Standing before them Sasha wished she had a gun to put a bullet between Melissa's eyes but she had to play it cool and follow Diana's plan. "I know you didn't expect me here but I can't live with myself if I don't get to congratulate my best friend on his wedding day." She smiled at the couple as the guest watched her every move anticipating her reaction. "This is my wedding gift to you." Getting a white envelope from her bag, she handed it to them.
Mark took the envelope, looked at the hotel reservation leaflets in side then gave it to Melissa. "I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you Melissa, please forgive me." She apologized almost kneeling but Melissa stopped her.
"It's okay Sasha, I forgive you." Melissa held her hand in assurance with a bright smile on her face masking the irritation caused by her intrusion as the guests resumed dancing.
Sasha then turned to Mark's parents pleading with them for forgiveness. Since their two families were very close and she had practically grown up at the Johnson's, none of them would stay mad at her not after her seemingly sincerer apology that she even made on behalf of her aunt. She was ready to humiliate herself in front of everyone just to get Mark and his family to trust her again.
"Grandfather please forgive me." She humbly went to Mr Johnson's table to plead mercy. He was the head of the family though disappointingly he was accompanied by Mr Edward's, she knew with his help she could accomplish her mission.
"It's okay my child, don't beat yourself up too much we all make mistakes. The good thing is that you realized and repented." Mr Johnson consoled her feeling partly responsible for Sasha's actions since he had encouraged her to be with Mark. He saw Sasha as his granddaughter and deep in his heart he wanted her for Mark but he couldn't force him to be with someone he didn't love.
"I don't trust that woman one bit. How dare she interrupt the ceremony with some worthless gifts." Lisa argued watching Sasha while serving herself on the buffet table.
"I too don't trust her, she only came here to make a seen. Who dresses in white at someone's wedding?" Nancy asked getting agitated. "I should splash some soup on her face, that might bring her to reality."
"You two quit it, Don't cause any trouble and spoil Melissa's wedding with your childish plan's. We only have to keep an eye on her." Jenifer reprimanded them.
"Okay, stop being all motherly on us, mum." They all laughed at Nancy's sarcasm walking to their table.
"Jason can't stop looking at you Nancy, why don't you go ask him to dance?" Lisa nagged her as they took their seats.
"Oh no I can't, did you see the one he come in with? She is a model, way beautiful than I am." Nancy said digging into her food avoiding Jason's stare.
"I never took you for a coward Nancy, you once told me to always fight for what I believe in. What stopping you?"
"I'm not a coward Lisa, I just don't want to be rejected on a day like this. It will only make me feel like I will never get married my whole life."
"You won't be rejected since he is very much interested in you, they are coming this way don't look up." Jenifer sipped her juice looking over the glass rim as the two men approached their table.
"What?" Nancy looked up to find Jason standing beside her. She gazed at him briefly then stuffed food in her mouth to avoid talking.
"May we join you?" Robert inquired pulling a chair to sit beside Lisa.
"Sure, you to Jason get a chair sit beside Nancy." Jenifer invited them winking at Nancy.
Sasha looked from Melissa to her friend who was getting cosy with Robert. Since childhood Robert was in love with her, he always did whatever she asked of him though she never reciprocated his feelings. All her life she dreamt of marrying Mark while she kept a secret affair with Robert whom despite knowing her in tensions kept begging for her love.
The last time they met Robert turned her down but now seeing how he looked at Lisa with admiration, her fears were confirmed. Blinded by her ambition to be Mrs Johnson, she didn't explore her true feelings. Believing Robert would always be waiting for her, she never gave him a chance. He was the one she truly loved and now she was losing him too because of Melissa. "I hate you so much. I'll make sure to wipe that smile off your face." She swore in her heart smiling at the couple while shooting daggers at Lisa with her eyes.
....
Seated in the top office, Diana puffed the cigarette releasing the smoke from her mouth with a glass of whiskey in her other hand. "My plan is now in motion. Ha ha ha Melissa, Melissa you think your life will be all rosy from now on. Hmm wait and see what I have in store for you darling. You will enjoy every bit of it, crying in agonizing pain begging me to end your life. Ha ha ha oh Melissa." She laughed looking at the wall full of Melissa's pictures with her whole family and a building plan of the Edward's mansion.
This time Diana was going for Melissa herself. "It's time we face each other." She said releasing more smoke throwing the cigarette butt in the full ashtray then took the last sip of her drink, closing her eyes to feel the burning sensation in her throat as the liquid flowed to her stomach.
For the longest time she has been planning this, the day Melissa white will kneel before her begging for mercy which she will never grant.
"Boss, she's here." One of her surveillance people informed her.
Walking down the stairs, she looked at everyone enjoying themselves at the casino. Walking towards Sasha who sat at the bar table waiting, she smiled secretly. The first time she saw Sasha drunk and distressed, Diana thought to herself how useful Sasha would be in her plans. Which over the months working with her has been though she had failed severally but not this time.
"Come with me." She told Sasha taking her hand directing her to the VIP area which was only accessible to wealthy, well known men and women who wanted their private life's kept a secret.
The corridor led them to the strip club in the basement. "Since you did so well at the wedding, you get to have your own private dance." She told Sasha handing her a grass of whiskey from of the barmaid. The dimly light hall made the place more intimate with the soft music and several exotic dancers entertaining men drooling all over.
"What the next step? I can't stand being in the same room with that Melissa." Sasha asked gulping the drink looking around the room.
"For now enjoy yourself, I'll let you know what you have to do next when the time is right." She whispered in her ear handing her over to two male dancer's brought in just to entertain her. Diana knew the deeper she got Sasha involved the safer she was.