Sydney

"So, what's next?" When Mr Dawson had departed and we were suddenly alone, I questioned Aiden.

"Now we're going to have a wedding." Aiden gave me a friendly smile.

"A wedding?"

"Do you have a favourite? What kind of wedding do you want to have?" He inquired.

His question snapped me out of my befuddled state. How was I supposed to plan a wedding? When I barely knew Aiden.

"I... I don't have any preference. Anything is fine." I replied. Seriously, why was he hell-bent on making me more miserable.

"Oh, please! Every girl fantasises about her ideal wedding. What kind of husband would I be if I couldn't grant one of your wishes?" He was teasing me with his twitching lips. He had no desire to see my wish come true. He was just having a good time.

"Does, it matters? It's just a business arrangement after all?" I replied, in a slightly irritated tone.

"It's important to me," he stated emphatically. He stood up and proceeded towards his office's massive glass panelled windows. The panoramic vista of the city frames his lofty body.

"Are you a fan of beach weddings?" He inquired abruptly.

For a brief moment, I was startled.

"I grew up in a little village surrounded by gorgeous beaches, and I've always wanted to have an intimate beach wedding," I whispered gently as I remembered the wonderful beaches of Balino.

When I looked up, he was looking at me with interest.

"I think a beach wedding would be nice," I remarked.

"All right, we'll have a wedding on Friday at my beach house." He made an announcement.

"What!  this Friday?" I was on the verge of panicking.

"Are you looking for it sooner?" He smiled.

I drew and coloured. "In five days, it will be Friday! In 5 days, how are we going to arrange a wedding?"



"Leave that to me," he said with a bright smile.

"I have an important meeting in an hour, but I would have wanted to spend more time with you and plan this wedding. Clifton will drive you back to your house." He said then added as an afterthought.

"Are you aware that you are not permitted to leave the country?" His gaze was icy and piercing.

"Don't worry, I'm not planning on fleeing; as you can see, I'm stuck here." I exchanged a chilly glare with him.

He twitched his lips but didn't say anything else. When Clifton addressed me as Mrs Rainier, I nearly leapt out of my skin. I felt as though I had leapt from a frying pan to a fire.

***********

"WHAT!!! Aiden Reiner will be your husband! Sydney, this isn't funny!" Leah screamed.

"It's not a joke, Leah," I whispered quietly. "I'm marrying Aiden this Friday."

"You can't...I mean how...Say something!" she pleaded.

Mike had been deafeningly quiet the entire time. He was probably still taken aback. He had a dreadfully pale face. When I was unexpectedly released from the lock-up, Mike and Leah were in a panic. They were even more taken aback when I showed up unannounced in a Maserati. I told them about my bail and Aiden Reiner's contract marriage to me. Mike was the first to speak up.

"Are you aware of what you've gotten yourself into? Why would Aiden Reiner, an extremely powerful man, help you? You don't even know who he is, do you? "Mike expressed his dissatisfaction in a frustrated tone. Then he ruffled his sandy brown hair with his fingers.

"Don't do this Sydney, call him right now and tell him the deal is off. He has you trapped." Mike expressed his disappointment in a forlorn tone.

"Mike, I'm sorry, but I just can't. It's a legally enforceable agreement. I don't have the funds to repay him, and I also don't have the funds to pay this bail. I can't even afford to hire an attorney." I said, my voice trembling.

"Isn't it all about the money?" In a mocking tone, he said.

"What is that supposed to mean, Mike? Do you think I'm marrying him because of his wealth? You are correct. To get out of this mess, I'm marrying him for money. I don't know what else to do." Mike's claim had me yelling, hurting, and feeling betrayed.

"How about breaking the contract first?" He expressed his displeasure angrily.

"And after that, what should I do? Return to prison? I'm being penalised for something I didn't do. Or do you believe I am a drug dealer?"

"I... I didnt mean it that way...." He fumbled.


"So, what options do I have? For the rest of my life, I'll be on the run from the cops and Reiner? You want me to get into trouble with Aiden, as if being accused of cocaine possession wasn't bad enough? He'd go after me and skin me alive!" My eyes were stinging with tears.

I sank on the sofa and tried to stop the sobs by covering my face with my palm.
"Shhh...everything is going to be alright," Leah wrapped her arms around me.

I overheard her speaking to Mike.

"Don't you think you're overstepping your bounds? We are unable to assist her financially, as you are aware. At the very least, be human and help your friend."

"All I meant was that she might not have to serve the entire sentence in prison. She is Australian, so she may be deported rather than doing her sentence here."

I locked my gaze on him right away. Is that even possible? Even if I was permanently barred from entering the United States, returning home was still a better option than entering into a contract marriage.

"They found her fingerprint on that stuff, it's not that simple, we'll need a very good lawyer to get out of this. We can't afford that." Leah said, her words quashed my hope.

Mike appeared to be struggling to come up with a counterargument to Leah. He opened his lips to speak, but nothing came out of it. He was aware that Leah had stated facts. They couldn't help me since they didn't have the resources, and I didn't want to bother them with my difficulties.

He muttered to himself, "I can talk to Eric."

"Why would Eric be willing to assist you? Accept it, Mike; there's nothing we can do to save Sydney." Leah was adamant.

"I don't want you both to be concerned about it," I finally said.

"I am going to marry Aiden, and it's my decision." I finally said, hugging myself. I didnt need judgements or pity.

"I am sorry, I didnt mean to offend you. It's just that....I care for you," he said apologetically.

I sniffed, wishing for the year to end so I could get out of this mess.

"Would you like any help with your wedding?" Leah inquired.

"I'm not sure what's going on; it's all happened so quickly. I'm not sure where to begin or what to do. Simply stay with me. Dejectedly," I said.

Mike and Leah exchanged nods. Leah assured, "We'll be there for you."

We hadn't even finished talking when I got a surprise visitor.
Jennifer, Aiden's secretary, as well as what appeared to be a couple bodyguards, stood at the door. That made me wonder what everyone in my office was thinking. Would I continue to work if I married Mrs Reiner?

"Hello Jennifer," I mumbled.

"Hello Sydney, or should I say, Mrs Reiner," she greeted with a smile.

I made a fool of myself by staring at the entourage.

"Do you mind if I come in?" She gave a kind smile.

"Oh! Please do come in." While the rest of the group entered my little apartment, I stood off to the side. It felt suffocatingly crowded all of a sudden. Jennifer and the guards were dressed immaculately in dark suits. They didn't seem to fit in with the rest of my dismal surrounding. While I introduced Leah and Mike to Jennifer, they gaped.

"These gifts have been sent to you by Mr Reiner." She said this in a businesslike tone and handed me a little jewel box. I had mixed feelings as I opened the box. A large teardrop-shaped diamond ring was nestled among the red velvet. I let out a gasp.

"Wow! That is the most massive rock I've ever seen!" Leah said.

Jennifer triumphantly stated, "Indeed, Mr Reiner would not choose anything ordinary."



I quickly snapped the package shut and returned it to Jennifer.

"It's a little too...extravagant. I'm sorry, but I can't accept it "I stated.

Jennifer wore a shocked expression. "However, you must accept it since Mr Reiner requires you to wear it!"

"But" I grumbled, "I wanted a little wedding, and it's...too it's much. I'd like to point out that this isn't even a real wedding. It was only a business agreement."

"No way, Sydney! In a young girl's life, how many weddings does she have? Aside from that, there will be notable guests and the press "I leapt from my seat before Jennifer finished her sentence.

"PRESS??!!! He didn't say anything about the press at all!" I panicked.

"Mr. Reiner is one of California's most well-known figures; do you think his wedding will be overlooked by the media? I had to sneak up secretly to pay you a visit." She smiled pleasantly, as if it were entirely normal to be photographed marrying one of America's wealthiest men.

"Oh no!" I wailed as I dropped back in my seat and buried my face in my hands.

"Come on, we don't have much time, and marrying Mr Reiner can't be that horrible. We also need to finalise the wedding gown. Come along with me." Jenifer stroked my hair and spoke.

I wanted to die and be buried in the ground.