Getting Ready

Emma~

I believe the term chess players use is ‘Checkmate.’ I have to say, it feels rather fitting when Orion’s statement was presented to me the other night.

There was no room for argument. As far as he will let on, he’s doing this for my safety and not to bring us closer together. But if that’s the case, why does this feel like such a big deal to me?

I’ve been asking myself that several times over the past few days, more specifically when trying on the dresses with the other women and settling on the final look.

It’s official in any case, I am to be his wife and the party to announce it is to take place tonight.

It’s funny how the women are almost treating it as if it’s a wedding, which it certainly won’t be if I’m to have any say on it. They woke me up with prosecco and orange juice, insisted on getting ready with me, and chatted away through my entire morning in the kitchen while making last-minute edits to the food.

What makes me feel better is the fact that in order to marry him, I’d need to go to the courthouse with him and give notice. There’s not a chance on earth that Orion would risk taking me there with my current track record of running for the hills.

For the food, I have settled on an Arancini starter, Pork Chops for the mains, and Crème Brûlée for dessert which was introduced rather last minute in light of my current feelings towards Orion.

I know it’s petty but while he forces me to go through with this thing, I want him to be reminded of how when the last time we had this for dessert, I threw it in his face.

The girls said it was romantic when I mentioned how we’d had it when we first met, and I’ve not really bothered to correct them. I mean, it’s probably best if they don’t think of me as a violent woman anyway; it’s bad enough that they can’t even say Orion’s first name.

As the sun continues to travel through the sky and the starting time gets closer, I find it harder and harder to keep my cool. I can’t run, I can’t fight, and this will be the final nail in the coffin when it comes to separating me from my old home.

It really helps to have some of the girls here by my side to talk me down, and while Orion might be the bane of my existence, I suppose the members here aren’t all that bad.

I’ve warmed to them the past few weeks, developed what I could start to say are friendships with some, and haven’t found it to be the horror story I originally heard of. Nobody seems to speak of the crimes that they committed, and if I’d not been warned of it all before, I mightn’t have ever known.

Most of the people here seem quite friendly and open to the idea of me as Orion’s wife. All of the kids are happy with it at least, and training has been an interesting bonding exercise now that I’ve got no excuse but to go out there and join them myself.

Knowing that I have no choice but to accept my position now, is it really that bad to become one of them?

I’m torn, I really am. I can’t just ignore what this family is known for and how I could become part of it. There are people out there that shudder at the very name, and yet there’s nothing here that makes me see why.

Orion might be a questionable character, but what if that side of the business never makes itself known to me while I’m here? Could ignorance be bliss, or is it better to know what they’ll eventually be getting up to again?

“You look like you’re walking to the stake,” Lily jokes, and she has no idea how close to home she’s gotten with that observation.

As far as they know, I’m just nervous, and I smile absentmindedly as I take a sip of the drinks they’ve been shoving down my throat throughout the day. I have a high tolerance for alcohol, so there’s no risk of getting drunk with so much orange juice, but there’s a tiny buzz starting to build that hides the fear well enough to keep a smile on my face.

“I just hope the dress still fits okay,” I comment when Delilah shoots me a worried look, and with that, I earn myself a collective squeal of excitement from the group.

“Yes, it’s time to put it on!” Jessica says as she pulls it over.

We settled on the navy silk idea, and while it’s only got spaghetti straps, it’s long and covers most of my legs. I feel quite sexy in it, to be honest, it hugs my hips, and while they’re covered, it makes my breasts look good.

I’ve never had the excuse to wear anything as fancy as this, and with my hair curled and makeup done, I almost look the part I’m being asked to play.

Jewels that glitter in the light are placed on the table in front of me, and the closest thing I’ve ever worn to these before is the necklace my mother gave me shortly before she passed.

Gone are the days of wearing a server’s dress and working away in the kitchen on nights like these. Can I ever get used to such luxuries as I find myself surrounded by?

I’m useless when it comes to choosing between such things, and luckily it doesn’t seem like I’d have had a choice anyway. We go with a diamond choker and a matching bracelet to complement the shine of the dress, or at least that’s what Helena said.

My affection for these women is growing more and more by the minute, and I’m glad that I made the step to get to know them.

Now all that’s left for me to do is to meet Orion downstairs and make my way over to the venue. As simple as it sounds, I’ve never walked in heels so high before, so I don’t expect it to be a cakewalk.