Chapter 18

The next morning, Ari showered and shaved, preparing for her wedding. It was hard to believe that this was her wedding day. After all, she hadn’t even met her fiancé in real life yet. But she found that she was excited for the possibilities. Then she thought of arranged marriages in the past. Most of them worked out well. She guessed that her own marriage was a modern arranged marriage.

Feeling refreshed, she stepped out of the shower, slipped into a white, furry hotel robe, and wrapped her long, brunette hair up in a white fluffy towel. She put on her new perfume and finished getting ready, truly feeling like a princess. Maybe everything would go well after all. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Ari thought it was strange that someone was knocking on her door. Weren’t her bodyguards supposed to maintain her privacy... especially on her wedding day? Then she thought that maybe it was Lillian. She hurried to the door, eager to see a friendly face. But when she opened it, a strange, woman with short, dark hair and perfect makeup, dressed impeccably in four-inch high heels and a red power suit dress.

Ari raised her eyebrows. “May I help you?” She looked down the hallway and there were no bodyguards in sight.

“May I come in?” the woman asked shyly.

Ari shook her head. “Sorry, no. I don’t know you and I’m in a hurry. I’m expecting—”

“Of course, you don’t know me,” the woman cut her off, her brown eyes flaring, the shy act gone. “But I’m here to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?” Ari folded her arms across her chest. She didn’t have a lot of time. The makeup artist and cosmetologist would be there soon.

The woman looked at her, matter-of-factly. “About Prince Grayson, of course.”

“What about him?” Ari was very close to calling the guards.

The woman sighed, trying to look sorrowful. “My name is Dima Franz, Prince Grayson’s ex-fiancé.”

“Get out.”

“I’m here to warn you that he abused me, threatened to kill me—”

“I said, get out!” Ari stepped into the hallway, keeping the door open. “Guards!”

“We were together for three years—”

“I don’t want to know,” Ari cut her off and then hollered down the hallway, “Guards!”

Two bodyguards came running down the hallway.

“I don’t know where you two were, but I can assure you that the prince will hear about this.” Then Ari turned her attention back to Dima. “I don’t know you, but I know your kind. You are one selfish woman to come to me today of all days.”

Dima shrugged. “I don’t know you, either, but don’t think that you haven’t been warned.” Dima looked her up and down. “If you go through with it, I guess I was right.”

Ari didn’t say anything, but waited, listening. Even though she didn’t know Grayson, he was going to be her husband in just a few hours. And no one spoke about her husband that way.

When Ari didn’t take the bait, Dima continued, “I guess everyone has their price.”

“You would know all about that, wouldn’t you?” Ari took a step closer to her, looking her straight in the eye. “I listened to you, now you listen to me. If you truly cared about him, then you wouldn’t be here trying to sabotage his marriage. Also, you had your chance. Now, get out.” She turned to the guards. “Guards escort this woman out and see to it that I am not disturbed. And when you get back, if you even think about moving from this door, you both will be looking for other employment.”

“Come along, Dima.” When she didn’t move, one of the guards took her arm and began pulling her down the hallway.

“You can’t do this to me!” Dima yelled at Ari. “You’ll pay for this! Mark my words, you’ll pay!”

“Keep threatening me and I’ll have you jailed!” Ari walked inside and then mumbled to herself, “Or have you thrown into the dungeon or whatever it is they do here in Estrea.” The woman didn’t know her, but Ari wasn’t the type of woman to back down from a fight. From this day forward, Grayson was to be her husband and she wouldn’t let anyone talk down her husband. But as she waited for the makeup artist, cosmetologist, and Lillian to arrive, she just hoped that Dima’s accusations were just bad blood. Although she didn’t think it was the case, she’d hate to think that she was marrying an abusive man.