Elba was having the dream of her life.She'd never had any before that was so vivid.She and Lamar were on a beach.He built her a sand castle which stood strong for a while before it got swept off by the waves.In the melee of it's distraction he produced a diamond ring and on one knee he proposed to her.
She said yes and jumped on him tackling him to the sand with excitement.When she opened her eyes again,she was in a wedding.Lamar ofcourse was the groom but she wasn't the bride.She stood amongst the guests watching a bride go down the aisle her back to them.Then Lamar stood at the end of the aisle in heavenly glory.He was handsome...but that thought was cut short when she saw the bride's face.Elba woke up in a startle.She stretched and felt Lamar still sound alseep beside her.
She woke up and went to the bathroom not the least bit enthusiastic about the week's engagement.She were to fly out for Paris Fashion week.Her second attendance since debuting as a model.It was a handful and more hectic that the Victoria's secret but instead of worrying about that she was worried about not being Lamar's bride in her dream.
Elba had never had doubts about Lamar but recently she was too insecure and questioning every little thing.They hadn't talked about his snobbish behavior while in Italy after leaving his parents party.They barely made it up his penthouse in clothes which meant they were too busy undressing each other to talk.She loved him too much.She would be broken beyond repair if he...She shut off the thought before it became coherent.Maybe she was just paranoid for nothing.And it's not like she was some specially gifted princess in a fairytale whose dreams are symbolic or actually come to pass.
She was Elba Rubi Jamal and she loved Lamar Erdogan.Love hadn't meant much of anything to her until her knight in armor came along.And that was the only thing that mattered.So she was going to Paris and have the time of her life.
Elba went back into Lamar's room with a change of mood.She found a call from his telephone had just ended and the answering machine was taking the caller's message.
'Morning handsome.Hope it's not a bad time.Just reminding you we have a date later and was hoping you'd help me choose a dress...Call me back.'
Elba's sour mood came back in full force.Her face together with her tender heart fell.Lamar was still soundly sleeping.The bedsheet had rode down and only covered his v-section.A scar she knew too well on his thigh was fully exposed.She had wondered a thousand times how he got it and his brow scar.Wondered being the keyword because he never talked about them.
He was so reserved sometimes but that wasn't her worry at the moment.But the fact that he had a date with Sapphire Bansaki.Was it a truce meeting?Why hadn't he told her about that? Instead of waking him up to talk it out,she got dressed took her purse then left.
It was almost noon and she had several missed calls from her mother and Ayla.She was supposed to be on a plane to Paris if she wanted her jet lag off before she hit the runway.
She returned her mother's call and true to her assumption,she was almost late.
"You get your sassy self back here young woman.You were flying out to Paris today! Remember that?!"
"Yes,anne.Good morning to you too."Her driver was waiting outside The Grande Erdogan hotel.She had dismissed him last night and had thought of getting a cab but thank goodness he was so reliable.He knew the right timing.
Elba's grandmother was catching up on the gossip magazines she'd missed since the last time she was in the city.Her mother was the one who noticed her and immediately tugged her upstairs to get ready.
Two hours later,Elba and Ayla were on a first class flight to Paris and Elba's mind was still on Lamar.He knew she didn't like Sapphire the same way he didn't like Kucuk even looking in her direction.But he was going on a date with her!
Ayla was murmuring something about grandmother next to her and she didn't catch any of it until she mentioned her father.
"She's so proud of her son and believes he'll be president.And I can't believe I'll be a first daughter's PA!"
Elba's mind shifted to her father.Ambassador Emir Jamal.The man cared for his job and career more than his own daughter.He sent her to a boarding school abroad,never showed up for parent's day or academic day or games day and always absent during school holidays.It was always her mother alone.Sometimes Elba wondered if he was really her father.Their father and daughter bond was completely shattered when she chose to be a model instead of a lawyer like him.And there was always some tension whenever he came home which was a handful times.
"Hey,are you even listening to me?I said this week is going to be so much fun,as long as we keep up with the schedule."Ayla was certainly more excited than Elba.
"Did you confirm our hotel reservations?"
"Yes, I also have a back up reservation with a much better view."She went on to list all the places she missed to visit last year and added them to new year's list.
Why hadn't Lamar called yet?Maybe she shouldn't have left him sleeping just like that.Just then her phone buzzed and she quickly scrolled into Instagram her heart jumping to life.
It wasn't Lamar as expected,just another follower.And he was texting her,the three dots were blinking in quick succession.
'Good morning Rubi,I love you.See you in Paris."Then a winking emoji.She sighed and locked her phone.She got plenty of those random texts daily.
"Lamar?"Ayla asked.
"No."
Just as she rested her head,her phone buzzed again and she almost cursed when Lamar's name flashed on the screen.Her heart went to over drive and voice hitched before she composed herself and read his text.
"Where are you?"
"On a plane to Paris."
"You left without telling me!"
"Your schedule looked pretty tight."
"What are you talking about?"Before she replied,the three dots went green and he sent another text."I'll call you later..."Just like that?Elba let out the breath she had been holding and passed her phone to Ayla.
"If Lamar calls or texts,tell him I'm busy."
"Alright."Ayla said looking at the phone then took it.Her eyes shone over her glasses as she bit down a smile.