Wanted For Pleasure

Chapter Seventy-one: made of no honor

"Lovers in love and the other's run away. Lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay"

Morgan Ann Bennett

M&M wedding countdown: 0️⃣4️⃣ days

It wasn't all bad, you know? With Malcolm, I mean. He's a horrible person, but since the engagement he's faked this halo over his head. I couldn't put my finger on why he was being so nice, perhaps because I was promised his fortune shall he abuse me, cheat, or die?

Anyway, my life was far from perfect, but I was sitting pretty at this dress fitting.

Malcolm allowed Jas to be by my side throughout this process. She didn't approve of Malcolm nor my agreement to marry him, though. It was hard for her to understand. Hell, it's still hard for me to understand. I just boiled it down to I was damned if I do, damned if I don't. That seemed to be a common theme since my move to Penshaw.
Besides, what do I have to lose?

"Oh!" A gasp made me pick my head up as I exited the changing room.

A smile spread across my face seeing Malcolm and Jasmine's speechless reactions.

The designer gown was something out of a movie or royal ceremony. I couldn't believe something so elegant was on my body. I didn't even look like myself, a lower middle class waitress from Arizona.

The crystals vined down the sheer long sleeves of the gown and danced over the bodice and train. I appreciated the design around the collar so I wouldn't have to wear many accessories as the beading on the gown was enough. It just wore so majestically and moved or swayed on it's own, making me look as if I was floating.

"Beautiful, darling." Malcolm complimented, standing for a better look.

I blushed but not because of him. "I look like a Princess."

"No, a queen. And you are." Jasmine cut in.

"Jas, stop, I'm going to cry." I blinked to fight off the tears. I am a crier but my emotions were so high since everything, I couldn't help it.

Jasmine put her champagne glass down and gave my body a squeeze but only briefly to not dirty up the gown. Lord knows Malcolm would've had a fit and reminded everyone how much the dress he picked costs.

"I'm sorry. Sorry," she apologized with a sniffle. "It's just that... I've been dropping hints to JB that I want to get married one day."

"And what did he say?" I was so interested I sat in the dress to listen.

She sighed deeply. "He says we have other things to worry about."

I slouched, saddened by her words.

"So tell him! No more hints, just tell him you're ready now. You're basically married now anyway." I squeezed her shoulders and stared into the browns of her eyes.

She looked unsure, dropping eye contact. "I know we love each other but it's just not our time. He's probably in New York right now not even thinking about me."

I hated how little she trusted him. It hurt me to see the way she longed for a fairytale ending of her own and felt she couldn't get one.

"Wait— New York?" I whispered to her to not raise Malcolm's suspicions.

Jasmine tightened her glossed lips and winced like she knew she made a mistake which I made sure to note.

"Damn it," she cursed under her breath but I heard. "He, um, snuck off to go see Christina, his aunt, in Harlem."