The unnoticed billionair.., p.40
The Unnoticed Billionaire, page 40
I look up at Kai. He gazes at the tombstone with pained eyes. His brows are drawn together. The look on his face makes me sad. He’s still beating himself over it.
I put my hand on his shoulder, and he snaps out of his thoughts, realizing I’ve already stopped talking. He looks at me with a sad smile on his face.
“I was here last week, before our engagement party,” he discloses. “Your mother gave me the directions. I asked him for your hand in marriage. Wanted to at least do something right by him.”
“Hmm, hopeless romantic much?” I ask him, teasing him to try to lift the mood.
“You can say that,” he replies. Then we break our gaze and stare at the tombstone again in silence.
CHAPTER FORTY
Things start moving fast from that point on. Mom and Emma will be moving in together in the city shortly after the wedding to begin their new venture project of helping foster children. Things between Christian and Chloe remain tacit, especially since Chloe fervently avoids Christian.
The weather starts getting chilly, just as predicted. I finally succeed in getting Emma and Chloe to concur to a small wedding, so we can hold the reception on the estate.
The conflict of opinions between Lucy and Chloe, my maid of honor and bridesmaid, respectively, becomes acute when the hired wedding planner puts them in charge of choosing their own dresses. Eventually, I break the war by voting for a completely different color. Red. Tersely, the two of them agree, not daring to go against my word.
Lucy is very excited. She hasn’t stopped grinning since I told her she is my maid of honor. This will be her first time being a maid of honor. And not just that, she also gets to wear expensive clothes and mingle with the elite and wealthy families of New York without paying a penny, as she put it. Gosh, I love her sense of humor and confidence in everything.
Two weeks after the engagement party, my wedding dress is ready for its final fitting. When the news of our engagement went out, we received many requests to design my wedding dress. Soon, requests for all types of wedding preparation, decoration, and accessories came in.
When I step out from behind the curtains, everybody gasps. And when I say ‘everybody’, I mean Mom, Emma, Chloe, Lucy, and even Cynthia. Emma insisted on Cynthia accompanying us after she kept asking about the dress. Standing in front of the huge mirrors, they adjust the last bits and straighten the skirt. One assistant puts the veil on my head and arranges it as I stare at myself in the mirror. I can’t believe I’m staring at my reflection wearing a wedding dress.
The white trumpet skirt hugs my hips and outlines my figure. Too busy admiring the beautiful artwork, I’m not even concerned about my curves being on full display. Though I’m sure that Kai will appreciate it, as he always reminds me how he likes the feel of my curves under his palm every day. Even thinking about it makes me blush.
The back is completely bare except for the vintage sheer lace. The skirt trails behind me in a beautiful display of flower-patterned lace and shimmering sparkles.
“I’ve got this.” Emma steps up to the platform and reaches into her bag to pull out a black wooden box that is the size of a book. “It’s not old and blue, but it’s a gift from Liam on our wedding day. It was his mother’s.” With a smile on her face, she looks down at the box.
She opens the box to reveal a tiara headband fit for a princess. Little twinkly diamonds shine like baby’s breath. A handful of pearls, held in place by a thin white-gold wire.
“When Kai found out I was gonna give this to you, he offered to make some additions. He requested the diamonds to be added. He did warn me that you might not accept it. And I am prepared to persuade you if I must, using my motherly tone.”
I giggle, covering my mouth with my hands. I crouch down obediently, lowering my head so she can place it on my head.
Emma hugs me before brushing her tears and stepping away. I look back at the mirror, not recognizing the girl standing before me in all this luxury. I genuinely look like a princess—a childhood dream achieved. I wish Dad were here so he could see me. So he could see how happy I am. I miss him so much. As if sensing my heartache, Mom appears by my side, hugging me close to her.
***
Friday, the day before the wedding, comes faster than expected. My friends and I will be leaving the house to stay in a hotel overnight while Kai and his bachelor party will remain in the house.
“Do you really have to go?” Kai groans as he watches me pack my stuff from the threshold of the walk-in closet.
“Yep, you can blame it on your sister and Lucy,” I reply as I zip up my small bag. Everything else needed for the wedding will be brought to the hotel room.
Kai shakes his head. He stops me as I’m about to walk out of the walk-in closet and kisses me.
“Enjoy your last day of freedom,” Kai whispers against my lips. I laugh. He smiles, but it soon vanishes. “Will you promise me that if you have cold feet, you’ll talk to me so I can change your mind?”
I want to laugh, but then I notice the seriousness in his voice. He’s not kidding. I heave a breath and wrap my arms around his torso before putting my head on his chest. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this, together.”
He puts his head on top of mine and wraps his arms around me. Without preamble, he lifts me in the air and swings us around.
Parting from Kai is difficult since this would be our first in a long time that we won’t spend together. Thankfully my cheerful bridesmaids fill the ride to the hotel with enough laughter and distraction that makes it bearable.
Lucy and Chloe have each invited one more friend to make the bachelorette party more fun. After a hearty late breakfast at the buffet, Chloe takes charge of the morning activities.
“Please don’t tell me you hired strippers.” I grimace as we enter the suite after the spa.
“No.” Chloe pouts. “Your husband-to-be banned that.” She makes another face. I have a feeling he would do so.
She opens the door to a suite filled with pink and white flowers and boxes. A couple of ‘bride-to-be’ helium balloons decorate the place. The table in the middle of the suite is filled with champagne, refreshment, and fruits.
“Happy Bachelorette Party!” Lucy and Chloe squeal.
Recovered from the shock, I smile and thank the ladies. We all sit around on the couches with me in the middle. I open the first box, handed to me by Lucy. Inside, I find a sheer black swimsuit. It’s not even a swimsuit.
It’s a . . . lingerie! I gasp, my eyes going round as I set the lingerie down and give Lucy a horrified look. Oh boy. I should have known. Chloe is obsessed with lingerie and sheer lace.
I hold it up again and assess it. I can’t see myself wearing it. I blush furiously, imagining myself in it as I walk out of the bathroom and show it to Kai.
“Oh, please. It’s not like you guys haven’t seen each other naked. You do it every night. That’s probably why your mom is moving out,” Lucy jokes as she wiggles her eyebrows at me suggestively. I blush again. I hope that’s not the reason she is moving out. She is on the opposite side of the mansion.
“Lucy, TMI. That’s my brother we’re talking about. Argh, it’s so disturbing.” Chloe shakes her head and sticks her tongue out, pretending to gag.
Says the woman who planned a lingerie party for her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
The night continues with us singing karaoke, playing games, and getting drunk. We dance until I can’t feel my feet anymore, and they can’t stand upright. I’m beginning to think they’re enjoying this more than I am. The five of us finally fall asleep on the floor on the makeshift beds made out of pillows and fluffy blankets. Although there are perfectly comfortable beds in the attached bedrooms.
A few winks before sunrise, I wake up and find myself unable to go back to sleep. So I sit on the balcony and look at the vast view of the city. I put a blanket around myself as I enjoy the fading twinkling lights and the low sound of cars on the streets.
In just a few hours, I’m going to dress up and walk down the aisle. Today is the day that Kai and I will be bonded out of love. Not using this time to sleep is a decision that will probably bite me back as the day wears on, especially since Kai and I will be leaving for our honeymoon after the reception. But my nerves and anxiety make sleep impossible.
A blaring sound of alarm awakens all everyone at once. The girls groan in displeasure. Each takes their time to set themselves straight and prepare for the day. Lucy has dark circles under her eyes, but knowing how sensitive she is about her appearance and hangover state, I decide not to mention it. Instead, I dial hotel service for breakfast and some Advil.
Before I can place an order, there is a knock on the door. Two hotel employees are by the door. They have two rolling carts in front of them with a variety of food for breakfast. Kai has apparently requested the service. Oh, that thoughtful man.
The makeup team arrives about two hours later, just as we finish taking showers, each taking turns in the two adjoining bathrooms.
The hotel employees return to collect the rolling carts and leave a white envelope behind. I flip the envelope around, immediately recognizing the handwriting. Kai has never disappointed me when it comes down to sweet poetic words. I suspect he secretly reads poetry and romantic blogs, just to tell me how much he loves me in a new way.
“Boy, you guys can’t wait a few more hours, can you?” Lucy winks at me as she grabs a strawberry on her way to the couch.
Ignoring her, I smile as I open it.
My world started spinning when you entered. I only have eyes for you. I miss you and I can’t wait to marry you. Remember when you said we belong to different worlds? Guess what? We brought two worlds together just to be with each other. Thank you, my love.
Today, I will prove my love to you. And I will keep proving it from this day on.
I love you,
Kai Davis, your Tyler Hall.
I fold the letter carefully, imagining him writing this to me this morning. When everyone is busy preparing, I fish out my phone and text him.
Just received your note. My heart beats for you only. You saved me from myself. Can’t wait to see you again. I’ll be the one in white.
Still smiling to myself, I put my phone away before anyone notices.
At half past eleven, the makeup team is finished and starts packing up. My friends help me into my dress, and Chloe does the honor of putting the headpiece on my head.
Once they are done, I peer at my reflection in the mirror across the room. My hair is bound in a simple headband updo on the back of my head, with some loose curls escaping. The headpiece shines on top of my head, somehow seemingly attached to my hair by some invisible force. The makeup artists have heeded my request and applied as little makeup as possible.
Nevertheless, the woman before me looks different. I look beautiful, almost glowing. I feel beautiful and ready.
I sit tight in the limousine and wait for the car to exit the underground parking. As it does, a sea of media reporters attack the car, desperate to take a photo. I will never get used to this kind of attention.
Finally, we arrive at the mansion, not surprised to find even more reporters standing outside the gates. There is a line of cars parked before the house. From where the limousine parks, I can see the fully transformed garden. It’s now full of guests standing around and chatting. The gazebo is obscured from here, but I can see hints of flowers hanging from the roof.
A shiver runs through my body when I step out of the limousine. Whether it is from being nervous or it’s the early October weather, I don’t know. One of the wedding planners meets us halfway through the front stairs and helps me with my long gown train. We then walk inside the house and to the double French doors leading to the garden.
The Aisle. Marriage.
“Are you ready?” Lucy asks. I start getting nervous suddenly. My heart picks up, and I feel my breath getting shorter and shorter.
“Yeah,” I answer curtly.
I steal a sneaky glance outside, seeing how beautiful the garden is adorned. The gazebo, now the wedding altar, is full of white, red, and pink roses and various other flowers that make the garden even more magical than it already is. The white chairs are perched in rows. A large arch of red roses is at the beginning of the aisle. I spy Kai standing with his back to the entrance, talking to someone. Chloe begins straightening my trail, but, soon, Lucy stops her. It’s time for them to make their entrance. Mia and Glen, the other two friends they brought along, have already taken their seats by the garden.
I breathe through pursed lips to help me calm down.
When Chloe and Lucy are on the aisle, Mom appears with Nick behind her. She grabs my hand and gives it a supporting squeeze. She hands me my bouquet of fresh flowers. Roses, lilies, pompons, and daisies.
Nick hugs me. “John is very proud of you. It’s an honor to be the one to give you away.” He leans in and kisses my forehead. “Are you ready?”
I have barely enough breath left in me before the doors are opened.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
KAI
There she is. My Elena Wilson, soon to be Elena Davis. My Elena Davis.
The love of my life. The reason I live. The person who made me the man I am today. The sweetness in my bitter life. And, yes, I had to read many romantic poems to find words fitting for how I feel. Words fit for a Goddess like her. To be worthy of her sentiments.
“Good luck, but I doubt you need it.” Christian pats me on the back, but his voice is miles away.
The only thing I hear is my heart beating out of my chest. The only thing I see is her. Her angelic face takes my breath away, as it does every single day. Every morning, I wake up to her beautiful face. Sometimes, she is still asleep; other times, she stares at me with those huge green eyes. It’s the best moment of the day—a reminder of how lucky I am.
A large white veil covers her face and hair, but I can still see her eyes fixed on me. Her rosy red lips are parted as if she just let out a breath.
A sudden tightness swells in my chest. Swallowing becomes too difficult suddenly. I breathe in and out to calm myself. And also to prevent myself from marching down the aisle, snatching her into my arms, and kissing her senseless like a madman.
God, I miss her so much. Who would have known a day away from her could be so excruciating? Last night, when we finally stopped drinking, I barely made it to our bedroom. But as drunk and happy as I was, sleeping wasn’t easy. Not until I went to the closet and pulled out her nightgown. I inhaled her flowery scent and laid it down next to my head before finally passing out.
Damn it, why is this aisle so long?
I start growing restless. My heart races. The piano song playing in the background is not doing much help in calming me either. Oh, for God’s sake, why are my eyes burning hot?
I continue my admiration to distract myself before my thoughts of how much I have missed her make me act like a madman. Her wedding gown, white and very detailed, hugs her figure and astonishing curves.
The beautiful headpiece that I had updated adorns her brown hair like a royal tiara. She is so beautiful that she takes everyone’s breath as she walks down the aisle.
That’s right. She is mine. And I hers. They can gape and gawk all they want, but there is only one person she has eyes for. And that is me.
For a moment, she steals her eyes away from me to observe her surroundings, surprised slightly at how the annoying wedding planner that Mom has hired has successfully turned the garden into a wedding venue. Well, I suppose now that we are marrying, this will be Elena’s garden, as she is now the lady of the house.
Elena’s eyes return to me, her face beaming, satisfied with the results. I reply with a huge grin. Inside, I am a mess. I restlessly distract myself by pinching my fingers. Breathe, Kai. Just breathe, damn it.
‘You look beautiful,’ I mouth to her and earn a cheeky smile as she casts her eyes down in an attempt to suppress her grin from showing.
Finally, she and Nick stop three feet away. Nick looks down at her and smiles. She reaches up and hugs him briefly before turning to me with a wide smile. My hand itches to grab hers. Argh, to be so close and unable to touch or kiss her.
The officiant signals to the guests to be seated. The garden becomes quiet, except for the sound of distant waves crashing on the shore and birds on the trees.
“Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to witness the union of love between Kai and Elena . . .” the officiant starts, but my mind is too distracted by the beauty standing next to me to pay much attention.
I inhale deeply, taking in her rose and lavender scent. As if not believing her presence next to me, my pinky finger reaches for her and slightly touches her gown. She is here. This is happening. This woman is going to be mine forever.
“Now, the bride and groom have decided to provide their own vows.” The officiant nods toward me.
Handing her bouquet to Lucy, Elena meets my hand in the middle. I caress my thumb over the back of her hand, finally glad to be able to touch her. My heart tightens as it swells with happiness. I have to remind myself to breathe and calm down before I make a spectacle of myself.
“Elena Carina Wilson, I’ve never wanted anyone’s attention as much as yours. I never wanted someone’s approval so much in my life as I needed yours. The moment I met you and in the first few words, you told me how much you hated my guts, and even though you didn’t know who I was, I wanted more.” I take a moment to breathe, not just to rein in all the multiple emotions I’m feeling all at once but also to find words fitting to how I feel.
