They drove in silence that Sunday morning on their way to have breakfast. Cape Town CBD was quiet and cool and the breeze was fresh. William was not one for small talk, a thing Sasha quickly learned. If she wanted a conversation with him she had to initiate. He was a learned man and pointless talks meant nothing to him. Her travelling experiences proved handy because she could talk about other countries. It was a broad subject from cultures to cuisine and languages. They were both multilingual in French, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin, so they had no problems conversing.

“So have you spoken to Lindy?” She asked after they had ordered and the question took William by surprise.

“Yes I have,” he didn’t want to elaborate before knowing where she was plotting.

“How is she?” she wasn’t looking at him.

“She’s good, very good.” It was a cat and mouse game.

“I’m thinking of asking her to make my wedding gown, I’d like it to have that African feel. What do you think?” Sasha was taking no prisoners.

“But I thought you had that designer friend of yours doing your dress,” he was stalling.

“I wanted to at first, but after seeing Lindy’s designs and meeting her, now I must have her do my gown.”

“I don’t think she’ll be available, she’s quite busy as you know, and she just launched a magazine…”

“Wow, brilliant idea darling. I’ll ask her to do my dress and her magazine can cover the wedding! That’s awesome thinking, we’re so perfect together.” She smiled a wicked grin.

“Now I wasn’t suggesting… ”

“She can’t say no, she just signed this contract with Estelle and I know the major shareholders, it will do her business good not to mention the publicity she’ll get.” Sasha threatened and William read between the lines.

“I could ask her for you,” he just was bewildered at the tactic of this woman. This had Erin written all over it.

“Not to worry dear it’s my wedding and I’ll ask her, she can’t refuse a bride to be.”

“I guess not,” The food had arrived and he was pretending to eat just to avoid eye contact. He really didn’t know what to do about this. He had planned to tell her once and for all that it was over and here she was ready to fly down the aisle, the woman was relentlessly insane.

“Whatever happened between you two anyway?” she liked watching him squirm.

“Ag, you know, young lovers different paths. We grew apart,” he lied trying not to give her ammo.

“I would never let you go that easily. I guess it wasn’t meant to be,” she smirked again and talked about the wedding plans. She was hoping Lu would come by and she could share the news. That would definitely kill Lindy.

“Let’s move up the wedding! I mean, why wait when we’re going to do it anyway. Are you alright?” William was chocking and he wished he could just die from air deprivation, it was better than the torture she was putting him through. Then he decided, fuck this!

“Sasha, we can’t move up the wedding, because there will be no wedding. I don’t love you and I’m not marrying you.” There, now he had to wait for the tantrum. But what came was the quiet before the storm.

“Oh William, don’t be naïve. This wedding… this marriage is not up to you. Our fathers will this union and it will happen. I know you’re heartbroken about your first love, but think. Do you think your dad will let it go that easily? If he ruined it once he can do it again. You can’t win. Let it go.” She was so calm and so cold. “And besides, you wouldn’t want little Gracie’s heart broken.”

He’s never seen her like this; this wasn’t Sasha, cute, adorable, giggly Sasha. No, this was Erin Sinclair the bitch from Hades! How on earth did she know all this? William was fuming.

***

Tell us what you think: Will William back down to protect his daughter or will he fight for love?