The gates opened after two minutes, and the guards greeted Clayton with a huge smile.
"Sir, you know protocol is mandatory.", one of them had said.
"He is Clayton Cameron!", Elise heard Ben reply.
"We know!", the guard looked down. Guilt written all over his face. Guilty and sad as if all this was their fault.
"It's okay Thomas. Go ahead with your protocol.", Clayton came to his rescue with a smile.
"Thank you, sir.", Thomas had replied. Elise watched the whole scene wondering why Clayton was treated like this and why it had no effect on him. Ben seemed more agitated than Clayton.
"Why do they have to stoop this low?", Ben muttered.
"Calm down Ben. We knew this would happen the moment we decided to drive here.", Clayton replied with a smile, but his eyes were grim.
"Ma'am can you move aside?", one of the female staff walked over to Elise.
"Not her!", a voice roared, and Elise looked at Clayton.
"You can disrespect me, but no one disrespects my wife.", he gritted. For a second Elise's heart fluttered, but then her brain shushed her heart, stating the fact- it is all an act!
"But sir we need to do the security check.", the girl said boldly. Elise was shocked to see someone else had the audacity to stand up to Clayton too.
"It's okay!", Elise finally spoke up and nodded in reassurance.
"I am sorry!", Clayton apologized. His apology seemed sincere. Elise smiled and followed the guard.
"So it is true then.", the lady in front of her spoke while frisking Elise.
"What is true?", she asked.
"That Clayton is now married.", the lady snorted.
"I guess it is true, now.", Elise replied.
"Where is the ring though?", the lady was a keen observer. Or maybe Elise and Clayton were just not prepared enough.
Elise looked at her finger and there was no ring, not even one. She saw the lady was busy writing something in the register, but her head was a little tilted towards Elise. She was still waiting for an answer.
"Clayton has sent the ring to get it resized.", Elise finally made the most common excuse.
"Okay, believable.", the lady smirked and returned Elise's bag back to her.
"You can go now, Mrs Clayton Cameron.", her tone was not subtle. The mockery was loud and clear.
"Thank you.", Elise took the bag and left.
"Did she say something to you?", Clayton asked as soon as Elise walked towards him. He knew everyone here will give her a hard time, even harder when he is not around.
"She asked about the ring.", Elise said showing him her hands.
"Wait! We can't let this loose strand show in front of my dad.", Clayton said.
"I should have given this to you earlier.", he said as Ben handed him a small box. He took out a beautiful ring, with a huge diamond in the centre and slowly placed it on her ring finger.
"Woah! This one has a huge diamond. It must be very expensive.", Elise said startled.
The glimmer of the diamond made her awestruck.
"Anything for my wife.", Clayton said with a funny smile. Elise looked up at him and both of them burst out laughing.
"What did you tell the lady though?", Clayton asked as they waited in front of the second gate.
"I told her, you sent it to get resized.", Elise answered with a shrug.
"You should have thought of something craftier.", Clayton was clearly not impressed with the lame excuse.
"I was caught on spot.", Elise defended her brain cells.
"Well, just so you don't get caught on spot, my favorite color is black. I hate caramel, and I love chocolates. I love coffee with extra sugar and my favorite cuisine is Mexican.", Clayton gave her all the essentials.
"Why even bother drinking coffee, if you have to add extra sugar in it?", Elise was not a huge fan of modifications done to coffee.
"Just don't even start on this topic. Can a man not drink his coffee the way he likes?", Clayton was annoyed. It was clear he was judged over this habit a lot.
"Well, should I tell what I like?", Elise doesn't know why she asked, but she did anyway.
"Later, we don't have time now. Plus, they wouldn't know I lied about your preferences. You just nod and say yes.", Clayton said as his eyes were focused on the gate in front of him.
Elise nodded. She knew her likes and dislikes mean nothing to him.
"You can enter now, sir.", Ben told Clayton as the gates were wide open now. They all walked inside, and the guards bowed and left.
"Wow! Is this your house?", Elise was speechless. Her whole house was as big as the living room of Clayton's house. The furniture was all antique and there were paintings from famous artists. Money does define a person.
"You like it?", a voice took her by surprise. She turned around and saw a strikingly attractive man standing near the door. His face had wrinkles, his hair was white, but his sharp features still stood out. The man was dressed in an expensive suit and everything about him screamed rich.
"Dad!", Clayton said with a straight face.
"Son.", Mr. Cameron's reaction was much plainer.
"Sir!", Elise said and bowed. He nodded but didn't say anything.
"Dad, we came to get your blessings.", Clayton said.
"Isn't it too late now?", Mr. Cameron replied.
"I don't care about why you are here! You are married in front of the whole world. I hope you have a happy married life.", Mr. Cameron said and left the room.
"That's it?", Ben asked. He was as shocked as the other two people in the room.
"This is so not him!", Clayton whispered to himself.
"Exactly!", Ben replied.
"He is definitely planning something.", Clayton looked at Ben.
"What do we do then?", Ben was worried.
"Isn't your mom around? Or anyone else?", Elise asked.
"You are lucky they are not around.", Ben replied before Clayton.
"Can we please go home then?", Elise finally spoke up.
"Home?", Clayton smirked.
"I mean can you drop me off at my dorm?", she rephrased with a roll of eyes.
"Sure! You have had enough for the day!", Clayton said and finally walked out of the house, followed by Elise and Ben.