GABRIELLA

I wake up in the most cliche way ever. My alarm rings, jolting me out of the dream I was having. In my dream state, Kiley and I had the most fabulous wedding America has ever seen, my dress had been a cathedral one, its tip extending to the entrance of the grand church, for some reason, there were angel wings attached to my back and it exuded light so bright to blind. A nude material was used as sleeves, little butterflies were attached to them. The awesome thing is that they seemed to be alive, their wings fluttered.

Wait. This should be my wedding dress! Oh God, Kiley and I are meant to be.

I fly out of my bed and pull a random paper from my bedside table, by sheer luck I find a pencil lying around. With my nonexistent drawing skills, I sketch out the dress hoping the picture in my mind doesn't fade out. I mean, there are machines that wash dishes but none that takes pictures or recordings of dreams? Where are scientists when I need them?

I try my best to draw the little butterflies attached to my arms, unfortunately, my artistic skills limit my creativity. It doesn't help that the image in my head seems to be fading out.

Oh, Kiley's going to love this so much!

I pull out my MacBook then scroll through the already opened online bridal store. I search in 'cathedral' but nothing comes close to the one I saw in my dream. Nothing comes easy in life, even choosing a wedding dress. Frustrated, I slam my MacBook shut. I wince at the damage I may have caused. Maybe physical shopping would work better, I can't settle for the crap I saw online since my wedding dress has to be perfect. No one wants a crap wedding dress. 

The only lesson I may have learnt in college is the need to take situations by the horn. Nothing is ever going to come to me if I don't go out of my way to get it, I mean, that's how I got to be the sorority head at college. I believed the position belonged to me and I worked to get it.

Kiley belongs to me and I really don't care what anyone thinks. I might seem crazy but crazy gets things done. 

My thoughts fly to yesternight at the dinner. I was having so much fun with him until he mentioned that witch's name and that stupid deal. I agree, sending him home without accepting his apology might have been a little overboard but in my defense, he deserved it. Anyway, this doesn't matter anymore because I'm heading to his office to profess my undying love for him. Again. I should have probably learned my lesson from the last time but I don't care. Today, I'm aiming for stunning. Not that I don't stun on a regular basis, but this is going to be head-turning, jaw-droppingly stunning. 

I squeal.

The knock on my bedroom door draws me out of my reverie.

"Are you still sulking?"

I roll my eyes even though Ethan can't see me.

"I wasn't sulking. I was raging. I was livid!"

"Raging you say, sulking I say. Potato, potatoh."

"Come in, the door's open."

Ethan walks in his over six feet glory, he is dressed up ready to head out for work. His grey suit complements his muscular but lean build and the sky blue colour of his tie matches perfectly with his eyes. Just like me, his head is blonde but for some reason, he isn't as dumb or crazy as I am. 

"You're up early today. What's the occasion?" He raises his eyebrow.

"The alarm." I groan. "I need to get rid of that death device.

He chuckles. "It's a good thing you're awake. Maybe you can stop by at the office to see how things go?"

"I have better plans. I will stop by at Kiley's to see how things go over there."

His cheerful expression morphs into a confused one. "Uh. I thought you hate Kiley. I mean, with yesterday and all."

"I do hate him." I roll my eyes. "But love conquers all."

Ethan sighs and sinks into my Queen sized bed. He looks at me square in the face. "Be careful. I understand that I trust Kiley to treat you right but that's the least I can do to protect you. Kiley's a good guy and all but...maybe you should tone this down a bit."

"Nobody can hurt me. I know what I'm getting into, trust me."

He sighs again and ages ten times. Lines are etched on his forehead and I swear, I see grey hair growing from their roots.

"Ethan, you don't get it. I don't think you understand because... maybe just maybe you've never loved anyone as deep as I do Kiley."

Ethan's expression again morphs into something I can't place. He looks...pained? Maybe it's something I said.

"I'm sorry–"

"It's fine. I'm just don't want to you getting hurt. I love you too much to see you go through pain."

With that, he pecks my forehead and exits the room.

"I love you too," I whisper.

***

Kiley's office is bubbling with people and as I predicted, they all stop to stare at me. My hair is painstakingly done into loose curls which adds the illusion of volume, I don't tie it up like I often do but I let it cascade down my shoulders. My lips are enunciated with a wine coloured lipstick. 

I throw a wink at a guy obviously drooling. "You're drooling."

My dress is a black sequined one that stops mid tigh. Just enough to tease. Its front is cut into a plunging V-neck and the middle is held by a piece of white lace. I wear my favourite pair of laced heels. In my hand is a large bouquet of the most beautiful flowers I could find around here.

His assistant is looking at slutty as always, with her boobs threatening to fall out of her shirt, her acrylic nails are longer and shinier than I remember. How does she get any work done with those nails?

I don't bother stopping to ask to see Kiley, I walk past his slutty assistant towards the large door I barged into the other time.

"Ma'am!" I ignore her call.

I knock lightly on the door, hoping Kiley is on sit.

"Come in." His baritone shakes me and I smile.

I open the door to see an engrossed Kiley. His eyebrows furrow then he puts up a finger indicating to give him some time to settle with the call he is on.

I take that as an opportunity to survey the area. His office is technically a large space with a large mahogany desk in the middle. The walls are black and there are framed paintings hung on every side. They are not paintings that I understand.

At one side, there is a curtain draped, giving the room a cozy feeling.

He clears his throat as I wander around the room. "Gabriella. What a surprise." His expression is unreadable, his gaze lingers on the bouquet in my hand.

"A big one?"

"Big indeed." He clears his throat again and then adjusts his tie. He looks quite uncomfortable.

"Are you hot?" I ask since I notice his red face.

"No, no."

I walk over to his table with slow calculated strides. He adjusts his tie.

"What do drink do you prefer? Soda? Juice? Tea? Coffee?"

"Vodka?"

His eyes fly to the clock behind me. "It's nine-thirty in the morning."

"So? I don't care."

"Well, I care. I'll order a juice box for you?"

I roll my eyes, slightly annoyed. "Really?" I notice the twitch in his eyes and the small smile dancing on his lips.

"I was kidding about the juice box. I see that you're longer annoyed at me. Again, I'm sorry for how yesterday turned out."

"It's fine."

"It is?"

"Definitely."

He eyes me, unsure of what to say.

"Officially, I have come to inform you that I'm actively chasing you."

"What?" His plump lips are parted.

"Yes, you heard me right. I will also eliminate anything that seems to come between both of us."

He laughs. He actually holds his tummy, bends forwards, and lets out a loud laugh. 

"This is not a joke."

He stops abruptly. "You're right, it's not."

"This is not a game for me. This is the real deal."

"Okay, Gabriella. Okay." He picks up a pen and starts scribbling something in a book.

"Take it how you want but every day I will send a bouquet here. You also will understand how true love feels."

He stops scribbling. "You're cute, Gabriella."

"Whatever."

"Don't do this to yourself. Find another man to send these beautiful flowers to."

I don't reply instead, I place the bouquet in his desk walk out.