The lights were dimmed and the slow romantic number made them sway to its rhythm. Wrapped up in his arms, Skylar soon forgot everyone around her. Lost in their own magical bubble they didn’t notice the fight that ensued between Alexander, Nicholas, and Alyssa.
The music stopped, and Christian released her, holding her gaze in disbelief. It was the most magical moment, the dance he had been longing for. It was strange that she didn’t put up a fight at all! Did that mean she had surrendered to him? The lights were switched on and Skylar blinked and looked around her. Where were her friends?
“Alyssa, Hayley, and Eva are leaving!” informed Sienna with a sad pout when she joined her.
“We will leave after the cake-cutting!” said Christian, who had followed Skylar.
“Thanks for staying! I was so upset they didn’t stay until the cake-cutting ceremony. Eva wanted to taste the cake so badly!”
“I know! Alexander is too harsh on her sometimes.”
Alyssa and Hayley came down to bid them farewell. Afterward, Eva too came over to hug them before leaving. It was a tearful moment, since none of them knew when they would meet next. After their friends left, they sat down to enjoy the wedding lunch. Later, after the cake-cutting, Christian whisked her away just as promised.
They boarded a private motorboat to take them to Alexandria Bay. Christian looked quite cheerful while Skylar watched the island recede as they sped towards the village pier. The last couple of days had whizzed past so fast that they couldn’t catch up with one another. She longed to spend more time with her friends.
“Cheer up! You can invite them home anytime.”
“Home? Where? In LA?” Christian nodded, wanting to inform her about his plans. However, not a word came out of his mouth. A strange fear gripped his heart. What if she didn’t agree to marry him? What if she backed out at the last moment? During the last two days, not once did she bring up their wedding? Had she forgotten about it?
“When are we returning to LA?”
“Maybe in a couple of days.” He planned to marry her by tomorrow and then whisk her away to LA immediately to enjoy their wedding night in his home. Before that, however, he had some important work to take care of. He needed to visit his lawyer for the contract agreement, hand it over to her, and then wait for her response. They reached the pier and soon were on their way to the airport.
“Do you want to visit your family home?” Skylar shook her head. It was an empty mansion now. She already had transferred all her belongings to Christian’s home in LA.
“Will I start working now? I think it’s time to do something meaningful with my life!”
“Once we reach LA, you can join work right away. Mr. Fairbanks had been asking after you.”
“I can’t wait to train under him.” Christian gave her a pointed look.
“Not under him. You’ll be training under me,” he corrected her, making her roll her eyes at him. They reached the airport and, after a hasty security check-in, boarded his private jet. Skylar rested and Christian wrapped up some work. After two and a half hours, they reached Caleb’s house.
“So, did you enjoy the wedding?” asked Granny when Skylar hugged her.
“Yes, granny.”
“Good! Now prepare yourself for your wedding!” Skylar gaped at her granny. Her wedding? Were they seriously planning their wedding so soon?
“Oh, have you fixed the date already?” she asked, remembering her conversation with Christian while going to New York.
“Yes, it’s tomorrow morning,” said Lillian. Skylar’s mouth hung open, and she turned to look at Christian. Did he know it all along? Why didn’t he inform her? She knew they would marry this week, but not overnight!
“But I’m not at all prepared! I don’t have a wedding dress even!” protested Skylar. She had never expected her wedding to be so rushed.
“I’ve bought a dress for you. So that shouldn’t be a problem,” informed Christian. Skylar gaped at the crazy man. So she was right! She had indeed seen him at the bridal boutique the other day! He was buying a bridal gown for her! But why couldn’t he involve her as well?
“Fine. What about the other stuff? My veil, accessories, my bridal bouquet, and our rings?” she asked, flailing her arms helplessly. She was tired of being dominated and ordered around. First, it was Christian St. James who was dumped on her. Now it seems the wedding too would happen without her knowledge.
“Everything’s taken care of.”
“Why didn’t you inform me, Christian?” she demanded in a state of panic.
“I would have tonight. I’ll explain everything to you.” Skylar gaped at him as he walked away towards their bedroom.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get you ready tomorrow morning. All you have to do is go to church at 10 o’clock,” said Lillian.
“Sorry about the rush, Skylar. We had to pre-pone Seb and Erica’s wedding because of unavoidable circumstances. That’s the reason your wedding is set for tomorrow. Steele is here in Cleveland, watching our every move. There is 24/7 police security all around. Christian wanted to wrap up the wedding and leave immediately afterward,” explained Grandpa Ben.
Skylar nodded and quieted down. Grandpa Ben’s explanation made sense, and she trudged to her room to freshen up.
She found Christian busy on an important call. Was he talking to his lawyer? She quickly freshened up and went downstairs to grab some dinner. Christian joined them in a few minutes. All the questions kept bubbling inside her mind, but she couldn’t ask him in front of the others.
“We’ll go out after dinner. Be ready,” said Christian, making her frown. They had just returned, and she was dead tired. Where were they going?
“It isn’t safe to go out now, Chris. Can’t it be avoided?” said Sebastian.
“No, it’s urgent. We’ll use your bodyguards. Don’t worry!”
After dinner, Christian led her towards his car. Two of Sebastian’s bodyguards accompanied them as they drove over to an unknown destination. “Where are we going?” she asked, unable to stop herself.
“To the lawyer’s office. You’ll get to know everything,” he muttered so that the bodyguards didn’t hear their conversation.
“Why do we need to go to a lawyer’s office?” she scowled at the man.
“We’ve reached, Mr. St. James. Do you want us to accompany you inside?” asked a bodyguard.
“That won’t be necessary. You can wait outside.” He helped Skylar alight and led her inside. Fuming and bursting with curiosity, she followed him into a sprawling office room.
A tall man with salt and pepper hair emerged from inside and welcomed them. “Good to see you, Christian! I met your grandpa a few days ago,” said the man, giving him a hug.
“Yes, I was busy. Anyway, I wish you and Aunt Matilda a belated happy wedding anniversary! Sorry, I missed the party!” said Christian.
“Thank you, my boy. I’ll convey your wishes to Matilda. You can see her whenever you’re free.”
“Sure, Uncle Ferdinand! Oh, please meet my fiancee, Skylar Carnell!” he said, drawing a perplexed Skylar forward.
“Skylar, this is Uncle Ferdinand Anderson, Grandpa’s trusted friend and lawyer. He has agreed to prepare the contract agreement for our marriage,” said Christian, his hawk-like gaze fixed upon her. Skylar opened her mouth, but no words came out at all. She was left dumbfounded by his sudden bombshell.
“Hello, Skylar!” said the lawyer. “Please sit down, both of you.”
They sat down at the enormous mahogany desk while Ferdinand Anderson searched his drawer for the document.
“Please, can you keep this between the three of us, Uncle Ferdinand? I don’t want even Grandpa to know about this.”
“Don’t worry about it, Christian. This will never leak out. It’s between the three of us.” He drew out a legal document and handed it to a flabbergasted Skylar. She fumbled as she took it from him. It was indeed a contract marriage agreement. She glanced at Christian, who watched her minutely, as if expecting her to react. Was this some kind of joke? Couldn’t he have informed her about his intentions? She had wanted to talk to him about her change of plans. She had wanted to tell him she wanted a proper marriage. But he didn’t give her time.
“That’s the legally binding prenuptial contract valid for the next two years, Ms. Carnell. Please go through and sign on all the pages,” said the lawyer.
Skylar gaped at the man. Did they really expect her to go through a legal document right now and sign? Anger boiled inside Skylar for Christian. She hated being rushed into something she didn’t wish to do. That was the reason she was against this marriage. Now this contract agreement!
“What happened, Skylar? Don’t you want to sign it?” asked Christian. He wanted her to admit her feelings now. He had expected her to react after being pushed to the limit.
Skylar pursed her lips and glared at him. “I’ll sign it.” She didn’t read a single word and signed on all the pages blindly, as hot, angry tears stung her eyes.