05 She wouldn't dare!

"Are you sure Lisa is actually missing or she doesn't want to be married to you?" Dylan asked.

Aaron clenched his fist in anger and glared at him "What do you mean she doesn't want to be married to me? You know how much Lisa loves me and she doesn't have any reason not to want to be married to me. She might actually be in trouble or even worse kidnapped, have you thought about that?" Aaron pointed out, anger and frustration evident in his voice. 

"Ohhh true, but what if she isn't? Moreover, have you sent your men to investigate this and probably look for her?" Dylan asked, keeping an expressionless face.

Dylan Thompson was Aaron's childhood friend, he never liked Lisa for Aaron. But Aaron was too blindly in love with her to even notice how much of a snitch she was.

She was clearly with Aaron because of his money and that's it. He had seen Lisa with different men on different occasions but somehow she manages to escape being caught. The last time he tried to tell Aaron about it, Aaron  warned him never to speak ill of his girlfriend. 

It seems he was the only one that saw the signs but after several attempts to reveal Lisa's true color failed he decided to let it be. Lisa thought she was smart but he knew that sooner or later Aaron is going to see the signs and Lisa would be doomed for life.

"I have sent out my men to search every nook and cranny of this city but she's no where to be found. Even her family doesn't know where she could be" Aaron responded. 

"Crap! They are obviously hiding her. I don't even know how you fall for their cheap lies, l don't trust that family one bit" Dylan scoffed. 

"Really? Is that all you have to say? Blaming them at this point, you don't know what they are passing through after the news of their missing daughter. You of all people should know better Dylan" Aaron half yelled.

"I'm sorry man, it just that all of this, is happening so fast and I don't even know what to think anymore. And your wedding is tomorrow! You should call off the wedding while you search for her, if truly she's missing" Dylan suggested. 

Deep down Dylan knew that something was off. He was yet to place his hands on what was wrong but he knew Lisa was up to no good. "She's clearly playing with fire. Aaron is not the type of person to play games with. If he dare finds out that this was not a kidnap, she sure would be sorry for ever pulling this stunt!" Dylan thought to himself. 

"I would have done that. But you know who Eleanor Winston is, my mother thinks is bad for business and she's right. If l fail to provide a bride by tomorrow, it will be all over in the media. A powerful billionaire, Aaron Winston jilted at the alter and a lot more, l can't give them that publicity. There must be a wedding tomorrow" 

"Do you know how funny you sound now Aaron? So you are going to wed yourself tomorrow. Snap out of it, Lisa is gone and how sure are you that you would find her before tomorrow?" Dylan said, his eyebrows furrowed at Aaron.

"I have found a substitute bride till l find Lisa!" Aaron declared, his face devoid of any emotion. 

"Whattt? Are you being serious right now? Who is she?" Dylan asked, a glint of confusion could be seen on his face.

"The gardener's granddaughter l guess. That was what she said. I don't really know her and l don't care to know. I caught her snooping and eavesdropping on l and my mom yesterday, so her punishment was to become my substitute bride"

"And she agreed?" Dylan asked.

"Well not yet. But nobody dares to say no to Aaron Winston. She doesn't have a choice here, she either agrees or l get her locked up. Moreover, who doesn't want to be seen with me, she should count herself lucky that l choose her and not the other way round. I gave her till noon today to give me a reply and is almost time" Aaron blunted out.

"You do know that this is a blackmail right? You're clearly blackmailing that poor girl but then we don't have a choice. There is no time and you need a bride. But tell me my man, is she pretty?" Dylan asked with a giggle.

He knew Aaron better than to settle for anything less.

Aaron glanced at him and said "Really? Well if she's not, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place but you know me. I'm a one-woman kind of man. I only have eyes for just one woman and you already know her, Lisa Robinson"

"Jokes on you man. I can't wait to see our substitute bride, l have a feeling that she's going to blow your mind away soon" Dylan said jokingly. 

"Never! I have to go pick her up myself. I don't want any surprises" Aaron said and stood up to leave. 

"Wait, you already know her place?" Dylan asked surprisingly. 

"Of course, you know me. I have my men follow her, l wanted to be sure she won't run away, with the way she acted all tough yesterday, l don't trust her" Aaron said and left.

Meanwhile, Tessa was all packed, she was holding her phone and glaring at Aaron's number, not sure if she should text him. Aaron's mom had given her the number, just in case she changed her mind. It was almost noon and she has to send in her reply. 

Just as she was about to type in the words, a knock was heard on the door. "Who could it be?" She thought to herself. Her grandma got some days off from work by Mrs Winston and she was in the room resting, mara was at work, so who could it be?.

She got off from her trance and walked to the door. She slide the door open and was shocked at who she saw.

"Aaron? What are you doing here?" Tessa asked surprisingly.