Leif raised his fork with a cut piece of the breakfast quesadilla and kept eye contact while eating it. Even he didn't notice how childish he had become in front of this person.
Quinn had once done this to him when she found out that he lied about not having a cell phone. The two teens sat outside a frozen yoghut place under a summer heatwave. As punishment, he had to watch her eat frozen yoghurt and she would even make exaggerated sounds rubbing it in. Yes sure, he didn't care much for frozen yoghurt but still.
Having tortured her enough, he took out a black bank card with a contemporary design rendered in metal shaped like the head of a lion.
He slid it over to her and seeing her slight hesitation he misunderstood and thus said, "Don't worry, I sanitised it."
Quinn, "..."
Who would worry about that? She was more concerned about why he was giving her money.
"Why are you giving me this?" she asked and he answered,
"For work related expenses. See, I am not a scrupulous businessman," he said and she finally picked it up.
"You should go out today at Skylire. I already booked an appointment for you to choose a wedding dress. I know you have good taste but please listen to Miss Lian," he said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin and checked the time.
"Wait, what?" she asked with a dumbfounded look on her face. Leif got up and continued to say,
"Your mother and her friends will meet you at the appointment."
"Isn't it a little too fast?" she asked while following him up the stairs.
"We already slept together and as an honest person and an honourable man I will take responsibility for you," he said before he entered his bedroom and closed the door right in front of her.
Quinn whose nose almost got hit by the door, "..."
To be honest, she thought it would take about a month or two before they got married but now it seemed she would be walking down the aisle pretty soon. Quinn suddenly felt a sharp pang at the pit of her stomach. She didn't know why she was nervous. It was just saying a few vows in front of a bunch of strangers and signing a binding legal document. There was nothing to be nervous about, right?
She rubbed her clammy palms and walked down the stairs with a thoughtful expression. She absentmindedly washed the dishes. She hadn't eaten any of it but she couldn't sit still for a minute. She was using this as an excuse to keep herself busy.
It was only one plate, one mug and cutlery so she didn't mind at all. After cleaning up she started to carry her stuff up the stairs.
While she was taking the last of the gift bags into the guest room, Leif's bedroom door opened and she hurried over.
When he left they hadn't finished the conversation. "So when is it? When are we getting married... I mean fulfilling that part of the contract," she asked and he answered her directly.
"As soon as possible," he answered as he walked down the stairs all dressed up looking prim and proper like the domineering president she was used to.
"Your breakfast is in the microwave. You don't have to clean anything.... oh and we will take turns cooking. Tonight is your turn," he said with one foot out of the door.
Quinn's mind was in a mess her face in a daze as she watched the elevator doors close. She maintained the same state of mind even when she left the apartment. The wedding date wasn't stipulated in the contract but she didn't think it was going to be this soon.
Reality only sunk in when the driver stopped the car at Skylire wedding boutique. Quinn was never the type of girl who dreamt about what her wedding would be like. She never thought she would get married especially when she saw what her mother had been through.
Thus this was a place that never crossed her mind. It was for this reason that she was stuck in a stupor as she stood in front of the building.
In front of her people were coming in and going out with beaming smiles on their faces like they couldn't wait to marry the love of their lives and live that fairytale dream.
Quinn suddenly felt like she didn't belong there. She just wanted to go back to her tiny apartment and watch tv in her comfy onesie. That was her safe space. A space she was very comfortable with and like a turtle she was about to run back into a shell with no hesitation.
Just as she took a step she heard her mother calling out, "QQ!"
'Damn it,' she swore internally knowing that she couldn't run away from it now.
"Mum...," she called out softly while embracing her. When they separated she couldn't help but ask, "When... When did you get here?"
Amalie turned her head back slightly and motioned with her brow toward the women harassing their driver Leif assigned to them.
"Why aren't you there with them? You are usually on the forefront," said Quinn with a playful smile. She had a feeling something was up yesterday but hadn't had the conversation yet. That officer's mchandsome left a good impression on her mother and she was still hung up on him. Quinn could easily tell.
"Why are you saying such a thing about me? I am a respectable woman. Let's go," she said hurriedly changing the subject as she pressed her hands down on her shoulders.
"We don't want to miss this very important appointment," she said before turning to her friends,
"Are you still coming or are you going to keep making that man uncomfortable?"
Kaya and Doris much preferred the fancy wedding boutique than deal with the serious but dazzling driver.
"We are coming. We are coming," said Kaya ready to put that beautiful girl in a lovely wedding dress.
"Can we drink in there? I know it's not noon but it will spice things up," said Doris as they rushed over.