Meeting the husband

I'm lying in my bed.

Not moving, it's quiet here.

I like the time when I've just woken up it's like I'm alone in the world and no one is here.

I'm also half asleep so maybe there's that.

"morning" my mother says walking in and opening the blinds.

I roll over and shove my head under the pillow.

"Tsk tsk Elle! Your husband will be here in 3 hours!"

"That's plenty of time" I muffle deep under the covers.

She grabs my ankles and tugs me out.

"You need to shower you need your hair done your makeup done your dress!! There's so much to do"

"Why? It's not like I'm getting married today" I whine.

"Need I remind you this man is saving our family from a world of pain and-"

"Yeah yeah I know go Ivan or whatever. IM ALSO BEING SHIPPED OFF TO A PSYCHOPATH" I screech.

My mother stands there not blinking or moving...like she's dead.

"Mom?" I call out sitting up.

She jumps and begins pulling things out my closet.

"And you'll need to start packing"

God I forgot I was moving.

"What? Does he live in Russia?"

"He runs the Russian Mafia what do you think?"

I look down feeling stupid.

"He lives in America"

"What?" I ask confused.

"It's a perfect cover he runs the Russian mafia from America it's why his family has never been caught"

"But how does he run it from so far away?"

"Well everyone in his gang knows he will murder their bloodline if they cross him and he frequently goes down to Russia, I'd say once a month for 5 days" she replies.

"Great" i mutter.

Still I suppose I've always wanted to go to America, Spain  is beautiful but...America is the land of promise I swear.

"Up up now go go to the shower and I'll send people up to get you ready"

"Minimal makeup mother please!" I exclaim.

I don't want to feel it caked on my skin.

"Okay my love now go"

I head to the massive shower and exfoliate every crack of my skin. Use all the pretty lotions and my favourite shampoo..apples.

As soon as I walk out there are two girls there.

"I'm Aleah I'm here for hair and she's here for makeup"

"Okay" I say walking down and sitting on my bed.

Mom was right it took them an hour to do my hair and makeup.

My hair is curled and done in a beautiful half up half down hairstyle, you can see the blonde highlights I just had in.

I will admit makeup was good, I look like myself except my features are slightly sharpened.

I like highlight a lot tho.

"I wanted to make sure he could see the freckles on your nose" the girl I now knew was called Rosie told me smiling.

I nod at her, well I look pretty so hopefully he won't shoot me.

"Do you know what you will be wearing?" She asks me.

I shrug she purses her lips.

"What?" I ask, frowning.

She shakes her head looking away.

"What?" I ask again a little harsher.

"It's just..you don't seem very bothered"

"Why would i be?"

"Well he's going to be your husband for like..the rest of your life and you don't even care what he thinks of you?"

"Why should I care I don't want to marry him. This was his choice so he can deal with the consequences, of which are I fucking hate his ass" I reply bitterly.

She smiles a bit then. "You two are alike"

"Don't ever say that again" I huff.

She laughs quietly and pulls out a dress.

"What about this?"

"I'm not wearing a floor length dress to meet him, we're going on a walk like...through the gardens."

"Okay okay" she says looking further back.

"Okay you can wear this, with these shoes"

She pulls out a pink sundress, with white flowers and pink heels.

It is very pretty.

"It's so fancy"

"It's a slightly fancier summer dress and your wearing it"

"I don't see a point in arguing anymore" I reply so I take the dress and change.

I step out and she and Aleah clap enthusiastically.

I do like the way I look.

So there's that.

I walk down the stairs and freeze when I see him standing there.

He's early.

He's got black messy hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Or maybe their green I'm too far away to know the precise radius of his eyes.

He's in a black t shirt that clings to his muscles and he wears grey camo trousers.

A silver chain hangs from his neck.

I stand halfway down the stairs paralysed.

He glances up at me and stops talking to my mother.

He stares at me silently and I cannot guess the expression on his face.

"Elle come down" my father calls. He smiles but I can tell it's a nervous smile.

I continue walking down until I'm at the bottom.

Oh he's quite tall.

Or maybe he's not.

Well I'm 5'3 and he's a lot taller than me but he could be 5'9 and he'd be taller than me.

"How tall are you?" I blurt out.

Did I just-

Anyone have a gun they can shoot me with?

My mother closes her eyes.

My father looks at the ceiling.

I force myself to look into his..no Ivan's eyes.

He's holding back a laugh.

"6'0 foot that okay?" He answers smoothly.

"Yeah that's okay" I reply quietly.

"Shall we go then?" He asks turning to my parents.

"Yes yes absolutely" my mother says practically kicking me out the door.

Oh god.

We're outside the house instantly met with sunshine.

I cross my arms.

I'm not talking to him.

He's standing still looking at the sun for some reason like he's never seen one before.

"Well what are you waiting for, lead the way" I say impatient.

"This is your house you should be leading me"

"Why would I do that?"

"I'm your guest"

"Your an un wanted guest" I fire back.

He raises his eyebrows at me no longer smirking.

Elle you fucking moron this guy is crazy shut it.

I start walking off in a direction. I stop and turn.

Dumbass is not following me.

"I'm leading you" I say exasperated.

"Oh are you? I thought you were leaving in a huff" he calls back walking to me.

I hope you drown.

I continue walking in silence until we get to the ocean.

Or really above it since we're on a cliff.

"Not planning to push me right?" He asks next to me.

Oh wow so funny.

"Don't stand close to me and I won't"

He shakes his head.

"I'm under the impression you don't like me" he replies.

"Gee what made you come to that conclusion" I roll my eyes with such a force I think they might get stuck.

He turns to look at me so we're face too face.

I don't like the expression he's wearing.

"Cut out the attitude Elle and remember who your speaking too" he says with a detectable note of ice in his voice.

The urge to slap someone has never been so strong.

I will not say sorry but I also don't want to piss him off.

I say nothing.

"Why don't you like me?" he asks again, still with ice in his voice.

"Well, Ivan, I don't want to marry you and apparently I have too and move in with you. For the rest of my life so excuse me for not being too happy about our current arrangement" I say sharply.

He opens his mouth but I cut him off.

"And I know I know your helping our family from some Irish mafia bullshit and I appreciate you protecting us for life but I wish it wasn't at the expense of my life" I say to him.

I pause for a minute to really look at him.

He's frowning staring at me but there's softness in his eyes.

Maybe he understands, maybe this won't be so bad-

"Suck it up" he says walking away.

Fucker.

I stare at the water tears in my eyes.

But I blink them away quickly when I hear him coming back.

"Elle?"

I turn to look at him.

"Marry me?" He says smugly holding a ring.

I will set his home on fire.

I say nothing and stare at him.

"Oh great thank god" he says sarcastically, slipping the ring on my finger.

It's a fat fucking diamond.

The ring is beautiful.

"Where do you want to get married?" He asks me tapping something into his phone.

"On the beach?" I say.

He rolls his eyes and I once again remind myself why I cant fling myself into the ocean.

"Sure anything else?"

"I want to wear a pretty white dress I want my family there, I want a beautiful white arch with white roses twisted around it where we stand under and I want everyone else to have to wear black and you have to wear white so we stand out" I say.

He stares at me a second.

"We'll get married on the beach your family can come you can have your stupid white arch you will wear a black dress and I will wear a black suit and everyone else can wear white so we stand out"

"No I can't wear I black dress" I exclaim shocked.

"Why not?" He sighs rubbing his head.

"It's a tradition in my family in all family's the bride wears white"

"Did your mother love your father when she married him, did your grand mother love her partner?" He asks me.

"Yes"

"Oh look a tradition we've broken WHATS one more" he says sarcastically.

My rage gets the better of me.

"Uh god your so fucking annoying" I spit.

"Baby don't dirty talk me we're in public"

"GET FUCKED" I yell walking off.

"Name a time and a place baby"

I scream in frustration.

I cannot I CANNOT marry this little weasel. I-

"Elle sweetheart why are you walking away we still have to be here for an hour"

"Eat my ass" I say walking back to the house.

A gunshot fires and I jump and turn around.

He's holding a gun pointing it in the sky.

"Come here" he says.

I walk back towards him.

"Good girl now lets play a game of spit fire questions"

"Burn in hell"

"What's your favourite colour?"

"Why do you fucking care?"

"Your going to be my wife I should know these things"

"I'll kill myself"

He whistles at me. "Dramatic much?"

"Why me, I have a really pretty cousin"

"I don't want her I want you" he says moving closer.

My eyes are on the gun.

He brushes some hair out my eyes.

"Just you Elle" he whispering kissing my cheek.

I look up at him and cannot believe I thought he was hot.

"Purple" i breathe out. "Is my favourite colour"

He nods. "I like black"

I snort, he grins.

"Favourite food?" He says taking a step back.

"Ice cream"

He laughs at that.

I walk towards him.

"Any allergies?" He asks me.

I shake my head.

"You?" I whisper, talking another step towards him.

"Pineapple, stupid right?" I laugh and nod.

We're standing so close.

Close enough for me to pull the knife out my underwear and cut his thigh. Deep but no so bad he won't be able to stumble back to whatever hole he crawled out of.

He hissed stumbling back.

"Do not threaten me again Ivan." I say walking off.

"иди нахуй, умная сука" he groans.

"Pedazo de mierda tonto" i mutter to myself.