Virtue & Vanity

by Astrid Jane Ray

  His eyes were filled with the same emotion and there was a wet trace on his face but it didn’t come from the rain. Without removing his gaze from mine, he took the ring out of the box, taking hold of my hand and gently placing it on my finger.

  As the cold metal frame of the ring came into contact with my skin, the warmth embraced my heart and I felt like I had been given something priceless that made me feel whole again.

  Without letting go of my hand, he got up and now I could clearly see the reflection of tears in his eyes. Then, he smiled. At first, it was small and barely noticeable but gradually it turned into a suppressed laughter. I wasn’t prepared for what was going to happen next. Sebastian seemed to be so energetic and happy that he lifted me up and spun me around in his arms, repeating sweet exclamations of love. By the time he put me down, I was feeling dizzy and he had to hold me by the shoulders or I would have lost my balance.

  “I love you,” he spoke softly and smiled without end. “Isabelle, you’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

  I smiled genuinely, still finding a way to control the dizziness. “The feeling is entirely mutual.”

  His eyes followed mine when I diverted them to look at the ring. It was simple, yet special and beautiful. In the middle of it, there was a sign that looked like an eight, only turned around. I ran my index finger over it.

  “Do you know what it means?” he asked and I shook my head.

  “It looks like a small bow.” I decided to take a guess anyways but Sebastian’s chuckle revealed it might not have been the best of ideas.

  “It’s a symbol.” He smiled. “It represents the time we’re going to spend together.” A flicker of light woke in his eyes as he whispered a single word. “Infinity.”

  As if we were connected by some invisible strings, we couldn’t look away from each other. He pulled me into a tight embrace and I couldn’t help but thinking that my form fell into his arms perfectly. I didn’t know how long we remained in that position. It was raining and we were soaking wet, but neither of us seemed to be prepared to move just yet. We didn’t speak. We didn’t need words. Instead, we focused on the sounds that broke the silence of the night around us and we kissed on the rain for a long time.

  “Beautiful moments and red roses.” I heard the voice of that old man who had given us the bouquet.

  By the time we broke our kiss and turned to face him, he was already disappearing out of our sight.

  Baffled, I looked at Sebastian. “How did you manage to get him to deliver you the ring in the roses?”

  He arched his eyebrows. “I didn’t. His interference was entirely coincidental,” he said and his gaze darted towards the sky.

  “Are you trying to tell me that the man simply appeared with the roses and the hidden ring and you knew nothing about it?”

  “What if that’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you?” After a short break of silence in which I stared at him thinking he had gone mad, he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I already had the ring. I slipped it in the bouquet when I was chasing you on the street. I didn’t think it would be that difficult but you really made me earn it.” He winked. “I’m glad the roses came to my aid.”

  I couldn’t wipe away the smile from my face. “The roses were nice but you shouldn’t underestimate your charms.” I tilted up my head. “Though I have to say you’re lucky you made it alive after telling me about the divorce.”

  He smirked. “Oh, I’m lucky.”

  As his lips gently brushed against mine, his bright gaze told me the words held a double meaning. A small smile teased my lips and his gaze roamed along the features of my face, making it appear as though he observed me with adoration.

  “Thanks to you, love, I’m the luckiest man alive,” he breathed and kissed me gently while I shivered at the sound of his endearments, knowing that I would remember this moment for the rest of my life.

  Sebastian. Love. Infinity.

  Chapter Fifty

  In the darkness of the night, they were looking at the stars, trying to guess the meaning of their ill-shaped patterns and sizes. She thought she saw the contours of a familiar face on the sky because it looked just like the one she had once imagined, but she wasn’t sure. He didn’t see it, but told her he did anyway because he knew it would draw a smile to her face. She knew he lied, but appreciated it all the same.

  They looked at each other and she read the letters that were right there, written on his face. He loved her. He...loved her. And even though she thought she would never rise up from the pain; there she was loving him all the same.

  And there they were...two missing pieces of the dusty, old, broken puzzle...mending their edges, finding a way to hold on without looking back...without thinking about the hurt and the pain.

  He saw her. Not just her mesmerizing eyes, her smooth skin and curly, brown hair. He saw beyond that. Way beyond, inside her soul. Inside where he could reach and touch the pieces of the heart he had broken. Some of the pieces were so badly damaged that they could never be fixed again, but he didn’t care about that because they were his broken pieces—his to cherish, his to love, his to bring back to life.

  And nobody could love her the way he did because he was the only one who knew. In a strange way, he was the only one who could understand and he recognized she was aware of that, but he didn’t dare to hope that she would ever...

  And yet, when he looked at her, he saw it, right there, written on her face. She loved him. She...loved him.

  At that moment, he finally acknowledged the existence of angels and heaven because they gave him this miracle. And he knew it would be okay. With the awakening of the first sparkle in those eyes that had appeared to be dead for so long, he knew they would survive this because they had the only thing that mattered.

  He loved her.

  She loved him.

  Love would take away the pain.

  The End

  “Now will you let me read it?” Sebastian’s impatient voice startled me just as I was finishing the last words that marked the ending of the story I had been working on the past few months.

  I took one last glance at my notebook and closed its covers before slowly turning to face him. The moment my eyes landed on his graceful shape, I couldn’t help but smile.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough to see the two words I’ve been waiting for,” he said in a light voice and I narrowed my eyes, feigning confusion but he wouldn’t let me get away with it.

  As he stared at me expectantly, I stole a moment for myself—a moment to reflect on what I had just written. The dark, sad story was over and now I was ready for a new one. It wouldn’t be about heartache though. I didn’t have an exact idea yet, but I knew I wanted to write about beauty, love and happiness.

  My gaze roamed around the garden that was gradually surrendering its beauty to the approaching winter and I was surprised that Sebastian had come to look for me by the swing chair because he almost never went out into the garden. He must have known I was writing and he had to have been terribly eager to read the rest of the story.

  “A promise is a promise, I guess.” I shrugged and reluctantly handed him the notebook, already feeling nervous that he would read it. He accepted the gift with a smile on his face.

  “You’re right.” He sat down next to me and something flickered in his eyes when they landed on my engagement ring. “A promise is a promise,” he repeated, his eyes still frozen on my finger.

  His eyes traveled to mine and they locked together in a tender gaze. I brushed my fingers along the surface of the ring, circling around that symbol that represented how special our bond was to him. Infinity. But that infinity had to have come with an expensive price and even though I had spent days wondering about it, I didn’t dare to ask. Sebastian filled our time with so much happiness and precious moments, almost as if he wanted to make sure to keep his sacrifice a secret, but I didn’t want secrets between us. I had to know.

 
; “You never told me.” I started, taking the time to phrase my question.

  “Told you what, sweet?”

  “What did you have to sacrifice for all of this?”

  He sighed. “Nothing important.”

  “Sebastian, Goliath means the world to you. I would never forgive myself if—” I swallowed because the thought alone troubled me.

  On the other hand, he wasn’t even mildly upset. “Designing buildings means the world to me, Isabelle. I don’t have to be the head of The Goliath Holdings to do that.”

  “But what will happen to The Goliath if you leave?”

  “Not if I leave, Isabelle. I have already left,” he revealed and continued when I urged him to answer my question. “The Goliath will be owned by my family for as long as my father is alive. Then, it goes in the hands of the city of Rosemont, just like the will of my demented great-grandfather predicted.”

  “I feel so guilty. All those employees...”

  “You don’t need to feel guilty. Most of my employees as well as clients have decided to follow me.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked with a dose of fear.

  He smirked. “I wasn’t about to jeopardize our future, Isabelle. I’ve started a new company,” he said calmly, as if opening a business was the easiest thing in the world.

  “A new company?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

  “Yes. You’re going to love the name.” His face held a mysterious, teasing expression as he prolonged the anticipation and then revealed it at last. “Paradise Constructions.”

  I frowned when I heard the name. It was beautiful, but didn’t have a ring that could be associated with architecture like The Goliath.

  “Why would you call it that?” I had to ask.

  “Because it’s run by an angel,” he stated in a voice that rang with pride and I couldn’t make out if he was for real or joking.

  “Wow, calling yourself an angel?” I laughed and proceeded teasing him. “Not at all conceited, Sebastian.”

  He gazed at me, constantly smiling. “Who says I’m referring to myself?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. This was getting weird. “Didn’t you just say it was run by an angel and since you’re at the head of it—”

  “I never said I was at the head of that company.”

  I chuckled. “Then who is this mysterious angel of yours?” I asked and before he said anything it dawned on me.

  He leaned really close and kissed my lips. No, that couldn’t be.

  “I’m glad you asked,” he said in a light whisper that teased my lips. “It’s you.”

  I was sure he was playing tricks on me. “Sebastian, that’s not funny.”

  “I’m not joking. I wouldn’t dare to get on the boss’s bad side.” He winked at me.

  “I don’t believe you. One doesn’t just become a CEO over the night. I haven’t even signed anything.”

  “Oh, but you have, angel,” he accentuated the word, visibly enjoying the look of horror that settled over my face.

  “The divorce papers?” I mumbled in shock. “You wouldn’t...”

  He shrugged. “I’m afraid I would.”

  I was confused, surprised and furious... mostly furious. “But I know nothing about architecture and running companies, and—”

  “Shh, shh.” He gently stopped my angry rumbling with a small kiss. “It’s okay, love. I’ll take care of that. You don’t have to do anything. You’re not the CEO of anything; you simply own a lot of shares. “

  “Why did you do it?” I was more astonished than ever.

  He took a deep breath. “It’s a gesture, Isabelle. I want you to know how much I cherish the gift of your light.” Bright, green eyes bored into mine as he whispered softly. “No amount of your purity will ever wash away my sin, but despite that, you chose to stay by my side. And for that, I am sharing with you everything I have—my business, my soul, my heart.”

  “Sebastian, you don’t have to.”

  “But I do, Isabelle.” He smiled sadly and ran his hand through my hair. “You don’t realize how special you are, do you angel?”

  Our breaths collided and my throat squeezed into a heavy lump that was filled with sentiment.

  “Of course you don’t,” he whispered, “but that makes you even more special.” He smiled and wrapped his arm around me protectively. “We should head back inside. It’s getting cold and dark out here.”

  His impatient gaze told me he expected me to take his advice, but I remained sitting on the chair, getting lost in the sight of the transcending interlude of the dimming light and the approaching darkness on the sky. The round shape of the moon revealed itself behind the thick clouds and its companions, the shiny, glittered diamonds followed only moments after.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” Sebastian pleaded. “I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

  I shook my head. “I want to stay here. I want to look at the stars.” I turned to him and smiled. “Besides, it’s never cold when you’re around.”

  His arms embraced me even tighter, making me feel blessed and complete. Thank you, God, I thought to myself and looked towards the sky. Then, it appeared; the little fraction of blinding light, a shivering ornament of the black night. I had never seen anything like it.

  “Sebastian, can you see it?”

  “What?” he asked in a quiet, tender voice.

  “That ball of light on the sky?”

  For a long time, his eyes roamed along the darkness above, trying to catch a glimpse of the light I was talking about. I knew he wouldn’t be able to see it since it was already gone, but I was amused by his persistence to find it.

  “Yes, I can see it. It’s beautiful, love,” he lied.

  Smiling, I turned to face him and I saw it, right there written on his beautiful face. Behind all the murky clouds that hid him from me for so long, I saw a man who would do whatever it takes just to draw a smile to my face. And there was no greater gift than the emotion that blissfully reflected itself in those green eyes. He loved me. He... loved me.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Nearly two months after Sebastian’s proposal, we got married in a small chapel, in secrecy and away from all the prying eyes. The Everett’s knew about his actions and plans. Although they disagreed with everything and Theodore had even gone to great lengths to convince him to change his mind, Sebastian stood his ground and remained relentless in his decision to remarry me. The wedding took place in a very intimate atmosphere, in the presence of three people, two of which had been Jared and Helen who played their parts as best man and maid of honor. When compared to our first wedding, there hadn’t been tons of guests, a grandiose limousine ride or a fancy reception, but we had the one thing that had been missing that first time. Love. Love we expressed in the vows that were sprinkled with so many words of hope and affection. Once again, Sebastian swore that he would cherish me like his most prized possession until the end of our days. And I swore that I would always love him the same. When we said our ‘I do’s’, we couldn’t look away from each other and we smiled as if we had an inside joke nobody else could understand. In a moment when his hand brushed against mine and gently placed a ring on my finger, an uninvited, distant memory found its way in. But instead of evoking the feeling of sadness or doubt like before, it had only managed to pull me towards him even stronger. While leaving the dark tunnel of the past and entering the light of the new beginning, I knew we would be happy because we’d been through hell and made it out alive. And when I was putting the ring on his finger, I had never been more sure of anything in my life. I loved him.

  “You may kiss your bride,” the marriage officiant said after proclaiming us husband and wife.

  As a final act that erased the last remains of the painful memory, Sebastian removed my veil and just like it had back then, the scent of mint teased my senses. Only this time, instead of looking at me with cold contempt, there was nothing but warmth in his deep, mesmerizing emerald eyes. He leaned in for a kiss without breakin
g the gaze we shared and as he was about to lower his lips on mine, something flickered in his eyes and he smiled a wide smile.

  “My beautiful bride,” he whispered in a hot breath and finally sealed the beautiful moment with a passionate kiss that literally swept me off my feet.

  We got completely carried away with each other and only when Helen cleared her throat, reminding us that we weren’t alone, did he reluctantly break the kiss.

  “There’ll be plenty of time for this, love birds. Now it’s time to celebrate,” she teased us and then hugged me tightly. “Congratulations, sweetie. I’m so happy for you!”

  She was on the verge of crying and she tried to camouflage it, but by the time she got to Sebastian she was drowning in tears. Sebastian glanced towards me and we both chuckled at the fact that Helen was so deeply moved. She was truly an angel and without her, I certainly wouldn’t have gotten as far as I had.

  After Jared and Amelia wished us nothing but happiness, we headed to a small restaurant where we had dinner and though both Helen and Jared tried to convince us to prolong the evening, Sebastian seemed so impatient and eager to leave that he simply ignored their request and told them we had to take care of something important. As we were walking outside, I caught a glimpse of Helen who was smirking and winking at me. I blushed, but I had no time to contemplate on Sebastian’s words because before apprehension could get the best of me, he reassured me by treating me like a true gentleman, with so much affection that defeated the slightest thought that there was anything for me to be nervous about. When we got to the car, he wouldn’t stop smiling and he pulled something out of his pocket. When I realized it was a blindfold, I looked at him in confusion.

  He shook his head. “I don’t even want to know what you’re thinking,” he said in a light, teasing voice and smiled with reassuring tenderness. “I have something to show you and I want to make sure you don’t see it before I ask you to.”