Prologue
Twenty year old Carol Spearman looked at her legal guardian, Stanley Goldsmith with irritation.
"Why do I need to go on a vacation with you? You're just my guardian, " she reminded him, eyes blazing with anger.
"We will marry after you complete your studies," He spoke in his stern tone as if reprimanding a child.
"No, I will never marry you," she said vehemently.
"Don't start again, Carol. Be ready. After a week I'll come to fetch you. We're going to Italy," he said and turned around and walked out of the college campus without waiting to hear her response.
He was twelve years older and treated her like a child, yet he wanted to marry her. It was her parents wish that she married him. Why? Only they knew. But she couldn't ask them anymore. They died in a car crash four years back.
After their death, Carol was sent by Stanley to this small town of Huntsville, Alabama to complete her studies in Oakwood High Boarding School for girls and then later to Huntsville College of Commerce. Huntsville was Stanley's hometown and he frequently came here to see his parents.
Stanley was an engineer who was her dad's business partner's son. He took over after his dad had a heart attack and shifted to Alabama to live a quiet life. So now he solely managed the engineering company that belonged to both their fathers.
Carol heaved a deep sigh. She would never go to Italy with him. She had to think of a way out. She walked back to the college building, back to her class. She was in her second year pursuing the undergraduate course majoring in finance and management.
Julianna McCoy, her best friend since Oakwood High rushed up to her. "What happened? You look like your cat just died," she asked, as she came closer.
"Stanley wants me to go to Italy with him, " Carol answered, dejectedly.
"Ohno, he'll try to kiss you again," gasped Julianna, horrified at the thought. The two friends were very close almost like sisters and they never kept anything from each other.
"Who's kissing who?" Asked an excited River. She joined their college last year when she shifted to her uncle's house in Huntsville, Alabama. The girls instantly became friends. She was a bubbly girl with bright blue twinkling eyes and short blonde hair. She was the chatterbox in the group and always up to something.
"No one, " said a bored Carol.
"Well, did you meet goldmine?" Asked River. Seraphina, another friend of their group, laughed softly. Seraphina was the quietest of the entire lot. She was extremely beautiful, with her long thick golden hair and blue eyes. Her parents weren't doing very well so Sera worked after college to pull her education.
"It's Goldberg silly," corrected Sera.
"I know but since he's loaded, goldmine suits him better. For that matter, Mr iceberg also suits him. Right?"
They all laughed. "He wants me to be ready. He's taking me on a vacation to Italy after a week," said Carol, in utter despair.
"Let's escape to Las Vegas a day before, " suggested River, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Oh yes, can we," said Carol, happily jumping up and down.
"Excellent idea, but my aunt Georgia would never allow," said Julianna. Her dad's sister, aunt Georgia was her local guardian here.
"Who's asking you to inform her? We're adults," said River, with a wink. All naughty ideas came out of her head.
"But I can't pay for the trip, you guys go ahead," said Sera, with a sad expression on her face.
"Carol and I will pay for your flight," said River and Carol agreed.
"No, I can't get leave from work," said Sera and the others looked at her trying to think of a way to cheer her up.
"Apply for a leave and then inform us," said Carol and Sera nodded. She worked at a library nearby. The pay was good and always on time.
The four friends went about their classes as usual. No one mentioned the trip to anyone. It was a top guarded secret. After two days, Seraphina got leave from her work.
"When are we leaving for Vegas?" Asked Julianna while copying some notes sitting in the college cafeteria.
"Hey, count me in guys, I've got the leave," Sera said as she joined them, popping a cheese popper in her mouth from Carol's plate.
"Sera, go get your own food," said Carol, snatching her plate away.
"Sharing is caring, didn't you learn?" Said Sera with a grin.
"I don't care neither do I share," muttered Carol.
"Hey you two, stop your bitching," said River, as she approached their table and sat down.
"So, I'm getting tickets to Vegas for this weekend. You need to pay me if you wish to go except Sera, " said Carol.
Julianna thought for a moment. Her brother, Jake had given her some money when he visited her last. Would she use it for this trip? Yes she could. "Ok but I don't have much to spend in Vegas. What about our hotel expenses?" She asked.
"We'll see about that. Just pay me the flight expenses and let me get the tickets," said Carol.
"I have my uncle's apartment there. We could stay in it," said River.
The next few hours they discussed their Las Vegas trip. River had a few friends in Vegas and wanted to connect with them. Her family owned a famous hotel there which her brothers looked after. Her parents shifted to their small hometown in Virginia when her grandfather fell seriously ill.
The next day, Carol excitedly emailed them their flight tickets. "Let's start packing guys. Sera you can inform your parents that you're spending the weekend with us at the dorm," suggested Carol.
"Ok, I will inform them today," she said, smiling.
"My folks are least bothered with what I do," said River, doing a happy dance. "Isn't it amazing? No one to explain what I was upto," she said, trying to make them all jealous.
"Ok, you win. We're officially jealous of you," said Julianna, with a wink.
Julianna's dad caught her with his business associate's son and sent her here to her aunt's house in Huntsville to separate them.
"I just hope Stanley doesn't find out," said Carol in apprehension.
"Don't start now Carol else I will freeze you with my cold breath and colder kisses," mimicked River in Stanley's voice and tone and they all rolled with laughter.
"Why are you not in the theatres. Finance isn't for you," said Sera with a grin.
"I love the feel of crisp notes in my hands, that's why I chose finance, silly. Money, money money," sang River and they all held their ears tightly to avoid hearing her sing.
Thankfully Stanley didn't get to know. The girls had already packed their stuff. They all shifted to their dorm room the night before, too excited for their trip the next day.
The next day, after college they all got ready and trooped into the cab with their luggage and headed for the airport to board their flight. It was a 6 hour flight and they reached Las Vegas late by 10 o'clock at night. They took a cab to River's uncle's apartment. They were too exhausted to do anything and called it a night.
