Chapter Twenty-Three
Arianna came out of the washroom wearing a pretty white dress that Tim had got for her. She saw the tensed faces of Laurence and Lisa in front of her.
"Aria, I'm sorry on behalf of my sister," said Laurence in a solemn voice.
"That's okay. If she would be my own, I would have forgiven her every little mistake, wouldn't I? So let's order lunch please?" She asked, coming forward and sitting down. She took out her mobile to read out the cafe menu that she had saved there.
"So what will you have Laurence?" She asked him.
"I'll have anything you order," he said.
"And you Lisa? What will you have?" She asked her.
"Mac and cheese," said an upset Lisa looking into her own mobile phone. "And icecream. Anything that's available."
"Fine," said Arianna.
She ordered meatball hotdogs and mac and cheese. Then she ordered custard icecream, drenched in hot fudge, caramel and pecans.
"The food will arrive in fifteen minutes. I'll go and get some work done in the meantime, " said Arianna, getting up and leaving the room. Laurence avoided Lisa as she hadn't apologized to Arianna yet.
"Bro, I said I'm sorry," said Lisa scared that Laurence would punish her.
"You have to apologize to Arianna. Not me," said Laurence, starting his laptop.
"Okay fine. I'll apologize. Why did I even come here?" She said getting up and going towards the door.
She walked out of the room and saw that Arianna was busy at her computer. "Hi, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for my behaviour earlier," she said with a frown.
"Okay, apology accepted. Come and sit," Arianna said with a smile. Lisa went and reluctantly sat with her.
"Will you invite me to your wedding?" Asked Lisa.
"Why not? Do you want to attend?" Asked Arianna.
"Yes," said Lisa.
"We're going shopping for the wedding stuff today. Why don't you come along? You can be my bridesmaid," Arianna suggested.
"You'll let me be your bridesmaid?" Asked a surprised Lisa.
"Yes, I'd love it but ask Laurence first if it's possible or not," said Arianna. Their food arrived and Lisa excitedly followed the waiter inside.
"This looks awesome Arianna, " she said, rubbing her palms excitedly looking at all the food.
"Yes, smells delicious too," agreed Arianna. Laurence smiled at Arianna indulgently. She really won over his brat of a sister with her sweetness.
"Bro can I please attend your wedding? Arianna asked me to be her bridesmaid and I really really want to be. Please? Pretty please bro?" Said Lisa with puppy dog eyes at Laurence.
"Look Lisa, I can't agree to this. I haven't informed mom and dad yet. So how will you attend? What excuse will you give at home?" Asked Laurence worriedly.
"Simple, I'll tell them that I'm spending the day with Melissa. As it is I hardly stay at home. So what difference does it make?" Asked an eager Lisa. Melissa was her best friend at whose house she spent most of her days.
"Okay then, you can attend our wedding. But if you say a word at home, I'm done with you," threatened Laurence.
"I swear I won't. Thanks bro, thanks Arianna," she said with a grin. "Oh but I don't have a bridesmaid dress."
"You can come along with us. I'll buy you a dress of your choice, " offered Laurence. Lisa clapped excitedly.
"Today's the best day ever, " she said, smiling at Arianna who too smiled back at her. She was thankful that Lisa at least liked her a little.
They finished lunch and Lisa sat chatting with her friends on her mobile phone while Laurence went to conduct the interview. Arianna went to her cubicle to get some work done. She didn't want to disturb the cordial relationship that she had developed with Lisa so she kept to her work. The lesser she kept the interactions between them, the lesser would be the differences.
Laurence returned after forty minutes and gave a quick peck on her lips. "Come inside darling," he said. She got up and he led her inside.
"We'll leave in a few minutes. I'm done for the day here, " said Laurence. Arianna nodded.
"I'll wrap up then," she said.
"Tomorrow will be your last here Aria. I want you to study for your exams, " said Laurence.
"You're still studying?" Lisa asked Arianna.
"Yes, she just turned eighteen. Her final exams at school are coming up. Afterwards she'll be going to college, " informed Laurence.
"Wow, you're just six years older than me," gasped Lisa, happy to get someone younger in the family to connect with.
Arianna smiled, "I'll just join you two," she said, escaping to wrap up her work.
"So why are you here Lisa? " asked a tired Laurence. He wanted to spend some time with Arianna but with Lisa sitting around all the time, it seemed like an impossible task.
"I need some money bro. Tomorrow we have a field excursion from school and we're going to an organic farm," said Lisa.
"On one condition, you will go back after taking the money. Tell me the type of dress and colour you want, I will buy it for you," said Laurence negotiating with her.
"Okay done. You both are going on a date, right?" Asked a curious Lisa.
"Yep. Mind you, you can't say a word at home," said Laurence and Lisa agreed.
"I won't but you know how mom is? She'd never accept Arianna, " said Lisa with a sigh.
"We'll see about that later, " said Laurence. He handed Lisa some money and she jumped up with glee. She thanked him and rushed out of the office. She waved at Arianna and went down the elevators. Arianna stared after her. Did she have a fight with her brother?
Arianna wrapped up all her work and went into Laurence's room. "Done. So when are we leaving?" She asked him. He grinned and got up from his chair. He brushed past her and locked his door. Then he approached her with hungry eyes.
"I've been waiting for so long to kiss you," he said, coming closer and picking her up. He wrapped her legs around his torso and walked over to his sofa. Sitting down with her straddled on his lap, he pulled her close, moulding her body to his.
"In two more days I'll get to be inside you Aria. I'll make love to you again and again till you moan out my name. Gain some strength, I'm a very passionate and insatiable man. I won't stop or control myself after Saturday. I'll make love to you whenever and wherever I want to," he said huskily, biting onto her earlobe and sucking on the sweet spots on her neck.
"I'm ready Laurence, " she whispered excitedly.
"Really let me see how ready you are," he said his fingers hoisting the already hoisted skirt. He parted her panties with deft fingers and plunged his fingers into her wet folds.
"I want you dripping wet, baby," he whispered into her ears as he thrust his fingers in and out of her making her moan.
He laid her down on the sofa and parted her legs wider. His mouth grazed her inner thighs upwards and captured her wet core, kissing and sucking wildly. His tongue plunged deeper in and out of her wetness till she came undone.
"I don't want to let go, darling but we have to buy our wedding stuff," said Laurence, getting up reluctantly watching her with hooded eyes. Arianna too got up and adjusted herself. Laurence pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in a rough kiss.
"I'd be again staying awake tonight," he sighed when he left her.
"Why?" She asked wanting to hear him say it although she knew the reason.
"I've become used to sleeping with you. I can't sleep alone, " he said, with a pout.
"Soon we'll be sleeping together, " she said touching his cheek.
"I can't wait, " said Laurence. They left the office and Laurence drove her in his Porsche to an upscale wedding boutique. Tim had taken Lisa home in another car.
Arianna chose an ethereal wedding dress for herself. She tried it on and after she was satisfied with it, she decided to purchase it. Then she bought a matching veil and accessories with it, hair accessories, earrings, bracelet, shoes, makeup, perfume. Laurence bought her casual dresses for their honeymoon too.
Afterwards Laurence bought a grand tuxedo for himself. They bought a dress for Lisa as well just as she had specified. They bought their wedding rings too. They ordered a bridal bouquet to be delivered on the day of the wedding, fresh.
Satisfied with their purchases, they went to a grand restaurant for dinner. Arianna had an excited sparkle in her eyes. At last she would get married to the man she loved and she couldn't be happier. Later she could deal with what life handed out to her.
He dropped her to her house along with her stuff.
"Be ready by 8 o'clock tomorrow. Tim will pick you up," he told her when she saw him off. Arianna nodded. Laurence waved and drove off. He was in a hurry to go home. He had to check with Lisa if she had kept her promise or not.
