Making breakfast, I manage to not burn it, which is a big success for me. As I finish eating, my phone rings, or rather, Jackson’s work mobile. I look at it. It feels weird, but I know I have to answer it.“Hello, this is Alena,” I answer, not sure what to say.“Hi Alena, this is Sarah. We have an issue, and we can’t resolve it ourselves. We have tried, as we know you're busy planning the wedding, but we are unsure what to do. Could you please come in?”“Sure, I will be right there,” I reply, hanging up and getting ready. Maybe this will keep my mind occupied. Driving up, it feels weird coming here without Jackson. I get out and walk inside and am greeted by two angry men and a woman crying between them.“What happened?” I ask, looking around.“I’m sorry again Alena. Susan’s husband followed her here. We refused to let him upstairs, and he pushed past. Security chased him, by which time he had already seen Susan with a couple in one of the rooms.” How do I sort this out?“We don’t wan
I walk downstairs to meet her, greeted by her smiling face.“Hey Alena, how are you?” she asks, smiling.“Great thanks. Fancy a drink?” I walk towards the bar. I can hardly say I feel a mess, and everything is getting on top of me. She follows me to the bar, sitting next to me. We speak for a few hours. I am not drinking so much as I have to drive home.“Want to come back to mine?” I ask. She nods in response. Jackson had said if I bump into her not to be afraid of inviting her back. We leave together. In the car, on the way back home, it is quiet. We don’t speak much. Getting home feels unusual. I am not sure what to do anymore. I know I have Jackson’s permission, but can I really do this without him here and agreeing?“Can I grab you a drink?” I walk to the kitchen, pulling out two glasses and a bottle.“Sure.” She follows me and sits at the kitchen side. We sit and drink for a while, talking about the wedding and other things. She looks at me, her face changing.“I would love you t
I wake up, hearing knocking at the door. I throw on my dressing gown and walk downstairs. Walking to the door, I open it. Georgina is standing there.“I figured I would come today and watch the cooking lessons again,” Georgina smiles, walking in through the door.“Were you still in bed?” She is looking at me shocked.“Yes, fast asleep. What time is it?” It can’t be that late, surely?“It is nearly twelve. Margaret will be here anytime now,” she replies while walking around the kitchen, making herself at home, getting her drink. I walk over to her and have a cup of tea, talking away. My mind now reminds me of Roxy, the fact she is still here.She is asleep, so I guess I will leave her. A couple of minutes later, after remembering Roxy is here, we hear moving upstairs, and Georgina looks at me. “Is he back already?” I shake my head. How could I be so stupid and not remember she would come today?“No, it isn’t Jackson.” My words are cut off by Roxy walking down the stairs in nothing but
Sunday comes, and Margaret shows me how to cook again. She leaves, and I go back to bed. There is no point in me being awake. I am alone, and everything is planned. Waking up it is Monday. I can’t stay in bed. I know Georgina is coming today. Getting up, I eat and wait, and sure enough, Georgina arrives, but she is carrying my dress and hers.“Let’s go shopping. We need outfits for the hen night, and you still need your lingerie!” She smiles, dragging me out the door. I find my dress for the hen night quickly in the first shop, and my lingerie in the second shop. Then another fifteen shops later, Georgina finally finds a dress she likes. We spent more of our time shopping for her than for me, which I don’t mind. Today has gone by quickly, walking between the shops. Getting in the car, I start driving home. We go inside, sit down and eat.“Hen party tomorrow, so early night tonight, and I am staying here.” She smiles, looking far too excited, to be honest. I am not looking forward to i
Yet again, the day passes quickly. I feel off though. I can’t shake it. It’s a weird, sick feeling I have. I have to concentrate though. I check that the flowers are being delivered on time, so they can be set up. I check the reception area and make sure it is also ready. I double-check the RSVP numbers for the reception.Everything crammed Wednesday and Thursday fly by. I am so busy, I have no time for anything really. I eat, plan and sleep. On Friday, Georgina and I spend the night relaxing, watching films. I can barely remember this week. It has gone by so fast.“Still got that sick feeling?” she asks, looking at me. I had to tell her because I was struggling to eat. I nod. Nothing is making it go away. “It has to be nerves then,” she smiles, but it makes no sense.“How can you be nervous if you want something? It makes no sense at all.” I laugh.“You're probably nervous about slipping and falling on your face.” She bursts into laughter at her own words.“If that happens, the wedd
Standing up, I turn my back to him. “Unfasten, please,” I ask, my back to him, waiting for him to unfasten the buttons. I feel him unfastening the buttons. I let the dress drop to the floor, slowly turning to face him.Here I am, wearing a white Basque, suspenders and stockings, not something he has seen me in. I am always naked at the start or not clothed for the bedroom.I watch as he looks me up and down, over and over, taking the image of me in. “Fuck!” is all that he can say as he grabs me, pulling me onto the bed with him. The night is amazing. We are equal, no restraints, no blindfolds, both equally in control. I’m shocked as I take his shirt off and the bruises all over his body. I try to act like I don’t notice them, fighting not to mention them. I want tonight to be perfect.Waking up, I walk downstairs, cooking breakfast for him for the first time, and it not burning. Just as I am finishing, he walks down. “That smells like food that is not burnt,” he chuckles, looking a
“Work was well, interesting. Apparently, two drunk women took charge of one of the rooms.” His hand swings and smacks my arse. I blush as he pulls me closer. “You actually let people watch you be pleasured? What happened to ‘no, not now’? Was I just the wrong person to do it with?” His question is teasing as he kisses my neck.I try to shake my head to clear my thoughts.“I was not being pleasured. I was fully clothed the whole time. I just played with Roxy, I didn’t think you would have an issue with it?” I ask, looking at him, wondering if I had really done the wrong thing. Maybe I went too far, and he didn’t want me to do things without him actually knowing. I was fully clothed, though.“No, I don’t mind what you did with Roxy. I doubt I would have minded had it been the other way around, but really, drunk?” He looks at me, waiting for a response.“I wasn’t, okay, we weren’t drunk. Yes, we had a few drinks for my hen, but we were both sound-minded. I only had three drinks.” I think
He comes back in and tries to smile, but I can see it is fake.“I need to leave tonight. I know it is short notice, but I was only given the time to come home to marry you.” He looks happy but sad at the same time. I look at his still-bruised face. How is this going to work? How can I go through pregnancy alone if he keeps leaving?“It will be for two weeks, maybe three. Tomorrow is booked and paid for, so go. You won’t be needed in the business. I told the staff and security to sort out everything else.” Standing, I just stare at him.We only got married yesterday!“I wish I could refuse. I can’t, Alena, you have to understand that. This is the last mission I will be on, though. The first part should have been completed but hasn’t been.” He starts kissing me. “I am asking Georgina to move in while I am away to watch you.” I need to snap out of this black depressive hole.It is hard, but I have to. It is not just him and me anymore. It is a baby and us.“I will be fine. I will be read