Chapter Eight
Dominic
Staring up at the tall, wooden doors that lead into the grand foyer at the entrance of the wedding venue my mother had picked out, I sigh in defeat before walking inside, joining the chaos of people rushing around and setting things up.
A woman dashes past me with an arrangement of flowers in her hands, and I pause.
"You've got to be kidding me," I grumble, following after the woman who hurries down a long white corridor before disappearing through a set of double doors.
As I step through the doors, not even a minute after her, I can't contain the noise of disbelief that escapes me when I'm met with an abundance of pink.
Pink and red flowers line the room and adorn tall vases in the centre of the tables spread across the room.
The ribbon bows on the back of each of the chairs, the table runners, and the huge LED lights at the front of the room that spell out Mr & Mrs are all pink in colour.
I walk further into the room, speechless at what I'm seeing, and then my eyes widen in surprise when I see a tower of glasses stacked up on a table in the corner of the room being filled with light pink, sparkly liquid.
"What the fuck is that?" I shout, walking towards the man who's no longer pouring and is instead staring at me in fear.
"I-I'm filling up the champagne tower with the drink that was suggested for the ceremony, sir."
Snatching the bottle from his hand, I read the label and scoff.
"Pink champagne? Fucking pink champagne! Are you kidding me?"
Slamming the bottle down on the table beside me, I turn around and storm back out of the room, heading towards the foyer in search of my mother, or the wedding planner she hired, to find out what the fuck is going on.
Unfortunately, I physically bump into my father instead, and when he sees the furious expression on my face, he frowns and shakes his head.
"Get yourself together, Dom. Let's go and get you ready, shall we?"
He grips my forearm tightly and yanks me forward, walking through the foyer and down a corridor off to the side that's lined with multiple doors until we reach the end, and he swings the last door open.
"Why is almost everything pink?" I ask, walking into the room. I cross the cream carpet until I'm standing by the window that looks over the front of the property, showcasing the perfect hedges that line the pebbled drive leading to the front of the venue.
"Well, your mother left the planning up to Alicia and her sister, so I think it's a fair assumption that one of them likes the colour."
I turn to glare at him as he moves to the clothing rack to the left of him, smoothing his hands over my suit that's hanging there, and he smirks when his fingers grab the pale pink tie.
I shake my head immediately and step away from him, moving towards the black leather sofa nestled in the corner.
His brows raise, and he gives me a stern look.
"You realise you're being ridiculous, right?"
I huff, sitting on the sofa and running my hands down my face.
"What's the issue, son? Because I know it's not the colour that's bothering you this much."
"No, Dad, of course it's not about the colour," I tell him, scraping a hand against the trimmed hair that covers my jaw. "This whole thing is what's bothering me. I don't want this, and certainly not with her."
Wrinkles group together on his forehead as he frowns at me, looping the tie back on the clothes rack before walking over to the sofa and sitting beside me.
"I know the situation isn't ideal, but there's no need to be rude. Alicia seems lovely."
I scoff and look at him as if he's delirious.
"Are you joking me? You heard what she said when we met for dinner, right?"
He chuckles. "I most certainly did, but I still think she's a lovely woman. She's honest, and outspoken, maybe a little bit sassy as your sister would say, but I think she's exactly what you need."
I scowl at him.
"I don't like her."
"You know what they say, Dom. There's a thin line between love and hate."
Shaking my head, I stand from the sofa and begin pacing the room, glancing at my watch and seeing that I only have an hour left until the ceremony begins.
"She may push your buttons and get under your skin, but you'll do the same to her. She's going to be your wife, Dom, whether you like it or not, and I expect you to show her respect because of that."
With that said, he leaves the room, leaving me alone with thoughts of the stunning, but cruel, green-eyed viper that's constantly occupying my thoughts lately.
When I first saw her, I was convinced she was my dream woman, but as soon as she opened her mouth, I realised she may be my karma finally catching up to me.
God, I can't do this.