[Eric]

A big part of me wants to leap out of my seat, screaming her name. This is all wrong. Just earlier, I had seen her in her apartment getting ready. She was wearing a dress that resembled a wedding dress. At the time, this was the last thing I thought she was getting ready for. We talked enough for something this major to be brought up. I knew she was lying to me before, but I didn't know how deep.

Something is off.

Not that I liked to bring it up, but I was aware that Anela was an escort. She never sold her body though, only her time and company. Still, she was an escort. An illegal job. She also lived in a shit apartment, had no claim to fame, and was not even suitable to ave children. In this world she was a nobody. How could she be marrying a Harley? It doesn't make sense.

My body feels cold.

Smiling, Anela listens to her soon-to-be husband's vows. The vows are loving but generic. Scripted, almost. Then it is Anela's turn.

"I thought love was fake, if I'm being honest. Something in books and movies, or a psychological trick. When I met you, I suddenly understood exactly what love is. It goes beyond anything you could ever experience; fame, success, money, or power. Love is simple, and it's perfect. I love you, Adam Harley..."

I tune out the rest of her speech. I can't watch this anymore. Her words sound so genuine. So real. With my face down, staring at my shoes, I can regain myself. If she saw me right now, sitting in the stands, I wonder how she would react.

The pastor is talking again now, asking about objections to the marriage. I don't move a muscle. I can't break my cover, even for this. Not even for her.

They kiss, and I look away. Everyone begins to clap and cheer. Fabian whistles wildly in the seat next to me.

"Clap!" Lana exclaims, giving me a strange glance.

I clap my hands unenthusiastically. It's the best I can do.

She's glowing with her new diamond ring pressed on her finger. Her teeth showing in a large smile. Pink petals rain from the ceiling while photographers snap photos. They're walking down the aisle, waving to the crowd. It's then that she sees me.

The smile drops instantly. Her eyes widen in pure fear. Her lips open as if to speak, but than quickly shut again. She realized that she was being watched, photographed, as the secret bride everyone had been longing to see. She needs to stay in character. I watch her smile return, and she continues to prance down the aisle.

Once they are gone, everyone gets ready to leave. The reception is at the president's house. After watching Anela get married, now I have to witness the dances and speeches, photos, and the horrendous cake-eating. The money I'm making keeps becoming less and less significant.

"By any chance could I sit the reception out?" I peep while we walk out the doors. They want me to take their car to the president's house, but all I really want to do is curl up in my bed and sleep.

Both of their heads swivel.

"Absolutely not," says Fabian.

"Did something happen?" asks Lana, her eyebrow raising.

Telling them the truth probably isn't the best idea. If I do, it could put Anela in danger. Somehow I need to talk to her.

"No," I say, "just partied out already."

"Get used to it. The rich love their parties," hisses Lana.

She was right.

The president's mansion looks like the male version of Barbie's dream house. The long circular driveway with the best view of the mountains behind it. A large American flag sits on the manicured lawn. A fountain and rose garden are a few of the features in the front yard. People are streaming through it as if it were an amusement park, which it sort of is. It's a wealth I can't even comprehend. Everything is perfect, and there is nothing he lacks. This is why the poor and middle class hate the Western Alliance's president so much.

On the lawn, there are light refreshments offered such as tea, small cakes, and spritz cocktails. I know my mission is to find Drew, but in this maze of people, it feels impossible. He may not even be out here. All three of us part ways, targeting different people. A hunch of mine suggests he could be in the garden, so that's where I head. Servers keep interrupting my fast-walk, offering bite-sized sandwiches and crab cakes, but I decline and keep pushing forward.

The rose garden is beautiful up close. Their are so many small details and intricate floral arrangements. Dahlias in full bloom line the sidewalks with rose bushes lined behind them, reaching tall into the sky. There are wild roses and pink roses, multicolored roses and beach roses. Every single version imaginable blossoms in the garden, releasing the sweet stink of greenery and fertilizer. I pass the people gawking at the garden, quietly whispering gossip to each other over lipstick stained glasses.

Finally, I see him. My guess was right. He's sitting in the gazebo in the rose garden, gazing at a half empty wine glass. He seems bored. A different girl is sitting next to him now. This one has short red hair and bangs, and the brightest green eyes I've ever seen. Unlike the last girl, this one is more quiet. She's swinging her legs awkwardly from her seat. It seems like Drew's dad throws every different type of girl at him to try to sway him from liking guys.

Before I can step up into the gazebo, I hear a whisper calling to me. A familiar voice. I instantly turn around despite my anger. She is exactly who I wanted to see. I can see her across a small pond, peeking her head out from a horse stable. When our eyes meet, she ducks back inside. She is still in her wedding dress.

Looking around to see if anybody else noticed, I disappear into the rose bushes, walking alongside the lake towards the barn. Inside, Anela is standing on a stool with her dress bunched up in her hands. Her face is flushed, and she anxiously feeds the horses fistfulls of hay while she gazes at them absentmindly. She still looks beautiful, but scared. She drops the hay when she sees me.

"You'll ruin your shoes in here" I say, unsure of where to begin the conversation. Her sparkling heels are covered with bits of mud and grime. With a sigh, she pulls them off and holds them in her other hand. She's doing all she can to not ruin her clothes. Speaking with me must have been urgent.

"We don't have much time. I should be there right now," she says.

"Then why aren't you?" I retaliated.

"This is important. I need to know what you are doing here. I checked the guest list. Your name is not on it."

Anger flushes through me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Around us, the horses glance at us mildly, swishing their tails to swat away the flies. The president's horses are perfectly manicured. A pure white one has pink ribbons dressed in it's mane.

"You dare to question me. You're the one who got married to the president's son today. You basically married royalty. What the hell did you do to get here?"

Her reaction is instant. She drops the wedding dress and jumps from the stool. Her bare feet are covered in mud, and her dress is dangerously close to being ruined, too. She pushes me against the horse stall, so my back is pressed against wood. Her arm slams against my neck, cutting off my air.

"I did everything I could to get here. This is my chance at a better life for my family. Don't you dare fuck it up. If you mention my name, if you share my identity to anyone, I will kill you. Now tell me, what are you doing here?"

"Family? What family do you have?" I ask, when she finally releases me from the chokehold. She picks her dress back off the floor. Ignoring my question, she gazes at a stain on her dress.

"Great, now I'm going to have to explain this to them," she whimpers. I'm surprised to see tears sprout in her eyes. Instantly my attitude softens. Neither of us want to be here, and yet, somehow we are.

"Let me help," I say. I guide her over to the sink in the barn while helping her hold up the dress. We take clean brushes and scrub the dirt off as best we can. Nobody should notice it. While she stands barefoot, I fill a pan with water and soak her shoes. Wordlessly, I find her a clean seat and soak her feet next. Even through our circumstances, I still love her.

"Thank you," she says meekly, once she is cleaned up.

"I can't explain my situation any more than you can. Clearly, we both have a purpose here. I don't know what yours is, but if you can't tell me yours and I can't tell you mine, at least answer one question."

"What question could that be," she says. I can tell she's holding back tears so her makeup won't ruin. It's funny, I've never seen her cry before.

"Do you love him?"

"I just met him a few days ago. I don't even know him," she tells me.

Questions race through my head. The same questions I'm sure she is thinking for me. I wish I could tell her, but what would the cost be? She could be working against me. At this point, I don't know her. She could snitch on me and get me sent to jail for life if I told her. I just don't know.

"Well that's good that you don't love him" I say to her.

"And why's that?" she says, slipping on her cleaned heels. She looks like Cinderella, covered in sparkles and glowing with beauty. Her eyes are coated in gleaming white powder that bring out the gold flakes in her eyes.

"What I'm doing is for you," I tell her.

She closes her eyes, taking in a shaky breath.

"I don't want you doing anything for me. I've got myself covered," she finally says, opening her eyes. "Now I have to go. This taught me nothing. Please, just promise I can trust you to keep this secret, and in return I will keep yours.

"I promise. We can meet again as strangers in this life."

"This is fucking crazy," she says, going to get up.

"I'm Caden Putter," I tell her.

"I don't even know my first name yet. I'm Mrs. Harley for now," she says back.

"Would you like me to carry you out of the barn? So your shoes don't get dirty, Mrs. Harley?"

She rolls her eyes at me.

"Guess I have no choice."

Letting me slip her into my arms, I trudge out of the barn. My clothes must be destroyed, and I know I'll hear a word about it from my employers, but I don't care. She is much more important to me than this job. She feels light in my arms, and her wedding dress is silky against my arms. I'd always hoped I'd see her in a wedding dress, just not like this. This is so ridiculous I could have never imagined it in a thousand years.

Once I step outside, I freeze. Drew is in the rose bushes, half naked kissing a young boy. I nearly dropped Anela out of my arms from surprise. Anela fights out of my arms and stomps towards them. Before I can pull her away, Anela rips off a heel and begins thrashing it against Caden. The heel pierces his skin, sending droplets of blood flying through the air.

"Woah! What the fuck are you doing?" I scream, grabbing the heel from her hands. When I remove the heel, she instantly pounces on the president's son, punching and thrashing him. I've never seen her so angry. Blood droplets soak the wedding dress. So much for us fixing it. I leap into action, pulling her away from the bloodied man. He sits up, spitting out blood. The boy he was kissing is cowering in fear, quickly pulling on his clothes.

"Don't pull me away! This rapist was kissing my son!" Anela screams, pushing against my arms. She's a fighter, but I'm still stronger than her.

Son? She has a son?

"Mom, please. It isn't what you think. Me and Drew have been in love for years," the boy cries, wrestling on his shirt. As soon as he's dressed, he runs back over to Caden, who is covered in cuts.

We stand there for a moment in a standstill. All of us have just had our minds blown. All of us just had our secrets spilled. Undoubtedly, Caden is wondering why I was hiding in the barn with his brothers new wife. And yet, I have just witnessed him making out with an underage boy. And Anela? She has an illegal son. All of us could destory each other with the information we've obtained.

Covered in blood, disheveled, and certainly in no condition for a wedding reception, we stand there breathing heavily. I can tell that none of us know where to go from here.

What the fuck.

Things just got a lot more complicated.