Chapter 24
Avidya
I felt out of my element as I sat on the floor, surrounded by books and magazines. I never dreamed that I’d have any say over my own wedding, even as Julia insisted that I have nearly complete say over everything. She wanted this wedding planned and in motion by the end of the month, which was crazy fast. Even Zachariah wasn’t thrilled that his mother wanted it so fast.
I had a feeling that Carlos had something to do with the whole timing. I didn’t mind, exactly. The sooner it was over, the better it would be in the long run for everyone, I guess. Fewer threats over my head at least.
I didn’t entirely care what colors, nor what the theme of the wedding was. Zachariah had made his idea clear – small and not attention drawing. I agreed with his idea, but Julia still insisted that I had to have a wedding dress.
“I promise to keep the guest list under two hundred,” she said, turning the page the catalog she was currently looking through as she sat on the couch.
“No more than that,” Zachariah stated in a grumble. For a man that wanted to be in charge, he didn’t seem to thrilled about letting his mother have complete say over the guest list. “Rather no guest list to be done.”
“You know that won’t work,” Julia stated, glancing up at him. “Grandfather wants his only grandson to have the best of the best, no matter what.”
“You know as well I, I have never cared what he thought, nor wanted,” Zachariah stated as he lounged in the oversized chair, a computer atop his lap.
“Zach,” Julia said with a shake of her head. “Go do something if all you are going to do is complain.”
“I’m not complaining. Just stating my thoughts,” he said before shooting a wink my way and causing my face to reddened.
After my small meltdown the day before, Zachariah and I had taken the things I wanted to keep to my room. Although the room wouldn’t be mine for long, as I knew I would have to be sharing his room after we married. Of course, I was beyond nervous for that night to come, along with a number of things.
“Go do your work. Avidya and I will be right here until she decides what color scheme she wants,” Julia said, waving her hand in a shooing motion towards the man.
I couldn’t help but let out a giggle at his fake pout and displeased look he shot her way. I liked seeing this side of him, although he hadn’t hidden from me as far as I know. So far, he was sweet and caring, and I could easily find myself falling in love with him.
“Fine,” he sighed out as he stood and folded his laptop closed before placing is against his side. Walking over to me, he then placed a kiss on the top of my head. “I love that color on you, by the way.” The last words were spoken to where I was the only one that could hear them. Although, Julia still smiled while pretending she wasn’t there.
I couldn’t help but blush once more while looking down at the floor and the scattered wedding planning stuff.
“He really does care for you,” Julia mused once Zachariah was out of earshot. “I’ve never seen him care for someone so much.”
I could only shrug, having nothing to say back. I wasn’t used to being cared for, or about.
“He’s also never introduced a girl to me before,” Julia went on.
“I don’t think he had an option when it came to what he plans for me,” I replied.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, generally wanting to know.
“He saved me when he didn’t have to,” I began, not sure how much she knew of how I came to be here now with Zachariah. “He said he’d marry me to keep me safe.”
“I know you were taken by a few of his men, and that you were given to Zach as agift. I don’t see why those men thought that my son could be paid off with something like that, but I know he would never accept it. Yes, marrying Zach will keep you safe, but he certainly wouldn’t have offered if he didn’t already have feelings for you.”
“I never saw him before that night,” I mused.
“I bet he knew you before that night,” Julia replied, her voice soft and motherly. “Zach never does anything without thinking it through first.”
“Why me, though?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Why not you?” she countered, giving up the process of looking through the pages of the magazine she was holding. “You are one of a kind, Avidya. Zach would do anything for you, including keeping you safe by any means. There are other options out there to protect you other than marrying him. So, the better question may be why are you agreeing?”
That made me pause. Why did I agree? Was it really for my safety? Surely, I would have been just as safe anywhere else, hidden among people who I didn’t know.
“Think about it,” Julia said, reopening the magazine. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You would have certainly found a way out of this whole thing by now with how many times my son has probably asked you if you really wanted to be here.”
Would Zachariah really let me go if I asked? Without a doubt, he certainly would have.
