Page 49 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Forty-Eight

Sophia

A fter a blissful night of cuddling with Kaleb, followed by a stressful morning of everyone running around, barking orders, and discussing plans for after tonight's event, I've finally managed to lock myself away in my room to catch a breather before getting ready.

I've barely seen Kaleb or Jericho today as they've mostly been locked away in Jericho's office, sorting out everything that they need to do for their plan to be a success.

Jaylen attempted to go and eavesdrop on their conversation but he ran into a very angry-looking Leo instead, which then resulted in us both being watched for the remainder of the day as if we were suspected criminals under investigation.

I walk over to my nightstand, unplug my phone, and see a text from Jess that was sent ten minutes ago.

Jess:

On my way over now! Shouldn't be too long.

Bringing my curing tongs and make-up, so just make sure you're dressed and I'll do the rest of the work.

Sophia

I'll be ready! Thank you for doing this

I know my reply is futile, considering she's driving and likely won't see it until she's here, but I send it anyway, hoping she knows how grateful I am for her helping me during this whole situation.

Putting my phone back down, I walk to my closet and pull out the dress bag Myra hung up for me yesterday. I unzip it and smooth my hands across the dress, admiring the way it shimmers beneath the light.

My phone chimes and I hurry over to it, seeing a text from Jess saying that she's at the gates. I curse as I run back over to my bed, taking the dress out of the dress bag and quickly sliding the straps off of the hanger.

I step into it, leaving the back unzipped, choosing to wait for Jess to help me zip it up instead of struggling for ages trying to do it myself.

Scrolling through my playlists on Spotify, I select the one I share with Jess and as the music starts to filter through the room, I untangle the hairband from my hair and start brushing out my blonde locks.

"Your fairy godmother has arrived!" Jess shouts as she throws my door open and rushes inside with bags hanging from her shoulders.

I laugh at her as she rushes over to me and hugs me from behind, squeezing me tightly.

"Stand up and let me see this beauty properly!" she says, tapping her fingers against the material of the dress.

I stand up and spin around so that she can see the whole dress and when I'm facing her again, I strike a pose and stick my thigh through the slit in the dress.

"Isn't it perfect?"

"Girl, it's fucking beautiful! Turn around and let me zip you up and then we can get started on your hair and make-up," she says, motioning with her finger to face the other way. "I ran into your current husband and your future husband downstairs and they both told me we only have thirty minutes to get ready and then we need to leave."

"Saying it like that makes it sound awful," I tell her, cringing.

"Well, it is what it is. Jericho is only your current husband because you were both practically forced to marry each other. You and Kaleb on the other hand are a love story just waiting to happen, so I'll call it how I see it. He's your future husband and Jericho is your current one."

"Not for long," I mutter, sitting on the chair in front of my dressing table after she finishes zipping my dress up.

"Has he managed to sort all of that out yet?" she asks, brushing my hair with one hand whilst the other ruffles through her bag beside her.

"He's going to get the papers later and then once we sign them, it should only take a few more days for it all to be finalized."

"Are you excited?"

I watch her as she plugs in the curling tongs and then starts pulling make-up from her bag whilst she waits for them to heat up.

"Of course I am, it's what we both want and it also means things will be less complicated for Kaleb and me," I tell her, nibbling on my bottom lip. "I will admit I'm also sad about it though."

She frowns at me through the mirror.

"Why?"

"Well, once we're divorced and once everything with Alessandro is sorted out, Jericho's going to be leaving town. It just worries me because he's the only family Kaleb has left. Also, he'll be passing a lot of responsibility on to Dominic, and although I know my brother can handle himself, I don't want him to crumble under the pressure because he's not prepared for all of this."

"I didn't really think of it like that," she muses, wrapping my hair around the curling tong.

We both fall silent as she continues to curl my hair, and I listen to the music playing around us.

Twenty minutes later, we're both finally ready and hurrying down the stairs as quickly as we can in heels after hearing Jaylen shout through the door five minutes ago that we had to leave.

"Finally," Jaylen grumbles from the bottom of the stairs, rolling his eyes at us. "Feel like I've been waiting here forever."

"I'd rather stand here waiting for them to be ready for another ten minutes than spend another second near you and your complaining," Kaleb says, glaring at my cousin before he turns to me and smiles as his eyes run down the length of my body. "You look absolutely stunning, dolcezza ."

Butterflies swarm inside my stomach and my cheeks heat.

"Okay, let's get going," Jericho shouts, walking through the foyer towards us all.

Kaleb steps towards me and leans down, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"I'll be keeping my distance tonight, but trust me when I say, I'll be watching you."

A desirable shiver runs down my spine from his huskily spoken words and the brush of his lips against my skin as he moves away, walking out the front door with Jaylen by his side.

"I'll see you there, Soph," Jess says, blowing me an air kiss and following everyone outside.

Jericho walks over to me, stopping beside me as his green eyes assess my outfit.

"You look beautiful."

My brows raise in surprise at his compliment.

"Uh, thank you."

A crease forms between his brows and he chuckles as he holds his arm out for me to grab onto.

"You need to try and mask that look of surprise tonight when I compliment you or say something nice. Otherwise there's no chance of anyone believing us," he says.

I loop my arm through his and sheepishly smile.

"I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting it."

"Are you ready?" he asks as we walk towards the open front door.

I nod and blow out a shaky, nervous breath.

"I will be once we're there and I have some champagne in my hand."