by Alexia Praks
“They haven’t officially released that information yet,” Britney argued. “You know that.”
“Yes, that is true. But I have come to the conclusion that I shall let by gone be by gone. If Jayden loves Alex, and they want to get married, I have no objection to that.”
“What?” Britney snapped out in shock surprised. “This isn’t right, Beth. You said so yourself you want me as your grand daughter-in-law and not that no used slum bitch!”
Beth narrowed her eyes dangerously at the choice of words Britney had used. Why she had never seen this character of Britney’s before was beyond her. Perhaps she had been blind to what Britney was really like because she had been convinced that Britney would be the perfect woman for Jayden.
“Things change, Britney. Jayden doesn’t love you,” she said simply.
“I can make him love me,” Britney replied sharply, almost in panic state of begging.
“If he loves you, Britney, he would have done so a long time ago. You have had many opportunities.”
“It’s because of her. She ruined our plans,” Britney gritted out in frustration.
“Is that why you asked Kyle to rape her?” Beth queried, her brows rose, her face a mask of anger and disgust.
Britney was shock, her eyes large. “How did you know that?”
“I’m such an old fool, aren’t I, Britney? You know very well what I can do to you in light of society. But since your father is a family friends, you are still invited to Kelly’s wedding. Mind you though, don’t you do anything stupid because I won’t put up with it.” She stood up, smiled coldly and then left.
Britney gritted her teeth and then growled loudly. She picked up the pot of tea and smashed it to the tiled floor, pieces of china shattering everywhere. A waiter came rushing only to be stopped short in shock as Britney shoved him back and stalked to the door.
In her convertible, she flipped her cell on, dialled the numbers and shouted into the phone, “It’s time for plan B!”
***
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
THE BMW CONVERTIBLE came to a screeching stop in a quiet cul-de-sac. Mary put the car on park, hand break on, turned the engine off and stepped out. She scanned about the 1920s bungalow in distaste before she headed toward the front door. She waited impatiently after giving the bell a couple of rings.
The moment the door opened, Mary smiled charmingly and greeted, “Hello? Is this Alexandra Stewart’s house?”
Jacob nodded. “Yes. But Alex’s isn’t home at the moment.”
Mary shrugged her shoulder. “I know. Can I come in?”
“Are you a friend of Alex’s?”
“Sort of.” Mary moved into the house without an invitation. “Nice,” she murmured, looking around.
“So you’re Alex’s work colleague?” Jacob led her toward the living area.
“No. I’m her ex-classmate. We went to high school together.”
“I see.” Jacob showed her the seat and Mary took it without hesitation. “I didn’t get your name.”
“Oh, it’s Mary St. Claire.”
“Beautiful name,” Jacob commented.
“I know.”
“Do you want something to drink?”
“No, thank you. Look, Mr. Stewart, I’m here for a reason,” she began. “It’s about Alex.” With Jacob’ s look of confusion, she continued, “I’m very concern about her.”
Jacob grinned at the pretty young lady, wasn’t sure where this was going.
“Aren’t you? I mean she’s just up and gone like that.”
“It’s only for a couple weeks.”
“A couple of weeks? But surely?”
“What are you concern about? Alex will be back next week.”
“But I don’t follow. Why would Alex be back next week when she planned to stay away forever? I mean she’s run off with a man who has no intention of marrying her, and she knows it.”
Jacob was confused and shocked. “But Alex is in New York for a conference.”
Mary laughed. “And you believe her? That she really is at this conference? A Medical Laboratory Science conference in New York? I find that very hard to believe.”
Jacob was beginning to have doubts. “What are you implying?”
“That Alex has run off with a man. She’s secretly with him. She’s his mistress. Don’t you know that? He’s already married.”
Jacob clutched his chest. Her vision started to blurred. “She told us....”
“Mr. Stewart, are you okay?”
“I...”
“Mr. Stewart?” Mary watched as Jacob collapsed onto the floor. She rushed down to touch his pulse. She sighed with relief. He was still breathing.
Then she heard a voice coming through from the front door. “Honey? I’m home.”
A moment later Mary saw Alex’s mother. “Oh God! What’s happened?”
“He collapsed,” Mary said. “I think he’s going to be okay. Look I have to go.” Before Mali could ask her to stay and help or questioned her as to why she was there, Mary grabbed her handbag and rushed out the door.
*****
CHAPTER 24
IT WAS A beautiful summer day in New York, perfect for a wedding. In a mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan there was a hype of activities. Champagne was poured into glasses, the bride and her maids were busy having their hair and makeup done, relatives and close friends flew in and out of the house congratulating the bride and wishing her a happy and long future with her groom.
All this Alex watched in awe, wishing that one day it would be her turn. The thought brought forward a nice feeling to her body, and her eyes suddenly searched for Jayden. She found him amongst his three cousins, two male and a young female. They were much younger than him and seemed to be worshipping like he was some kind of a God. He caught her watching him and gave her a smile. She blushed and grinned back.
“Alex,” Gracie’s voice snapped her mind back to the present. “You should be getting change,”
Alex turned to look at Gracie. “Oh, right,” she said, nodding her head. “I supposed I should.”
“Yes, yes. It’s nearly time to go.” Gracie nudged her toward the door.
Alex chuckled and said, “I won’t take long, you know.”
“Yes. But you still need to change. And don’t you ruin your hair.”
Alex absentmindedly touched her beautifully coffered hair with a large pink oriental lily inserted on the left side near her ear. “I won’t,” she replied, heading to the door.
The house was filled with people Alex had never seen before. She was just stepping onto the grand stairs when a woman said, “You must be Alexandra from New Zealand.”
Alex turned and smiled. “Yes I am.”
“Well, you’re a pretty thing, aren’t you? No wonder. Oh congratulation, by the way.”
Alex blinked. She wondered if the woman was talking to the wrong person. Perhaps she thought that she was Kelly. If she was a friend of the McCartney’s family then she hadn’t been well informed.
“Oh,” Alex responded, wondering what she should say.
“Oops,” the woman chuckled. “Weren’t supposed to say, but congratulation none the less. See ya.”
Then she was gone. Alex raised her brows in confusion. She shook her head and hurried up the stairs. Half way up she heard somebody said, “Hey, Alex, right? Congratulation!”
Alex glanced down and just smiled. There we go. Another one. She’d have to tell Jayden that his family’s friends were congratulation the wrong person.
In the bedroom she went into the walk-in-wardrobe and took her silk pink Chrandra’s gown that had arrived yesterday. She held the dress to her chest, couldn’t believe that her life could be so different in such a short space of time. For twenty-five years she had lived in New Zealand, never made more friends and met more people than the one back home, never met a guy so handsome and so kind, never met a family so caring and took her in as one of their owns and had never fallen in love.
&
nbsp; She sighed, tears beginning to brew in her eyes. She shook her head and sniffed.
‘Don’t cry, Alex,’ the voice in her head said. ‘Or you’ll stuff up the makeup Laura worked so hard on.’
She giggled at the thought of going to the wedding with panda eyes as she began to take off her shirt. Her jeans and bra followed. She slipped the thin, soft material of the gown over her head and pulled it down, feeling the cool fabric against her skin. She adjusted the dress about her slim body and then reached over the back, to do the zip. She got half way and stopped, finding it hard to pull it to the top.
“Can I help?”
Alex turned, her heart hammering in her chest. “Jayden!” she exclaimed. “How long have you been standing there?” There was note of accusation in her voice.
“A while,” he said easily, ambling toward her, a devilish grin on his face.
Alex blushed intensely, wondering what he really meant by that. A while could mean anything, and going by the smirk on his face, a while probably meant a good long time.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you were here?” she asked, frowning at him.
“Quit frowning, you’ll ruin the makeup,” he chuckled. He found that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked so beautiful with her hairdo, that oriental lily on her head, her face all made up too perfection which enhanced her eyes and luscious ruby lips, and her milky skin all soft and silky smooth.
“Ok. I’ll stop frowning now. So why didn’t you tell me when you came in?” she queried again, this time with a fake pleasant smile on her face.
“Because I was too busy watching what I saw,” he said. “My eyes were dilating.”
“Oh,” was all that Alex could get out. She bit her lip. So he liked looking at her? A burst of happiness bubbled up within her being. “Well, why didn’t you leave when you saw?”
“Because I like what I saw and didn’t want to leave?” he chuckled.
“Jayden!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, Alex?” he responded. “So can I help you with that zip?”
“No thank you,” she said curtly, “I can manage.” She turned her back to him and began to try zipping again.
Jayden cocked his head to one side and watch, a grin on his face.
Alex gave up because her hands were getting sore. She glanced at him and said, “All right.”
He smiled smugly and stepped toward her. Alex became very nervous. She started fidgeting and biting her lip.
Jayden reached out for the zip, his hands warm against her bare skin. He pulled the zip up, his knuckled brushing against her back, stroking her all the way up.
Alex held her breath for the sensation rushing through her body right then was like a million stars bursting in the sky.
Once he was done, Jayden leaned his head toward her and whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful.”
Alex’s heart kept booming in her chest. She smiled and whispered back, “Thanks.”
Jayden snuggled his nose in the nape of her neck and started to kiss her there. Then he moved his lips slowly toward her chin and then to her lip. Alex tilted her head back to look up at him, her eyes large. “I can’t kiss you,” she said softly.
“Why not?” he asked,
“Because you’ll ruin my makeup,” she replied, a satisfaction on her face.
Jayden’s face became serious. “Well then,” he began. “Since you can’t kiss me, I’ll kiss you.”
“Huh?” She gazed at him in confusion.
“Don’t worry. I won’t ruin your makeup,” he said and moved his lips to her nape again. He kissed her there, softly and gently, setting Alex’s body in a glow of fire.
“But Jayden,” Alex began.
“Shhh...” He moved his lips to her back and with his finger he peeled the strap down from one of her shoulder.
Alex’s head was swimming. She thought that if he didn’t stop now she’d fall to the floor because her knees were getting weaker. She wanted him to stop but at the same time she didn’t want him to ever stop.
“There you two are,” a female voice echoed from the door.
Jayden looked up to see Beth frowning at him, telling him that there’d be plenty of time for that but not now. He grinned. She was right though. There’d be plenty of time to spend with Alex and kissing her silly, but that time was not now.
“It’s time we leave for church,” Beth said.
“Yes of course,” Jayden said. Once Beth was gone, he turned to Alex who was blushing profoundly. “Sorry, sweet heart.” He gently replaced her strap back on her shoulder and led her to the door.
“Wait, my handbag,” Alex said. She got it and they both rushed out the door and down the stairs.
Their drive to St. Bart’s church was a short one. There they mingled with families and friends, and Jayden proudly introduced Alex as his girlfriend if anyone happened to ask. When the ceremony was about to begin, they took their seats in the front pew. Alex watched and saw that Sam was all smiley face though he looked very nervous.
Suddenly the piano started playing ‘here comes the bride’ and the bridesmaid entered slowly, one small step at a time. Stephanie, as the maid of honour, was last and then behind her was the beautiful bride herself, Kelly. All eyes were on her, smiling at her.
Once she had reached the front stage, Sam took her hand, grinning from ear to ear. Once the bride and groom were standing in front of one another, the priest cleared his throat and began...
“Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here to cerebrate....”
Alex felt Jayden’s hand clasped over hers. She glanced up at him and smiled. He winked at her. Her heart missed a beat. Oh dear! As she turned back to watch Sam and Kelly, she couldn’t stop grinning herself.
“Will you,” the priest said, “Sam Hunter, have Kelly McCartney to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all other remain true to her as long as you both shall live?”
Sam cleared his throat, and with a smile, he said, “I will.”
The priest turned to Kelly who was grinning behind her white veil. He said, “Will you, Kelly McCartney, have Sam Hunter to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all other remain true to him as long as you both shall live?”
Kelly nodded as she said, “I will.”
The priest turned to Sam, “Will you please repeat after me...”
Once both Sam and Kelly had repeated after the priest, Sam put the ring on Kelly’s finger and Kelly did the same to him.
Sam said, “With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, ‘til death do us part.”
Gracie sniffed and dap her hanky about her cheeks. Beth was doing the same thing.
The priest said, “You are now husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
A loud cheer erupted then, and Sam lifted Kelly’s veil up and then kissed her. A loud applause followed that and then they signed their wedding certificates.
“That was a wonderful wedding ceremony, Jayden,” Alex said, glancing at the man sitting beside her.
“Yeah, it was,” he agreed. “Time for some photos.” He winked at her.
“Oh no. Must I be in it?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said and stood up. “Come on.”
Alex groaned as he led her toward the newly married couple where they were surrounded by well wishers, journalists and paparazzi.
“I didn’t realised this was so big,” Alex said, glancing up at Jayden, trying to slow their pace. She dreaded the thought of facing those people and the continuous flashing of the cameras.
“Yeah,” Jayden replied.
Alex saw that Kelly was waving at her to come to her.
“Let’s have some family photos,” one of the camera men shouted into the buzzing crowd.
“Family photos,” Jayden said. “Come on.”
“Oh no. I’m not family,” Alex whispered. “You go.”
“No. You’re
coming,” Jayden said.
“Alex, come on,” Kelly shouted.
“Alex, come stand by me,” Gracie said, pulling her forward.
And so Alex found herself wedging in between Jayden, who had his hand around her waist, and Gracie. She smiled and laughed as the camera men made jokes and demanded that they repeated what they say, and she suddenly forgot about the people and rapid, continuous flashing light of the cameras.
Once the family and friends photos were done and the well wishes died down, everyone started leaving the church. Jayden was just leading Alex toward the door when a middle age journalist and her camera man appeared before them.
“Hello, Mr. McCartney,” she said pleasantly. “My name is Janet Tallmark. I’m a journalist from the Your Wedding Magazine. ”
“Yes?” Jayden said.
“As you know your sister’s wedding will be a feature article in our magazine. As part of it I would like to ask you a few questions, if that’s alright with you and your, erm, girlfriend,” Janet said, smiling at Alex.
Jayden glanced at Alex who smiled up at him. He said, “Of course.”
“Thank you. Much appreciated,” Janet said as she took out her recording device. She cleared her throat and began. “So you are one of the top ten youngest billionaires here in the States. How do you feel about that?”
“Normal,” Jayden replied, shrugging his shoulders.
She started asking more questions about his business of which Jayden answer easily. The picture that the journalist got of him was of a hard working, down to earth man who enjoyed life to the fullest which was exactly what Jayden was. Then Janet started asking him about his personal life.
“How did you two meet?” she asked, glancing from Jayden to Alex.
“In New Zealand,” Jayden said. “I kind of bump into her.”
Alex nodded in agreement.
“And things got flying from there,” he continued.
“When is the date for the wedding?”
“Excuse me?” Alex asked, her brows rose, confused.