4

ROSALINE

Today was wedding day. I'm supposed to be happy, I know.

Happiness was far from what I was feeling at the moment.

"You look beautiful. Like a queen this time," Lisa said to me. I couldn't smile because I wasn't happy at all. The makeup artist did well to give me a light makeup.

The door opened and I could see Catherine and Kimberly walk in from the reflection of the mirror. I rolled my eyes knowing they were only coming here to spit nonsense like they usually do.

"So you were finally able to put your useless self to use," Catherine snickered. "Mom!" Lisa glared at her. her mother waved her off, "Learn to shut that mouth of yours if you don't know what to say."

"Aren't you meant to be in the church?" I asked her with a bored tone. Catherine narrowed her eyes at me. "You're lucky there's a mother figure in your life," she sneered and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sure your head will be sent back here in the next two months after they find out how useless and pathetic you are," Kimberly laughed and her mother joined.

Look who's talking.

She was dressed in a dress that was two sizes too small for her and it made me wonder if she was attending a wedding or a strip club.

The doors opened and I turned around to see my father walk in.

"It's time. Rose, come here," he said as he approached me. Lisa handed me the large bouquet of white roses and I followed my father out of the room.

∞

I kept praying in my head that I wouldn't trip as I walked down the aisle with my father. I could see a man standing before the altar with his hands crossed behind his back.

From what I saw, he was muscular. Those hands could easily wrap around my neck and strangle me. This made me shiver involuntarily.

We got to where my father would let me go and the man turned around to face me. My jaw nearly dropped when I saw a very handsome man. His hair was midnight black and was gelled back, making him look hot but his face was cold.

He held out his arm and I hooked mine around it before we walked to the altar where the priest was waiting for us.

A mafia boss getting married in a church.

How ironic. People don't even have respect for sanctuaries these days.

The organist stopped playing and silence filled the whole church. I still don't know how this many people came; I didn't even get to see my own wedding invitation card.

"We have come here to witness the joining of Rosaline and Alexei in the presence of the Lord today," the priest started. He was Russian. I could tell by his accent.

I took a sneaky glance at by husband-to-be to see that he was obviously not interested in this.

Me too, buddy. Me too.

"Do you, Mr. Alexei Volkov, take Ms. Rosaline to be your lawfully wedding wife? In sickness and in health, in poverty and in health, for better and worse, till death do you apart?" the priest asked.

Alexei said a quick 'I DO' and I sighed.

The priest said the same thing to me and I said I do too.

"You may now exchange your rings," the priest said as he raised up a white ring box. Alexei picked it and opened it. Two silver wedding rings were there.

He held out the ring meant for me and I stretched out my hand for him. I swallowed hard when he touched my hand and effortlessly slid the ring down my finger to join the engagement ring.

I tried hard to stop my hands from shaking as I picked up his ring and held his left hand to put the ring on his finger. His hand was bigger than mine and it made me feel so small.

"I now pronounce you as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!" the priest said and I nearly panicked.

Was it necessary to kiss? Hmm?

Alexei removed my veil and held my waist to pull me closer before placing a gentle kiss on my lips. I blinked, his lips were soft but the kiss didn't last.

The whole church roared in applause as he pulled away and then it dawned on me.

This wasn't a dream.

I was officially a married woman.

Oh dear.

∞

No words could describe how tired I was as I stepped down from the black private jet. I was glad that I had changed out of that heavy ball gown into a knee length cream colored dress and cream colored platform slippers.

I'd recommend these platform slippers to anyone because they were actually comfortable, especially the foam ones.

The cold air bit at my skin as Alexei's men escorted Alexei and I to a black Limo. His phone began to ring making me look at him. He picked it up and sighed when he listened to the caller.

He said whispered something into one of the men's ears and walked back to the jet with two other men following him. I wanted to ask where he was going but I didn't want to cross the line.

At least not yet.

But how can someone leave on their wedding day?

"Where is he going?" I asked one of the men. "Business," he replied and I nodded with an eye roll.

"Why is it night here?" I couldn't help but ask as I got into the car. "We're eight hours ahead of America," another person replied in a tone that meant they weren't in the mood for discussion.

Rude much.

After what felt like two hours because I knew it was more than an hour, I saw that we drove in through a pair of large iron gates.

After a few more minutes, the car was parked and I was helped out.

I really wanted to sleep.

"We're here," the man from earlier said and led me to the front door of a mansion that was four times the size of my father's mansion. I wasn't surprised at all. I expected it, but I really didn't expect it to be that huge.

Was he the only one that lived here or he had other families here?

The doors opened and as I walked into the house, warmth filled me. The interior design was more of a traditional Victorian style with a small chandelier hanging from the high ceiling in the hallway and beautiful glass figurines and flowers.

The walls were egg shell white while the floor tiles were an alabaster shade of white.

Nice taste, Alexei.

"Anya!" one of the men called as we walked into the living room making me jump a little in surprise. I continued to admire the living room. It was a large space with a large ninety seven flat screen TV inbuilt in the wall.

Well, LG has done it again alright. There was even a large chandelier being suspended from the ceiling. How rich was this man?

"Igor, why did you yell my name like that?" a woman grumbled as she walked in holding a spatula. "Oh," she stopped in her tracks when she saw me as I turned to face her.

"You must be the new wife?" she quickly approached me with excitement. She didn't look to be older than fifty with her blonde hair packed in a bun and her blue eyes crinkling with every blink. She was beautiful and tall but I guess she was a maid because she was wearing a maid clothes.

Maybe a cook?

"Hello," I felt awkward. "You must be tired. We'll save the introductions for tomorrow morning. I will bring your food to your room. Just take a shower and rest," she gave me a small hug and left.