Chapter 16 - Joining forces

Bailey, George and Mina quickly agreed on a few things; they cared for Joanna, they would do what they could to prevent this marriage, and none of them knew how to stop Joanna.

Mina had informed them, that Joanna was quite set in her ways, and that she wouldn't be inclined to change her opinion on the matter.

"I might just have an idea..." George said. "But I'm not highly confident in it."

"It's the best we got. What should we do?" Bailey asked,

"Find out when and where the wedding will be held, and hope we still have the time."

Joanna saw Bailey and George at uni almost every day, but she found that they were acting strangely like they were trying to sneak some information out of her - they kept asking about her plans for her spare time. And every time she answered that it was mostly filled with studying.

She did however have to decline a suggestion of a study session, the day where she was to be married. She excused herself with having plans with another friend.

The day of the wedding came. Joanna wore a simple white dress and a man in a limo picked her up.

"Miss Joanna Charleston?" The driver asked. "I have some information for you. And a dress... can you change in the car?"

The dress was an elegant cream white wedding dress with an open back and a simple A-line cut. It wasn't what she would have picked herself for her dream wedding, but she liked the open back, and since it would be a small affair – only with themselves and a few witnesses – she thought that the A-line dress was very appropriate. It wasn't easy to get on in the car, though she didn't occupy her thoughts, or worried about the driver looking at her as she changed since she was happy with her body. But it didn't change the fact that though she didn't try to hide, it was extremely complicated to get the dress over her head when she couldn't reach her hands out fully without bumping into the sides of the car. She opted for dragging it over her hips instead, which she did by a lot of wriggling.

"Are you okay back there miss?" the driver asked her, trying to hide his chuckles.

Joanna huffed as she adjusted the dress, "yeah thank you. I think this was my workout for today," Joanna said and laughed at her own struggles.

"Very well miss – there should be some makeup if you so desire."

Joanna found the makeup, which was a vastly bigger collection that she herself owned and applied it referencing to a small travel mirror.

"Done," Joanna proclaimed and made a satisfied nod to her reflection, as she turned her face to see herself from different angles.

"Very good miss, we will be there soon." The driver nodded towards something outside the car. "You see the building with the pillars in a… I would say gothic style - Mr Sherman rented it for the day."

"He did? But I thought it would be a small affair, this wedding." Joanna looked admiringly at the building. It looked old but fascinating, like the building of a rich person in a fairy tale town.

"He intended it so but wouldn't rob you of the opportunity to have the ceremony in a gorgeous setting. But I better leave the explaining to Mr Sherman himself." The driver stopped the car in front of the building and got out to open the door for Joanna.

He held his hand out and assisted her with the dress, holding it up, so it didn't touch the dirty ground.

"Thank you," Joanna said and was about to go up the stairs to the entrance before she turned around to the driver. "I didn't catch your name…"

"Oh," he lifted his eyebrows, "my name is Trafford Koresh." He nodded, got into the car and drove away.

Mina, Bailey, and George discovered the day of Joanna's wedding but hadn't uncovered at what time it was to be held and where.

Luckily for them, mobile phones can do a lot and Bailey easily tracked down Joanna, and when she started to move, all three moved in the same direction.

"We aren't stalking her, are we?" Bailey asked as they followed the limo.

"She does know us, we're her friends," Mina argued. "But I do understand your worry."

"Well, if she is truly being blackmailed… I think we're in the clear," George said. "They're stopping now…"

They drove up a side lane and parallel parked before getting out and looking around the corner.

"Oh my…" Mina's and George's mouths dropped. Bailey blinked a few times.

"She looks gorgeous," Bailey said as Mina and George nodded eagerly.

Joanna lifted the skirt of the dress to walk up the stairs. A man opened the doors for her and she gracefully stepped inside.

Another man followed her around the building into a big ballroom, with an aisle, flowers in huge pots, and outrageously big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. At the end of the Aisle stood Macaroy Sherman with a smile on his face and perhaps a small tear in his eyes. He was looking extremely attractive in a simple but formal suit.

She walked down the aisle appropriately slowly. "You sure outdid yourself," she said when she was close enough that Sherman could hear her.

"I thought you deserved an experience." Sherman took her hands in his and guided her closer.

"This sure is an experience," Joanna admitted, smiling and shaking her head at the extravagance.

Sherman pulled her closer, leaning in over her as if he was about to kiss her but then leaned to her ear and whispered. "Let's do this. I have some papers for you to sign. Shouldn't take more than a second."

Joanna quickly read the marriage papers and signed them before she turned to Sherman, who signed it as well with a smile. "There we go," she said as she started to feel the impact of her decision sink into her brain. Her heart skipped a few beats as Sherman stepped closer to her.

"May I kiss the bride?"

Joanna took a deep breath, "yes…"

He grabbed her around the waist and swept her off her feet before he put his lips against her.

"JOANNA!" A familiar voice echoed throughout the room.

Joanna, who had been enjoying the kiss, felt her body freeze and her brain going into panic mode.

Sherman placed her back on her feet, and Joanna turned to see Bailey, Mina and George standing at the other end of the aisle.

George walked down the aisle. "We came to object… But it seems we're too late."

Joanna, who was both angry, sad, and panicking didn't know what to say to calm the hurt she noticed in his eyes. "Only a little late."