CHAPTER TWELVE

THE WEDDING

"You are so beautiful."

The makeup artist working on my face complimented and the other woman who was waiting to do my hair, per my husband-to-be's orders, nodded in agreement. I smiled tensely in thanks. I wasn't feeling so beautiful. It was like everything was going to end up crumbling on me if I wasn't careful. Not only did I have to be worried about Jonathan, he had asked that he be addressed that way rather than my boss, but the woman that was supposed to act as my mother was still not around.

She applied the spray that would hold my makeup and turned me to look in the mirror, smiling behind me. "What do you think?"

I shrugged. "Looks pretty. Thank you."

She frowned. "Now that's a pity. We have a photoshoot session before the wedding for the parents of the happy couple and the couple. I'm sure your husband will be getting told that now, so you might want to prepare yourself." She gasped and held onto her chest dramatically, "He might just faint when he enters and sees you. You look so gorgeous."

I forced a smile, feeling myself tense up. Jonathan, in here? "I thought it was a universal rule that the groom can only see the bride as she walks down the aisle, as it brings bad luck."

She huffed and waved her hands away, almost hitting me. "That's not true, plus I'm sure it cannot affect you." She looked around and, seeing that the hair stylist wasn't paying her any attention, lowered her voice to a whisper. "Even those that keep to it still get divorced within the year. This wedding hall has hosted the wildest weddings ever, most of which didn't make it one year." She put her hands under her chin. "But you're different. I'm a great judge of these things, you know. You and your husband will last a lot longer than one year, I can feel it." She laughed, and I politely joined her, shaking the urge to shake my head at her silliness. She hadn't even seen the man I was getting married to, and what did she know anyway? I was sure ours would be the wildest one yet.

The hair stylist came closer with all her tools and I stood up.

"Please, I need to use the restroom really quick."

The makeup artist gasped. "This is why I told you to go earlier. Make sure you don't ruin my work."

I nodded and rushed into the yet spacious and luxurious restroom in the suite that carried the scent of luxury fragrances and dialled the number of the woman I'd hired to act as my mother. She picked on the first ring, thankfully.

"Hey. where are you?" I whispered, walking to and fro the bathroom length.

"I'm on my way. Has the wedding started? You told me 11."

I sighed and moved my hands to massage my forehead with my fingers before remembering I couldn't ruin the work that had already been done. "It's half past 10. I told you to arrive early. Don't you think it's generally good manners and a show of love for the mother to arrive early for the bride?" 

I heard her sigh deeply. "Fine. I'm on my way, there's no need to get so cranky about it. The traffic is not good."

I shook my head, feeling despair. Which was why I'd gone through the best time she needed to leave, as well as the fastest route to take. I'd also given her money apart from her monetary compensation to make things easier on her. 'Please just get here on time."

I removed my phone from my ear but realized she was still talking. "What did you say?"

She hissed. "Pay some attention, girl. Remember, it must not exceed two hours. I have another appointment."

I stopped in my tracks. "That's why I gave you extra. Didn't we agree?" Oh, things were definitely not going well.

"Did you? I forgot about that."

Forgot? "Don't worry, I'll pay you extra for your time. Just come first."

She dropped the call with no further word, and I sighed and washed my hand. Washing my face would have been more ideal, I needed to wake up. I wrapped up and went back outside, where the two women were waiting for me with frowns on their faces.

"I'm sorry." I apologized and sat down.

About ten minutes in, a knock sounded on the door and I turned to that direction only for her to drag my head back, not gently. "I bet that's the husband. He's so handsome. It felt like a crime to see him." My makeup artist whispered to the hairstylist, who laughed. "Quick. We can't keep him waiting."

The door opened and an older couple I hadn't seen before but knew exactly who they were come inside. I made to stand up, but the woman shook her head with a smile. "Don't stand. I just wanted to look at you before the wedding."

She moved behind me and studied me through the mirror. "I can see why my son chose you. You're so gorgeous." 

The door opened again and the object of her discussion strode in a tuxedo that looked like it was custom-made and made him look even more dashing, I couldn't help but notice. With who he was, it probably had been custom-made, and it made his blue eyes even appear more beautiful. The woman gave a pleased gasp and hurried towards him and hugged him. He hugged her back, and then he moved to hug his father. I watched the scene through the mirror, trying to breathe through the ache in my heart. If my father was still here, obviously, I wouldn't have to go through a wedding like this and instead will be able to hug my parents with joy, just like him.

The door opened and I heard my stylist sigh. I looked at her through the mirror and she gave an apologetic smile. "It's getting so crowded in here."

I nodded, wondering why she was feeling that way. The suite was very spacious, it could contain my entire apartment with floor to ceiling windows. I didn't think one could complain of lack of space here, especially since Jonathan's family were not crowded round me. Maybe some people didn't like people around while they were working. The click of heels against the floor reminded me belatedly that someone had come in. The feel of the stranger hugging me almost made me recoil before I remembered, my mother. I hugged her back ad my stylist sighed again, this time louder.

"I'll come back in the next ten minutes."

I smiled apologetically as she and the makeup artist left the suite.

Jonathan's mother cleared her throat and the woman loosened herself from me. "I guess you're our daughter-in-law's mother. I'm the groom's mother. It's nice to meet you." She said offering her arms which my 'mother' shook, quite enthusiastically, if I could add.

"You're very correct. Wow, my daughter didn't tell me she was marrying an extraordinary person." She said, looking round the room, and my stomach dropped.

"What?" That came from Jonathan's mother.

The woman laughed. "The room is gorgeous, and her husband is gorgeous. His parents are also gorgeous. What more could I ask for?" She moved through the room and opened the restroom and gasped. "This place is heavenly."

I forced a smile and my eyes met Jonathan's through the mirror. I dropped mine immediately. This was a terrible mistake.

The woman suddenly turned, and I tensed, wondering what next she was going to do. I'd done my rehearsal with her and I may not have added that the man had money, but even a dummy knew a mother's heart wasn't supposed to be in the affluence but instead the care of her daughter. She hadn't even spoken a word to the man I was going to marry and the one time she'd met his eyes, she had started giggling. All in all, she looked like a hen in heat when she glanced at my husband. I guess I should have banned that as well in the contract I'd mentioned along with her mentioning her cat, ex-husband and son that was in prison. All she'd told me about on our first meeting after agreeing to act as my mother.

She sniffed, and I narrowed my eyes, praying in my mind. Jonathan's father threw him a panicked glance, and he threw that at me. I stood up and went towards her with a tissue. She accepted the tissue and, ignoring my whispers, moved away from me towards Jonathan's mother. "I mean, it's just that…my girl has had such a hard time growing up…" I threw her a panicked glance that she ignored. "You know, it wasn't easy to raise her all on my own after her father left, no, I mean died…" She threw me a panicked look as if just realizing what she was doing

"Died. Of cancer." I supplied before she could say something even more incriminating. "My mum doesn't like talking about it. They were and always will be in love."

Jonathan's mother nodded. "Oh, that's sad. Not to worry, she's a part of our family. I can assure you we'll take good care of her."

She brightened. "Of course. And her poor mother as well."

I quickly called a stop to her planning by gasping loudly. "Oh my god, the wedding will soon start, and I'm not dressed yet." I turned to Jonathan who was still standing and arched my brows at him. What was he still waiting for? Instead of replying to me, he turned to the woman. "I know how eager you must be to see your daughter, but could I see her just for a second?"

The woman frowned at me, having wanted to make more negotiations, I could tell, and turned to Jonathan, batting her eyelash. I would puke if she didn't stop doing that. "Of course, who am I to say no to my son-in-law?" With one last glare at me that Jonathan thankfully didn't notice, she left the suite, leaving me with him.

I could feel my heart thundering as the clarity of my situation dawned on me. I was alone in a suite with him, in just a robe. I needed more layers to feel safer. I pulled the robe closer to myself and Jonathan, seeing my actions, frowned. "I won't do anything to you, you don't want to. We agreed to that."