06: Discussion

CHRISTY:

I looked for any hint that Everette was only joking, but the way his eyes twinkled was an indication that he was not. He wanted a wedding? He wanted to show off how he was so rich.

A shiver ran down my spine as I imagined myself with all the cameras on me.  Then, Everette was all smiles at the camera. 

That’s not going to happen.

I will choose my own wedding whether he wants it or not. 

“I refuse to marry you if you insist on that kind of luxurious wedding.”

Mom would be happy about it. To show off, but not me. If I was going to wed over someone whom I did not even love, I might as well go on with the kind of wedding I wanted. 

Everette’s brows furrowed. “Why? Christina. What kind of woman would not want that kind of wedding? That’s how my wedding would be. That’s also what my family wanted,” he explained. 

Ah, right. Everette had a loving family compared to mine. They had such close ties that even his brothers and sisters were living in their mansion. I had no problem with that since that was the kind of relationship I badly wanted to have. Not a Mother who did not even have an inkling of love for me.

“If you insist, you marry your family,” I retorted and was about to turn my back, but Everette stopped me on my wrist. Looking at his hands, I asked, “What? You let me go.”

He sucked in a breath as if controlling his anger. “What do you want then, Christina? What kind of wedding are you planning now?”

He really wanted that marriage?

Raising my eyebrows, I ordered, “I’m not talking to you unless you release my hand. I wanted to keep my personal space.”

He did. Reluctantly. 

Straightening my clothes, I said, “I want an intimate wedding where only ten or fewer people will attend. It’s only fair to me if we were the only ones around. Fewer people, less drama.”

Everette’s mouth fell open. “That’s not the wedding I am imagining. That’s my wedding. The whole world will know.”

“You can marry yourself,” I suggested while smiling sweetly. 

You badly wanted to marry me? Then, I will make your life difficult, Everette. You brought this upon yourself. 

His expression darkened. “You don’t believe in marriage?”

I believed in marriage, the reason I stopped fucking any random guy. I wanted to settle with someone whom I loved. Like Poppy. I believed in love and the holy wedding ceremony. But when I thought of marrying Everette and the threats he posed to our family, I was willing to forget my dreams and just go over this. 

“I don’t believe in marriage,” I answered curtly, lying with a straight face. “If you have any problems with that, you can ask someone else to marry.”

Two girls wearing skimpy clothes walked in front of us and it did not fail to notice they were flirting with him. 

A glare was all it took to drive them away. 

With the threat eliminated, I returned my gaze to him and realized he was looking at me. 

My brows formed a straight line. 

“That someone else is not indebted to me a million dollars. Unfortunately, it’s only your family who has a million-dollar debt.”

“The very reason why I approved of marrying you.”

Everette leaned on his one leg. “Tina. Why do you make me feel that marrying me is such a bad move?”

“Because that is the case. It was Rett whom I wanted to marry. Not Everette Watson.”

“We are the same person.”

“I only wanted Rett. Not you. I want to make it clear.”

Everette shook his head. “It is the same to me.” He heaved a long sigh.  “If you wish to go for a simple wedding, then what choice do I have?”

Why did this man set on marrying me? Does it had really something to do with the money my parents owed him or was there something else about it?

I did not want to think that it had something about me. Or because he had fallen over me after exchanging messages in Swiped. 

How about you, Christy? Did you not fall for him during those times?

I did. I easily fell for someone, but it disappeared upon learning it was Everette the whole time.

“I’ll be calling you when I contact my friend.”

“Who is that friend?”

“A mayor.” 

“A mayor. Not a pastor or any religious leader?”

“No.”

“But…my family wanted me to marry in church.”

I gave him a blank look. “Do I look like I care about your family's demands?”

His expression turned sour.

That's what I want, Everette. Hate me all you want so you won't be wanting to marry me again. 

“You haven't met my family yet.”

“It does not matter to me.”

“We will push through with my demands, Everette. If you want to argue, then, marry yourself or your family.”

He scratched the back of his head. 

I secretly smiled in happiness. That's the way I wanted it to be. 

“You don't want me? You can back out, Everette.”

“If I back out, your family cannot pay. I would be on the losing end. I refuse. Our wedding will push through.”

Damn.

This man was tough. 

Whatever. There was still a lot of time to change his mind. 

I turned my back. “Goodbye, Everette. I will be choosing my dress for now.”

“You forget something.”

My body suddenly spun and before I realized what happened next, my lips landed on his soft lips.

What. The. Heck?

My eyes widened and hastily pushed him away then wiped the remnants of his lips. It was only a brief moment, but my body trembled from his touch. 

I pretended to be repulsed. 

“Fuck. What was that for?”

“Definitely not Judas kiss,” he retorted while grinning. 

“Don’t you do it again,” I barked.

“You said you wanted to kiss me when we met, Christina. I am only doing you a favor. I forgot to kiss you at our meet-up.”

“Shut up! Stop bringing up what happened on Swiped. Erase that in your memory. Those were not true. I was only playing with you,” I lied and hastily went to the parking lot, leaving Everette alone.

--------

Poppy had been calling me nonstop.  I received twenty missed calls already and spammed me with messages, but I could not afford to return her call. I was not ready to talk to her. She would ask a lot of questions on why I went silent. On why I stopped working. And on why I never visited her again. 

Today was my wedding day. I already sent Mom the information and also texted her about it, but her only reply was a thumbs-up emoticon. She was not even saying that she would come with Dad or alone. That was Mommy for you. My ever-loving mother.

 My dress was already waiting to be worn and my friend was already informed. It was a long-sleeved lace white wedding style and backless on the back. It was nothing fancy. Brought the cheapest one I could find. 

If Everette had something against it, it was no longer a problem.

Dammit.

This was not the kind of wedding that I envisioned. I was not planning for an intimate one. I wanted to brag to the whole world that I finally had someone to love me for the rest of my life, but since it was Everette, regardless of whether he was a billionaire and a CEO, I could not stomach spreading the news, especially if they will find out the reason for this marriage.

My phone beeped.

Without having any energy, I picked up my phone on the bed, and read who was calling—my future husband. 

“Hello,” I answered on the other side. I rolled on my side as I waited for his voice.

“Where are you? I’m already here at the venue.”

If I told him that I was still in the hotel, I would receive a handful of scolding from him.

“I’m coming,” I lied.

“Are you sure? You did not sound like it, Christina. The moment you ran away again, I will never forgive you or your parents.”

“It’s fine. I also don’t forgive myself.”

A long silence followed. 

I lost the energy to even take a bath. 

“Where are you? Tell me and I will ask my bodyguard to fetch you.”

I snorted. “Did you not ask someone to tail me? I thought you were all-knowing when it came to me.”

“Christina…” Everette called, no longer amused. “Don’t wait for me to drag your ass here.”

I got up on the bed. “Relax. You will no longer be a jilted groom. I’ll be there in a minute.”

The location was only a walking distance from my hotel.

“I’ll be giving you ten minutes. If you don’t come, the articles about your family are waiting to be published.”

I sucked in a breath as I struggled not to throw my damn phone into the wall.

“You’re not going to do that, Everette.”

“Don’t push me, Christina. I’m nothing but patient with you. I’m slowly losing my control and if I snapped, you cannot blame me for what is about to happen.”

If an article were released about my family, Mom would hate it more.

“Everette.”

“Yes.”

“You’re an asshole, do you know that?”

“A handsome asshole,” he confirmed and shut the call. 

And a rude one, I added to myself.

Getting out of bed, I took a bath, grabbed my dress, applied a little makeup, then went to the venue with my heart hammering against my chest.