Chapter 6

They remained silent for a while, sharing gazes. The senator furrowed his right brow, waiting for either of them to answer. 

Daniel cleared his throat. He was about to speak when Harriet's phone started ringing, distracting them from the trend of staring. She excused herself, leaving them to deal with it themselves; grateful for the opportunity she had been blessed with. 

"What was she talking about?" The senator asked, tucking his hands in his trouser pockets, after Harriet left. "What did she mean by your family has done it again?" 

"I don't know," he retorted. "Harriet and I have been friends from little children. She might have taken offense in something that happened. Something I don't know," Daniel added. 

Luther was, however, not convinced. "Why wouldn't you know when you two have been friends from childhood to adulthood?" The senator asked, scrutinizing Daniel who seemed to be hiding something. 

"You and I have our secrets, so does she," Daniel retorted. "I'm not insinuating anything— if that's what you're thinking— I'm just speaking a vivid fact," he amended when he saw Luther's face lifting with curiosity. 

Speaking with a man like Luther, one had to be careful. And careful was Daniel. 

"If you will excuse me, I have to go," Daniel told Luther. He took two steps down the stairs, running his hand over the banister as he moved. He turned around, paused for few seconds then said, "somethings are better as a secret, Senator," and walked away without turning back. 

Vivian wasn't giving up yet. She still had more in store for the almost-wedded couple. She entered the black limousine when the driver opened the door for Rachael and Charles, before they could enter. 

Rachael wasn't in the mood of talking much; however, she wasn't in the mood of sitting in the same car with a woman who, moments ago, ruined her wedding. 

"Better change your plans if you think we are taking you home, Vivian," Charles said, stopping Rachael from talking; by holding her close to him. "Because we are definitely not."

"I rather walk than sit in the same car with this low-life bitch," Rachael spat out before Vivian could say what she wanted to say. 

Because their car was the first in line, the others had to stop behind them. They got down to see why the door was opened for them to entered but they stood glaring into the limousine. 

"It's very late to do that now. You should have done it a long time ago," Vivian said, looking straight ahead. "This car is taking me home first. Like it or not." 

That was exactly what she wanted Rachael to do—walk away— from the beginning. But Rachael wasn't going to do that, not now, or ever. She would stand by Charles until all of this was over. 

"What's going on?" Rachael mother, Harriet asked when she reached them. She understood what was happening when she glanced into the car and saw Vivian sitting with her legs crossed. 

Doing a rapid dramatic blink, Rachael said, "If that is what you're anticipating, count that as your first failure; a big one at that." 

"I don't count failures, sweetheart," Vivian stated, chuckling. "If anyone should be counting failures here, it's clearly not me. Incase you'd been counting failures, just know you have hug ones pending." She rolled her eyes and smirked. 

The more she interacted with Vivian, the more she realized that Vivian was very annoying. Annoying was definitely an understatement. Stupid was the word. 

There had already been too much drama in the building. Thomas was tired of them. He didn't like the way his big sister was being treated. And he didn't want the few paparazzi that were around taking her wrecked pictures, again. "There's no need to haul and pull. You can ride with me, Rachael." 

"That's very kind of you, Thomas, but I'm not letting this bitch get what she wants for the second time!" Rachael shook her head. 

"Rachael," the senator called, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Go with your brother," he commanded. 

She wanted to protest, but stopped when her father smiled at her shortly. Charles carried her to Thomas' red ferrari that was packed at the back of the convoy. His driver opened the door for them. His friend Jacob was already seated on the left side of the car. Rachael sat next to Jacob, and Thomas sat next to her. 

Jacob had left the church for the car when the priest made the announcement. He had been waiting in the car since then. 

"I will ride with Edward, OK?" He caressed Rachael's jaw from outside the car. She nodded. "Love you," he said before leaving to join Edward. 

It took a while before their car could start moving because they had been the last on line. The car was silent as they drove home. 

Rachael had classified the day as the happiest day of her life, but after all that had happened, she thought of it as the worst day. Simply because of Vivian, a complete stranger who was blackmailing the man that she loved so much. 

She couldn't let that continue. There had to be a way to save Charles. She had to do something!