Chapter 7 #2
“I guess when your husband is one of the most feared men in the world, he can get the world’s busiest designer to create his fiancée’s dream wedding dress, even at the shortest notice.”
Tears pool in my eyes as I look at the dress.
Kazimir did this for me. I step out of my robe, and Bea helps me into the gown.
The moment it settles over my body, I know it was made for me.
The fitted bodice hugs my waist, while the skirt falls gracefully over my hips and brushes the floor when I move, and the train follows behind me in a soft sweep.
“It fits perfectly,” I whisper.
I turn toward the mirror, and my breath catches, I look like a bride. For a moment, I can only stare at my reflection, I am getting married to the man I love, and I am doing it in the wedding dress I always dreamed of wearing.
Another knock sounds at the front door, and Bea goes to see who it is. A moment later, she walks back into the bedroom carrying two elegant gift boxes. “These just arrived for us.”
I notice our names written across the tops of the boxes, and a wide smile spreads across my face, I already know they’re from Kazimir.
I impatiently tug at the ribbon on the one with my name, then lift the lid.
Inside is a jewelry set that takes my breath away, a pair of diamond earrings, a matching necklace, and a bracelet.
Beneath the velvet lining is a folded note, I pick it up and recognize Kazimir’s handwriting:
Chloe,
I can’t wait to see you walk through those doors and finally call you my wife.
I have spent my life taking what I wanted, but nothing has ever meant more to me than having you by my side.
Today, I get to make you mine in every way that matters, and I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me.
I love you more than words could ever explain, and I can’t wait to start this life with you.
—Kazimir
I press the note against my chest, blinking rapidly as tears fill my eyes. I cannot believe I am lucky enough to be marrying such an amazing man.
“Oh my God!” Bea shrieks.
I turn to find her holding a beautiful gold bracelet from her box, her face lit up with a huge smile.
“Have I told you how much I approve of this marriage?”
“Of course you have,” I say with a laugh.
By the time Bea and I finish getting dressed, Kazimir’s driver is arrived waiting with an SUV to take us to the courthouse.
For the first few minutes, I am too distracted by everything to pay attention to where we are going.
Then I notice the familiar buildings outside the window disappearing behind us.
“Excuse me,” I say to the driver. “Aren’t we going to the courthouse?”
He glances at me through the rearview mirror. “No, ma’am. The boss gave me different instructions.”
I frown. “Different instructions?”
“Yes. I was told to take you somewhere else.”
I turn toward Bea, who is sitting beside me with an almost suspiciously calm expression. “Bea, what’s going on?”
She gives me a small smile and reaches over to squeeze my hand. “Calm down. You’ll see.”
“See what? We’re supposed to be getting married at the courthouse.”
Bea only smiles wider. “You will still get married.”
I look at her, completely confused, but she refuses to give me anything else. When the car finally slows, I look out the window and see nothing but blue water stretching toward the horizon. The driver pulls into a quiet beach area and stops.
The drive comes to open my door, but for a moment, I just sit there, staring. “Go,” Bea whispers. “I’ll get your train.”
She gets out first and carefully helps me from the car. As we walk toward the water, a beautiful white aisle comes into view, stretching across the sand and lined with delicate arrangements of white roses, baby’s breath, and soft greenery.
White flowers are scattered along the edges, while sheer fabric hangs from a wooden arch at the end of the aisle, moving gently in the ocean breeze. The arch is covered in flowers, creating a romantic frame against the endless blue water behind it.
And standing at the end of the aisle is Kazimir, he is dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, his dark hair neatly styled, his eyes fixed on me. A priest stands beside him, along with Lev, Kazimir's best friend, both of them watching me with smiles on their faces.
I turn to Bea, my mouth falling open. “Did you know about this?”
She nods. “You always told me you wanted to get married by the beach.”
“You did this?”
She shakes her head. “Kazimir did. I just helped make sure everything came together.”
I look back at Kazimir, and he is still watching me, my heart feels so full that I can barely breathe. “You deserve to be happy, Chloe,” Bea says, squeezing my hand. “Now, are you ready to get married?”
I nod, wiping away another tear. “I’m ready.”
Bea takes my arm and helps me walk toward the aisle as the violinist begins to play a soft, romantic melody. The music drifts across the beach with the sound of the waves, and suddenly everything around me seems to fade away, because there is only Kazimir.
His eyes never leave mine as I walk toward him, when I finally reach him, he takes my hand and looks me over slowly, a smile spreading across his face. “You look so beautiful.”
I clear my throat, trying desperately to keep myself together. “Thank you. You good too.”
His thumb brushes over my knuckles. “Thank you for the dress, the jewelry, and everything,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I can't believe you did all this.”
“You deserve the world.”
A small smile touches my lips, and before I can say anything else, the priest clears his throat. “Shall we begin?”
“Yes,” we say together.