Secrets We Keep

5

The wedding is tomorrow. My dress has arrived, and so has the staff assisting Rodriguez in organizing the venue. If there was any hope of leaving this marriage. It's scrapped now. I fit my dress on and zip the zipper to the top, looking at myself in the mirror. I tilt my head to the side, fixing my hair.

"Gorgeous..." I hear someone whisper in the back of the room. I turn around to see Rodriguez behind me, wearing her business attire– a white collared top with blue jeans, her hair up in a tight bun. I smile at the compliment. Even though I knew I looked beautiful, I didn't want to feel this nice, I didn't want to look this nice for someone like Will. I could hear all the terrible things Malachi would say about this, how I could've manipulated him, how I could've chosen death. Why the hell was I so vulnerable...? But anyway it's too late now. "Lemme take a picture of you, post it on my website!" She squeals as she puts her clipboard down, pulling up her phone and taking photos from different angles.

I sigh at the mirror and unzip my dress. "I don't want to feel this pretty for him," I complain, sitting on the edge of the bed, tears threatening to fall. Why am I being vulnerable? Rodriguez sits beside me, wrapping a secure arm around my shoulders.

"It's okay... I know this entire situation isn't ideal but you are stunning, you look stunning and even if you don't want to marry Will, that's okay. Just pretend. After the wedding, it's not like anything will change, right?" Rodriguez says with a small smile. "I'm gonna go attend some wedding details, come downstairs and check the venue for yourself– it's almost as stunning as you." She says with a smirk, winking before she leaves the room.

I take my dress off and change back into some comfier clothes– a sweater dress and slippers.

Making my way downstairs, I see the backyard has been turned into a perfect venue, a rustic-contemporary-themed venue. With stunning logs boarding the table and a pathway leading to a white throne for me and Will. It's beautiful.

"Stunning, huh," Will asks me, placing an arm around the lower part of my back. I shudder at his touch, moving away just a bit. "Y'know, I'm giving you everything you need, a home, a very big wedding, money... your life." He says in a cold tone, his eyes piercing me. I visibly gulp. Am I being too cruel? He is sparing my life, even after killing everyone important to me... I think to myself as I give Will the fakest smile I can muster up.

"I'm sorry... I-I'll be more considerate." I say to him, walking away and finding somewhere to go that is FAR AWAY from him.

I need to find a maid of honor... I think to myself as I watch Rodriguez order her staff around.

"Yea, yea, place the balloons to the LEFT of the throne, and the decorations to the right, not the other way 'round." She yells before seeing me. "Oh hey, how are you doing, how are you liking the venue?" She asks with a grin on her face. I smile at her and pull her aside. Her face turned confused.

"Will you be my maid of honor?" I blurt out, plastering a grin of nervousness as she stares at me, eyes bulging out of her face. "You don't have to say yes..."

"YES! YES! YES!!" She yells, hugging me tightly. "Of course, I'll be your maid of honor, oh, I need to buy a dress, buy your gifts... everything! Oh, I'm so happy..." She smiles as she wipes away happy tears. I hug her back and smile in relief.

"You can bring the rest of your staff to be my bridesmaids if you want... after all, Will's bodyguards and entourage are his groomsmen," I say, looking at all the work that's being put into this wedding. "I still don't know who will officiate the wedding though..." I ponder as I take Rodriguez's hand. "And about your dress, I'll take you shopping, find a dress, I'll pay, I need to get the bridesmaids' dresses too, anyways."