WEDDING DAY 2

VERONICA

A not-so large gathering was allowed for the wedding ceremony where only those allowed in was strictly on invitation bases. After I changed into an equally pretty red dress, I sat down in my seat. A toast was made and the huge cake was cut by me and Lawrence. Followed by gifts, gifts and gifts. A lot of them. Unfortunately, I didn’t care about any of them gifts.

My eyes kept darting around, there were a lot of rich men and women of affluence present. A good number of them I usually see in the television. Dad had me say Hello to some of them. Gosh, I smiled until my cheeks nearly peeled off!

Of course, the media was allowed in to take the full coverage of the wedding. They were just everywhere, capturing just anything happening. I doubted they would miss a thing that happened. I imagined the headlines...the infamous playboy married. I couldn’t begin to imagine the looks of his crushes and the women he played around with.

Chairman Williams stood up to give a speech. He looked elated. I couldn’t blame him. He must be glad to have managed to dump his playboy son on me and to become the highest shareholder in Las company. I hated him that instant. He used the weakness of my family to trap us down. 

“Just wait, Mr Chairman, I will get everything back to its place very soon.”

“Today, as you all can see, I’m very much glad with what is happening here today. My only son is getting married. Of course, I am a happy father. I must thank each and every one of you for being here and most especially to the bride’s family...come, come, come please, Chairman Nicholas...” Dad stood and went up and the two exchanged some words I couldn’t hear and then a tight embrace as though they had known each other all their lives. I just scoffed within me, it was all for the media. They were businessmen after all.

“As you all can see, the bride’s father is as happy as I am. I think he shed a tear or two...”

The people giggled. He turned towards where I was seated and said, “Welcome to the family, my daughter. Now you are my daughter and if at all you need anything, don’t forget your father in-law is here, okay?”

I nodded and forced a smile...all for the media.

After his speech, Lawrence mother came to where I sat, lifted me from the seat and gave me a really tight hug. Oh my! she really was so pretty and her smile was infectious. Lawrence must have gotten his beauty from her.

“Welcome to the family my daughter. Forgive my son for all you have heard about him okay and live in peace and love with him. I promise you; he is actually very sweet.” she winked.

“I will come see you personally after the wedding, okay?” she had said hurriedly as one of the women came and dragged her away for something I suppose was important.

Dad gave a short speech too before the ceremony resumed back. There was just enough food and drinks for whoever was present. I was beginning to feel choked up in the room and decided to step out for some fresh air.

I had just stepped out when the media people rushed at me with their microphones charged at my mouth.

“Tell us, how do you feel getting married to the son of the largest group in the country?”

“Are you aware your husband was once a playboy and yet you agreed to marry him?”

“Have you been in a secret relationship with him all? How long have you been together before you agreed to marry him?”

“Do you love him?”

Their lights flashed against my eyes in a blinding manner. I couldn’t hear anything else but their numerous questions being bombarded against me. I couldn’t breathe normally.... I panicked.

Out of nowhere, a hand grabbed mine. I turned sharply to see who it was.

“Lawrence?”

“I’m sorry but she can’t answer any of your questions right now. The whole wedding preparations has taken a toll on her. Ask her all you want next time.”

He told the media people and, in a flash, he pulled me out of their midst and away.

My eyes were glued to his face as he led me away, my wrist firmly held in his. 

“Look straight ma’am. Your eyes will bore a hole on my face at this rate.” He said and I quickly coughed and looked away slightly embarrassed.

Away from the eyes of the media, he stopped.

“Where...are we?” I asked as I looked around.

“Here, you wanted to get away from all those noise in there, take as much air as you want here. I give you ten minutes and I will take you back inside unless of course you wished to be devoured by the media out there.” he pointed to his wristwatch with a smirk.

I glared at him. Now that he saved me from those hungry story seekers, I knew he would tease me about it for long.

Soft gentle air breezed past my face and twirled my hair.

“This is nice....” I breathed taking in the beautiful sight.

Lawrence joined me. He didn’t voice it out but his reaction told me he equally liked the view. From the corner of my eyes, I could see him focus his gaze up, as he starred into the sky.

“Why?....Why did you save me from them?” I asked him.

He let out a chunk of air, glanced at me and slipped his hands into his pocket. A mischievous smug hung in his lips. “Because I’m cool?”

I rolled my eyes. The reason why ladies tripped over hi glared hard at me. He was a terrible flirt! 

“Well forget it if you won’t say...anyways, thank you.”

“No need to be thankful. I just did what I had to do. Which man would stand and watch those lying-ass media trap his wife like that? It’s ten minutes, we should get back inside.” he smirked again and started to head back inside.

“What? wife?” I couldn’t help scrunching my face. What was the unusual kindness and flirting? If he was thinking I will be one of those girls that would fall at the wink of his eyes, then he had gotten it all wrong.

After the ceremony was done and most of the guests was all gone, my family said their goodbyes to me. Dad was especially teary but mom wasn’t. Whatever was making her feel so certain and relaxed about letting her daughter marry a playboy, I just couldn’t tell.

The ceremony hall had suddenly turned deserted as though over fifty people weren’t just there minutes ago. When I looked around, neither Lawrence nor any of his family member did I see. I was confused. They were all here moments ago, what happened? I was still looming in confusion when a servant walked up to me.

“Ma’am, they are waiting for you. This way please...” She pointed towards the door to me. I frowned as my confusion heightened. “They? And who are they?”

“The Williams’ family. This way please, they are waiting.”

I gave her one look before I finally followed her with ‘Williams’ family’ replaying in my head. I wondered why they would gather again when the ceremony was already over.

She led me through the hallway of the hotel for a few minutes before she finally stopped before a door. Knocked twice on the door before she pushed it open.

As I stepped into the room, I was met with a long table which had on top of it different kinds of dishes and the Williams’ family sat around it.

Surely there wasn’t going to be a second wedding ceremony, right? I almost blurted out the question.

The servant girl turned towards me. “My name is Catherine and I will be your personal maid as ordered by the chairman. Please take your seat.” She pointed to a set of vacant seats in the table for me.

I made my way to one of the vacant seats.

“You are here, my daughter-in-law,” Chairman Williams said with a pleased smile. I bowed my head in respect.

“Lawrence? Where’s Lawrence?” he questioned.

Almost at the same moment, the door opened and Lawrence walked in.

His father shot him a glare as he took the vacant seat beside me.

“Now, let’s eat as one family. Today is a happy day.” Chairman Williams started. He opened one of the wines on the table and had the servants pour it into the glasses after which he raised one up and made a toast.

“To better days in this family! That we may continue to live in love and peace as we have always done. To my son’s marriage, that he and his wife will grow in love and harmony and give me grand-children of course...”

Everyone giggled before he continued again. I scoffed within me knowing that wasn’t ever going to happen. I bet Lawrence did more than a scoff.

After the toast, we got to eating. Midway into the meal, one of Lawrence’s uncles cleared his throat and began to speak.

“Senior, erm, my nephew must be a little sad...back there, he received gifts from a lot of guests except his father...”

“Sad? Why will he be?”

“That is Mr Oliver Williams, Chairman’s immediate younger brother and second son of the Williams’ family.” Catherine whispered in my ear.

“Well, it is only right that he gets a gift from his father, the top man in the country. Am I not right, Jack, Noah?”

“Of course! It is only proper our elder brother gifts his son.”

“Jack, the second son of the family and Noah the last son of the family.” Catherine whispered to me again. 

“I agree, senior, it is the wedding of our one and only nephew and your only son after all...” Noah added.

“Hmmm,” A low grunt from the chairman as he carefully dropped his spoon and wiped his mouth with a napkin. An icy silence came after with all of them focusing on the chairman’s next words. Lawrence had earlier on looked uninterested in the topic until the moment his father started to speak.

“Of course! I should gift my son. This was what I have wanted, that he takes his responsibilities seriously. Errr, Mason,” he called looking around.

A tall suited man came forward and handed him a file.

“Director Mason, Chairman Williams personal assistant.” Catherine again whispered into my ear.

I noticed the instant Chairman Williams opened the file, there was an increased tension in the table. My eyes followed their gazes and it dawned on me, there was a silent battle going on in the family.