Game Of Love

The next morning a dejected Sofia woke up and dragged herself downstairs. Last night her mom forcefully fed her dinner and gave her a cold compress and cucumber slices for her eyes to reduce the puffiness from weeping too much. She had spoken to Sofia to calm her down. Her mom had told her about her own arranged marriage with Sofia's dad. After hearing her mom's story, Sofia had calmed herself down considerably since there wasn't anything else she could do. She had to accept her fate to save her parents. Later she fell asleep with her head on her mom's lap and she stroked her hair like she used to when they were children. 

"Eat properly, Sofi. You'll faint on an empty stomach," advised her mom, serving her the sandwiches and scrambled eggs that she had prepared. Sofia ate quietly as she didn't want to add to her mom's worries. From her strained face it was clear that she hadn't slept a wink last night. Victoria had a pajama party at her best friend's house last night and hadn't returned home yet. She wasn't aware of the ordeal that lay ahead of them for the day. 

Her dad walked into the dining table and slumped onto a chair. Her mom served him his coffee and some breakfast. "Will you be able to get Sofi ready by 11 o'clock?" He asked his wife in a strained voice. Ava Blakesley nodded.

"Yes I've called an attendant from the nearby salon to get Sofi ready," said Mrs Blakesley. 

"Why do we need an attendant?" Asked Sofia, giving  her parents a dull look. 

"Mr Torres had specifically requested it. He called me today early in the morning, " informed her mom. The name itself made Sofia cringe thinking about a middle-aged, creepy, boring, pot-bellied man with beady eyes. Her dad watched her expression with concern. 

"Hope you aren't going to embarrass us by running away, Sofia, " said her dad using her full name this time. It made Sofia look him in the eye.

"No dad. I know the consequences of my escape. Don't worry, I have the courage in me to face this," said Sofia. Her dad gave her a faint smile of appreciation. 

"I'm proud of you," he said to her. 

"That's not fair, dad! You're only proud of Sofi. What about me?" Asked a jealous Victoria as she walked into the house.

"I have a reason to be proud of her. You too can prove your worth and make me feel proud of you," said her dad. Victoria looked a little disappointed with his answer.

"What has she done to make everyone so proud?" She asked her mom curiously. Sofia stood up to go back to her room. She didn't wish to be a part of this discussion again. 

"Take a relaxing bath, Sofi. It'll calm you down," said her mom. Sofia nodded and went upstairs to do as asked. She needed a warm soak to relax her stressed body. Afterwards when she came out of her en-suite feeling a little refreshed, her mom and Victoria entered her room with her wedding finery. Sofia warily glanced at the huge array of shopping bags in their hands. She had no wish to dress up for her weird old groom. The thought of him made her feel nauseated and sick with worry. How would she stay married to him?

"Your attendant has arrived, Sofi. These are all your stuff," said her mom while Victoria silently watched her, giving her a look of pity. Sofia nodded, her throat was choked with raw emotions. "Vicky, bring the attendant upstairs," said their mom. Victoria nodded and left the room to do as asked. 

"Try to relax a little, Sofi. I know it's difficult but you'll fall sick at the end of the day. Mr Torres might want to travel back to his home after the wedding," informed her mom. Sofia looked at her, dismayed that she would have to leave her room, her home at such short notice. 

"So soon, mom?" she asked, looking shocked at the roots of her hair.

"I'm sorry, honey. I wish your wedding wasn't happening the way it is. I wish it was under different circumstances than this," she sighed, tears springing into her eyes. Sofia sighed knowing that her parents were as upset as she was over the turn of events. 

"It's okay, mom. Every girl gets married at one point of time and moves into her husband's home. Even you did the same. Don't feel so upset," she said, hugging her mom. An upset and worried Victoria walked in with the attendant. Sofia's mom explained to her what needed to be done. 

After she left, Victoria turned her attention to her twin. "Sofi, how could you agree to this wedding? It's wrong, " she scolded her.

"I had no choice, Vicky, " she said in a dull, expressionless tone. 

"Of course you have. Why are you wasting your time getting ready for a fake and forced marriage which won't last?" Asked Victoria with disbelief. 

"Then what else do I do?" Asked Sofia in a bored tone. The attendant who worked on Sofia's hair looked like a deer caught at the headlights. She panicked listening to their conversation. 

"Ma'am, should I leave the room?" She asked Sofia courteously. 

"No no. Please continue," said Sofia. "Well?" Prompted Sofia glancing at her twin.

"Why don't you run away, girl?" Asked Victoria with excitement. Sofia gave her a disgusted look.

"Seriously? That's all you could come up with?" She asked in a bored tone.

"It's the only feasible solution, " said Victoria in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"Have you ever thought what would happen to mom and dad if I ran away? Has it ever occurred to you that they might be forced to commit suicide if Torres files a lawsuit against them?" Asked Sofia. Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Oh please. No one commits a suicide because of a lawsuit. Okay? Mom and dad are lawyers and they can fight for themselves," said Victoria. 

"This time they're at fault. Torres has proof against them. Look Vicky, I don't know so much about law. I'm just doing what I can to help mom and dad," said Sofia. 

"No you're finishing your own life," pointed out Victoria. 

"Fine. Let me finish off my life," she admitted with a blank look on her face. Victoria clenched her fists and huffed and puffed out of her room. 

It took the attendant two hours to get her ready. In the meantime, her parents and a grumbling Victoria were also ready to go. Sofia emerged wearing the most gorgeous and expensive wedding dress that they'd ever seen. The intricately detailed deep v-neck had tiny crystals and pearls  that caught the lights from different angles and dazzled. The figure-hugging bodice with it's floral appliqués flowed into a full body skirt . The dress was complete with a 14-foot long Chantilly lace train. Sofia looked regal with her hair tied up in a bun and loose tendrils having escaped to give her a soft look. Beautiful and exquisite diamond studs adorned her ears with matching diamond bracelets. It was obvious that Mr Torres had gone overboard with his shopping. Victoria for a moment felt a pang of jealousy seeing her twin. She indeed looked like a queen! She wondered what Sofia's king would look like! 

Sofia's dad wiped the tears that kept creeping into his eyes and went forward to escort his daughter to the car. Mr Torres has sent a limousine for all of them much to his surprise. "You didn't need to rent a limo, dad," said Sofia, gaping at the sleek beauty parked right in front of them. She glanced around and found a few of their neighbors gawking at them with curiosity. 

"I didn't. Mr Torres sent it for you," said her dad, helping her inside. Sofia nodded. They all climbed in and finally the limo smoothly took them towards their destination. 

"Aren't we going to church?" Asked Sofia, curiously when they left their church behind and drove forward. 

"No, we'll have the wedding at Mr Torres' main Casino and hotel here. He owns Casinos and hotels all over the country," informed her dad. Victoria glanced at them with interest. 

"That means he's a millionaire, right?" She asked her dad.

Their mom shook her head. "Multi-billionaire," she answered, making Victoria's eyes go round with surprise. 

"I could've married him instead, if only I knew, " said Victoria with a shrug. Sofia gave her a look. If she was so interested, she should have swapped places with her earlier than saying at the last minute. Money didn't interest Sofia, she wanted to fall in love first. For her, that was the only prerequisite for marriage. 

"Mr Torres only wants to marry Sofia,  not you," said her mom, bluntly. Victoria turned towards her mom. 

"Why? Does he know Sofi?" She asked curiously. Her mom shrugged.

"He claims that he knows Sofi. I don't have any idea what that means," said their mom. Sofia turned to look at her mom with curiosity. When did Mr Torres meet her? She hadn't even heard or seen the man before this.