CHAPTER 25
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 bridesmaids were busy having their hair and makeup done. Relatives and close friends came and went to congratulate the bride. All this Alex watched in awe, wishing one day it would be her turn. The thought brought a nice feeling to her body, and her eyes searched for Jayden. She found him among his three cousins: two male and a young female. They were much younger than he was, and they seemed to worship him like he was some kind of 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 changed.”
Alex turned to look at Gracie. “Oh, right,” she said, nodding her head. “I suppose 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 coiffured 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. Congratulations, by the way.”
Alex blinked. She wondered if the woman was talking to the wrong person. Perhaps she thought Alexandra was Kelly. If the woman was a friend of the McCartney family, then she hadn’t been well informed.
“Oh,” Alex responded, wondering what she should say.
“Oops,” the woman chuckled. “Wasn’t supposed to say, but congratulations nonetheless.”
Then she was gone. Alex raised her brows in confusion. She shook her head and hurried up the stairs. Halfway, she heard somebody say, “Hey, Alex, right? Congratulations!”
Alex just smiled. There we go. Another one. She’d have to tell Jayden his family’s friends were congratulating the wrong person.
In the bedroom, she went into the walk-in wardrobe and took out her silk gown. She held the dress to her chest and couldn’t believe her life could be so different in such a short space of time. She sighed, tears brewing in her eyes.
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. Then her jeans and bra followed. She slipped the 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 zipper. She got halfway 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 a note of accusation in her voice.
“A while,” he said easily, ambling to her, a devilish grin on his face.
Alex blushed intensely, wondering what he 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 he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked so beautiful with her hairdo, the oriental lily on her head, her face all made up to perfection, which enhanced her eyes and luscious lips, and her milky skin, soft and smooth.
“Okay. 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 looking at what I like,” he said. “My eyes are dilated.”
“Oh,” was all Alex could get out. She bit her lip. So he liked looking at her? “Jayden!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, Alex,” he responded. “Can I help you with that zipper?”
“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 watched, 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 to her. Alex became nervous all of a sudden. She started fidgeting and biting her lip. Jayden reached out for the zipper, his hands warm against her bare skin. He pulled up the pull, his knuckles brushing against her back, stroking her all the way up. Alex held her breath as sensual sensations rushed through her body.
Once he was done, Jayden leaned his head to her and whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful.”
She smiled and whispered back, “Thanks.”
Jayden snuggled his nose in the nape of her neck and started to kiss her there. He moved his lips slowly to her chin and then to her lips. Alex tilted her head back to look up at him, her eyes large. “I can’t kiss you,” she said softly.
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll ruin my makeup,” she replied, a satisfied smile 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.”
“Shh…” He moved his lips to her back, and with his fingers, he peeled the strap down from one of her shoulders.
Alex’s head was swimming. She thought 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.
“There you two are,” a female voice echoed from the door.
Jayden looked up to see Beth frowning at him, telling him there’d be plenty of time for that, but not now.
“It’s time we leave for church.”
“Yes, of course,” Jayden said. Once Beth was gone, he turned to Alex, who was blushing profoundly. “Sorry, sweetheart.” He gently replaced the strap back on her shoulder and led her to the door.
Their drive to St. Bart’s Church was a short one. There they mingle with family 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-faced. The piano started playing “Here Comes the Bride” and the bridesmaids entered slowly, one small step at a time. Stephanie, as the maid of honor, was last, and then behind her was the beautiful bride herself, Kelly. All eyes were on her.
Once Kelly reached the front stage, Sam took her hand, grinning from ear to ear.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the priest began, “we gather here to celebrate…”
Alex felt Jayden’s hand over hers. She glanced up and saw him wink at her. Her heart missed a beat. Oh dear! As she turned back to watch Sam and Kelly, she couldn’t stop grinning.
“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 others, 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. “Will you, Kelly McCartney, have Sam Hunter to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and, forsaking all others, 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 ple
ase 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 padded 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 and then kissed her. A loud applause followed, and then they signed their wedding certificates.
“That was a wonderful wedding ceremony, Jayden,” Alex said.
“Yeah, it was.” He agreed. “Time for some photos.” He winked at her.
“Oh no. Must I be in them?”
“Yes.” He stood. “Come on.”
Alex groaned as he led her to the newlywed couple where they were surrounded by well-wishers, journalists, and paparazzi.
“I didn’t know this would be 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.
“Yes,” Jayden replied.
Alex saw Kelly waved at her to come over.
“Let’s have some family photos,” one of the cameramen shouted into the buzzing crowd.
“Family photos,” Jayden said. “Come on.”
“But 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 called out, pulling her forward.
And so Alex found herself wedged between Jayden, who had his hand around her waist, and Gracie. She smiled and laughed as the cameramen made jokes and demanded they repeat what they said. She suddenly forgot about the people and the rapid, continuous flashing lights from the cameras.
Once the family and friend 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-aged journalist and her cameraman appeared before them.
“Hello, Mr. McCartney,” she said pleasantly. “My name is Janet Tallmark. I’m a journalist from 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 all right with you and your 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?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Jayden replied, shrugging his shoulders.
She asked him more questions about his business. The picture that the journalist got on 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 bumped 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 rising, confused.
“No, we’re not that far yet,” Jayden commented. “It’s going to be some time away.”
“You two look great together,” Janet said. “Would you mind if we take some photos of the two of you?”
Alex shook her head. At the same time, Jayden said, “Go for it.”
Jayden pulled Alex closer to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. They smiled as the camera flashed continuously.
Janet said, “Thank you both for the interview. It’s been a pleasure.”
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