The venue was set.
~~
The preparations were complete.
~~
The day had finally arrived.
~~
Was this really happening? I felt elation run through my entire body at the thought. I waited expectantly in silence for this day for quite a while now. I made sure to keep assuring other people: I. Called. It.
~~
The faint memory of how things happened slightly tingled in my mind, I could not help but to smile, my heart overjoyed to acknowledge the happy ending that followed. He made everything feel like royalty on his own accord, determined enough to dedicate and bring happiness to this new, joint-life, merrily to do so. There was such strong, entwined love-strings already established.
~~
I was...
~~
... going to be the godmother at one of my best friend's wedding: Naomi. I was so excited, to say the least! I was really happy for her-- For both of them! Naomi and Andrew were the most, cute perfect couple ever. Everything started at my house-warming party back when we were still in high school. I don't remember much of it but, I do recall seeing Naomi a bit disturbed by the end of the night. From what I could gather after with Suzu, as soon as Andrew set foot in the manor's hall, he immediately caught Naomi's attention. However, they have not exchanged a single word the entire party, parting ways at the end of the night. Knowing that I had to do. For love's sake, I was going to set them up, and that would happen at the 'New CEO Celebration' party. I tried to be smart about it; the idea was to come up with the perfect excuse, the very one that would strike Naomi's soft spot right away and make her comply in to accompany me to the party. So, I told her:
~~
"Please come with me, Naomi!" So, I begged.
She turned to the door, ignoring the fact that I was grabbing onto the hem of her shirt and being dragged along. "Sarah, stop it. I already said no. I don't fit that world. "
"Pleeeeeeease!" I jointed my hands into a praying-pose, "I'm so nervous that I feel like I'm gonna mess thing upright the second I step in the room-- Like tripping over and make a fool of myself. You know how clumsy I am." pleading to her soft side.
"No, you're not, silly," She said, with a reassuring smile. "You'll do amazing."
"No, I won't-- but, I would feel more comfortable if I had friendly support! Please!" I kept insisting."It's such a big step for me-- I need my best friend at my side!"
"Why don't you ask Suzu instead of me?! She's also your best friend." Naomi rolled her eyes in annoyance to my insistence.
"Because-- Suzu hates these kinds of things!" I said, "C'mon!" I fluttered my eyelashes at her in a rather exaggerated way.
Her breath escaped in an unexpected sigh. "Fine! Okay! I'll go. Geez--"
I hopped around like an excited baby chick, waiting for the day to come as soon as possible, "Hurray! Yes, thank you Naomi!" and leaped onto her embrace which she quickly accepted.
~
Thank God, that did the trick; it made her altruism speak louder, and agreeing to came as friendly support. I was beyond thrilled. Phase one of the 'lovebird' plan, complete. Phase two, ongoing.
The day came by quickly.
I was sure Andrew would be there, his father was the Vice-Chairman after all. So, I didn't have to worry about that. Tho, I did call his father to ensure that he would be really there. Later that day, I invited Naomi over and offered her from my wardrobe a princess gown with a v-neckline, skirt floor-lengthed, and opened-back. But, of course, she opposed my suggestion. She wanted something glamorous but, also discrete. I thought that she would look stunning in that dress, besides, it sure would catch Andrew's attention. After some time of trying to convince her into the dress, she finally complied. Next, we did our make-ups and messed with our hairs. After a few hours of prepping, we were ready for the night ahead.
We arrived at the party; everyone dressed in their best. I couldn't deny I wasn't confident that my plan would work perfectly. This party was the key-point. Then, it would all be up to fate. After quickly rushing to hug my mom and accepting a congratulations' shake from my father, I went to greet all the guests, thanking them repetitively for the felicitations concerning my new position in the company, alongside Naomi. That settled, I was set on finding Andrew and throw Naomi right into his arms. I looked around the room, looking for him; I spotted him leaning in against the farthest wall of the saloon, with a cup of wine in his left hand and talking with some of the company employees, I rushed over, leaving Naomi behind alone, who was too dazzled with space to really notice my absence.
~
"Andrew," I called out to him, making the conversation drop almost immediately.
"M-Mrs. Anderson!'" Flabbergasted my approach, Andrew stepped forward and straighten his frame, assuming a much more tense, gentleman-like posture, one more appropriate to the surroundings. He smiled and held his hand to his chest, slightly bending over respectfully. 'Congratulations on the new position, Mrs. Anderson. I'm sure you'll do a great job of being the new CEO.'
I nervously smiled back; I knew what responsibilities that brought along. "T-Thank you very much, Andrew. B-But please, call me by my name."
"Oh! Sure, as you wish Mrs. And-- I mean! Sarah." Andrew cleared his throat to dissemble being tongue-tied earlier.
"Thank you. Come you please come with me, for a second." I stretched out my hand and, in understanding, he offered me his arm. I accepted it and shortly guided him down the hall.
"Where are you taking me?" He finally asked, a bit confused about where we were going.
"I'm about to change your life." I promptly replied with a sly smile on my lips. I was about to change both their lives forever. They would never be the same again, that was certain.
"Then by all means lead the way."
At the moment, Naomi was near the ice statue. I slipped my hand off Andrew's arm, which eventually, made him stop halt. I tapped Naomi on the shoulder, making her look back, and slowly spun around in her heels. "Naomi? I would like you to meet someone. This kind gentleman is Anderson Lewis. He's the son of the Vice-Chairman here at the company."
She stared at him shocked. She was not expecting to see him there nor did she ever thought that she would be introduced to him. She turned to face me; she squinted her eyes to me, acknowledging the scam. You and Suzu are so dead, she mouthed, obviously furious.
"Nice to meet you, miss...?" He held out his hand, silently asking for her hand.
Hesitantly at first, Naomi placed her hand on top of his. 'Ah-- Naomi Patterson, nice to meet you, Mr. Lewis!' She said awkwardly.
she started to giggle and lowered"Just call me Andrew, please." He scratched the back of his neck feeling weird to be called as such. "Mr. Lewis is my grandfather."
She broke the silence with a tenuous giggle, 'Then you have to call me Naomi. Deal?'
Joyous, he stepped forward on impulse and grabbed her by the shoulders; their faces remained a few inches from each other. She blinked between me and him, shocked with his forwardness. "O-Of course! I'll be glad to!"
Naomi's cheeks suddenly were kissed pink, a blooming color so cute against her freckled skin. She looked away and tried to find a distraction elsewhere.
"B-Boundaries..." Andrew said, stepping way right the instant he acknowledged his action. "Pardon my excitement, it's just that.. it's so nice to meet someone of my own age!"This party has finally become interesting!'
Naomi's eyebrow twitched in irritation, slightly annoyed at Andrew's insinuation. "How do you know we're around the same age?"
"Oh--! Yes, I'm sorry. A lady is never asked of her age..." He hadn't meant to do it, I could tell by the look of mild shock on his face.
Naomi shyly tugged a strand of hair behind her ear and kindly smiled, 'It's okay. You're forgiven.'
"Thank God." His chuckle was low and soft.
I turned to them with a smile and said, "I'll leave you to it."
~
They seemed to hit off quite well right away. So, compellingly I left, allowing them to chat more freely without me being the third wheel. I felt my own heart warm-up to Naomi smiling genuinely and blushing that hard; never saw her eyes lit up like with anyone. I believe that each of us deserved a chance at love. And, I know it sounded silly to preach that there was someone out there for everyone but, I actually did believe in that. Yes, it brought with its heartbreak and pain, but also is incredibly mysterious and magical. I know some would say that there was no such thing as true love but, when I saw what happen in that saloon, I couldn't help but think that 'true love' and 'love at first sight' had to exist. Looking at them laughing and chatting so at ease with each other, I just knew that they were meant for each other. I was glad I sized them up.
And so, that was the beginning of their story.
I was only now rushing over to the wedding chapel since I had to attend to some last-minute details. "I'm on my way Naomi, promise. Just had to... do some errands first." I was making it up as I went along.
-- Don't tell me you forgot to pick up your dress?--
"A-Ah-- Nooooooo." Dang-it. She caught me. So perceptive.
--I can't believe you! It's been ready for months! I've told you this--
"I know, I know... I should have paid more attention but, with work, I barely have time to eat." I tried to excuse myself.
--Ugh-- Sarah! Seriously?!--
"I said I was sorry!" I opened the car luggage and threw the dress inside rather hastily than carefully, and rushed to close it. I walked around the car, opening the driver's door and stepping in, "I'm there in 10 minutes top!"
--You should've been here two hours ago! I need my godmother! This is too stressful for me to handle alone!!--
I heard Suzu on the other side. Such a drama queen, as always, no surprise there.
--H-Hey! You have me here--
--I know sweetie, but I also need her here. You understand that, right?--
--Yeah... of course, it was her who made 'this' all possible... yeah, but the idea was mine!--
--Don't be like that, Suzu! Both of you contributed to this union equally but, the support it's the most imp--
Suddenly, in the middle of the call with my best friends, a bleep started to echo from my phone's earpiece. Knowing ahead that it a was sign of an incoming call, I pulled it out of my ear and read what was on the screen: Anderson's Central."Naomi, hang on. I have a call from work entering. I need to take this."
--Wait!--
Before she could finish her sentence, I drew off the phone and changed the callers."This is Anderson speaking."
--Mrs. Anderson, this is Jonathan.--
"Oh, hi Jonathan. Please wait a moment, I'm entering the car. " I said as I closed the driver's door and put the keys into the ignition. With my foot on the clutch, I hitched the car which led to Bluetooth activation and direct pairing of my phone with the car speakers."Okay, everything set." I allowed the engine to warm up a bit before hitting the road. "What do you need?"
--Ma'am, are you still in the city?--
"Yes. But I'm about to head to my friend's wedding and I'm late. But, why do you ask?"
--Yes, I know ma'am, I've been told--
"So..." I said, placing my head back to take a deep, relaxed breath. Like a pressure relief, I let it all out in one, long sigh. "Spit it out already, Jonas."
--Ma'am... I'm deeply sorry to be the bearer of this kind of news but, the CEO of the Trinity Corp. is here... and he is very well accompanied if I'm allowed to remark--
"WHAT?! How is that even possible?! I asked Marie to reschedule all of my meetings this week! She assured me yesterday that it was all taken care of!" I almost jump off my car seat on hearing that not-expected news.
--I... I honestly don't have the answer to that, m'am. I'm just informing you of his presence here at the company--
"Ugh-- I should have a little chat with her tomorrow." I threw my body back at once and rubbed my temples gently; what a huge headache that was coming in.
--Now what? What do I do? What should I say? Er-r... Should I send them away?--
My hands started to fidgeting over the car's wheel while I looked askance, trying to come up with a reasonable solution: If I postponed this meeting again, it was more likely for the company to lose the deal and get impaired. Also, I couldn't assign this task to anyone else, it was one of my duties as a CEO so, I needed to solve this personally. From another perspective, I could try and attend this meeting but, you know how these things work, it would have taken forever and I would be even later to Naomi's wedding. Summing up, I would be screwed up either way. This was indeed a shitty situation; whatsoever my decision ended up being.
-- Ma'am? Ma'am, are you still there?--
"Yes, yes... I'm still here." A long pause followed my reply. A struggling sigh crawled up my throat, exiting my mouth like an exasperated exhalation of breath. "No. I'll solve this mess. Be there in less than 5."
-Ma'am? But what about your friend's wedding?-
"Just leave it to me," I said, though not sure of the outcome.
--Then, I'll prepare things for your arrival--
I immediately thanked him for his availability, "Okay. Now, I have to go, see you in a bit. Excuse me." And, with that, I dismissed the call.
~ ~ «Naomi on the line» ~ ~
"That's now or never," I took a deep, long breath and pressed the hold button to recover Naomi's call. "Hello."
To be continued.