Page 84 of Wanted

Colton responded right away. “Yes, for sure. Tonight? There’s a Britney vs. Xtina themed party at a frat house.”

“Perfect.”

♥♠♥

PRESENT

After having planned my last wedding thoroughly, having a wedding for which I didn’t even have a proper dress was an outcome that I hadn’t expected. Jordan handed me an outfit that he had somehow managed to get his hands on. He threw it at me without respecting the sensitive fabric.

I would never walk around like this in Katantia. Black dresses this long weren’t my style. The stilettos he provided for me were perfect for me.

After washing my face, I put my outfit on. I applied a bit of make-up. I didn’t want to overdo it because I knew that half of the attendees weren’t joining the dress-up fun. Jordan and Fylox would be dressed from head to toe in black as always. They wouldn’t be seen in the photographs. Alex, his mom, his stepfather, and I would be center stage.

Alex decided that it would look good if Mr. Howard, his stepfather, officiated the wedding. The documents were ready somehow without me having to sign anything. Jordan offered to get a conference call with a lawyer so that we’d get a prenup, but Alex insisted on not having one.

The arrival of the Howard family would burst my bubble. I was comfortable in Alex’s presence, but would his mother and stepfather like me? I wasn’t the most popular creature on this side of the earth. Early responses from our PR stunt the other week were negative. Most people called me a hooker, which I didn’t take any offense at. Hookers were cool people, all about their business. We didn’t stigmatize sex work in Katantia, but in this country, I was Satan in person even without my sexy clothes and nasty comments.

“I have to tell you something,” Alex said, joining me in my room while I got ready. He came up behind me, towering above me. Immense pride came over me, and I wasn’t sure how to express it. He wore one of his finer suits, diamonds decorating his cufflinks. He didn’t wear make-up, yet his face shone without a blemish. I recognized that his flawless skin came from what he ate and his exercise. He didn’t drink, and he didn’t do other fun things. He lived for his job. While others may have called him a workaholic, I saw his passion. His determination was attractive.

I wanted to be more like him.

If I had shown half of his work ethic, I would have become Queen of Katantia by now.

“You’re staring at me,” Alex commented, smirking at me.

“It’s hard not to. You’re very handsome.”

“You two are ridiculous,” Fylox said, entering my room uninvited. He came to stand beside Alex, watching me apply mascara. “Our parents have arrived at the gates. They’ll be here in half an hour.”

“Parents? Our parents?” I asked, baffled.

“My parents heard about the wedding, and they invited themselves. Maia Callie will also be joining us,” Fylox revealed. Squinting his eyes, he fixated on something he saw in the mirror in front of me. I didn’t care to find out what.

“So now I’m meeting the whole gang?” My voice cracked. Why did Weston have to take Mandy away? She should’ve been here with me. In fact, my entire family should’ve been here. This wedding was half a scam, half-real, but it still meant something to me.

“I don’t think you should refer to my mom and his parents as a ‘gang,’” Alex commented, kissing the top of my head. My hair was ironed straight today, no fun waves.

Immediately, I added, “I apologize. I’m meeting the entire family? Is this really happening? Do they know…”

“Yes, they’re aware,” Fylox answered the question that was meant for Alex. “And they’re not very happy about it. Mr. Howard isn’t, at least.”

“That’s the stepdad?” I guessed.

Alex sighed, nodding. “He’s just Mr. Howard. I don’t see him as a father figure. I have a dad.”

Half an hour later, the families arrived in two separate cars that Jordan had arranged for them. All of this wedding nonsense would occur in secrecy. We would surprise Alex’s followers on social media by posting a picture of us with our wedding bands.

Thinking that there would be no surprises for the day, I followed the men as they approached the entrance hall to welcome Fylox’s and Alex’s families.

I spotted Maia Callie. My heels announced my arrival to anyone who hadn’t noticed the crazy red-haired lady. “Long time no see!”

“The hair suits you,” Maia Callie complimented me, eying it closely. “How are you feeling? Big day today, huh?”

I tilted my head to the side. “I’m trying to get used to all of this.”

“The mansion, you mean?” she asked. Fylox’s sister had his eyes but the kinder version.

Shaking my head, I chuckled. “No, it’s the fact that I’m getting married to somebody I like.”