Chapter 4: Wrong decision

Grayson Beaumont.

The name that imprinted itself in her head for the rest of the day.

‘ He's the CEO? A Beaumont? Does Tyler have a brother? But why have I never heard of him?’ Her brow furrowed deeply. ‘ No, there's no way Tyler has a brother and I'm not aware of it. I know everything about Tyler, his likes, his dislikes, there's nothing I don't know about him. And how come will he have a brother but never mention him?’

She reasoned to herself. ‘ Maybe… he's a cousin. That must be it, if they're cousins then that explains why he's a Beaumont cause Tyler told me the company belongs to him so yeah, Beaumont’s family owns the king's company...’

“ Tessa!”

The call snapped her out of the thought, and she turned to look at everyone at the table looking at her.

“ Are you okay, Tessa?” Ciara, Mrs. Beaumont asked worriedly.

Tessa quickly put on a smile and nodded, adjusting herself in her seat. “ I'm totally fine.”

“ You seem lost in thought for a second.”

“ No, it's.. It's nothing.” She assured, swallowed as she looked across everyone at the dinner table. All were beautifully dressed according to the occasion. The evening was looking so perfect, expensive wine placed on the covered table, a delicious meal that spread across it, and the nice and expensive perfumes everyone was putting on.

“ Was it.. because he's not here?” Ciara added, looking guilty, “ I'm so sorry about, he had some business to take care of which is why he won't be present.”

Tessa nearly scoffed. ‘ Of course he has. Tyler always has one or two businesses to take care of, even though I'm damn sure he's at the club picking another girl for the night.’

She said in her mind but the thought made her heart clench.

‘ Even on our family dinner night?’ Her eyes fluttered as her finger curled slightly against the fork in her hand.

Blake, Mr. Beaumont cleared his throat, turning to her. “ I'm sure you must be used to it by now, heard you two know each other?” He asked, sounding amused but it didn't surprise Tessa that the parents didn't know that she and their son were best friends. They were hardly around just like her parents, always going overseas for business.

Her eyes lowered realizing how much they've not been present in their lives. Even her parents don't know what her best friend looked like. They're only recently around because of the issues their company is facing.

Though she lacked nothing, except for their presence.

“ Yes.” She nodded. “ Don't worry, I'll give him a call.”

“ Okay.”

Laura slowly reached out her hand and gave her a little squeeze. Tessa smiled as an assurance to her mother's worried gaze.

Everyone resumed eating, chatting, and laughing except Tess.

“ Oh, that reminds me. I heard you're interning at our company.” Ciara said, grinning.

“ Uh.. yes, I started yesterday.”

“ Great. So, how was work today?”

‘ Oh don't even get me started, with that annoying dickhead that's the boss, making my day such a miserable one. Should I tell you how arrogant and infuriating he is? or how I already despise my to-be brother-in-law already?’

She wanted to say, but instead, she forced a cheeky smile and replied. “ My day was absolutely FANTASTIC.”

“ Oh, that's great.” Everyone giggled, not catching the irony in her words.

Tessa heaved deeply. ‘ I wish to never see him again.’ she said to herself.

The rest of the night pass slower than she wanted, her body aching with exhaustion. After cleaning the whole dusty room, Tessa badly wanted to go back to her bed and have the longest sleep ever.

“ Tonight was great.” Her mother said to her after they'd returned home but she could only respond with a smile that didn't come from the heart before walking upstairs.

She began texting on her phone as soon as she closed her room door behind her.

“ You weren't at the family dinner.” She sent the text to Tyler, sat at the edge of the bed, and waited for his response, which came after a minute.

“ Yeah, had some business to take care of.” He replied.

She scoffed. “ Business? What business is more important than your presence there tonight?”

“ You should understand love, it's not important I'm there, is it?”

Her lips quivered. ‘ It's our wedding dinner night ‘ she wanted to type but couldn't. Her nose burns along with her eyes.

It hurts so much that she knows what business he was talking about, but to think he believes partying and flirting around was more important than being with her made her heart squeeze so tight it hurt.

“ Where are you?” She asked for confirmation.

“ At the club with Conrad.” He replied.

“ I knew it.” She said to herself.

“ I'm sorry Tessy, that I couldn't be there tonight, I promise, I will make it up to you.”

“ How? How will you make it up?” She asked, tears forming in her eyes.

Even though she was angry, upset, and hurt, she still wanted to know, what he would do to make her stop hurting, to make her really believe he could actually belong to her, and her alone.

“ Will a kiss be enough?” The message came in.

Her heart skipped and raced at the same time. Her cheeks turned pink and a smile immediately spread across her face.

‘ A kiss? He would kiss me?’ her mood instantly elevated from zero to one hundred. She bit her lower lip, smiling.

‘ God,’ she called in her mind, grinning, and remembering how many times she'd wished him heartbreak with other girls, maybe then, he'd give her the attention.

But now, he's talking about a kiss.

“ I'll take your silence as a yes, Tessy.” Another message came in from him, snapping her out of her excited trance. “ So get your lips ready for me.”

Her cheeks reddened. Her fingers hovered over her phone but her brain was short-circuited, not knowing what to type back.

Her heart was racing so fast that it nearly burst out of her rib when her room door was suddenly pushed open.

“ Ah.” She jumped, then heaved heavily seeing her mother. “ Mum, knock please, I should have moved out.” She grumbled and ran her fingers through her hair.

She didn't bother to move out since her parents were barely around.

“ Sorry, did I interrupt something?”

“ No, you.. startled me.”

Laura smiled. “ I just came to tell you that the wedding shoot will be taken on the wedding morning.”

“ Hm? Why?”

“Beaumont's busy schedule, ..or we could..”

“ Oh no, it's totally fine, we could take it that morning.” She quickly accepted and dismissed her mother.

But little did she know, that-that would be the wrongest decision of her life. That one statement of acceptance, would be stamp to the most painful moment of her life.