Business Always
CHAPTER 24—AMELIA POV

It was Sunday morning.

Today was my wedding day.

I had woken up at around 9 a.m. without an alarm. I stared at my blank ceiling. All I could think about was that at the end of the day, I was going to be Mrs Amelia King. My life was going to be turned upside down from today.

It's Sunday morning.

Today is my wedding day.

A grunt escapes me when Jasmine's arm slaps into my stomach.

Oh, right. It was her idea to all bunk together.

We were all in a hotel near the venue. Jodie and Jasmine had decided that it would be a good idea to sleep in the same room and I was too exhausted to argue otherwise.

I'm the first one awake and replace Jasmine lying beside me and Jodie passed out on the floor. From the looks of it she had fallen out the bed and was perfectly content curling up on the floor.

"Morning, guys," I croak. I look at the clock to see that there was 5 hours till my ceremony.

Jasmine's eyes lazily open and she stares at the ceiling for a couple of seconds before her eyes widen.

"Jodie, get the fuck up!" She throws her pillow into Jodie's stomach which elicits a groan from her. "It's the wedding day!"

Jodie bounces onto her feet, her face a little embarrassed.

"OK, bride!" she calls for my attention. "All you need to do today is eat breakfast and look pretty."

I didn't want to eat anything, I felt nauseous in the mornings like I did most days but to Jasmine's request I ate a small bowl of fruit and drank a green tea.

My phone rings and I see my text to see who it is. "Ah, my hair and makeup girls are here," I announce to my 2 friends who are scoffing down pancakes.

"Hello, Miss Davis," the two twins say in perfect unison, their French accents apparent.

These are two same twins who do my makeup for pretty much every big occasion ever. Over time, I learned to trust them with my face. They're very good at their job, and I can see why they're in high demand.

After they finished eating, Jasmine and Jodie tidy up the mess they made last night and disappear into the bathroom-where there are large, full-sized mirrors-to start getting ready themselves.

I take a quick body shower, having washed my hair the night before in order to save time today and wear a baby pink silk robe, ready for the girls to do my makeup.

A lot of foundation, highlighter, and eye shadow is delicately painted onto my face along with a swipe of a warm brown lipstick that complements my off-white dress. They decide to not play with my hair too much, only apply some curl cream and blow drying it carefully. I looked in the mirror and it was almost like a different person was looking back.

My skin is smooth and flawless, my cheekbones highlighted and chiselled, and my eyelids are also a soft shade of brown.

The twins high five each other on their equally commendable work on my hair and makeup. I'm about to go to Jasmine and Jodie but hear them laughing and joking among themselves and decide to leave them be.

I'm about to go and put my dress on when the twins, who were leaving, mention that someone is at the door.

"No! Close the door the groom can't see me until I'm at the altar!" I warn them, sticking to a tradition I didn't really believe in.

"It's not the groom," a familiar voice booms.

"Hmm...okay come in?" I answer, but it sounds more like a question.

His dress shoes tap against the marble floor as he strides into the room, walking past

the twins-to say they were surprised would be an understatement. They congratulate me once more before leaving.

He looks put together in a navy blue suit, the long pants making him look even taller. A sliver of his tattoo is peeking out of his collar.

He sits down on the bed and I, sitting at the vanity, was a few feet away from me.

"You came?" I voice, somewhat surprised he actually turned up.

"Well, I'd rather hate it and leave than regret not coming," he says logically.

"Do you hate it?" I ask.

"No," he says. After what felt like an eternity of silence be speaks again. "You look good," he says, leaning back. His body weight is on his forearms, and he tilts his head to face me.

"I'm not even in my dress yet." I involuntarily blush.

"I know." His limited vocabulary only made my heart race more, wondering what was going on in that brain of his.

"Why are you here, Xavier?" I ask quietly. I don't want it to seem like I'm snapping at him, but my dressing room is the last place I'd expect to see him.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to make a desperate plea to win you back," he says sarcastically.

"No, I didn't mean "I begin, but he carries on talking.

"You made it clear that you don't want to be with me Miss Davis. I still tried, but I have some self-respect. I won't beg for your love the day you're marrying a different man."

"I didn't think that," I say softly, I was glad he was saying this to me getting his anger out at me. God knows I deserve to hear it.

"Good. You're marrying him," he says, his voice full of spite. "I pity you."

"Pity me?" I make sure I hear him correctly.

Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on novi L5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!

"You heard me. You're walking right into a sad life, and I tried to save you from it, but you're adamant to do what you want like a child," he sneers.

"Save me?" I say. "You think someone like you could ever save me?"

I don't want to shout. I don't want to hurt him more than I already have, and I don't want to ruin my wedding day, but his words make my blood boul.

"If you'd like to think that you were some Prince Charming in my life, Xavier, then go ahead and think that," I say. "But let me assure you that you're the furthest thing from it." I get up.

"How did I ever love you?" he questions more to himself than to me. "You are the most selfish person I have ever met. God, how did I not see this? Thank you for opening my eyes."

"I'm glad you came to that realization, Mr King," I mutter.

"I wish it was someone else who signed the contract that day," he spits out poisonously.

I'm too taken aback to even speak.

He gets up and marches out, throwing something in the bin on his way out.

"Hey? Mel?" Jasmine quietly walks up to me and pulls me into a hug. They must've heard the entire commotion from the bathroom.

Surprisingly I'm not crying so I was able to convince them that I was fine.

"Everything was running a little too smoothly, I was expecting something to happen," I joke. "Anyways, you guys look great."

The peanut colours worked both on Jasmine's deep skin and Jodie's fair skin and made them both look different yet complimentary.

"Let me just slip into my dress and I'm ready," I say, and they nod.

The dress was relatively easy to get into, something I was expecting since it was rather expensive.

I ask Jodie to zip me up and then I wear my matching off white heels.

"You look so good!" Jasmine squeals, happy tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you." The girls pull me into a group hug.

"Come on the car is downstairs," Jodie says after I clip my veil into my hair.

I walk behind both of them, the glossy black Bentley ready to take us to the venue. We were 3 minutes ahead of schedule.

"You're doing OK, yeah?" Jodie, who's sitting in the front and applying her lipstick in the car mirror, asks.

"I'm excited."

"That's what I like to hear, I'm so happy you're not having cold feet. I almost shat myself before my wedding."

"I know. I was there," I deadpan.

The car finally stops outside the venue.

Alexander only has one groomsman (and best man), so I only really needed one bridesmaid to walk down the aisle with him, which Jodie was more than happy to do.

"I'm so proud of you," Jasmine whispers to me, leaning her forehead against mine. She's about to walk and sit at her seat in the crowd.

"Hey, Jas?" I call her.

"Yeah?" She turns back.

"Walk me down the aisle?" I ask. Tears fill her eyes to the brim, and she nods, clutching

my hand in hers.

The double doors to the room where the ceremony is held opens, and the classic songs are being played by a live orchestra.

Everyone in the audience got up, mostly Alexander's family and business partners.

I walked slowly, favouritism my last few seconds as an unmarried woman. My hand tightly squeezing Jasmine's.

When I reached the end of the aisle, Jasmine let go of my hand, allowing me to stand in front of Alexander.

"If you hurt her..." Jasmine struggles to talk through her happy tears.

"I won't," Alexander says before she can finish her threat. After everyone had settled down the pastor stood by us.

"We are here today to announce the wedding of Amelia Diana Davis and Alexander Michael Chopra," he announces.

After a few more formalities, he was finally marrying us.

"Do you Alexander Michael Chopra, take this woman Amelia Diana Davis to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and health, loss and prosperity till death do you part?"

"I do." He smiles at me, which I can half see through my veil.

"And do you Amelia Diana Davis, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, in

sickness and health, loss and prosperity till death do you part?"

Of course I do.

He's made for someone like me.

"I don't."