SWEET, SWEET, NIGHTMARE.

CHAPTER NINE

DANIELLE'S P.O.V

"Welcome New York's latest couple, the newly wedded Mr and Mrs Adrian Valentino." the master of ceremony's voice reverberated.

   The applause and hooting that followed was deafening. The groomsmen, which consisted of Umar, Adrian's best friend; Michael Smith, Mason Walls, and George Burrell, his friends from college; and the bridesmaids which consisted of Layla, Janelle, Sofia, and Alisia; danced into the room while I looked around the reception hall as Adrian led me to the head table which we were designated to seat at, trying to see if I recognized some of the faces present.

  I saw some familiar faces from the times when I would visit Dad at work while I was a college student. They waved and smiled at me as I passed and I smiled back.

Adrian held on to my hand as I sat and dropped it immediately my behind was firmly planted on the chair. He sat beside me awkwardly and looked around the hall. I had a feeling that he was avoiding me. He had been behaving awkwardly since the kiss at the chapel. The tell tales of his awkwardness being his fidgeting when our hands brushed each other's while taking wedding pictures, and sitting at the extreme end of the vehicle that transported us to the reception venue.

   His odd behavior made me wonder if he felt the same spark I did when our lips meshed into one. I shook off the dirty thoughts that began to sift through my mind and focused my attention on the event taking place.

"As we settle down, the bride and groom shall have their first dance as a couple" the MC declared.

   I looked at Adrian, doubting his patience with continuing this charade. He adjusted his bow tie, stood up and faced me with his right hand outstretched.

"Dance with me, my beautiful bride" he said.

I looked at him, surprised at the compliment. He was not the type to compliment just anyone, and from my encounters with him, I knew he was too much of a egotistical man to compliment any woman without getting something in return.

I hesitantly placed my hand in his palm and let him lead me to the dance floor.

A slow song that I did not know played from the speaker and I wished I had my phone with me so I could Shazam the song.

"Don't get too comfortable" Adrian said coldly as I placed my head on his chest.

"I wouldn't dare!" I replied, venomously. I knew his niceness was all part of the charade.

"I cannot wait for the frivolities of this night to be over and done with" he scoffed.

"I wish this were just a bad dream too. This Belle and the Beast story is no fairytale" I retorted.

I felt him squeeze my hand harder than necessarily needed, in anger.

"Careful, we don't want to break any of my bones, do we?" I teased.

"I couldn't care less" he said without feeling.

His coldness made me wonder if I had read right his intentions after the kiss in the chapel. The song came to a halt and the guests gave us a round of applause as Adrian led me back to the head table.

"We will now listen to the opening speech by the bride's father, Jack Dawson" the MC announced.

Loud applause ushered Dad to the center of the hall, where the master of ceremony stood.

The applause died down as Dad collects the microphone from the MC.

"I welcome everyone of you seated here today, to the wedding ceremony of my beautiful daughter, Danielle Dawson, and the intelligent Adrian Valentino, son of Alfredo and Alvida Valentino."