Chapter Six: The Wedding

Rian's POV:

    Once I was seated on my bed, Dani takes his seat beside me. I asked him again the same question that I'd asked before we exited dad's office.

    "Do you know about this? Their great idea to solve their fucking problem?" I never swear in front of our parents, but Dani knows I do.

    "Honestly, yes and no. Dad's just explained it to me this morning." I looked at him straight but he doesn't look at me. He's just staring on the wall blankly.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I know that the company was struggling with a financial crisis and that we needed help. But I didn't know they were planning for you and Alex to get married to merge the company. Until this morning, he told me their plan."

    "Why do we need to get married? What are the Smith's plans after the merging?"

    "They will let dad to loan from their bank how much money he needed to save the company. But they had to sign an agreement----"

"----The agreement that Alex and I would be contractually married for five years?" I cut him off.

    "Yes."

    "But why does it needs to end with this? Or it's all just dad's plan? For me to become his collateral---"

this time he's the one who cut me off.

    "No, Rian. Dad wasn't thinking anything like that."

    "Then why? Why does he have to agree with the agreement?" I can now feel my eyes stinging from the tears I've been holding since we entered my room.

    "In the business industry, you have to be smart. You have to always think ahead and find a better idea every time you are facing a crisis. They have to come up with this idea for future reference. If somebody will leak the details to the press, they have you and Alex for their back up." he sighed before he continues. "Rian, dad loves the company as well as he loves you... us. This company holds a lot of memories for him. It was the family's legacy. His great grandfather built the company. The same company where his grandfather met his wife, and also with dad. This is where he met mom as his secretary. This company means a lot to him. He would give his best just to save it----"

     "Yeah. Even though giving away his own daughter just to save his company." Dani wiped every tears that were now running freely on my face.

    "No, Rian. Always remember this. If dad would have to choose between you and the company, he would definitely choose you over anything else in this world."

    I wiped my tears and bite my lip as I looked at him.

    "You know why?" I shook my head as I didn't understand what he was saying.

    He pulled me into an embrace while stroking my back up and down. His way of calming me when I am afraid and crying... even when we were young. He will just hold me and sometimes cry along with me, murmuring things just to stop me from crying... until I fall into sleep. And now, we're in the same situation. he's here. Being my old brother again, even sometimes.... I mean... most of the time, I am a bitch to him and pissing the hell out of him.

    "Because he knew that when you married Alex, you'll probably in good hands and in a good family. He doesn't need to worry about you being away from him... from us."

    "But this marriage is just fake!"

    "It's not. You will have a legal wedding. That means, there is someone added to our family who would protect you aside from us. And Alex...he's a good man, Rian."

    "Goodman? Seriously Dani? They don't know what they're doing!" I had to pull back to look at him again.

    "You know what... on the other hands, I'm glad that it's Alex you're going to mary with and not some guy outside." he said nonchalantly and ignored what I said.

    "What do you mean you're glad that he's the one I'm going to mary with?"

    "Yeah,  because I told you, he's a great guy."

"Oh, Dani. that's not true! He hates me, can't you see?" I managed to stand up and bring my arms to my chest. I can't believe him saying good things to me a while ago... then now talking nonsense after a few minutes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Walking down the aisle, I wear my most practised smile from two weeks ago. When I looked directly at the altar, there is my groom waiting for me. My breath hitched as I felt my heart beating so fast inside my chest. He's wearing a 3 piece navy blue suit with ribbon on his neck.

    He looked more handsome than ever. His brown hair has been brushed at the top and he is smiling .... wait .... smiling? This is the first time I've seen him smile at me. A real smile that is.

    I smiled back at him. I can't take my eyes from his mesmerizing grey eyes.

    My dad kissed my cheek and handed my hand to Alex. I can't help the blush that crept on my face from the look he's giving me. He held my hand and guided me in front of the altar. And the ceremony has begun.

    After our exchange of I do's and fake vows...

    "Bride and Groom, you have each chosen to be joined in marriage today. The bible states that 'two are better than one; they receive a good reward for their toil. Because if one fails, the other can help the companion up again.

    In my presence, and in the presence of your family and friends, you have exchanged vows and made promises.

    You have opened your hearts to one another, declared your love and friendship and have united yourself with the exchanging of rings.

    Therefore, with the blessing of God, it is my pleasure to now pronounce you... husband and wife.

    You may now kiss the bride!"

    And with that, he kissed me. Not just a simple kiss but a passionate one. My heart is pounding inside and I just closed my eyes from the sensation that is all new to me and is now spreading through my veins.

-'my first kiss'-

    I didn't know how to respond, so I remained standing while he's doing magic to my lips and to me. When my lungs started to lack in oxygen, he pulled away... grinning.

I don't know if he's happy or if he knew that he was my first kiss. I blushed in a crimson red. There's a tint of my lipstick on his chin. He brushed my swollen lips by his right thumb and I can hear the people cheering and clapping their hands. Before I knew it, I am now wiping his lips with my own thumb. He stared at me with surprise written oh his face.

    I was still blushing, but I stared at him with my hands resting on his cheek. Call me crazy.. but this is just my first and last chance to do it. Somehow I wanted our situation to be different. The total opposite of what we have right now. But nothing will change, we are now both trapped in this contractual marriage. Now I'm Arriana Angela Kelley-Smith... for five years...starting today.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

    We sat in silence in our bridal car until we arrived at the reception. He opened the side of my door and helped out of the car. He placed his hand on my lower back and I almost stopped from walking when I felt the tingling and sparks from his touch.

I can't explain the feeling ... it's just a simple gesture, it's just a touch ... my body responds easily to it. When we entered the room, I wear my most practised smile again. I also found him smiling as we greet some of our guests.

    After eating and cutting our wedding cake. Our parents requested that we should do our couple dance. Actually it's my first dance because I asked mom, dad and even Dani not to organize a debut party for my 18 birthday. We just celebrated a simple pool party.

See? How many of my first should belong to this man? To my husband? Funny... if it's in another situation, I would be glad to give him anything... and all of my first that have yet to be discovered.

After 3 songs, I already felt my feet giving due to the 4 inches sandals that I was wearing since this morning.

    The host now called the wedding singer. I smiled... not noticing my husband's amused stare. It's one of my simple dream. To sing for a wedding ceremony, to the wedding reception and some other occasions that needs a singer.

'Baby I do'  was the title of the song. I personally chose this song since my Filipina nanny, Emily helped me to find my wedding songs. Juris is a Filipina singer from my nanny's land...Philippines. When I heard her voice, she held so many emotions when she sings. And I fell in love with it.

    I sing silently on my seat, still unaware of my husband's now intense gaze.

https://youtu.be/-sqniCWEBZY

**You're always on my mind, since I've had this feeling. I found in you a dream, I've believed to be true. Finally you got me fallin' like this, I don't wanna end a feeling like this...

You know I want to share my world with you, I promise to you my feelings will never change. You know I want to, forever live in this moment. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, I do...

Dreaming of a life, a happy ever after. I couldn't imagine if it wouldn't be with you. Each day is like a fairy tale come true, I wouldn't ask for more than being with you...

You know I want to, share my world with you. I promise to you my feelings will never change. You know I want, forever live in this moment. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, I do...

You know I want to share my world with you, I promise to you my feelings will never change. You know I want to forever live in this moment. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, I do...

I wanna spend the rest of my life with you... I do...

With you... I wanna spent the rest of my life

Baby I do...**

(End of flashback)