Chapter One Hundred And Nineteen

Chapter 119

The day after Jemima finalized the cake and decor details, the weight of impending challenges settled heavily on her shoulders. The Valerian estate buzzed with the sound of staff preparing the grounds, and while the hum of activity was comforting, it didn't drown out the storm in her mind.

The wedding was in three days, and Mancini had yet to make a move. That silence was what terrified her the most.

Jemima stood in the study, her hands pressed flat against the heavy oak desk as she stared at the blueprint spread before her. It was a detailed map of the estate, annotated with security placements and potential entry points. Jay leaned against the wall nearby, his arms crossed and his jaw tight.

"We've doubled the guards, tripled the patrols," Marcus said, pointing to key locations on the map. "But we both know Mancini isn't the kind of man who barges in guns blazing. If he's planning something, it'll be subtle—something to humiliate us, not destroy us outright."

Jemima exhaled sharply, straightening up. "Humiliation would be worse. He knows how much this wedding means to us—what it represents. Triple the guards and quadruple their patrols.”

Jay pushed off the wall and walked to her side, placing a reassuring hand on her lower back. "Which is why we're not giving him the chance. I've got my people watching him around the clock. If he so much as breathes in our direction, we'll know."

Marcus nodded in agreement, but his expression remained grim. "We should still prepare for the worst. Ava's handling the guest list and making sure every name checks out. No surprises."

Jemima nodded, grateful for her siblings' vigilance. Still, the nagging anxiety in her chest refused to dissipate.

By mid-afternoon, Jemima decided to take a break from security discussions. She retreated to her room, where Ava was waiting with a garment bag in hand.

"Finally," Ava said, exasperated. "You've been running around all day. It's time to focus on the fun stuff."

Jemima raised an eyebrow. "Fun stuff?"

Ava unzipped the bag, revealing a sleek emerald gown with intricate cream lace detailing. "Your rehearsal dinner dress. You haven't even tried it on yet."

Jemima couldn't help but smile. "You're worse than the wedding planner."

"Someone has to be," Ava quipped. "Now, go change. I want to see how it looks."

The dress fit perfectly, hugging Jemima's figure in all the right places. As she turned in front of the mirror, Ava clapped her hands in approval.

"You look stunning," Ava said, her voice softer now. "You know, for all the chaos, I think this wedding is exactly what we all needed. A chance to focus on something good."

Jemima met her sister's gaze in the mirror. "I just hope it stays that way."

Ava walked over, placing a hand on Jemima's shoulder. "It will if you would just stop being so pessimistic. Jesus! We won't let anything ruin this for you."

Jemima nodded her head softly as she stared at herself in the mirror.

That evening, the Valerians gathered in the grand dining room for a private family dinner. The table was laden with dishes, and the atmosphere was warm, despite the underlying tension.

As they ate, Marcus brought up the topic of JEMMARC's expansion plans. "We're finalizing the deal with the new distributor next week. It's going to open up markets we've been trying to break into for years."

Jemima nodded, her mind briefly distracted from wedding worries. "That's good news. Let's make sure we have a strong PR strategy in place. We want to hit the ground running."

Jay smirked, raising his glass. "Even three days before her wedding, she's still running the show."

The table erupted into laughter, and for a moment, Jemima felt the weight on her shoulders lighten.

Later that night, as the house grew quiet, Jemima found herself unable to sleep. She wandered out to the gardens, where the fairy lights twinkled softly in the trees. The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the heat of her thoughts.

She didn't hear Jay approach until he was standing beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice low.

Jemima shook her head. "Too much on my mind."

Jay took a step closer, his gaze steady. "Talk to me."

She hesitated, then sighed. "It's not just Mancini. It's everything. The wedding, the pressure, the expectations. I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders."

Jay reached out, taking her hand in his. "You're not carrying it alone. I'm here. Your family is here. We'll get through this together."

“Who is Mancini babe? You haven’t told me anything about him or why he’s gunning for you other than the fact that he was an old enemy,” Jemima asked Jay, searching his eyes for answers as she took his hands in hers.

Jay glanced at her, scooping her face in his hands as he brushed her cheeks softly with the tip of his thumb. He sighed heavily before returning his gazes to space as he recollected a distant memory from his past.

“I had just gotten into the mafia world and was still very much under the wings of my father when Mancini showed up. He was looking for a mentor and my father offered to take him under his wing. We trained together for a long time and became inseparable but Mancini Deravin was ambitious and power-hungry. He wanted to build an agency that thrived on ruthlessness and fear but I wanted no part in it because it didn’t sit right with me. He took me to his underground cave where he was already building his empire bits by bits, where he has people working for him.”

Jay paused to take a breath and Jemima held his hand, drawing small circles around his knuckles in an attempt to soothe him.

He continued, “I told him his plans were a reach, it was impossible but he didn’t want to reason. He wasn’t practical. We went home that night and there was some tension between us. Weeks passed by and his operations were busted. His ring in Western Europe was busted and he blamed me for it, promising to avenge his lost cause, and then just like that, he vanished. I hadn’t heard from him or seen him until recently that is.”

The silence that engulfed them after Jay concluded his narration cloaked them like a fog.

“We will get through this Jay, right?” Jemima to reassure her but she didn’t even sound convinced.

“Of course.”

Jemima looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "Promise me, Jay. Promise me that no matter what happens, we'll get through this."

He cupped her face in his hands, his touch firm and reassuring. "I promise. Nothing will stand in our way."

The next morning, the Valerian estate was a hive of activity. The decorators had arrived early, setting up tables, chairs, and floral arrangements in the gardens. Jemima and Ava walked through the setup, making final adjustments.

"I want the ceremony chairs angled slightly toward the tree," Jemima instructed. "It'll make the space feel more intimate."

Ava nodded, jotting down notes. "Got it. What about the archway? Do you want more greenery or flowers?"

"Greenery," Jemima decided. "It'll tie in better with the emerald theme."

As they worked, Marcus appeared, his expression serious. "We've got a problem."

Jemima's heart sank. "What is it?"

"Mancini's men were spotted near the estate last night," Marcus said. "They didn't try anything, but it's clear they're watching us."

Jay joined them, his jaw clenched. "They're testing us. Seeing how far they can push."

Jemima took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Then we show them we're not afraid. Increase the patrols and make sure every guest is thoroughly vetted."

Marcus nodded. "Already done. But we should be prepared for anything."

As the final preparations continued, Jemima couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She kept her composure, but the tension in her body was palpable.

That afternoon, during a quiet moment in her room, she received a call from an unknown number. Against her better judgment, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Congratulations on the wedding," Mancini's voice drawled on the other end.

Jemima's blood ran cold. "What do you want?"

"To remind you that nothing you do escapes my notice," Mancini said. "Enjoy your big day, Jemima. It might be your last."

The line went dead.

Jemima stared at her phone, her hands trembling. She knew Mancini was trying to rattle her, but she refused to let him win.

The day ended with a family meeting in the study. Jemima recounted the call, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

"We can't let him dictate our lives," Jay said firmly. "He wants us to panic, to make mistakes. We won't give him that satisfaction."

Marcus nodded. "Agreed. We stay vigilant, but we move forward as planned."

Jemima looked around the room, at her family and the man she loved. Despite the danger, she felt a surge of determination.

"This wedding is going to happen," she said. "And it's going to be perfect."

As the sun set on the Valerian estate, the final preparations were completed. The gardens were transformed into a dreamlike setting, with twinkling lights, lush greenery, and elegant decor.

Jemima stood on the balcony, looking out over the scene below. Tomorrow, she would marry the man she loved, surrounded by her family and friends.

No matter what Mancini tried, she was ready.

Tomorrow would be the beginning of a new chapter, and Jemima was determined to face it head-on.