The Billionaire’s Betrothed(16)

Instead, I was here, in Sebastian Davis's mansion, waiting on the day we would be wed.

I hadn't even changed out of my clothes before falling asleep, I hadn't even climbed under the covers for that matter.

I couldn't blame myself, after the past few days I'd been through. It was shocking that I'd even been able to open my eyes at all. I felt more like I needed another twelve hours of slumber.

The door opened, a prim and poised Alissa Grant sliding through as she shut the door after her.

Today, the redhead was dressed in a white, fitted sundress that sat high on her collarbones, hair piled atop her head, loose curls resting on her unblemished forehead.

Her red lipped mouth tsked at me, shaking her head.

"Come along now, Macy." She chided, "We have a long day ahead."

"Shouldn't the bride be resting?" I proposed, though I had no confidence the woman would be lenient.

She frowned at me, hint of disdain in her eyes, "Up up, missy, with an attitude like that, you'll never have Karina's favor."

"And just how the hell did you get in her good graces?" I asked unabashedly, curiosity getting the better of me. Talk about a rude question, but I mean, come on. Karina liked Alissa even when the girl was soaking up all of George Davis’s attention.

Alissa, however, seemed nonplussed by my questioning. I clearly wasn't the first who'd asked such a thing.

"I keep George content and off her back. She can use that pretty little black card any place she likes. She can screw whoever she likes." She shrugged, checking her manicured fingernails, "I get whatever I like too."

My mouth parted, though no words seemed adequate to describe my feelings towards her, or Sebastian's messed up family.

It took a fervent effort on my part to try to push this all from the forefront of my mind. I didn't want to judge too much, I was about to be one of them. I had a feeling I was not so different, though I wanted to imagine that to be false.

"Okay then." I finally mumbled, sliding off the bed, "I guess I’m ready."

I didn't have any toiletries or clothes. I didn't even have a hairbrush. There wasn’t anything I could really do to get ready for the day.

Alissa, though, stared at me as if I were a plague victim, "Go and brush your teeth, woman." She sighed, "I made sure you had essentials here yesterday. I do more than attend to George, I’m the personal assistant to Bast as well"

She shook her head, watching me with disgust as I trudged to the bathroom. Interior decorator, personal assistant, escort – what didn’t this woman do?

Above the sound of the running water in the bathroom sink, I heard the surprisingly cheerful tune of Alissa's phone ringing.

"Hello, darling." She answered, voice suddenly rich and velvety as dark chocolate, "Yes, I slept wonderfully...thanks to you."

Turning up the water a bit higher, I closed my eyes and tried to focus on brushing my teeth. If I heard much more of that phone call, I would have gagged. I definitely didn’t want to imagine the elder Davis billionaire on the other end of that call.

When I'd all but rubbed my teeth and gums raw, I turned off the water, relieved to hear silence in the other room. I walked back out, where Alissa slowly lay a frumpy little brown dress on the bed.

"I thought this was rater fitting of you." She mused, lips twitching.

The buxom redhead reminded me of a cat, toying with a mouse just to see a reaction.

Instead of giving into a fight with her, I shrugged and grabbed the dress, walking back to the bathroom to change, "I’m sure you know best."

I slid it over my head, trying not to look in the mirror.

The thing was a disaster. Small pink roses dotted the hem, neck and sleeves. The material was stiff and bulged in strange places.

I hoped to God that Alissa wasn't left in charge of finding me a wedding gown or I was about to be on the cover of a worst dressed magazine.

I walked back into the room after splashing water on my face, sliding my feet into small black flats.

Begrudgingly, I followed her out of the mansion, forgetting to take note of the twists and turns we took to leave the winding halls. I was going to have to ask Sebastian to put me closer to the front door or I’d be lost for days.

The next four hours were the longest, most difficult, most mind numbingly miserable hours of my life.

Alissa gave no leeway on the choices she made, in fact, I wasn't even sure why I was present except to get me out of the house for a while.

Dressed in white, making all of the decor and flower decisions, one would have sworn the redheaded woman was the bride to be. In fact, I heard some of the vendors referring to her as Ms. Davis.

She ate it up, giggling like her wedding was approaching. Maybe she was imagining dragging George up the aisle...