"No, this pair will not go with the dress", Amanda's lips curled into a un-impressed pout as, she got up to grabbed different pair of pump heels from the box.
They were at Amanda's boutique for wedding fitting.

"This one is extra shimmering and her height is short too. We need high-heeled. So, she will come to brother's shoulder atleast " Ashley suggested.

"Yeah, so they can kiss easily. We don't want height to be an issue on a Big day", Nicole added while sitting on a sofa drinking her herbal tea, observing Emily, who cleared her throat, looked like offended by her remark, hands in fist, looking down at her feet not making eye contact.
 
'Is she angry?'

"Em, try this on-"

"Please Amy, I am hell tired! I lost the count of how many pumps you make me change... My feet are hurting now!!"

Amanda huffed at her Drama,
"Don't be silly, Em, it's your wedding. You are a bride yourself don't you want everything perfect?"

'Perfect? I don't even want a wedding'

"She is right. We can do this another time. Let's not stress her. This will steal her natural glow"

Amanda took Nicole's hand in her and squeezed them warmly with a generous smile,
"Thank you Nicole, for bearing her mood swings"
Then she joked,
"I think she is on her periods... Are you Em?"

Emily rolled her eyes,
"Your concern is appreciated but No Amy I am not"

They chuckled.

"Oh, don't say that she is adorable",Nicole purred.

" See... She is on my side", Emily said pulling her imaginary collar with head high.

"Yeah Yeah, after all she is your mother-in-law"

Emily turned to Nicole,
"Nicole, you love me just because of I am your Daughter-in-Law?

" No Kid, I always see you as my own daughter"

Her heart soften, she pulled Nicole in a warm embrace.
After a daughter-mother moment, They pulled apart.

Emily wore her comfortable worn-out sneakers.
"Emily, honey I know you are tired with all the fitting but would you mind if i take you our home"

Nicole noticed her confused frowned,
"I want to talk to you about something   important... If you don't want to its fin-"

"No, it's fine. I can, but let me ask Amy"

Nicole nodded,

"No need to ask Em, you can go whenever you want", Amanda assured,

" yup, after all, it's her future husband's house!", Ashley chirped,

They smiled except Emily who gave her friend her famous glare.
Ashley smiled died when she realised her mistake.

"I think we should go", Ashley said changing topic,

"Yeah we should be..."

They bid bye to Amanda, who was staying behind, Because, she had to finished her work.

They sat in the car and the driver drove away towards the Vincent's Mansion....

They got out as they arrived. Emily kept on watching everywhere looking for someone. She stopped abruptly at the front porch, Nicole noticed her hesitation and whispered in her ear,
"He is not here"

Emily's watched her shocked. cleared her throat,
"N-No I was just-"

"It's fine..." they walked inside,

Nicole turned to Ashley,
"Ash, why don't go and tell the cook, to make something for our Emily... I want to talk to her in private "

Ashley nodded and left.
Nicole led her towards the lounge.

They sat on a sofa facing each other,

"You wanna talk?", Emily began,

"Yes, let's eat something first",
The maid came with the trolley full of food. She placed fresh-made cupcakes, orange juice, she thanked her,

"Try these caramel filled pancake... Those are our house speciality"

Emily smiled and meekly took a bite and moaned in delight,

"Its delicious. I want to know the recipe... I will make them at home"

"Sure I will tell you but You do baking?"

"Yeah I do and I can cook too!"

"Amazing! I am impressed"

Emily nodding blushed,

Emily's smiled faltered when she noticed Nicole concerned looked,
She placed her hand on Emily's hands which sat on her lap,

"Emily, Does he force you?"

Her eyes snapped at Nicole's.
"Sorry?"

"I am talking about my Son, Does he force you in this marriage?"

She cleared her throat nervously,
"N-No... Why are you asking?"

"Don't lie to me Emily, I was observing both of you these past weeks... I can see the tension between you guys. Your stiffed posture, when he was around, sudden nervousness and afraid when his name mentioned"

Her observations caught Emily off guard,
But She still played dumb. On purpose,

'King would be angry if I tell her truth'

"I-I don't know, why are you thinking that... but no he never f-forced me... My consents matters to him" she lied, fidgeting with her hands on her laps,

'I guess'

Nicole easily detected her lie... Just like she used to do.

"Look at me, Emily, "

Emily looked up from her lap in her eyes, filled with mother's warmth.

"You know, I went through the same distress as you are going. But a bit different situation... I was a florist in a small town of a big city, L.A... Leo fell in love with me there... He was a criminal lord... Everyone feared him... But he was honourable, he sent marriage proposal to my home.. I lived with my cancerous mother... But I denied because i wanted to take care of my mother... And I need money for her treatment... I knew her cancer was on last stage... She didn't have much time but still i wanted to do something for her... She was the only person left in my family after my father's death. The Other reason for my denial was his criminal status... When he knew about my situation... He did everything he can for her... But she passed away... Left me all alone with her last words,  telling me to marry Leo... He loves you... Just because of my mother i had to marry him... Fisrt few years i rejected him a lot... Used to hate him for no reason... Just because he was a criminal... But he never hurt me in any way, never betray me... Always treated me like a queen and still do...as the time passed... I let my guards down and tried to knew him... His character... His side of story... And this is how i fell in love with him"

Emily's stared her shock,
"I don't have words Nicole... He looks like a bad guy but so he is so humble in real"

She smiled,
" My son is also like him, he has anger-issue, i know he is cold... But deep inside, he is a gentle man... This is not his fault... Past makes him cold."

His past?

"but what happened to him?", Emily asked curiously,

"His-  You know what, it's not my place to tell you... He will tell you by himself..."

Emily nodded,

"Give him a chance... He will prove himself a better life partner for you..."

Emily looked away,
"I-I can't Nicole, I have my reasons...I-I think it's Time.. I should go home..." Emily got up wiping her tears.

"Amanda told me why you are against arrange marriages because of your parents... This is only because of your past...he has a past too"

Emily stopped at the mention of a sensitive topic.

"Please, he needs one chance. Not for him but for me."

"You are the only girl who can tame his beast", Nicole added getting up too.

'One chance is all it takes'

Nicole stared in her eyes, finding some leniency, Emily's eyes soften.

" Fine, but Nicole, he is  scary cold and-"

"I know, I know... I will talk to him"

She sighed nodded,
Nicole smiled with glossy eyes... Emily smiled back,

"Thank you"

"You are a great mother..."

She smiled and pattered her cheek,
"I'll call Ashley"

"No need to... I will go to her by myself"

"Do you know her room?"

"Yeah but a bit. I'll figure my way out.. Don't worry" Emily was walking towards the stairs... She remember a bit that Ashley's room was upstairs.
Her eyes caught another set stairs right under corner of first floor going down... Dim light on. Faint voices coming from there... Producing a eerie dungeon sight.

As much as she didn't want to go .. she can't help it...her legs had its own mind. Curiosity got the best of her.

She walked downstairs. The whole basement is off glossy brown brick...concrete floor. Yellow bulb, reek of alcohol mixed and isoform making her nausea.

"Ma'am, you are here... You are not allowed here"

she startled, turned around to saw an armed guy with a walkie talkie. He is in black commando attire.

" O-Ohh sorry, i was-" she was cut by the loud scream....
 
To be continue...

Hello! Everyone, sorry for late update. I was a bit busy these days with my course... My schedule is bit hectic now... So forgive me for a future late updates..

The thing i wanted to tell you that, The Mcdonald's Dangerous Love hit 720 Reads and 104 votes!!! Thank you so much to all my lovely readers for supporting like a true a mate... Plz keep on supporting me...❤

And do tell me what do you think of a story so far?

What will happen?

"Who is your favourite character?😆

Which character you hate the most?....🌚

Luv u...❤❤❤