Chapter 5 - Shopping spree.

"Oh My God! That rock is huge!!!! I want to get into an arranged marriage too! How do I sign up?"

Molly exclaimed as she examined the ring on her friend's finger with admiration and a little bit of jealousy.

"The details on it are out of this world. It kind of looks like Elizabeth Taylor's engagement ring!"

Ruby commented. Ruby was staring at the ring in wonder as she touched her hair slightly.

Amelia looked at the ring one more time.

It couldn't have been Elizabeth Taylor's engagement ring could it?

"I don't think so, that ring cost well over five million dollars. And it was auctioned off or something like that. That's not the point, the point is I don't want to get married guys!!"

"Why? He's hot, he's rich and you know he's good in bed, most girls will kill for that combination."

Molly said as she sipped her iced tea, if she had been given the opportunity she knew she would have jumped on it enthusiastically. Molly Davis just didn't have good luck with men.

"Yes, but that's not what I'm looking for. I was thinking I'd at least be marrying for love or something like that."

"Listen, I know it's not your ideal situation but you know why you're doing this, you're doing this because of your family. And besides, like you said you can always divorce him."

Amelia shook her head as she was deep in thoughts, not at all interested in the salad that their waiter served them. She felt like she needed a bucket of cookies and cream ice cream to feel better, but her parents wanted her to go dress shopping.

"Yes I can, but at the rate my parents are going, I can stay married to him forever. My parents are incurable big spenders and they have zero money management skills."

It was true, relying on her parents wasn't going to be a very good idea unless Amelia herself did something to make sure that her parents were able to recover the source of their income back.

"What will you do?"

Ruby asked. Ruby was always the voice of reason in the group. She was always sensible and logical and gave the best advice in most situation. She was also the more refined and cultured one in the group. Molly was the wild one with the loose mouth.

"Well, I guess I'll have to marry him. The wedding is in a week. I'm going wedding shopping with my mother this afternoon. Do you guys want to come?"

"Wait! Wait! A week? Why is it so soon??? You will never be able to find a dress so soon. Me neither."

Ruby placed her hand on Molly's shoulder.

"Calm down. She must be joking. Now, when is the wedding?"

Amelia shrugged.

"The wedding is in a week. Five days to be precise and I am freaking out!!!"

Ruby's eyes bulged out.

"That's way too soon? What are we going to wear?" she turned to Molly who shrugged.

"Guys, technically I don't even know if I should invite you two. Xavier says there should be a maximum of six guests."

Amelia said with a small voice as her friends glared at her.

"I don't understand you." Ruby simply said as she took her sip out of her iced water and faced her salad.

"What are you saying? How can you have a wedding without your friends?"

Molly exclaimed loudly.

"Well, I'm going to talk to him about the guest list. Don't worry. I can't get married without you guys."

She held both their hands and Molly nodded in content.

"Now, you're talking. So we're all going dress shopping. Is he paying?"

Molly asked and Amelia flashed the Amex black card.

The two girls shrieked out of excitement.

"No way!!! He gave you his card! That man is gold!!!"

"Yes, but only for the wedding dress."

Molly rolled her eyes while Ruby snatched the card from Amelia and fanned herself with it.

"You're not going to be wearing only a wedding dress, there are so many other details to sort out! In fact, I think we should leave now."

"Waiter!!! Can we get the check please!" Ruby called out to the waiter and Amelia tried to get Xavier's card from her.

With the card in her hands, there was no way she would only be able to buy a wedding dress, her friends would make sure she splurged as much as possible on herself and them too.

Amelia didn't mind, if it meant it'll at least make her soon to be husband mad at her for almost maxing out his credit card she was going to do it.

It might backfire badly but she didn't care.

After a while of browsing through different shops with Molly and Ruby, they all finally arrived at Kleinfeld Bridal in Manhattan. Her mother was already waiting for her at the bridal shop since they had booked an appointment a day earlier. It would have been a bit hard to have gotten the appointment if her mother wasn't so well known in the New York high society.

The bridal shop was every girl's dream and Amelia's worst nightmare. It was beautiful and serene with dozens and dozens of high end wedding dresses on graceful looking mannequins.

Amelia was nervous as she walked in while her friends awed. The gowns were beautiful but Amelia was nervous, it wasn't the cold feet kind of nervous, it was the kind of nervous that made her worry deeply and caused her stomach to rumble in discomfort.

Was she really going through with this? She asked herself as she walked towards the receptionist and struggled with a smile.

"Hello. I'm Amelia Johnston. I have an appointment. I believe my mother's waiting for me somewhere here."

The receptionist gave her a warm smile before looking into her computer.

"Yes, you do Ms Johnston. Please follow me and I'll direct you to your mother."

The pit in Amelia's stomach only grew larger and larger as they approached her beaming mother and a stylist.

There was already a rack with about four different dresses.

"Finally, you're here darling. It's not Paris but it'll have to do right? There really is no time to order for a custom made gown."

Her mother said as she pointed to the rack.

"I've picked out the very best of the best. Come, try one."

Try one?

Amelia thought as she instantly froze.

This was getting real.

She thought to herself as she stared at the wedding dresses.