It was all glass and the accents that weren't were bright white. The furniture was a mixture of wicker and Raton. Lime green cushions set the bright white off as well as the plethora of lush, green potted plants. It was also abuzz with people. She counted seven.
She saw the garment bag that she had carried inside of his home hanging on a portable rack beside a makeshift makeup section. Upon her entry, the concert instantly smiled and greeted her. Her mind was still stuck on the garment bag. She made a b line to it and finally unzipped it. It was a wedding dress.
He had known. This entire time he had known she was going to marry him and it all made her a little dizzy and uneven. How could he! She recalled being in the boutique and the way that woman had looked and spoke to her about him all made sense now. It was odd.
She felt a knot form in her stomach.
"Do you like it?" A male voice with a light spanish accent said, from behind her.
It snapped her out of her own bubble of angry thoughts.
"Oh, Yes! I love it. I picked it up with him yesterday." She looked at him and smiled.
She was lying now to save her life and face. This was a peculiar circumstance. He was paying these people. They essentially work for him. They were paid to do their job, not interfere in his. He was a bully. Who would dare do that?
"How sweet." He said, but didn't smile back.
"I apologize if I am being weird." She said, hiding her true feelings behind the paltry apology.
"Oh. No. You are fine. This is your dress. Honey, this is going to be your new life!" He declared, and the team stopped whatever they were doing, turned to look at them and applauded his words. She was in awe at how in sync they all were.
It was like a dream almost. Everyone seemed to know about this union and it made her wonder what exactly he had said about a wedding and his bride.
"So let me introduce myself. My name is Brian. This is my team. You met Melissa earlier. She invited you here. We have until noon to make you look like a fairy tale princess for your wedding day, today. Hopefully we are able to do that. On a personal note, we are not here to judge you or your family decisions. So, please feel free to let us know what you need. We are here for you." He smiled then.
This was surreal. A team of people for her wedding day. A day she imagined having with someone else in a different circumstance. Her father wasn't here. It was all so very strange.
And even stranger the people around her didn't seem to notice.
"Thank you so much for helping me on my big day. I am honored to have everyone here. It's been a while since I've been around so many good people." She smiled at him.
Her words seemed to placate him. She knew she was buttering him up. He took her by her hand and guided her over to the beauty station. There, he sat her down in the chair and immediately began working on her. This day reminded Bunny of a time when her family was still in good standing in polite society.
She had a glass of expensive champagne in her hand. There was classical music playing softly. She had been able to catch glimpses of her reflection and she knew she was back. She looked like her old self again. Her makeup was perfectly done. She kept sipping the champagne as they worked. It was helping with her hangover.
No one asked her any more questions about Rome. He seemed so elusive to her. People seemed genuinely afraid of him. She didn't know him at all. She was marrying him right now, because she was trapped and terrified. She was also destitute and had no where else to go.
She hated to use necessity, but unfortunately for her it was her truth. Marrying Rome couldn't be any worse than sleeping with various men on a daily basis to take care of her family. He had already told her he would do that for her. She didn't have to like him. Royals had a history of arranged marriages.
She could always run away. Where would she run to? The hair stylist moved out of the way and finally Bunny was able to see herself. She gasped. She really did look like a fairy tale princess.
Her blonde hair was braided like a crown, with White diamond brooches and real roses intricately placed in the grooves of the braid. Her makeup made her look refreshed. She hadn't been able to afford this kind of makeup. She was grateful for him thinking about every detail. Brian stood her up once more and walked her over to the changing station.
Another team member held the garment. They helped her get into the gown. Once she was zipped and secure she noticed them all nodding and smiling in approval.
"Our Employer has excellent taste." One commented.
"He does?" She asked.
"Yes." Brian confirmed.
There was a long pause as she watched him look for shoes. Brian spoke again.
"This is going to do wonders for your image."
"My image?" She hadn't thought about it.
"Yea, y'know, if you're into that certain thing. And girl, let's face it you were definitely into that sort of thing back in the day."
She watched as they half smiled and half sneered at her. He was right. This wedding probably would work wonders on her reputation, but she was still confused as to why it was happening. She couldn't tell them that. So instead, she had to look at them looking at her like she was an opportunist.
"Everyone out!" She heard a familiar male voice boom.
Bunny had never seen people move out of a room so swiftly. It was him. Her new Bully, soon to be husband. What was he doing here? She wondered.
He was looking undeniably handsome in his white tuxedo jacket. A bright, red rose was pinned to the right sidd of his lapel. He wore pressed, black, tuxedo trousers and expensive, black dress shoes. His hair was slicked back. His face was clean shaven.
He looked like a very handsome groom.
"My God. You look beautiful." he said as he came closer to her.
"You're not suppose to see the bride before the wedding," she retorted and pretended to adjust her tiara.
Looking directly at him terrified her.
"I will see you whenever I damn well want. Do you understand? We are minutes away from being married. I thought surely, you would ask one of those imbeciles to help you."
"Why would I do that? They work for you," She answered him.
"Damn right. I see you catch on quick." He complimented her.
She could barely take this. "Why are you doing this?" She asked him
"We've already discussed this, wife. We must get over it." He rested his large hands on her thin, bare shoulders. "This is the right thing to do. Marry me. Your old life awaits you."
Her old life. Money. Power. Respect. Would she really have all of those things back? He was a bully, and before she knew this was a trap, she thought he was honest.
He kissed a light trail along her neck. She felt fluttering in her stomach at his light touch, and as fast as he had started, he was done and exiting out of the room without a word. It felt predatory to her. Seconds later, her bridal team was back inside.
They flitted back to work, guiding her once more back to where they were before he came in, applying the finishing touches on her makeup and hair. A few moments later, she was being escorted down a hallway that was nothing but glass windows which made the sunlight pour in . Everything was so tropical. She took in the expensive home. She was led onto a large, beautifully decorated patio.
White tulips and lilies made it look like a very quaint, yet expensive wedding. She saw his parents and brother on his right and a priest was standing on a small podium. They all smiled at her when they noticed her arrival. He didn't. He walked over to her and gently wrapped her arm around his forearm.
They walked towards the priest and the ceremony began. Bunny felt like she was out of her body watching the entire event go on. The priest had her repeat the wedding vows when it was her turn. She had felt so conflicted saying the words til' death do is part. She watched him look at her and repeat the vows.
To a stranger looking in on this wedding, he would have appeared to be a genuine groom. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. She was marrying a man her father would have detested...
.