Chapter 4 ARIA

It's 3 days to the wedding and I'm a nervous wreck, my mother just waltzed in here telling me there'll be a pre-nuptials party in two hours by 8pm! Who has a pre-nuptials party? Apparently it's a front to introduce us to each other and to our friends of which I have none so I'm basically being introduced to his friends. She'd dropped of a dress, jewelry and shoes he'd sent.

It's insulting he'd think I'd wear whatever he gives me and to pull this nonsense. He could've informed me at least yesterday if anything. I eye the dress on the bed, it's a beautiful red strapless dress. It looks simple but elegant with the thigh high slit in front of the dress and the diamond studs all over it. If it wasn't for the horrible man that sent it, I'd be excited to wear it.

I go through my closet and find what I'm looking for, a black long sleeved body con dress with a not very long train also with a thigh high slit. It has a two side open cut that'll expose a bit of my skin on each side of my waist. I pull out a silver colored fantasy heel with a dollar sign crafted as the heel. I mentally give myself 10 minutes to shower.

I leave my bathroom scenting like lavender from my bath. I avoided washing my hair to avoid the delay of drying it out. That usually takes at least 20 minutes. Perks of having annoyingly full hair.

Straightener in hand, I tame my wild curls before proceeding to curl them into beach waves. I use an anti-frizz spray hoping humidity doesn't destroy my perfectly done hair. I check the time, it's 6:35. That gives me enough time for my make up then. I pull on my dress carefully to avoid ripping anything. It clings to me like second skin, accentuating my figure. I check to see if any of my marks are visible, I notice a purplish-blue bruise across my left side that's exposed and some around my thighs. I quickly get to work covering it up with concealer and foundation till it matches my skin

I decide to go with a shimmery fox look, using glittery eyeshadow. I put on the heels and admire the results, I look breathtaking, my eyes look fox like and my lips look fuller with the daring red lipstick I'd decided to put on. My 5'9 self looks very elevated making my legs seem longer, I'm definitely ready to go and in time too as I hear a knock on my door

"Come in"

Grace comes in, her sweet bubbly self as usual, all smiles and love

"Cariño you look beautiful. You'll be the Bella de la pelota Mi amore"

I bask in her praise loving every minute of it

"Thank you, what does it mean though?"

"What else Cariño you, will be the belle of the ball. The most beautiful woman there"

I'm full on grinning now

"That's really sweet"

"And true Cariño, your mother says they're about to leave. She says you have to rehearse somethings before the party so you have to get there early."

Just like that, I feel my mood dampen. I know it's probably the story and how we have to act together we'll practice. I want nothing more than out of all this

KEANE

I stand beside Layla, my very pregnant, very annoying sister as we are about to receive the White's. It's 7:30, little time to get over everything in details but manageable for the basics.

"You just had to force a girl into marriage Keane, you just had to."

Layla is oblivious to the rivalry between our family and the White's as she wasn't raised as a White. She'd been carted off to France by my father in his bid to protect his angel. I'd been the one to bear the full brunt of the rivalry. While she had been off receiving love and care. I'd been receiving deathly high expectations by the age of 8, I had to be better than my father at everything and his methods had been brutal.

I see the Bugatti La Voiture Noire I'd sent out to bring them fall into view as they enter my massive property. The car soon stops directly in front of the house as a help works open the two doors. Riccardo and Annalise White get out first. Annalise looking every bit of the sophisticated woman I'd heard she was. Even in bankruptcy she still looked extremely wealthy. They get to where I am before they realize their daughter hasn't gotten out of the car. The help holds out her hand to Aria as the beautiful woman clasps onto it before getting out.

I am quite impressed as I look at the woman walking towards me, her hair's a blazing red an her eyes a stormy grey. She couldn't look more goddess like if she tried. Her shape is well defined by the black gown?

ARIA

I step out of the car feeling queasy with nerves, they're house is very beautiful. It gives off a kind of Old English Palace vibe and the fountain I noticed immediately we'd gotten on the property was a humongous beautiful single stemmed rose. I oblige myself to appear sophisticated as I thank the woman who's hand I'd used as support as my parents forgot me yet again.

I finally gather the courage to look up at the man I am to marry and he looks even more handsome in person, fueling my rage. It would be easier to hate an ugly man. He looks 6'4 as he stands in his black two piece tailored to hug every part of his beautiful body. His hair is a beautiful black and his eyes are green and very angry?

He walks up to me in long strides not bothering with an introduction as he sharply speaks

"This was not the dress you were instructed to wear"

I take a few steps back to level my eyes on his face without looking up

"You do not have the right to order me to wear anything, I wear what I please and you do not speak to me in such a manner"

He seems stunned at my audacity, I am too but I'd be damned if I let him mouth me off that way in front of everybody. My mother looks horrified as my father tries to hide a smirk. A very pregnant woman standing at the door does nothing to hide her laugh as she begins to full on cackle

"Good luck with this one brother, I might just move back here to watch this whole thing play out."

Gray doesn't say anything more as his turns away his face already hard as stone and walks into the house with the rest of us trying to keep up with his long strides. He leads us down different hallways and finally stops at massive hall with a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I look around in awe amazed at the beauty of the hall. It's decorated in red and black and I soon understand why he brought us here.

He moves to stand beside me, lowering his mouth to my ear

"Next time you directly disobey an order, you won't like the outcome any more than I like you"

I whimper as I can't find the courage I'd had when I'd gotten here and put as much distance as I can between us without drawing the attention of my parents to us. He steps away from me and walks up to my parents

"Follow me"

With that he leaves with them, leaving I and his sister alone.

She walks over to me all smiles

"I'm Layla Brown-Grey"

I hold my laugh as she looks at me her eyes also twinkling with laughter

"I know, it's horrible, to think that they could have sent me to live with a family with a much nicer name. I go by Layla Brown"

"You didn't grow up here?"

She shakes her head in reply

"Daddy thought I'd be in danger if I kept staying here. It was just an excuse to have all the time for Keane. He'd always hated the fact that I came out first as a girl and all that"

I look at her totally understanding the feeling, there were times I'd felt my father would love me if I'd been a boy at least.

"Is your baby a boy or a girl"

I say pushing the conversation away from the sad stuff, she beams brightly at me

"It's a she and I have a long list of names for her. I can't seem to pick anyone. It's soooo frustrating."

"What does her father want to name her?"

"John's clueless toooo, we are both always sooo indecisive, it's amusing at times. Would you believe he wanted to name her Rain once"

She bursts out laughing at that, I can't help but join in too. Rain?

"And guess what John's last name is"

I look at her waiting for the drop

"It's Storm!!"

I hiccup as I begin to laugh with her

"He...wanted to name...her Rain Storm??"

We sit on one of the chairs there for support as we laugh away.

KEANE

I'm livid as I lead the Whites to my office, the audacity of the girl. I gave an order, I'd expected strict compliance, hell I'd made sure the decorations for the hall were black and red. I'd enjoy breaking her.

We get into my house office before I bring out the documents I want them to see. Riccardo reads through it and is in my face in an instant

"What is the meaning of this! You cannot do that!"

"And how do you intend to stop me? It's done already"

Annalise gasps as she reads through the document her previously composed features falling as she tears up.

"I've bought each one of the properties you own except the one in London, I expect you out of your current residence once the wedding is over. You'll be moving to London, too far to influence your daughter in any way. I'll be winning this war Riccardo, you just have to wait and see"

Annalise is now livid, but not at me

"How dare you Riccardo, how dare you sell off our properties without consulting with me! You sold our fucking house fucking bastard!"

Riccardo is speechless as the weight of what he's done weighs him down, Annalise growls as she throws her purse at him

"Answer me! What were you thinking?! How dumb could you possibly be!"

I step out of the office leaving the fighting couple to themselves as I go back the way I came. They'll just have to find their way to the ball room themselves.