Three Days

D R I Xᯓᡣ𐭩

THE DAY has finally arrived, how I dreaded this day with every fibre of my being.

I've created several pictures of how Camilla's grandfather is - character wise; last night,I did research on the man Fredrick Dunwoody and his images were okay plus he doesn't look so intimidating. Camilla doesn't too and here we are.

What would he say? And how would he react? What questions would he ask and how would I answer them? All these thoughts and many more frustrated me further until I pulled the car in front of Camilla's residence before texting her to inform her about my arrival.

Minutes later and she emerged with a maid behind her as always, holding her bag. I took the bag from the woman while Camilla got into the passenger's seat without my assistance. Despite her stern expression, she looks beautiful in her navy blue knee-length dress with her hair packed in a low bun, she is adorned with few accessories which includes a diamond necklace and earrings and the ring I got her.

I can't help but smile as I notice the ring on her finger, a small victory in our complicated relationship. I'm about to open the car when the driver runs towards me.

"Madame asked me to drive," he said, indirectly requesting for the keys.

"Why —"

"You do not know the location, do you?"

"It's fine," I answer, giving him the keys and abruptly entering the vehicle and sitting on the passenger's seat.

The ride to the location is quiet and the closer we got, my heart thudded louder than ever.

Camilla doesn't say a word but keeps staring at the car window, the frown grimace on her face makes me wonder what she has on her mind. Maybe she was thinking about the same thing too.

In less than an hour,the car stopped at a modern day mansion erected with the aesthetics of the Victorian era. When I step out of the car, I feast my eyes on the several sculptures around the building but I'm suddenly hit with a feeling of nostalgia.

For a second, I'm drawn out of my present reality, my chest wheezing as I feel my lungs tighten while several images flashed in my head. The sounds of a woman screaming along with the piercing shrill cry of a child, the yells of a man all stung my ears. Then the flash of an unclear image of a crashing vase, a broken sculptor and a man smashing several objects with a golf club ruins me further.

I tried to shut the noises out but they wouldn't stop like they had a chokehold on my neck, restricting me from breathing and blurring out my head.

"Drix," a voice calls and I feel her hands on mine as she holds them gently whilst caressing them with her thumb.

I hear another piercing cry for help again and I try to pull out from her grip but she tightens it further. Her gaze softens as she stares at me, her voice low as she says, "Calm down and listen to me. Don't think about anything else, you're okay and you're safe, okay? So breathe slowly, in and out,"

I follow her command as she repeats the words ,"In and out," and slowly, my breathing calms down enabling me to shut out the noises and clear up my vision.

And there she was, looking at me with her eyes surprisingly coated with concern. Camilla slowly let my hands go as she asked, "Are you okay now?"

"Yes," I sighed.

She opened her bag and pulled out a handkerchief before offering it to me, "Here,"

I didn't realise that I was crying until now, I carefully wiped out the teardrops in my eyes. I can't explain this episode that chose to play today of all days but I sure hope her grandfather didn't see that.

"Thank you,"

"We'll talk about whatever happened later but as for now, get a grip until this meeting is over," Camilla asserted.

"Sure," I replied hesitantly.

She doesn't say anything but turns on her stilettos and starts walking towards the house. Rather than letting us in, a maid informs us that her grandfather would speak to us at the courtyard where he was playing golf.

When we arrive at our destination, we find her grandfather laughing at his skills. A Dalmatian is running around to get the ball while a maid handed him a glass of water. Few other domestic staff members are setting up a table under a tree nearby.

"Abue," Camilla calls for his attention and he quickly turns to look at us.

He looks better in person than in those photos and unlike Camilla he seemed bubbly.

"Mi cielo!" her grandfather smiles, approaching her with his arms wide open for a hug.

Unless I haven't been educated properly, Camilla looks like she has Spanish roots but she speaks Italian as well; which makes things confusing.

I barely know anything about her and we're about to get married but I think it's best that way since I can't give her a proper account of myself as well. I'm grateful for that clause in the contract.

"And you must be Drix?" her grandfather chuckled.

"Yes. Good day sir," I beamed, extending my hand for a handshake and he shook me with a bright beam.

"Those eyes," he uttered, taking his hands away.

Those eyes? Does he mean my eyes? I exchanged puzzled glances with Camilla and then went back to her grandfather.

"My eyes?"

"Yes, it feels like I've seen them before but I can't recall when and where,"

"Oh," I answered with a laugh, trying to ease the tension.

"Let's have breakfast, shall we? Camilla has told me all about you,"

"Really?" I query, looking at her while she looks away.

"Well not all of it," He chuckled with a wink.

"Ah," I laughed back until he stopped.

"Well let's go, I'm peckish," Mr. Dunwoody grinned as he ambled upon the table.

I move a step forward when Camilla holds me back, "Don't over do it," She stated, walking past me.

"Don't over do it," I mimic.

"I heard you," she says.

"I know," I muttered, following her behind.

Breakfast is quite a luxury with coffee, pancakes, waffles, french, croissants, toast, fruits, freshly squeezed orange juice and amulets amongst many others.

Mr. Dunwoody says a prayer and we get on with eating.

"I've always wondered what kind of man won my daughter's heart but looking at you now, I know why. Such a delightful young man,"

"Thank you," I acknowledged.

"It's actually so clear that you're both smitten by each other," he adds and I almost choke on my cup of coffee, Camilla coughed as she fanned herself with her palm.

"It's been years since I've seen something like this, the way you look at her and the way she looks at you is amusing. If you into her money, I would've known but the chemistry between you says otherwise. It makes me believe that in this deceitful generation true love actually exists,"

"It sure does, I can assure you that what I have with Camilla is hundred percent true. She's my everything," I openly lie, covering it up with a smile.

Camilla's gaze remains fixed on her plate, her expression unreadable as she takes slow, deliberate bites. Mr. Dunwoody seems pleased as his grin stretched out to his eyes, revealing his wrinkles. He leans back to this chair, his shoulders relaxed and his arms clapsed with contentment.

"Well then I guess I may need a wedding invitation as soon as possible,"

My brows raise in shock. What? He approves?

"About that, we'd like a simple court marriage nothing much just with family members," Camilla finally contributes and I nod even if I'm only finding out about this.

"No, my granddaughter's marriage must be grand and palatial wedding!" Mr. Dunwoody objects.

"I think a small wedding would be fine, Mr. Dunwoody. We also wish to keep our marriage away from public eye," I add.

"Well, this is unexpected," He muttered after a few seconds.

Silence. "When is the wedding?"

"In a month or —"

"In three days," she calmly replies, sipping a glass of juice.

"What?!" Her grandfather and I chorused.

"I mean….yes sir, the quicker the better," I quickly rephrase while his eyes are wide open in shock, many thoughts possibly rummaging through his mind.

He opens his mouth to speak but Camilla cuts his short.

"No, I'm not pregnant. I just want to get this done with and take him off the market. My fiance is too attractive, it's risky to leave him out in the market for too long,"

A flush rises to my cheeks as Camilla's words hang in the air, and I quickly look away, trying to composed myself. Three days? She's just planning things on her own, leaving me in the dark.

"I do understand there but isn't that too sudden. Keeping it away from public eye is okay but I've waited for this day since you were born and simplicity is nothing I had in mind,"

"A wedding is a wedding no matter the day, date or mannerism, Abue," Camilla's tone is firm and clear as she dismisses her grandfather's objections.

For a moment, Mr. Dunwoody is lost in deep contemplation as he stares at the both of us with a look of uncertainty. Eventually, he lets out a sigh of defeat, "Whatever you say, Mi Cielo,"