Aurora POV
I was trapped in a nightmare, but the loud alarm woke me up, shattering the dark and twisted world I had been immersed in. The high-pitched sound was a jarring contrast to the terror that had been gripping me, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I opened my eyes. As I slowly came to, I saw Charlotte sitting in front of her laptop, her eyes fixed intently on the screen. She was probably researching scholarships, determined to pursue her dream of attending culinary school and opening her own restaurant – the best one worldwide, in her own words.
You look terrified, and you were talking in your sleep all night. Did you have a nightmare? Charlotte asked, standing up from the chair to sit on the bed beside me. Her voice was soft and concerned, and I could see the worry inscribed on her face.
Yes, I had a nightmare, but it's nothing, I replied, trying to brush it off. I didn't want to burden Charlotte with my fears and anxieties.
Charlotte interrupted, "What's it about?" Her curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in closer to me, her eyes locked onto mine.
Forget it, I protested, trying to deflect her question. I wasn't ready to share my nightmare with anyone, not even my best friend.
"No, I want to hear," Charlotte insisted, her voice firm but gentle. She took my hand in hers, and I felt a surge of comfort and support.
"Okay, fine," I said, taking a deep breath. "In the dream, a man approached me with a face I didn't recognize. Without any reason, he started punching and beating me like I had committed a crime. Despite my pleading, he didn't stop until I stopped breathing." The words tumbled out of my mouth, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I relived the horror of the nightmare.
I glanced at Charlotte's face, and she looked terrified. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her skin was pale.
"And then vultures gathered around to devour their new food. That's when my alarm started blaring like it was waking the dead," I continued, my voice shaking slightly.
Just then, my phone started ringing, shrill and insistent. "Excuse me, it's Madison," I said, feeling a mix of emotions. I was excited to talk to him, but also anxious about what he might say.
"Good morning, baby," I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Good morning, my love," he replied, his voice warm and affectionate. "We're going to see my mom and dad this evening for dinner and fix a date to visit your parents."
Madison's words brought a mix of emotions. I was excited to meet his parents, but also nervous about making a good impression.
"Okay, babes," I replied, trying to sound calm. "How was your night?" I tried to change the topic, hoping to steer the conversation away from the upcoming meeting.
"We'll talk about it when I see you this evening. I'm busy right now," Madison said, his voice curt but polite. And then he ended the call, leaving me feeling a little frustrated and disappointed.
All I wanted was to hear his voice and be close to him. I missed him, and the distance between us felt like an overwhelming obstacle.
"Did he just cut the call like that?" Charlotte asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't like this."
"I don't know what made you fall in love with someone who barely gives you his time, only sending you money," Charlotte said, her voice laced with concern.
"Money is something," I argued, feeling a surge of defensiveness.
"Don't forget, Madison has plenty of money. Sending a small fraction of it doesn't mean he loves you. Any man can give you money, but it takes a man who truly loves you to give you his time and attention," Charlotte said, her words piercing my heart.
"Am I in for a lecture this morning? It's too early," I complained, feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Back to your dream, are you sure this isn't the Universe warning you not to go through with this wedding?" Charlotte asked, her eyes locked onto mine.
"Okay, that's enough. This is just a mere dream. Stop taking life too seriously, girl," I said, getting annoyed. But deep down, I knew that Charlotte's words had struck a chord, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that my nightmare was trying to tell me something.
IN THE EVENING
I looked at Charlotte with concern. My eyes scanned her face, searching for any sign of approval or disapproval. I wanted to know if I looked good enough to meet Madison's parents for the first time.
"How do I look?" I asked, feeling a bit anxious. My voice was shaking slightly, and I could feel my heart beating fast. I had been looking forward to meeting his parents for weeks, and I wanted to make a good impression.
Charlotte smiled and said, "Girl, you look good. You're not going there to impress anyone, just be yourself." Her words were reassuring, but I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. I had always known Charlotte to be a bit of a romantic cynic, so I tend to take her advice with a grain of salt when it comes to love matters.
I didn't want to spark up another lecture, so I just replied, "Okay." I didn't want to get into a discussion about Madison or my feelings right now. I just wanted to get ready and head out the door.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Knock, knock," the sound echoed through the room. I recognized the knock and rushed to open the door with a smile, expecting it to be Madison. I had been looking forward to seeing him all day, and I was excited to spend the evening with him.
But when I opened the door, I was surprised to see a familiar face that wasn't Madison's. "Good evening, I'm Samuel, Mr. Madison Grey's driver," the young man said. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, and he looked very professional.
I was curious, so I asked, "I thought Madison would be the one to pick me up. Why are you here?" I was a bit disappointed that Madison wasn't there, and I wondered what had happened.
Samuel replied, "He had an emergency to attend to." He looked apologetic, and I could tell that he was trying to be professional.
Charlotte's furious steps echoed through the room as she walked towards the door. She slammed the door shut, almost hitting Samuel's face. "Wait, he should have at least called you," she asked, looking furious.
I tried to calm her down, saying, "Relax, my dear best friend. You know he's a busy person and the new CEO of the Grey's Group." I didn't want her to get upset, and I knew that Madison was a busy person.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow and said, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." Then she walked away, leaving me to deal with Samuel.
I opened the door again and said goodbye to Charlotte. "Bye, babes. See you when I get back." Then I headed to the Grey's mansion with Samuel, feeling a bit uncertain about the evening ahead.