Chapter 7

DYLAN

"Is everything in place, Ezra? Everything has to be perfect," I asked Ezra, patiently checking my watch momentarily. 

"That's like the fifth time in a row you've asked me that obvious question, Dylan," Ezra replied, putting his hand on my arm. 

"Everything is perfect and everything will go according to plan. Your dad, Mrs. Weston, Celeste, Steve and other relatives are handling the guests,” he reassured me. 

"And Alena? When will she be done? It's been like three hours since they started dressing her up." 

"Oh, c'mon. She's the bride. She has to look exquisite so they are putting their maximum effort into it. They should be done in fifteen minutes." 

"Fine. I guess I have to wait then.” 

"I'll head to the ballroom. All the best, Dylan. If you need anything at all, I will make sure I'm in sight at all times.” 

"Sure, Ezra. See you around." 

Ezra disappeared down the hallway leaving me all alone in the hallway. I was nervous but I made sure to maintain a neutral facial expression. 

There was no room for mistakes. This entire thing had cost both families millions so we had to make sure our money had not gone to waste. 

I looked out of the window close to me and then I turned to the night sky. It was beautiful, peaceful and magical. The stars twinkled brightly and lights shone brightly all over New York City. 

It all made me miss my mom. She had become history in the blink of an eye yet her memories were still fresh in my mind as if we had lost her a few seconds ago. 

The stars reminded me of her. Looking at them made me feel as if she was right there looking down on me from heaven. If only I could hold her one last time and tell her how much I loved her. 

My thoughts were interrupted by the opening of a door. I turned back and quite a number of people came out, most of whom I recognized as make-up artists and some other people who were necessary to get Alena ready. I guess they were already done. 

They all acknowledged me as they left and they were all complimenting my looks and all. Well, it was not anything new to me, anyway. 

"Mr. Cameron, your bride is ready. We'll leave the two of you alone," an older lady announced as she was the last one to exit the room. 

I nodded and thanked her then I watched her leave. Well, now where on earth was 'my bride’? She wasn't expecting me to come in and say some dramatic compliments then escort her out, was she? 

For the sake of time, I decided to take the first step. I ambled into the room and then what I saw rendered me speechless. Alena stood there nervously as I gazed at her glorious figure and appearance. 

What? Did I just call her glorious? 

Deep down in me, I knew she deserved a much better term to do justice to the master perfection of her beauty and glory. Her first feature that had the ability to flip my entire world upside down were her eyes. 

They represented one of my favorite places on earth, which was the earth. They held an intense shade of brown which was filled with pure innocence, mildness and perfection. 

How come I had never noticed them? Heck, I had never really looked at her to the point of absorbing her features but now, ignoring her was impossible. 

I realized that this was actually my first time looking directly at her to see her for who she was and not my enemy who had marched into my life to create catastrophes. 

Her languid eyelashes of velvet black blinked gracefully and her crescent shaped eyebrow inclined slightly as she saw me staring at her. Her hair was that type that would look gorgeous spread on my pillow. 

It was a glorious tumble of natural red and spools of it plunged around her photogenic face, and also hid her graceful neck which was elegant and smooth. 

Her skin was flawless and her kiss inspiring lips looked delicious. Her body did full justice to her face by a lot. She wore a dress which was made from finest silk fabrics and contained multiple carats of diamonds to complement her figure. 

My family's business was all about jewels and precious minerals especially diamonds so most of the things were adorned using diamonds and gold. 

Alena was in that class of women who would look gorgeous with or without clothes on. Her dress had a sweetheart neckline that showed off her full and firm breasts that appeared to be either untouched or touched by a man who handled her like glass. 

Surviving with her for an entire year without having impure thoughts was going to be tough. Alena was beautiful. Her type of beauty was rare and unique and unlike most women I had come across, she wasn't the type of woman who used it to get every man's attention. 

What was I even thinking? She was just an arrangement. Trying to get to know her more would just complicate my life. 

“H… how do I look?" Alena stuttered in her angelic sotto voce voice. 

Her voice was sweet, low and calm. It suited her personality but something told me she could be louder. She just lacked the confidence. 

"You look great, Alena. We should get going. The guests are waiting.” 

I had to keep it short and simple to avoid saying stuff that was bound to make her uncomfortable. 

"You look amazing,” she complimented me. Why did it suddenly sound different coming from her? 

“Thanks. Shall we?" I asked and then she softly nodded and we interlinked our arms. 

We made quite a grand entry when we were introduced with the dazzling spotlight on us. The moment was surreal as we got different reactions from the audience. 

I could see men eye wrapping my wife with those dreamy eyes which made me tighten a possessive grip on the small of her back. I don't know why I did that but my instincts kicked in. Even if this was an arrangement I had no interest in sharing. 

Pillar centerpieces of cascading crystals were the perfect luxury touch to the ballroom. An eight tier cake which was at least two meters tall stood at the center of the ballroom on a table with beautiful diamonds decorating the masterpiece of a cake. 

Everything was perfect.