Alex glanced up at the chandeliers and the ornate ceiling above her as she sipped her red wine. The wedding reception, being held in one of the main halls at the McCartney’s Hotel, of which Jayden proudly told her he owned half the shares, was truly beautiful and elegant. She couldn’t believe she was there, attending one of the biggest weddings in New York, sitting in a five-star hotel, and enjoying a high-class meal. She was stoked and thoroughly enjoying herself.
She glanced at the man beside her, the man who made it all possible for her.
Jayden leaned to her and whispered, “Aren’t you going to go up?”
Alex was confused. “Why?”
“Don’t you want the bouquet?”
“Is Kelly going to throw it now?”
Jayden nodded. “Go on.”
“I don’t think—”
She was interrupted by Stephanie, who was pulling her by the arm to her feet and then dragging her toward the area near the stage. “This is exciting.”
“Yeah,” Alex responded, trying to keep up with Stephanie’s fast pace.
They begged their way through the girls and stopped right in the middle of the crowd. The girls shoved and pushed in excitement, shouting, “Give it to me! Give it to me!”
Kelly, who was on the stage, laughed and then turned around so her back was to them. The men cheered and urged Kelly to get it going.
Kelly said, “All right. Here we go.” She threw the bouquet up high. The girls screamed and shoved, their hands in the air as they tried to catch the beautiful bunch of flowers. Alex got shoved back in the process. She was laughing and thought she’d better get out of the way before she got stampeded by excited young women competing for a bouquet. Before she knew what was happening, however, the flower bouquet flew straight at her and landed in her arms.
Stephanie shrieked, “Alex got it! Alex got it!”
Another cheer went up. Alex rushed back to her seat, her heart pumping loud and fast.
“Well done,” Jayden chuckled, clapping loudly. “So who’s the lucky guy? When’s the wedding?”
Alex slapped his arm in annoyance. He only laughed back in response. Then the music started, and Sam and Kelly walked to the center of the dance floor. It was the song “Oh, My Love.” All eyes were on the newlyweds, who were slowly dancing and swirling around the floor. Suddenly, Tom and Gracie joined in and then Sam’s parents.
Jayden moved to Alex, who was enjoying the show. He said, “Come on.”
He took her hand, pulled her to her feet, and led her to the dance floor.
“Jayden,” she hissed. “It’s only for couples.”
“We are one, aren’t we?”
“Well, I suppose.”
On the dance floor, he wrapped his arms around her waist and told her to put her arms around his neck. She obeyed and bit her lip nervously. Then he led her along with the slow music. Alex started to relax as she closed her eyes and listened to the beat and lyric of the song.
“Why are you closing your eyes?”
“Because I can understand it better that way. I get myself lost in the song, and I can feel it through my body.”
“Right.” He closed his eyes, too. A moment later, he opened them and said, “It’s true.”
Alex laughed. They danced along, and Alex closed her eyes again. Jayden couldn’t help himself and moved his face to her. Then he kissed her on the lips.
Alex gasped and opened her eyes. When she was about to stop the kiss by moving her head back, Jayden had his hand behind her neck, forcing her to stay still. Then he deepened the kiss. His mouth was sweet and warm against hers, and Alex found it hard to resist. She responded to him and tightened her arms about his neck.
Suddenly, the music stopped. A loud applause followed. Alex flashed her eyes open and moved her head back. She saw indeed all eyes were on them. She flushed in embarrassment as Jayden, grinning from ear to ear, led her back to their seats.
“I need to go to the ladies’ room,” she said to him breathlessly and rushed away.
Once she was safely inside, she sighed and took a deep breath. She started washing her hands, grinning.
So this is love, then? This wonderful feeling she was having right now?
“I see you’re enjoying yourself, bitch,” Britney said at the door.
Alex gasped and turned to look at the sexy woman advancing toward her in a threatening manner.
“I am,” Alex said, squaring her shoulders.
Britney came to stand in front of her and sneered. “Enjoy it all while you can. It won’t last. Jayden’s not over Sarah yet. He’s going to go back to her. You and I both know that. He knew her and dated her for five years. And you? You’ve just met him for what, a month or two?”
Alex gritted her teeth. “I think this is none of your business.”
Britney raised her hand in a defensive manner. “Hey, I know this is none of my business. But I’m just warning you before you get your heart broken because you don’t look like the kind who can handle such a nasty thing.”
Alex folded her arms across her chest and said sarcastically, “Well, thank you for your advice. Now, if you’d excuse me.” She headed toward the door.
Britney grabbed her arm and swung her back. “Admit it! Admit you’re only trying to get Jayden’s money. Admit it’s because he’s rich. Admit it now.”
Alex thrust her arm free. “You think I’d stoop that low? Listen here, Britney. I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t go for a guy just because he has money to throw away. I’m a big girl. I can look after myself. And FYI, I happen to love Jayden for the man he is.” She faked a smile at the woman and turned on her heel.
“Go back to your slum, bitch, and leave us alone,” Britney growled.
Alex swirled around and slapped Britney in the face, hard. She felt satisfied indeed to see red finger marks on the woman’s flawless cheek. “I’m not a bitch, not like you, Britney. And I happen to live in New Zealand, a clean country that’s hardly a slum.” Then with her head high, she marched off.
Along the corridor, still breathing heavily from the unexpected encounter, Alex could hear Britney shouting, “I’ve warned you, Alexandra. You’ll see. He’ll go back to Sarah. He’s still in love with Sarah. He will never love the likes of you, you slum bitch!”
Alex gritted her teeth, holding back tears. God, how she wished she could go back and slap that silly woman again. As she got closer to the hall, however, she wondered if perhaps Britney was right. Perhaps Jayden still had feelings for Sarah. Perhaps he—
“Miss?”
Alex turned to see a handsome receptionist before her. “Yes?”
“Are you Miss Alexandra Stewart?”
“Yes, I am,” she replied, wondering what this was about.
“This is for you.”
Alex took the little card he handed her. She glanced down and saw it had the name Jayden at the bottom. “Thanks.”
The young man nodded and left her. Alex read the contents of the note.
Alexandra, meet me at 11 p.m. exactly in room 879.
—Jayden
She was curious. What could this mean? Why would Jay ask her to meet up with him alone?
When she got back to her seat, Jayden was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he had already gone up to room 879?
* * * * *