by Alexia Praks
“What do you say, Alex? Will you be my wife?”
Alex couldn’t breathe. She nodded her head, crying hard out. “Yes. Yes oh yes, Jayden,” she sobbed.
Jayden jumped up, grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her – tears and all.
“Oh, sweet heart, I’ve missed you so much,” he said, dropping little kisses on her face.
“Me too,” she sobbed.
Jayden slip the ring into her left finger and gave her little kisses again. Alex felt like she was alive again and in heaven. Suddenly she heard loud clapping. She moved back and looked over behind Jayden. She gasped when she saw Jayden’s family there, including Sam and Stephanie. Peter was there as well and so was her family. She ran to her mother and hugged the woman. Everyone started laughing.
Oh God, Alex thought, this was too much for her. She simply couldn’t believe it.
Later that day they had a barbeque at her house – everyone mingling, getting to know each other, and having a good time. She and Jayden went for a walk along St. Clair beach. The sunset was beautiful in the distant, the air warm, and the gentle breeze was wonderful.
Jayden pulled her into his arms and said, “I thought I’ve lost you back in New York.”
“You did?” she asked.
“What you saw, Alex,” he said, cupping her face in his big hands. “What you saw back in New York that night was planned. It wasn’t real. I’ve lost my feelings for Sarah a long time ago. I don’t know when, but I do know that I did. Since the first day I’ve met you I have feelings for you. Only I didn’t know it back then because, you know, I’m a guy and that kind of things are real slow for us to register.”
Alex smiled. “So when did you think you started to have feelings for me?” she asked curiously.
Jayden cocked his head to one side. “I think it was when I saw you in the bathroom at Peter’s house that night. You were topless.” He chuckled, “All I wanted to do then was to kiss you and touch you and look at your breasts.”
“Jayden!” she shrieked. “You really did?”
“Heck yes, sweet heart,” he said, laughing.
“But you were supposed to be gay,” she muttered.
“Yes I was, and a bloody hard thing to do, too, especially where you are concern. You are such a temptress,” he said, kissing her nose.
“No I’m not.”
“Oh yes you are,” he chuckled.
Alex bit her lip, staring into his eyes. “So, erm, are you going to kiss me now?”
He laughed again, loud and clear. “Heck yes, sweetheart.” He lowered his head and claimed her sweet, soft lips.
Alex wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed deeply and passionately.
A dog ran up to them, yapping excitedly and then hopped around their feet as they kissed. An elderly couple – the owners of the dog – walked by, saw them, and smiled knowingly. The woman shouted, “Stanley, come on!”
The dog barked and rushed up to her as they walked further away.
Jayden and Alex were oblivious to this. Finally Jayden released his lips from hers. They laughed, and Jayden lifted her up above him, causing Alex to shriek happily in the air, her feet kicking. He let her down, cupped her face, and kissed her again. Their future was now certain, and Jayden thought, ‘Gosh she was his best hired girlfriend ever’.
*****
CHAPTER 30
One month later
NEW YORK CITY, USA
“OH MY GOSH!” Emma shrieked as she ran from the luxurious sitting room into the large Ambassador Suite bed room. “I can’t believe I’m actually in New York City! I’m actually in a hotel!” she shouted, racing about Gracie who simply laughed and shook he head. Emma jumped onto the king size four-poster bed and collapsed in a fit of giggle.
“Emma darling, please calm down,” Maly chuckled. The two elderly ladies met eyes and laughed.
“I can’t wait to go sightseeing. Did I tell you that you’re the best sister, Alex? And that you are really beautiful today.”
Alex laughed. “Yeah. You keep saying that, missy.” Then she turned to look at herself in the full length mirror. She still couldn’t believe it. She had to say that she looked stunning in a Chandra A line princess dress. Made out of white silk taffeta with one shoulder neckline combined with pleats and rose to the side, the gown fitted her perfect. Her hair was in soft curls and a lose bun, with a white lily down on the side of her left ear. Her fair skin was smooth and soft, her eyes bright and her lips ruby red.
“Something blue,” Kelly said, showing her the rosy blue garter. “Now pull your skirt up so I put this round your thigh.”
Everyone laughed. Alex bit her lip and did as she was told. With the garter in place, Beth came up to her and said, “Something borrow.” She held a lovely ruby necklace in front of Alex.
Alex stared at the masterpiece. “Oh my. That looks really expensive. It’s an antique? Don’t you think it’s...erm...”
Beth waved Alex’s hesitation aside. “Yes it is antique. Over one hundred years old. But it is now yours.”
“What?” Alex gasped.
“It’s my present to you as my granddaughter-in-law.”
Ruby, Nikita and Isabella all stared at the necklace in awe.
“You lucky girl,” Ruby said, laughing.
“Oh. Thank you, Beth,” Alex managed to say, her heart constricted with gratitude.
Beth smiled and proceeded to put the necklace around Alex’s neck. Then she kissed Alex on the cheek.
“Would you look at that,” Kelly remarked, shaking her head as she watched the large LCD tele across the room. Everyone turned to look at the television. On the screen was a mug shoot of Kyle Shore and Michael Marcelo. Then it was cut to pretty a journalist with a microphone. She was in front of the court house. “It is confirmed that Mr. Marcelo, one of the most powerful and respected business man in New York, is sentenced to a ten years imprisonment for fraud and an attempt murder and that Kyle Shore to five years imprisonment as an accomplice. Mr. Marcelo stole over five billion dollar from the government over the past ten years...”
“Couldn’t believe he could do that,” Beth murmured. “I thought I knew him.” She shook her head sadly.
Alex touched Beth’s arm.
“Is everyone ready?” Jacob popped his head in the door.
Alex felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach. Here she goes, she thought. She was going to marry her knight in shining armour Jayden Matthew McCartney, the man who had hired her to be his girlfriend, the man who had convinced her that he was gay. She wanted to giggle.
She took a deep breath and said, “Yes. I’m ready.”
Jacob came to stand beside her and put his arm out. Alex took it and they walked out the door. As they got off the lift and walked across the corridor, they passed Britney and Sarah, dressed in maid’s uniform. They were struggling with their tasks at carrying glasses and cutleries toward the kitchen. Behind them was the cleaning manager, barking orders.
“Hurry up, you two. Can’t you go any faster? The chief can’t wait any long. They need to get those appetisers to the main reception hall in half an hour after the wedding ceremony. It’s our Master McCartney’s wedding, for God’s sake. Everything has to be perfect.”
“Hey, don’t you dare shout at me like that!” Britney snapped back, waving her hand in the air. As she did so, her hand brushed against some empty glasses, sending them to the hard marble floor. The glasses smashed to thousands of pieces.
“Holy Mother of Go!” The cleaning manager prayed. “Now look what you’ve done?” she shook her head. “You two clean that up right now. Those will come off you pay this week. I won’t stand this nonsense. Now go and get it clean up.”
“I won’t!” Britney snapped. “I’m Britney Marcelo,” she shouted. “I shouldn’t be here,” she wailed.
“Stop it!” Sarah snapped and slapped Britney on the cheek. “Look at you. Don’t you think I like being here, too?”
“Well you don’t have to be
here. Your dad is still rich.”
“No you fool! He’s bankrupt. Kyle cleaned me and my dad out. I have to work now. That blast Kyle is in jail for five long years, and I can’t get my hands on his neck so I could kill him myself.”
“What’s the hold up?” The manager snapped. “You,” she pointed to Sarah. “Take those glasses and set them right in the reception Hall. And you,” she pointed to Britney, “get your fat ass moving and clean those broken glasses.”
Britney was about to cry again when Sarah told her to quit it and get a move on.
***
IN THE GREAT hall of the McCartney’s Hotel, the place was decorated with pink and white roses on every seats, a hug grand chandelier above, thousand or so guests sitting quietly and expectedly, and journalists from high fashion magazines and paparazzi were in every corner. It was one of the biggest and hottest weddings of the century in New York City. Anyone worth knowing was invited. In the centre of it all stood the handsome groom, Jayden McCartney, beside him was Peter and Timothy.
Jayden was nervous. Damn it, but he had never been this nervous before. He hadn’t seen Alex all day and it was killing him.
Then he saw Beth, Gracie, and Maly rushing into the room and took their seats in the front pew. A moment later, the orchestra seated behind the stage struck the ‘Here Comes the Bride’.
Jayden turned toward the huge double door and saw Emma slowly walking toward them. She was followed by three of Alex’s dear friends all dress in designer’s gowns of ruby colour. They all looked stunning. Behind them was his bride herself with Jacob who was giving her away.
The moment he saw her, his heart leaped in his chest. He took a deep breath to steady his nerve. His heart was thumping faster now. Calm down, hot shot! Clam down.
He was very proud of his bride that she was able to stand all this – walking in front of thousands of guests gawking at her. Then she was beside him. Jacob nodded at him and took his seat beside his wife. Jay took Alex’s hands in his, grinning. Alex smiled back behind her veil.
The celebrant cleared his throat and began, “We are here today to celebrate the love these two young people have for each other...”
‘This was it’, Alex thought, ‘she was finally with the man she loved forever’.
“Will you.” The celebrant turned to Jayden. “Jayden Matthew McCartney, have Alexandra Stewart 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?”
Jay grinned as he nodded his head. “I will.”
The celebrant turned to Alex whose throat suddenly felt very tight. Oh gosh, she wondered if she was able to speak. Her heart was pumping faster and louder and there were butterflies in the pit of her stomach.
“Will you, Alexandra Stewart, have Jayden McCartney 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?”
Alex bit her bottom lip as she watched Jay staring intensely at her. He looked as though he was holding his breath, waiting for her answer. She grinned and said, “I will.”
The celebrant turned his attention to Jay. “Will you please repeat after me...”
Once they both had repeated after the celebrant, Jayden put the ring on Alex’s finger and Alex did the same to him. Jay said loudly so that everyone in the hall could hear, “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 and Maly sniffed at the same time, hold back tears. Beth dapped her hanky against her cheek just beneath her eye.
The celebrant said, “You are now husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
Jayden pulled the thin net of veil from her face. As he gazed at her, he simply couldn’t believe how radiant and beautiful she looked. His eyes said it all – the love and the adoration he had for her.
Then he moved his head towards her, his hands cupped her face.
Alex said, “Your eyes are dilating, Jay. Do you like want you see?”
Jay laughed, loud and clear that everyone in the hall smiled and wondered what Alex had said to him.
“Yes I do,” he replied and touched his lips against hers, his fingers dug deep into her hair.
Her lips were soft and warm against his. She parted her mouth and he plunged his tongue, kissing her deeply and passionately. Alex wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. A loud applause erupted then along with rapid snaps of cameras’ light. Peter whistled loudly while Timothy hooted.
“Yeah!” Emma yelled at the top of her lungs.
Jay finally pulled back, grinning. “Come on, Mrs. McCartney, time to go greet our guests and get our photo taken.”
“Will it appear in high fashion magazine?” Alex asked.
“Yes, are you going to run away and hide?”
“Nope,” she replied, grinning. “Not at all.”
*****
EPIOLOGUE
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
MARY GROANED AND touched her temple. Her head was pounding away like a bitch and her mouth tasted like mud. It was a struggled just to open her eyes, and once she had managed that, the first thing she saw was a man in bed beside her. Who the heck was he? When her brain refused to do real thinking, she groaned again and got up. She stared about her surrounding in a haze of fog.
“Hey.” The male beside her pulled round to face her. He was naked underneath the blanket. Then he started kissing her.
She pushed him away. “Not in the mood. Who the heck are you?”
The male frowned at her. “It’s Hale, Mary. You were drinking an awful lot last night.”
Mary touched her head and then everything flashed back to her – her meeting with the deans because stupid Peter had told them of her work that had never been hers, which of course followed by her resentment and anger and then her drinking and yes then her wild sex with Hale.
“Look,” Hale said, getting off the bed. “I don’t think I can handle you anymore. So I guess this is goodbye.”
“Just go!” she snapped, glaring at him. “You’re stalling me anyway.”
Hale grabbed his trouser, put them on and strode to the door.
Alone, Mary went to turn on her laptop and then logged into Facebook.
She needed Jayden. She wanted Jayden. She needed to write him a private message that she’s coming to New York to see him. She needed to tell him that they could go further.
Her Facebook page appeared and she searched for Jayden. As the screen was loading Jayden’s profile page, she thought she really needed a cup of coffee, but then something caught her eyes. She stared harder and then his profile picture appeared. Her heart stopped beating for almost a second and then it started pumping again – very fast. For there as his profile picture was a photo of handsome Jayden in a tuxedo looking all too happy for her liking. Beside him, with his arm wrapped around her shoulders, was Alexandra in a very beautiful wedding gown – completed with vile and all.
“Holy Crap!” she muttered under her breath. She swallowed and browsed through his wall page. There were like a million well-wishers for the happy couple and the mentioning of how great the wedding was.
“This can’t be true. This can’t be true,” she chanted to herself, her eyes brewing with tears, her head pounding even more.
She quickly went to check his relationship status, her hands shaking. There it said clearly: Jayden McCartney is married to Alexandra Stewart.
Mary shot up and screamed insanely. “No! No! No! Ahh...” Her hands were tearing at her long hair as he shook her head in disbelief.
***
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
THE MOMENT JAYDEN opened his eyes, he smiled with content. He had never thought he could be this happy. He had known he’d be back in Queenstown. After all it was the perfect holiday spot. And yes, it was also the perfect honeymoon spot. Only he was pretty sure he hadn’t been enjoying much of the scener
y or the sports that he had planned to do. He was sure the majority of his time he had spent enjoying his beautiful bride.
He turned to watch her, lying there beside him, still asleep and looking so young and beautiful. Involuntary he stroked her smooth cheek with the back of his fingers. She groaned.
“Wake up, sleepy head.”
She responded by rolling over and giving her bare back to him. He moved over and kissed her bare shoulder. She giggled. He knew she was awake. He snuggled his nose against the nape of her slender neck as he moved his hand to touch her bare breast.
“Jayden!” she grumbled and turned to glare at him.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” He grinned, his eyes twinkling.
“Good morning, Mr. Hot-Choc,” Alex greeted.
“Ah, craving for your hot chocolate so early again, eh?”
“Yes,” she replied, moving his hand away from breast.
“So what do you want to do today?” he asked, pulling her to him.
“Dunno.” She pouted her lips. “We could go explore Arrow town. There also Coronet Peak. We could go there to do some skiing. Well you’d be doing the skiing. I’d be watching. Hehe.”
“How bout some exercise?”
“Okay. Why not? We could go for a long walk along the lake,” she suggested. “The fresh air would do us good. Or we could go to the vineyard.”
Jayden wasn’t thinking about the long walk along lake Watkitu across their thirty odd hectare or so land or their newly acquired vineyard in Central Otago, he was thinking of an exercise that didn’t required them to leave their large, luxurious bedroom in their three storey house.