily teased and got off the phone.

She was halfway down the hall when she thought it would be a good idea to change her outfit for dinner. She had another gown in her bag that Anna had gotten for her.

Turning around, she made her way back to 'her bedroom'.

She opened the door and closed it behind her.

She gasped when she saw Roman standing in the centre of her bedroom shirtless. He seemed to be changing out of his clothes.

He cocked one eyebrow upwards, his blank face in place.

"What are you doing in my room?" They said simultaneously.