Chapter 4 Small Wedding

Andrea never would have imagined that within two months, she would be getting married to her company’s CEO. And that this will pop her debt into nonexistence like a bubble. But her wishful mind was quickly reminded by Sebastian’s warning, “Let’s just say your fifty million debt is passed on to me. So if you break the contract, you’ll be owing me that money.” Hence, she has no way out of this pretend marriage.

“Hey Andy, you getting cold feet? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Ren cupped her friend’s pale face and peered into her doe-like, frightened eyes. Since all the stylists and makeup artists have left the two, she decided on speaking freely. “If you want, you could just run and disappear. I can help you with that, my car’s just a few miles from here.”

This made her let out a small giggle. “I’m fine. It’s just overwhelming.” The chairman, due to his excitement, took on the burden of preparing for the wedding. The venue, guests, food, down to what music was to be played during the reception were all of Edmond’s own choosing. Something his grandson always groaned about but Andy appreciated. Having no idea how the most affluent people operate plus her indifference to weddings made it difficult to plan one.

“These guys are really on a different level. I never imagined the CEO flying hundreds of people to France for your wedding. I mean, look at where we are right now.” Ren pointed at the classical paintings, decorations that seemed to be taken out of The Louvre Museum, and gold-plated furniture with exquisite upholstery in the luxurious space turned bride’s room. “We’re in the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte!”

“I agree with you on that. So much for a small wedding.” The bride looked out from one of the many clear windows of the building. The structure was surrounded by a moat and beyond that were vast, green courtyards laid out on both sides with elaborate gardens surrounding them.

She felt like they were isolated from the world, just a few selected to celebrate this grand event. Which was in some perspective true as the chairman requested a no-fly zone be enacted in the chateau’s area to avoid paparazzi flying around with their noisy helicopters and prying drones. Hundreds of highly-skilled guards were deployed in different stations to secure the perimeters surrounding the whole place. She wasn’t familiar with the other measures taken but she’s heard enough to know that the security was as heavy as that of Fort Knox.

As much as fans would love to see their favorite artist walk down the aisle, they’ll have to wait for the official photographs to be released. A fact her mother would complain to anyone who listened, especially to the media.

“By the way, why did you change your hair color?” Ren took a stray hair from her bun and tucked it in her ear. Andrea’s long wavy hair which used to have its natural dark brown color that fans described as flowing chocolate has been drained into a dry ash blonde. A decision that surprised many.

“Does it look bad?” Andrea was painfully aware of the sudden change and felt insecure about it. She did change hair colors from time to time but never thought to do a drastic switch on her wedding.

“Are you kidding? You could paint your hair rainbow or go bald and you’d still be the most beautiful person here.” Her manager continued to fix small blunders on her dress and train, making sure the image of perfection stayed. “I was just wondering.” Andrea was familiar with Ren’s perceptiveness, no matter how she hides it. Having someone like that for a friend was both a blessing and a curse.

“I just thought it would be a good change, now that I’m getting married.” She knew that reason wasn’t going to fly. But if she was really to say the real idea behind it, Ren might go on a rampage on the man waiting for her at the altar.

Sebastian always hinted at how she should change the hue of her locks to blonde. “I think it suits you,” was all he would say when she asked why. Although, she knew there was a deeper meaning to it with the way he insisted. “It would be great if you did it even just on our wedding day. It goes well with your whole look,” he said as they watched crowds of people assemble her wedding dress and accessories on a mannequin. Ever the sucker, she readily agreed, “Okay, I will.”

Thankfully, Ren just let the topic drop. “Okay then. Do you have your something old, new, borrowed, and blue?”

Andrea put up her hand to show the engagement ring with the blue gem on it. “Yes, new and blue.” Then with much difficulty raised her full skirt topped with a jeweled mesh to reveal two metallic, high heels hugging her feet.  “Something borrowed.” Having no other relatives aside from the two leeches, Andrea opted to borrow from the lawyer’s closet.

“I think Madeline wouldn’t mind.” The bright straps were adorned with laces that went well with her designer white ceremony gown embroidered with thousands of miniature Swarovski crystals. Causing everyone to take a double look, the dress made Andrea look like an actual star.

A knock made the two women jump up. “Sorry for barging in, but I heard your conversation. Seems like you don’t have something old.” Edmond emerged from the slightly-opened door, dressed in a classic dark Italian tuxedo. “Well, this ancient man volunteers for it,” he chuckled while adjusting his jacket.

His butler showed up from the same door and informed them, “It’s time.”

Andrea’s heart almost pumped out of her chest. She couldn’t trust her unsteady legs to take one step toward the hall. Can she really do this?

Sensing her anxiety, the chairman came closer and offered his arm for her to cling to. “I know this is out of the ordinary, but let me walk you down the aisle.”

In the past two months, she has spent a lot of time with the chairman together with her fiance, whether those meetings were forced or not. And in there, she learned that he was one of the sweetest people to ever exist. His hard-headed antics were at times a headache, but they all came from a place of love. And she felt that love all throughout.

“It would be an honor, Chairman.” His eyes turned stern at her which made her exhale out a laugh.

“I’m sorry, I’m still not used to it. It would be an honor, Granddad.” They both walk out of the room after Ren put a silk tulle veil over Andrea’s head, partially covering her face. The assistant and butler followed suit holding her twenty-foot train.

“Thank you again. For tolerating my grandson.” Edmond led her into the main hall. A whole orchestra began to play a mellow version of Here Comes the Bride, signaling the guests to stand.

Andrea’s guilt prevented her from answering back, urging the old man to talk further. “The reason why I always ask to see you two is because the only time I see Sebastian relaxed is when you’re with him.” He smiled at the memory. “It’s also the only time I get to see his cold look break into a laugh. Everyone who knew him before commented on it.”

The polished doors opened to the baroque main hall that looked like it jumped out of a fairy tale book, where Andrea saw her soon-to-be husband at the end of it. As expected of the billionaire, he looked more dashing than before. He, too, glimmered with the white gold threads sewn into his black custom tuxedo.

Each step felt heavier as Andrea took them. She gripped her bouquet made of blue roses and white lilies, flowers Sebastian picked out. As she predicted, the rows of seats were filled with A-list celebrities, successful businessmen, and socialites. Andrea’s very few guests popped out of the sea of faces. Chris and other crew she has worked with over the course of her career made it there.

She kept telling herself over and over again, “Come on, Andy. It’s not that hard, and you’re not marrying a monster.”

Andrea looked back on how for the past two months, Sebastian showed how much of a gentleman he was. How when she continued her shooting with Daniel, Sebastian was always on the set to make sure her co-star didn’t try anything funny. Or how when they went on their dates, the CEO acted the same endearing way whether it was public or not. She found it sweet how Sebastian held her close to his chest when they were surrounded by a mob of people. Or how he would always brush her hair as comfort whenever she was close to crying. “There, there.”

What seemed like hours of walking now came to an end when Sebastian strode to meet them as they neared the altar. A firm handshake was exchanged by the two men after Edmond passed Andrea’s hand to her partner. “You better make sure she’s loved and taken care of, or else you’ll be facing me.” So this was where Sebastian got his flair for threatening.

No words were exchanged between the couple until they were in front of the minister. Andrea observed how his face was unreadable. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. He was back to his unfeeling self like when they met for the first time that he never glanced her way, not even once. Andrea started to doubt his past actions. “Was all that for show to make sure I undeniably agree to the wedding? Is he truly the mean, calculated man that some made him out to be?”

When it was time to raise her veil, Sebastian finally looked her in the eye. But something was different, his gray eyes had a glaze on them like he was in a trance. It gave Andrea a sinking gut feeling.

A gasp left his face after fully seeing her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

This made a blush creep on her cheeks and when she was about to say, “Thank-”

He repeated the statement, “You’re so beautiful, Lilith.” Thankfully it was a faint whisper that only the two of them shared.

It felt like a ton of concrete was dropped on her. So that’s why. He was looking at her but Sebastian didn’t really see Andrea, he was seeing a whole different woman. So all the choices on her hair, her dress, or her entire look for the wedding were so he could feel like he was marrying whoever this Lilith was. Andrea shouldn’t care, but she felt horrible.

After that, the rest of the ceremony passed like a silent montage in Andrea’s discouraged eyes. She even forgot if she said “I do.” or not. One moment she was standing by the majestic altar, and the next thing she knew, she was already dancing in the middle of the shiny marble floor with her now husband. “Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Adams!”

>>>

Looking at her phone, a woman dropped her glass filled with wine. The shattering sound called her maids to run to her. Feeling faint and numb, tears quietly ran down her delicate face. “Miss Quinn! Are you okay?”

All she could say was, “It hurts. He’s really getting married, I thought it wasn’t true,” while grasping her chest, finding it difficult to breathe.

The commotion caused her father to run to her room. “Lilith!”