{ The Wedding & Plans }

People rushed back and forth, trying to get the reception ready for tonight. So far, everything was turning out great. The reception was decorated with beautiful white tuberose flowers (Polianthes tuberosa) and an elegant silver color was added to the theme of the wedding. I continued to stare out the window of the two story villa. My hands played with bouquet of flowers I was holding for Sammy.

I was honestly so happy for my best friend. She was marrying the guy she loved and was beginning a new chapter in her life. I turned away from the window and watched as Sammy’s mother embraced her in a loving hug. The sight of this brought a small smile to my face. I pictured myself in her position and being hugged by my own mother….though, that would never happened. In moments like these, I wished my parents were still here, but Sammy was the only one I have had for the past few years since my grandparents death. Thinking about it now, Sammy was no longer the only person I had in my life now. I know had Alexandro and our unborn baby.

Placing a hand on my stomach, I returned to looking out the window. Looking around, a moving figure caught my attention just off to the side. Another smile crept on to my face when I noticed it was Alexandro. He stood talking to a couple of the guys he became acquainted with in our stay here. As if sensing my stare, he looked up to the window I stood in and gave me one of his famous Alexandro smirks. It seemed like it was a lifetime ago since I was last able to properly spent some alone time with him. It had been about a week now since we first arrived to California, and most of my time was spent with Sammy and helping her get things ready. The only time I had with Alex was when I would take some breaks or at night, which we took advantage of and spent them tangled around our blankets and each others bodies. As for the Whine drinking, I decided to not even try it. I never had the chance to give Dr. Collins a call and ask, so I played it safe and smart. With a wink in my direction, Alexandro returned to the conversation he was having the the guys.

“Marie?” At the sound of my name, I turned away from the window (again) and looked at Sammy who was holding up her wedding dress. “Think you can help me put this on?” Smiling at her, I carefully placed the bouquet of flowers down on a nearby table.

“Of course I can. Now come on, because in less than two hours you will no longer be, Samantha Elizabeth Sanders. From this day forward, you will be, Samantha Elizabeth Anderson.” I state hooking my arm through hers and walking towards the changing area.

“I know! I can’t believe it, it all seems so surreal! I’m honestly happy that you’re here with me. It means a lot, honestly,” she said as we made it to the changing area and she began to undress from her robe. I helped carefully and as much as I could with getting the dress on while I replied, “I would not have missed this for anything, Sammy. You’re my best friend and I will be there for you. Now let’s get this dress on you and out there to be married.”

                         ~*~*~

It kind of felt like deja vu a little. Except for the loud music and me grinding my ass on Alexandro, but swaying to the music and having my arms around his neck as we danced just reminded me of the night we first met. At times I wonder what would have become of me if I never had met Alexandro? Would I have been in a relationship with someone? How much would have been different? Sammy would still have gotten married, no doubt in that. I would have still been living in New Haven and attending college….I wonder if by any chance I would have known who Alexandro was. Even if it was just through some magazine or something. Thinking about how different my life could have been if we never met, still had me wondering just one more thing: would I have been happy?

I could honestly never know, but what I do know is that I’m not regretting anything right now.

“You look beautiful,” Alexandro quietly whispered at me, as we danced to the music. It had been about a couple of hours since the wedding ceremony. It was honestly really beautiful and had me shedding a few tears.

“And you look *bello,” I replied back. Alexandro raised an eyebrow and gave me smirk at the usage of the italian word I used.

“You’ve been learning italian I see.” He gave me a little turn before bringing me back into his arms, as we continued to dance to the music.

“Yeah, I thought it would be a great idea. That way -when the baby is born- we could speak to him in both languages. Plus, I would really like to know what is being said everytime we go to your parents home,” I smiled up at him.

“That’s great, but how are you learning?”

“I mentioned it to your mother one day while I went over, she thought is was a great idea as well. Turns out Lukas was in the house and overheard us talking and offered to help…..”

“But…?” he asked , knowing there was more to the story.

“But when I agreed and we began our first lesson, he was giving me some words to pronounce. I was trying my best at them. When I asked what they meant….let just say that I will not be saying any of those ever again.” Remembering that day made my face go a little red. I couldn’t believe I had actually said those things. The way Lukas was holding in his laugh should have given it away that they were not appropriate things, but I thought it was just because of the was I was mispronouncing them that had him holding in his laugh. Boy was I wrong.

“Why? What were the words?”

“He said that I would need to know these words when we were having sex and wanted to talk dirty to you!” Alexandro let out a loud laugh causing a few of the wedding guest to look at us. My face got even more red than before.

“Now I want to hear you at least say one word,” he said taking a breath from his laugh, looking down at me with a grin on his face.

“Not happening, plus, I don’t remember any of those words,” that was a lie, but he didn’t need to know, “at least he’s been helping me with the actual thing since your mother is also helping and he can’t say any of those things in front of her...Unless he wants to get smacked.”

The song finished and we made our way back to our table, with hands intertwined. Being the gentlemen he is, Alexandro held out the chair for me. We continued to talk and sneak little kisses here and there for a while as we watched the other guests dance and mingle. About an hour later, a lady walked up to the stage with a microphone in hand grabbing everyone’s attention.

“Okay, ladies! If you can all just make your way to the center of the dance floor, please? The bride will be tossing her bouquet now,” the lady spoke. It was like wild animals who have not eaten in weeks and finally saw food for the first time, the way all these ladies got up to go to the dance floor in hope of being the one to catch the bouquet and be ‘the-next-to-get-married’. I sat sitting down, not really wanting to get up.

I felt a nudge on my arm and turn to see Alexandro pointing for me to go over there too. I just shook my head, but he was persistent and got be over there at the end. I stood off to the side a little not wanting to get trampled by these ladies when Sammy through the flowers.

“3...2...1!” As soon as Sammy released the bouquet, the girls went crazy jumping up and down hoping that would help. I just stared at them with wide eyes, trying my best to avoid them. When I saw then turn towards me I felt scared not knowing why they were looking. Then I felt the hit. The flowers hit be right on the side of my face bouncing on to my hands.

At first I didn’t know what had hit me until I looked down and saw them. Quickly looking up and the mass of wild women heading towards me, I outstretched my hands causing them to stop. Making sure I wasn’t going to get attacked, I straightened up. People began to clap around me and Sammy made her way up to me. “Looks like you, my dear, are next!”

I glanced at Alexandro from my spot and found some of the guys padding his back as he looked at me with a smile. Was I really next to get married?

                        ○○ ° ○○ ° ○○

New York City, (3rd POV)

“So they are currently in California?” The man asked, taking another inhale of his cigar. He looked at the young man sitting across from him.

“Yes, Mr. Jacobs, sir. It was Her best friends wedding today,” the young man answered. He had been doing his best to get all the information throughout the past couple of months and loyally shared that information with Mr. Jacobs. “Will we be doing anything any time soon, sir?”

Mr. Jacobs tapped his fingers, that held his cigar, as he thought about the question. “Not not yet, but we will need to get rid of the girl and child at some point. For now, we need to slowly make it happen and I know we could do that.” Mr. Jacobs reached for his office phone and pressed a button connection him to his secretary who answered immediately, “Yes, sir?”

“Please send in my daughter." Both him and the young man waited. “Sarah, honey, please come here,” Mr. Jacobs said motioning to the other chair in front of his desk and next to the young man.

“What’s going on, daddy?” Sarah asked curiously, wondering why her father pulled her away from what she was doing.

“It’s time for you to play your part, honey. Make sure it goes into action as soon as Alexandro and that girl get back, okay?” At hearing this, a sadistic smirk crept onto Sarah’s face. She could hardly wait to get this plan into action and get what she wants; Alexandro.

“Of course, daddy. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Good. You may go now, honey.” Sarah stood up from her chair and walked up to her father giving him a kiss on the cheek before leaving his office.

As soon as Sarah was out the door, the young man turned back to his boss. He waited a minute just looking at him as he continued to smoke his cigar and puff out smoke. “So how long do you think it’ll be, sir? Before Alexandro marries Sarah.” Mr. Jacobs stood up and walked over to a table that held a variety of liquor and poured himself some.

“First we need to make sure that that girl and kid are out of the picture; permanently. That will be your job,” The young man nodded his head in understanding what his duty was as he continued to listen, “Then, while Alexandro is grieving, Sarah will step in and get him to marry her. He’ll be so devastated, his mind will not be all there when he agrees to the marriage. He’ll see Sarah as someone that was there when he needed her. After they’re married, we’ll give them some time; then we kill him. Making his business Sarah’s. Just know that I don’t want to wait long.”

The young man thought that the plan seemed good and would not raise any suspicions from the Giovanni’s. He just needed to make Marie’s death look like an accident and he needed to do it before the kid was born. Two birds with one stone. Though, something caught his attention. “Sir, but wouldn’t killing Alexandro hurt your daughter?”

Mr. Jacobs just gave a shrug and responded, “Sarah will just need to take one for the team. She’ll get over it. BUt under no circumstances must my daughter find out what we plan to do to Alexandro after they are married.” They young man nodded and stood up and left Mr. Jacobs alone in his office.

Mr. Jacobs brought up the glass that contained the amber liquid in it and stared at it with a much more sadistic smile than his daughter’s. “Now we wait.”