Chapter 1
Present Day
“Ifeel like I can’t breathe,” I whisper to myself, looking out into the courtyard and watching guests fill the seats. Some are chatting, others laughing. It’s such a joyous occasion, but why don’t I feel joyful?
On the television mounted in the corner, a familiar jingle announces the E! News segment. I knew it was coming.
“Love is in the air, and the air is rare,” the host reports. “E! News just confirmed that bad boy billionaire Elias Thorne is officially tying the knot with his long-time fiancée Soraya Maude, a talented art restoration expert at the Balmont Museum.”
Of course. They make it sound like a fairytale, when it’s a goddamn nightmare.
“While this bad boy is known for his media empire and his parties,” the host chirps, “she is quietly preserving history one art piece at a time.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Can’t do what?” Luigi, my makeup artist, slicks gloss over my lips.
“Nothing.” I force a small smile, just as the TV continues to spew “the official,” love story. “The pair are reported to have met in France at the Cannes Film Festival four years ago…”
My gaze moves to the TV, watching pictures of Elias and me, happy and in love.
“They have kept the relationship on the down-low until now.” The host continues, “According to sources close to the couple, the proposal was at Elias’ mansion in Balmont.
The setting at the beachfront was complete with champagne, a string quartet, and a custom ring designed with her favorite art period in mind. #Teamimpressionism.”
“Elias and Soraya are totally different individuals, but they complement each other.” An insider gives us the tea. “He is chaos, and she brings the calm.”
Chaos and calm. If they only knew that his chaos was mean and abusive. I wasn’t calm; I was terrified prey.
“The wedding day is under wraps, but if this couple’s style is anything to go by, it will be fun and elegant. And of course, the guests are A-listers.
We wish the couple the best of luck. This is proof that true love is not hard to find.”
“The proof is a fucking lie,” I whisper.
“Pout for me,” Luigi says.
What a name, right? Luigi. He is not even Italian, but that’s what he goes by. Is he my makeup artist of choice? No, but Elias’s rich ex-girlfriend, Bianca, insisted. Apparently, I am too poor to know what the hell good makeup looks like.
I admit I look gorgeous. But this corseted, sweetheart neckline contraption is making me claustrophobic.
I’m making the dress, sounds like it’s nothing, but the truth is…
it’s a fashionista’s wedding dress wet dream.
The dress is hand-beaded with small, real diamonds and pearls.
There is silk, somewhere on this dress, feathers, and organza.
Then there is my train. It’s Princess Diana long.
It was made by Nora Wand. Apparently, she is a big designer of wedding dresses.
It’s not that I didn’t know these names or brands.
It just never interested me. Nothing about the day feels like it’s for me.
I look at my pristine makeup. It’s a light, clean look except for the red lips.
Elias insisted it was red. Oh, and that I wear square-tip, long ombre nails.
My hair is fluffed high to the heavens. I look like I can be a tower to communicate with the good Lord above. But I feel trapped, and I can’t escape. Even the dress makes it hard for me to breathe.
“Girl, you look beautiful,” my cousin Michelle says as she stands to the side of me and looks down into the courtyard.
“Thanks. Does it look like it’s about to rain?” Please, God, let it rain. I want thunder to rumble in the sky. I wish the tents would blow away. I want the rain to wash away the whole dang wedding.
Why? Elias Thorne, my fiancé, is a liar and a fraud.
At first, when we started dating, I didn’t even know he was rich.
I even paid for some of our dates. It was only when a friend of mine mentioned he was Forbes’ Under 40 Bachelor of the Year that I realized it.
When I confronted him about it, he said he was testing me, and that I passed.
I know some people would be elated about passing an unwarranted test from a billionaire. But I am not some people. I was annoyed as hell. Here I thought I was building a relationship with someone, and they were out here testing me.
I blew up at him, and I even broke it off.
Then, my granny got cancer. She wasn’t wealthy, and my father covered her bills.
Then my parents died, and the money stopped.
Granny’s care was slipping through my fingers.
My job pays well, but not that well. Then Elias appeared.
A nurse called to tell me someone had cleared my hospital bills.
Elias paid for them. I found him sitting outside my granny’s room, waiting like some savior.
I mean, he was. We talked, we reconnected, and that’s when everything went spiraling.
I saw some things I wasn’t supposed to. Learned things I wasn’t meant to know. And then my Granny’s health collapsed. Within a few weeks, she was gone.
Now I am left with their wills and money I can’t touch till I am married. Aunts and uncles are circling like vultures, pushing Elias back into my life, into my bed, into my future. I am so trapped.
“Can someone get Elias for me?” I shout out to the room of bridesmaids. The group is made up of my cousins and a few of Elias’s family members.
“But it’s bad luck to see the groom before the wedding.”
I look at the four beautiful women chuckling together.
“They don’t look like his family,” Michelle whispers.
“I know. Get Elias, please, Michelle.”
My cousin nods and leaves the room.
In some minutes, I hear all the women in the room titter and laugh.
I look around, and standing at the door, looking debonair as ever, is Elias Thorne.
He looks like a Ralph Lauren model, rich and oozing with charm.
He stands at 6 feet with honey-blond hair slicked back, showing off his sculpted nose, smooth skin, beautiful lips, and knee-buckling smile.
Elias looks like the statue of David. He is a beautiful man.
I swallow as my eyes meet his light blue ones.
“Ladies, allow me some space. I want to talk to my wife-to-be.” Elias strides further into the room, his smile bright.
The moment the door closes, his smile drops.
“What’s the problem, Ray?” he asks as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
I inhale because he knows I hate being called ‘Ray.’
“Who are those girls? The ones you called ‘cousins’?”
He looks back at the door and then leans toward me like he is telling me a joke.
“They are my exes, but they are like family to me now.”
I close my eyes and inhale. He was disrespectful even during our wedding. I have had enough.
“I don’t want to go through with this.” I throw my shoulders back and stare squarely at him.
“This? You mean the wedding?” he asks and saunters to the window. He looks out at the courtyard that we should be getting married in.
He chuckles. “Why do you think you have a choice?”
His voice sounds smooth…and sinister.
“I have a choice, and I don’t want to do this,” I state.
Elias bows his head. Even his side silhouette against the window is beautiful.
“Ray, there is nothing you can do.”
“I will go to the press and tell them everything. Just let me go,” I plead.
He throws his head back and laughs. “You mean the press that I own?”
“I will go live on social media. I can do a live broadcast. I will tell them everything!” I scream.
He rocks on his heels. “Everything, huh? What about your granny? How are you going to pay for the bills she left behind?”
Checkmate. That’s how he trapped me.
“Who is going to pay Granny’s bills? You? Your aunt and uncle?”
I swallow, feeling like I am drowning underwater.
“Please, Elias. I wouldn’t tell anyone anything. Just let me go.”
Elias moves so quickly, I don’t have time to blink. The air leaves my lungs as his hand wraps around my neck and tightens.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” he whispers in my ear.
My fingers claw at his hand. I couldn’t breathe.
“You are not leaving until I am fucking done with you. You will not embarrass me.” He presses his body against mine. I try to swallow, but his grip is getting stronger.
“You will do as I say. No, you’re not fucking leaving. Do you know why?” He stares into my eyes.
My eyesight is becoming blurry. I dig into his wrist; I am sure I am drawing some blood.
“Do you fucking know why, Ray?” He slams my head against the wall when he calls my name.
“Please.” I am gasping for air; the room feels like it’s spinning.
He presses his nose to my neck and inhales. “It’s because you belong to fucking me.”
Elias is going to kill me. My hands drop to my side as the room goes dark.
“Is everything all right here?” I hear Michelle’s voice. Elias bows his head and lets go of my neck. I try to gasp for breath.
I hold my chest and heave. My body is shaking as I slide down the wall.
“Take care of her, Michelle. I need her ready in twenty minutes,” Elias says as he walks out of the room.
“Oh my God, Soraya,” Michelle shouts, and she slides next to me.
Tears roll down my cheeks as I am still trying to catch my breath.
“Oh, my God. Is she okay?”
“She’s crying.”
“Should we call Elias back?”
Michelle stands and says, “Everyone go downstairs and give us twenty minutes.”
The makeup artist comes in and begins fixing my makeup. Drying my tears, Luigi takes five minutes to get me back on track.
“I will be here all night. Let me give you girls space.” He packs his stuff and exits the room, leaving Michelle and me alone.
Michelle stands in front of me, holding my bouquet and a card.
“I love you. But I didn’t know Elias was like this,” Michelle mutters.
I don’t speak because exactly what do I say? How do I tell her Elias is abusive? Or that I saw him kill someone over a pallet of cocaine in cold blood.
“My card has $10,000 on it. If you take this, you can run. Let this blow over.”