"WHAT!!! YOU GOT MARRIED?? BUT HOW?" Wendy shouted unbelievably at Aida. Greg on the other hand looked at her as if she had just told them a sick joke. A terribly sick joke.
"It's not funny Aida," said Greg.
Aida looked at the floor, hands in her jeans, "I am not, Greg," said Aida with dead seriousness in her voice. Aida then related to both the brother and sister about her bail right up to the business transaction with Alex Jefferson.
"Aida, do you know what you got yourself into? Why does he want to help you? Who are you to him? You...you don't even KNOW him," says Greg hotly feeling frustrated. He runs his fingers through his sandy brown hair. Wendy could only looked at her brother than at Aida, back to her brother again, a worried look on her cute face.
"I really don't know, Greg. At that moment it seems like a pretty good solution!" said Aida distressingly.
"Void the contract Aida. Call him now to tell him the deal is off," Greg suggested.
"I can't Greg, I really can't. It's legal binding. I don't have money to pay him back and I wouldn't have money to pay for any lawyer to represent me!" said Aida a little too shrilly.
"Yeah, it's all about money isn't it..." said Greg giving her an ugly look.
"What is that suppose to mean, Greg? You don't think I really had anything to do with that cocaine thing, do you?!" said Aida, suddenly feeling very betrayed with Greg for doubting her innocence.
"Yeah, then why won't you break the contract?" said Greg angrily.
"Oh, what do you suggest after I break the contract prematurely? Hide in a hellhole for the rest of my life? As if being face with a potential lawsuit for suspicion of having cocaine is not enough and now you want me to get into trouble with the Jefferson??!!!"
Aida lashed back at him letting go all the pent-up frustration in her.
Meanwhile Wendy put her arms around Aida to show her support and said to Greg, "Greg, I think you are overboard. With our incapability where the lack of monies are concern, do you think we could be able to help Aida with her problems?" Wendy stared at her brother. "Well, do you?" Wendy challenged.
Greg tries to think of something to counter Wendy, he opens his mouth to say something but no words came out. He knew what Wendy had said was true. No, they don't have the means to help Aida at all. Feeling ever more frustrated than he already was, he slammed his fist in his palm.
"I am sorry Aida, I don't really mean it that way," said Greg apologetically
"It's ok," Aida sniffed.
"So you want any help in your wedding?" Greg asked feeling sheepish.
"Greg, there will be no wedding but merely to get it legalised at the courthouse. This wedding is not the kind where there will be pomp or celebrations! Except, that I need you two to be there at the courthouse to support me. I can't do this alone. Well, and as a witness to solemnize this so call wedding, you know what I am saying?" said Aida looking dejectedly.
Greg could only nod. He could feel Aida's frustration yet he could do nothing about it. "We'll be there for you Aida," Greg promised her.
The three of them huddled together, hands on each other shoulders, head to head giving support to each other. Since the day Aida was brought in for questioning and was held in the lock-up waiting on bail, her company has dismissed her. They'd sent her a dismissal letter stating that the company has a reputation to maintain and they could not afford to have would be criminals working for them. Aida would have expected it already since Alex has forewarned her about it.
On Thursday morning, Aida had an unexpected visitor in the form of Mrs. Marla Josef and some messenger boys at their apartment door. She was smartly dressed in a navy blue blazer and skirt and black low heel pumps. Aida was surprised by her appearance. Perhaps Alex Jefferson has asked Mrs. Josef to come and inform her that he decided not to go through with the transaction after all? She thought hopefully. No such luck. Mrs. Josef came bearing gifts. She had explained to Aida, that Alex has instructed her to send some gifts over. One of the messengers opened up a long square box filled with tissue and drew out a beautiful cream-colored knee-length dress. The dress was sleeveless; straight cut with three thin straps criss-crossing at the back and the front dipped into a square cut. Along the hem were little pearls sewn on it.
"Mr. Jefferson wants you to wear this for the solemnization, we still have time for alteration should you need it, Mrs. Jefferson," she smiled at Aida. Next she took a small velvet box from another messenger and set it in Aida's hand. Aida looked at Mrs. Josef with mixed emotion on her face. She then opened the box. Inside the box was a huge square cut white diamond ring. It was exquisite yet extravagance. Wendy who was with her gave a loud gasp.
"Holy cow! It's as big as a pistachio nut!" she exclaimed in wonder, her eyes big and round looking at the ring.
Aida immediately snapped shut the box and handed it back to Mrs. Josef. "Tell Mr. Jefferson it's too...too expensive. I can't accept it," said Aida.
It was Mrs. Josef's turn to exclaim looking scandalized. "But you must accept it Mrs. Jefferson! Mr. Jefferson would expect you to wear it. After all it's still a wedding!"
"But Mrs. Josef, you know it's not a real wedding! It's only a business transaction where I offer my service for a paycheck, said Aida exasperatedly.
"Nonsense Mrs. Jefferson! How many wedding does a young girl have in her life? There will be press there too. So it would be advisable..." before Mrs. Josef could finished her sentence, a startled Aida jumped up from her chair.
"PRESS??!!! He didn't mention anything about the press would be there?!" Aida cried, panic rising in her voice.
"Come, come now Mrs. Jefferson. After all Mr. Jefferson is quite a prominent person in the whole of Pennsylvania. Would you think his wedding would not have caught the attention of the media by now? I even have to sneak up here just now," Mrs. Josef smiled warmly as though it was perfectly alright to be caught by the press getting married to one of the richest man in America.
Aida slumped back down in her seat and buried her face in her hand groaning, "Oh no!"
Wendy sympathetically pats her on the shoulders trying to show her support. Wendy wondered what would her brother have done if he were here? Thank God he left early to the theatre. Mrs. Josef seems delighted that Aida finally accepted her fate and continued showing her some shoes in various patterns and sizes. Mrs. Josef insisted her on trying the shoes out. "Whatever," she muttered and reluctantly chose a pair and stuck her feet in it just to appease Mrs. Josef, wishing she would go away soon. Mrs. Josef then reminded her about the time and told her there will be a car waiting for her at 2.00pm to bring her to Luzerne County. Finally Mrs. Josef departed feeling rather happy with herself that she has accomplished her tasks.
The phone rang and Wendy went to pick it up while Aida sat slumped back at the sofa looking at the ceiling not really focusing. Wendy then called to her "It's for you..." Aida look at Wendy wearily and then dragged her feet over to the phone.
She picked up the phone, "Hello..." her voice sounding unenthusiastically.
