Chapter 12

ACE She came into his arms as if born to be there. He felt her shiver, heard her moan his name softly and her arms tightened around him as she came closer. "You feel so good," she whispered. "So right." He put one hand inside Gina's top and caressed her breast. He spread his other hand across her back, massaging her. He pulled himself away for a moment to look into Gina's closed eyes. He needs to stop this now...right now. But instead of stopping, his hands covered her breast again. This time her moan became loud and uncontrolled, piercing him, burning him while Gina burying her sharp nails at his back. He pressed her against the kitchen sink, and placed her between his thighs. He felt too good. Too damn good. Stop. His conscience stopped him. He really needs to realize that what he is doing is wrong. "Kiss me. Oh, please. Kiss me," her words were like ice water, a chilly reminder of their tenuous balancing act of fantasy and reality. How could he watch over her, to keep her safe, and do his own job completely - if he let his emotions lead the way? Damn it! What was he doing? What had he done? He backed away and distanced himself from Gina, he closed his eyes for a moment, unwilling to face her. He quickly took off his leather jacket and quickly went to the door to go out. He only stopped when Gina suddenly said a word to him. "Thank you for letting me wear your grandmother's engagement ring," she called softly. "Promise, I'll take care of this." She said, and he left Gina's house quickly. ----- He was now looking out the window as he watched the heavy downpour outside. He thought that this might be one of the signs that his marriage with Gina would not continue. He looked at his watch again. "It was only thirty seconds when you last looked at your watch," Judge Soler told him. Maryam offered him to sit down first because he had been walking for a while and was restless. Along with him waiting for the bride are Gina's mother and Payton - Janice's boyfriend, who also stands as his best man. He also noticed that everyone is calm except him. "I'd hate to see you before your execution." Judge Soler commented to him. "I think an execution is even less stressful," he replied to the Judge. The wedding scenario now enters his mind and he will only be reassured when Gina arrives. In fact, he can't wait for that day to come even though he knows that his marriage to Gina is off-limits. It may be difficult for him to be publicly affectionate with her but it is even more difficult for him to wait for more than thirty minutes on the day of their wedding. Since one of the past nights when he almost lost control of himself, he couldn't talk to Gina much because he really meant to distance himself from her. Tension was his constant companion. Last night during their rehearsal, she was even angry with him. He would have given her a necklace that she would wear on their wedding day. But the only thing he didn't expect was that she would be angry with him, because he thought she would be happy with the gift he would give. Worst, she walked out of their rehearsal. That was how they'd left things between them. And now Gina is more than thirty minutes late for their wedding. He called her earlier but he couldn't contact her. He also called Janice but she didn't answer either, so he wondered if the girl really had a plan to come to their wedding. He also thought that Gina might have just taken too long to fix herself. He even imagined her wearing her dream gown. He just reminded himself why they were doing this, and that was to protect Gina against Brando Nicolas. It has become more difficult for him now to negotiate with Brando since the latter found out that he and Gina will be getting married. Brando exerted his power at every opportunity. He, on the other hand, just obeys his wishes first, because he worked hard for a few months just to get his set-up deal if he agreed to it. "She won't back out." Judge Soler said, patting his shoulder. "I'm not worried." "Every groom worries. There are few moments in a man's life when he is more vulnerable than this one." He frowned at what the Judge said. "Sometimes women are hard to spell." "Just trust your instinct." "Is that still going to work?" "To some yes, to some no," Judge Soler replied, smiling. "Where's Maryam?" Instead of answering his question, the Judge looked at his watch. "I think I'll just check my other schedule. I'll be right back." Judge Soler immediately excused himself. When the Judge turned away, he immediately let out a deep breath. It was almost an hour before Gina arrived. ----- GINA "I think I'll have a fever." She said while holding her forehead. "Come on, sis, it's like you're sentenced to life imprisonment for what you're doing now." Janice said. "Just chill." "Thank you for your sympathy." "Why do you need sympathy? You're going to marry the person you love, aren't you? And now you're wearing your dream wedding gown. Then your friend Maryam hired a wedding coordinator, so that everything could be arranged. You have nothing more to ask for, sis." "You know Janice; you talk now like Mama Joy." "I've been so dizzy with you a while ago, you've been walking back and forth. Then your face is tense. Just smile, sis, be happy, because I'm happy to see you're happy." Janice said and was about to leave. "Where are you going? Are you leaving me?" "Even if we're late, I will never leave you. I have to go to the bathroom." "Again?" "When you're pregnant, you'll understand." She knew she was late so she deliberately turned off the cell phone so that Ace would also remember her. She has been uneasy for three weeks; she is confused if she made the right decision. For the past three weeks, it seems that Ace treatment to her has been cold. She would have wanted to discuss it a lot more but he seems to be moving away from her. Last night, when Ace was supposed to give her the necklace, she was really angry because she thought he was giving it to her with all his heart, but she was disappointed when Ace told her that it was just one of his list of responsibilities. FLASHBACK "What list are you talking about?" She asked Ace angrily. "I just read that in Bride Magazine." Ace explained, and took from his pocket a page of the magazine on which the list of responsibilities of the groom was written. And because of it, that's why he gave her a necklace. END OF FLASHBACK All she wanted was to talk to the man seriously before their wedding day. She needed his calmness right now, and she needed his assurance that they were doing what was necessary and right. She remembered the days when they were just planning their wedding right at her house. But at least her gown matched her dream wedding gown. She is now wearing a lacy white off-the-shoulder gown that really fits her body shape. Between designing the gown and meeting the deadline for her magazine article, she hadn't a second to breathe. No wonder why she is tense now. She deserved a honeymoon break more, so she could relax. Too bad she's only getting one, just one night at a honeymoon suite in an elegant hotel that Payton and Janice gifted them. And of course they can't refuse the pregnant woman, because that will make her mad. Anyway, Payton will be the one to pay, because he comes from a rich family. Yet, another night of tension. Meanwhile, the wedding coordinator has now entered their hotel room and has already prepared. "Ma'am here we go, your wedding car is already there. The wedding car was so delayed because of the heavy rain and flood, there was too much traffic," her wedding coordinator said and handed her the very beautiful bouquet. "Your Groom chose these flowers himself," she said with a smile. Gina immediately took her bouquet. "Oh, it's beautiful. Just beautiful." She smelled the fragrance of the flowers. Tears welled up in her eyes because she knew that Ace had just followed his list of responsibilities, and it wasn't really from his heart. "Wait Ma'am, there's a note attached." The wedding coordinator handed her the note she was saying. "Here it is." She laid the bouquet of flowers on the table and opened the sealed note. Georgina, The gardenias represent joy, the stephanotis wish for us happiness, and the baby's breath honors a pure heart. These are you, as I see you. - Ace "Oh." she whispered. How could he have written them? Maybe he was just dictated by someone else. "What's that, sis?" Janice asked as she came back into the room. She took the note from her hand and read it. "Whoa! It's Ace, sis. He is so sweet. But don't cry, your make up will be ruined." Janice said. "Sis, in the next few minutes you will be walking down the aisle." Janice said and hugged her. "You can also breathe easy after this, sis. Isn't this really your dream? To marry the man you love the most." "Yes." She answered for sure. "Yes, this is really my dream." Janice took her bouquet. "You know sis, you are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. Especially when you are smiling. So be happy, sis, today is your wedding day." She smiled at what her sister said. She thinks Janice is right, she should be happy because she loves the man she is going to marry. She took a deep breath first. Now, she was ready. More than ready. *****