CHAPTER TEN.

DANIELLE'S P.O.V

    The music sounded distant, my head felt heavy, my heart started to beat faster than normal, my throat felt dry, and I felt like air had been knocked out of my lungs. I gulped down the rest of my champagne and dropped the empty flute on the table, thinking that the way I was feeling was probably what a panic attack usually feels like.

  Several thoughts started to swim in my head, provoked by his unexpected presence at the reception.

How did he get information about the reception venue?

Where did he get those details?

Why is he here, smiling at me like we never had that heated conversation the night before?

  "May I have this dance?" Chase repeated.

   I fidgeted in my seat while desperately wishing a waiter would pass by so I could request for another refill of my champagne flute.

  "Come on, Dannie. Dance with me" he said.

  I stared at him, finding it hard to believe he was not up to something. I started to wonder what was going through his mind.

"I won't bite, I promise" he joked, a small smile gracing his face.

  I hesitated for a few minutes, debating the pros and cons of accepting his request to dance with him. After an internal war within me, I decided his request seemed harmless, so I placed my hand in his outstretched palm and let him lead me to the dance floor.

  A slow waltz started to play and I wiggled in discomfort when he placed his hands on my waist. I was reluctant to wrap my arms around his neck but I did not have a choice but to do so as the dance required me to.

"You look absolutely stunning" he said as we moved in tune with the music.

And although I was wary of him, I could not help the blush that crept up my cheeks on hearing his compliment.

"Thank you" I said.

  "I wish you the best of your marriage" he said.

  I felt unsettled by his statement. My head started to swim all over again and the voices in my head asked questions that I was curious to get answers to.

    Why exactly is he here?

 

    Was everything he said yesterday a lie?

  

   What sort of game is he playing?

"What are you doing?" I asked.

  "I don't quite understand the question." he said, confusion written on his face.

  "Why did you tell me all that yesterday? What exactly are you doing?" I repeated.

  The bastard had the effrontery to smile; a big smile that showed off his pearly white teeth.

  "I'm bidding my time. I will wait patiently for that time when you will realize you're making a big mistake." he said.

  "What makes you think I'm ever going to think this is a mistake? What gives you such audacious beliefs?"

  "You say you love him?"

  "Very much, words can not express it." I lied through my teeth

  "You liar!" he said, laughing.

   I was shocked by his words and action. I started to feel increasingly uncomfortable and the eerie feeling I got when I saw him started to grow.

"You're such a cute liar, Dannie" he said.

  "How dare you?" I questioned, my eyes lowering into slits from glaring at him angrily.

  "You forget that I know you well, Dannie. I know you so well, I can tell when you're lying. After all, we grew up together."

  "It means nothing. Growing up together doesn't mean you know me, Chase Sinclair."

"That is a hurtful thing for you to say, but I'll let it pass because I deserve it. You don't love Adrian."

"Why do you think that?"

"I see the way you look at each other. One can never lie with their eyes. Besides, I've seen you in love once, and this isn't how you were"

"Who do you think you are, jetting out of my life when I need you most and then suddenly butting into my life when you feel like it?" I said, angrily.

  "I know I did wrong, Danielle. I'm sorry for being an asshole and I'll forever repent for it, but I realize my true feelings now, Dannie. I was not prepared then, I was stupid, but now I'm back. We can run away from this wedding reception together. Right now, we can elope and start our perfect life somewhere far away from here, like you always dreamt of. I love you, Dannie, with all of my being."

I stared at him in shock. Chase kept on surprising me with his crazy outbursts and professions of love.

"What makes you think I want that anymore?"

"I know you do, because you love me."

"I don't. I moved on, you should too"

"No, no you didn't. I know you still love me. You just keep pushing me away because you're angry with me."

  "Chase, I don't love you anymore."

  "You do. You do, Dannie. You love me." he says erratically, holding onto my waist so tightly, I'm sure his fingers are imprinted on my skin.

"You're hurting me, Chase" I whispered angrily.

  He lightened his grip on my waist and apologized profusely. The music was coming to an end and I unwrappef my hands around his neck.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Just let go of me." I said.

He removed his hands from my waist and I sighed in relief.

"Let me make myself very clear, Chase Sinclair. I have no feelings whatsoever left for you. It was a stupid crush that disappeared after some time went by. I love Adrian and I am happy about my marriage to him. It's in fact the fairy tale I have always dreamt of. I'm actually very thankful that you rejected and abandoned me all those years ago, because then I wouldn't have met this beautiful man and have him fall head over heels for me. Do not show yourself to me, or come within ten metres of wherever I am. If you mess with me, I will mess you up. This is not a threat, it's a warning. Good bye Mr Chase Sinclair" I said coldly and walked away, leaving him dumbfounded on the dance floor.

  I headed for the bathroom, suddenly feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I just wanted the night to be over with so I could rest my head on a pillow and sleep.

I got to the bathroom and quickly splashed some water on my face. Thankfully my makeup was water proof so the water did not wash it off.

On my way out of the bathroom, I bumped into someone. I apologized and looked up to see a lady scowling at me.

"You must be Danielle" she said.

  "Uhm, yes I am" I said, wondering who she was.

  "I'm Anita Brussels."

"Nice to meet you."

"I can't say the same, unfortunately"

  "Okay?"

   I was beyond confused at the spiteful glare she was throwing at me. I did not know this lady and I obviously had no idea why she seemed to hate me so much.

  "Thank you for attending our wedding" I greeted, hoping appreciating her presence would at least boost her ego a little.

  "I'm not here for you. Let me be frank, I do not enjoy seeing you two together. In fact, I hate seeing you two together, so much, that I hope your marriage is sad and full of pain. I hope you two are never happy together and you grow to detest one another. This is not going to be an happy ending for you, trust me. It will be the most tragic story ever written"

  I was beyond shocked at her words. Her ill wishes were frightening and I was terrified of being alone with her in the empty hallway.

  "Dannie?"

   I looked around for the source of the voice and gave a sigh of relief on sighting Alicia.

  "Hello Alisia" the unknown lady greeted with a sickeningly sweet smile.

  Alisia did not respond and only stared at her with an unreadable expression on her face. The lady turned back to me.

"See you later, Danielle" she said and walked away, her heels echoing as she left.

  "Are you okay?" Alisia asked me as she walked up to me.

  "I don't think so" I said.

  "Did she do something?" Alisia asked.

  "She said some things. Do you know her?"

  "Unfortunately, yes I do" Alisia answered, an angry look on her face.

  "Who is she?"

  Alisia sighed and looked at me pitifully.

  "She's Adrian's childhood friend"

  "Oh" is all I could say.

  I placed my right hand on my forehead, as another wave of exhaustion hit me. I left the hall to get away from one crazy person and another decided to follow me. I'd had enough of the drama for one day.

"Adrian is looking for you. He wants to leave" Alisia told me.

  "Okay, thank you" I said.

  I let her lead me away from the empty hallway back to the reception hall. Alisia gave my hand a squeeze and left me with Adrian at the head table.

"The bride and groom will now leave for their honeymoon" the MC announced.

  Honeymoon? We're having an honeymoon?

  I looked around the hall trying to find my Dad in the crowd. He didn't tell me anything about an honeymoon. I did not know what to expect.

"We're leaving now" Adrian said, standing up.

  I let him take my hand and lead me out of the hall and into the car waiting outside for us.

"Dannie!" I hearf Layla squeal.

   She, Sofia, and Janelle were standing outside the hall and waving at me, bright smiles on their faces.

  I waved back, forcing a smile on my face as the car took off. I dropped my hand and sighed once they were out of sight, placing my head on the car window. It felt cold against my hot skin.

"We're not having an honeymoon. I have some work to do, so you'll be going to my place on your own" Adrian said.

   I was too tired to say anything so I did not. I closed my eyes and tried to repress the tears that threatened to come out.

"I am strong" I said.

   I was still chanting my mantra by the time Adrian had been dropped off at the airport and I was safely in the confines of his penthouse.

  I laid down on a couch and closed my eyes in the hopes that by morning, this night would be just a bad dream.