Chapter 88 - Don't Mess With Her! - Mduno
I can already imagine the amount she’s going to ask for. The lady looked at me a bit suspiciously. Then she spoke.
"It depends on how elaborate the client wants it." She adjusted her glasses again.
"I’ve already wasted half an hour, just tell me how much it costs to make a white Elf-style dress."
Veronica looked at me. Maybe she didn’t like me choosing the style, but she would look beautiful in a dress with that theme.
"That simple, with my touch of elegance, it would be fifteen million."
"I’ll pay you forty-five million." Her eyes seemed gigantic behind her glasses. "I need it in ten days. Can you do it?"
"For such a simple dress..."
Veronica tried to contain her laughter. She wasn’t mad at me, victory! Second point resolved.
"Sir..."
"Do you need more?"
"No, no, no, for the love of God, that’s fine, and I won’t accept that amount. Half is enough. I won’t sleep for days... girl, I need to take your measurements."
"Alright, should I handle the payment with your secretary?"
"It’s fifty-fifty." Both women smiled.
"This is where you step out, Roland. I’ll handle the rest."
"She always dominates you like that, girl." I made a face.
"I’m letting her. I know that after my wedding gift, I’ll be the one dominating."
"You know perfectly well that I’m screwed with you." I kissed her, and what will she give me? "I’ll wait for you outside."
"Thank you, I love you."
I waited for more than an hour and a half while Veronica looked around and made some arrangements. I handled several wedding-related matters on my phone. I made the 50% payment and took care of other advances.
Today we were starting our premarital course with the priest. I also had to take Veronica to see the venue where the wedding would be held. We just needed to talk about the honeymoon. I hope she likes it. I leaned back in the chair when I saw my fiancée coming out of the designer’s office, smiling. "What will she give me?" I stood up. The lady came out to say goodbye, as did the secretary. I hugged my fiancée, and we said our goodbyes.
"No comments." She burst out laughing as she got into the car.
"Now, where are we going? Also, before anything else, let me know about your preparations and wishes."
"I want a fantasy wedding, just like our story. Rata says we’re like a soap opera."
"I like it. You should have said so earlier. You’re lucky I like that style. It wouldn’t be traditional, and that’s how I always wanted my wedding to be." She fastened her seatbelt.
"I’ll keep that in mind." She took my hand.
"The wedding is against the clock. Why the rush?"
"It’s not mine, it’s my... urgency. For the first time, I want to do something legal. I don’t want to challenge the Lord God. I know what I saw and what I felt. I don’t want to find out if it’s true or not. Believe me."
"Excellent answer."
Her eyes sparkled. I got excited again. She noticed and blushed. Damn! How she drives me crazy.
"You see who’s in a rush." She let out a nervous laugh.
"The invitations..."
"They’ve already been sent out. We just need the people you want to invite." She raised her hands.
"Roland! Maybe I... it doesn’t matter, I’m not regretting getting married, but can you let me handle my wedding?"
"I’m sorry. I’ll give you the contacts and tell them you’ll be in charge from now on."
"How considerate, thank you very much."
"Please don’t be mad at me."
"We’ll talk later." She took a deep breath. She didn’t speak until we got to the church.
The priest was supervising the painting of the church, the last thing left. The restoration and modernization had turned out just as I suggested to Marlon. He smiled when he saw us and extended his arms to Veronica. She looked at me with a frown, and I shrugged. My fiancée let herself be hugged, smiling as always.
"Sorry, I’ve heard so much about you that I consider you another parishioner and with great esteem, by the way."
"Thank you, Father."
"Roland, the classes with the children are at four in the afternoon on Wednesdays, and the one with the troubled youth, whom I still don’t know how you’ve straightened out, is on Fridays at six. Can you do it? You’ve had me running since I met you." Veronica looked at me with that admiring sparkle. Once again, she was proud of me.
"Don’t worry, Father, that’s his nature, having everyone running."
"He managed to get me out of monotony, and I like working." They smiled. "I’ve set aside time for your premarital course from eleven to twelve every day. Adjust your schedule, I can’t change the hours. Well... time is running out." He looked at his watch. "It’s time."
"Alright," my fiancée commented. The priest looked her up and down.
"No wonder you’re crazy about her, son, she’s an earthly angel and a visual beauty."
The little bit of anger Veronica had disappeared with the priest’s comment. She intertwined her hands with mine, and I kissed them.
"I told you so."
We spent a couple of nights at her apartment, the rest at the house. Only four days left. These last few days, we only saw each other during the course and in snippets throughout the day. The nights were completely mine.
Inés and Verónica had taken care of everything, and I had to officially introduce her to my closest group. Clarisa wanted to meet her. Raúl had been visiting us since the day after he got back with her, accompanying her to every preparation, while I continued with my multiple tasks.
Rata would be the best man alongside Inés, and I received no disagreement from her; she knew I couldn't choose anyone else. That silent understanding made me love her even more.
"Love," she entered the office, her cheeks flushed. "Did you talk to my dad?" Santiago had tipped her off.
"Yes."
"But I told you..."
"Verónica, I know you'll be happy if it's your father who gives you away."
"He's coming, and thank you for that. At least tell me next time. Why don't you tell me things?" She pointed a finger at me, and I burst out laughing. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, I'll keep it in mind. Besides, if I had told you, you wouldn't have let me." I leaned on the desk.
"You're right about that."
"And don't forget, I know how to persuade people."
"Yes, you're good at getting your way." I pulled her close, and she settled on my lap.
"I don't want to fight with you, love."
"This isn't a fight." She pouted, and I kissed her. I really liked this feisty girl. "Kiss me again so I can completely get over my anger." I did so with a sheepish grin.
"What are you doing today?" The course had already ended.
"Today is the final fitting, the dress will be beautiful."
"I haven't seen it, but nothing you wear looks bad on you. You're the only woman who can wear so many colors and still look good."
"Oh, what a joke!" she said with a grimace, and I laughed again.
"Alright, I'll tell Rata to take you."
"I can't accompany her," Rata said as he entered the office.
"Right." I laughed, knowing he had to finalize one of my wedding gifts.
"Tell Cebolla to go with her."
"He won't make it, he's still... you know." I felt my fiancée's gaze.
"Handling business for the Boss," I admitted.
"Great." She looked down.
"Rata, if you can't go with her, and neither can Cebolla, and the rest of the guys are busy with different tasks, please send three men."
"Roland!"
"Love, I only trust your safety to these two men..."
"Fine! I'll go for the dress fitting and promise to come back as soon as possible."
"You know, Rata. If it weren't for the wedding dress fitting..."
"Nothing will happen."
She kissed me and left the office. Verónica had been gone for over three hours. I looked at my phone.
"All set, Boss. I have to go," Simón said, peeking into the office. "Is something wrong?"
"She hasn't called since she left." My phone rang, and I smiled when I saw her number. I answered, "Hello, beautiful."
"Hi, love! The dress is gorgeous!" I imagined her jumping like a little girl.
"I'm glad." Rata waved goodbye with a hand signal.
"Are you coming back now?"
"Yes..."
I heard Verónica scream, and when I stood up, my chair fell over. Rata turned back and understood something had happened. In a second, my world turned upside down. Every moment of my wretched life flashed before me, and once again, it was taking its toll through her.
"Roland!"
The head of security took my phone from me, my hands trembling. He connected it to his laptop, amplified the sound, and we heard the footsteps of several men, struggling, three gunshots, and my soul froze. No, this couldn't be happening, not again, dear God. We heard her crying, screaming, being dragged, and then a door closing.
"Let's see how much you care!" said a man's voice, and then we heard them throw the phone.
"Hello, Boss..."
Cebolla stopped talking when he saw us. My hands were still shaking. I swore, dear God, never to kill anyone again, but if they hurt her... if they mistreat her, I will kill every one of those involved in her kidnapping and their descendants. I will condemn myself to eternal hell.
"Rata..."
He already knew. When I handed him the rings, the engagement ring had a tracker implanted in it. Within seconds, it activated and sent the image to the giant screen in the office. A red dot marked the location, moving. He zoomed in on the GPS image.
"The important thing is we know where they're taking her. Cebolla..."
He looked at the screen, understanding we were looking for someone.
"Who are we looking for?"
"The young lady." Cebolla's face said it all.
"Right away, Rata. We'll go with the available guys."
I hadn't moved from the same spot. What do you want from me this time, dear God? It was a call to something, as the angel said, but I still don't know what you want from me. What do you ask of me now? I beg you, don't let anything happen to her, take me instead.
"We'll find her."
My lips trembled. My past was immense... my enemies even more so. Tell me if I deserve some happiness. The last few days have been perfect.
"Don't you dare hurt her, Rata..."