The "I dos" were brief but solemn. Archer said the words in a most business-like tone while Hannah fumbled her way through the words. The whole time she was thinking, Where the hell is Lucas? Who the fuck is this man? Why am I getting married TO. THIS. MAN? But boy does he have gorgeous ash gray eyes. They looked almost unreal. Almost as unreal as the situation.
Finally, when the marriage officiant announced the last line-- "You may now kiss the bride", Hannah somewhat found herself awkwardly looking around, not sure whether sealing it with a kiss was a requirement to be declared officially married and if the visa officers would actually check for those things. How will they know?, she thought as she awkwardly smiled at Archer and took a small step back deciding there was surely no way this stranger would be keen on the formalities either.
Archer however had a different thing in mind because before she knows it, he had an arm wrapped tightly around her lower back, his big hand grazing the exposed skin on her backless white dress. His hand was reassuringly warm and firm. Hannah wasn't sure whether it was his hand or his intense gaze hat caused the set aflame to the butterflies flitting in her stomach. As he bent down to her 5 foot three height in her three-inch heels, she found herself tiptoeing to meet him halfway. He looked surprised for a moment before a beautiful infuriating smirk appeared on his lips and disappeared as her own met his.
It wasn't a chaste kiss— certainly not the kind one would make in a church or even a small chapel such as this one. Hannah had dated around and had kissed some but she'd never been "kissed" like this— warm lips exchanging warm breath and tongue, oh gods, his tongue slithered and moved like the devil. It certainly did not give her the most saintly thoughts.
Instead, it made her feel things and had her curling her dainty manicured toes in her white open sandals. She can't remember if it had been only a minute or more but by the time they emerged from their own little kissing world, the officiant had a knowing look on his face.
Archer then looked at the officiant expectantly, like some of the most groundbreaking kiss didn't just happen to Hannah… as if he had only sealed a business deal and wanted to confirm that it was done and over with. The officiant merely gave an awkward nod and smiled at the newly wedded couple before leaving the twosome on their own.
"Another couple needs to be wed!," the charming officiant joked as he shuffled his way to the next chapel.
At that very moment, Hannah's phone ringed loudly in the empty chamber save for their little duo. A random number appeared on her screen. Who could it be?, she wondered.
"Hello?"
"Hannah! Hannah, oh thank God, Hannah! I finally reached you. I lost my phone in the cab and I've been trying to reach you for hours! I've been waiting in front of the chapel for you but it's been hours now and I worried something might have happened to you--"
The sweet warm voice continued but Hannah could only stare. It was Lucas.
"Lucas?"
"Yes, yes, it's me. I didn't think to call you until you didn't appear at our meeting spot for over two hours. Damnit, I knew I should have just picked you up on the way. I told you it was no bother—"
"R-really?" Hannah couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. "You lost your phone? So then... you didn't change your mind after all?" Hannah's soft hesitant voice interrupted Lucas' tirade.
"What? Whoah, what?! I though you, little lady, were the one who changed your mind! I've been here for hours!"
"But I've been here for hours too!"
"What do you mean? Are you sure it's St. Augustine's Chapel in front of the Murray Hotel?"
"Yes, I'm sure—" Hannah even looked at the name on the entrance of the Church. Silver letters announced that it was indeed St. Augustine's Chapel… but outside… outside was just a small Chinese restaurant that looked like it's been there for ages. Definitely no such big hotel in sight in front of it. "Well… it is St. Augustine's Chapel… but it's not in front of Murray Hotel."
Sounding more grim now, Hannah tried to lower her voice some more as if the whole conversation didn't just happen in front of the stranger she just married. "Well, Lucas, I'm in the chapel and I think I just got married."
"I'm in the chap-- you think what?!"
At that point, Archer cleared his throat.
"How many people can you offer the marriage service to? I didn't realize it was such a lucrative business..."
"Offer marriage service...?" The loud gasp escaped her lips as she looked at the man in horror.
" I-- I-- Do you... Did you... Do you think I'm a prostitute?!!" Hannah's question came in a high pitched shrill as the disbelief showed in her voice.
Rubbing his nape, Archer winced and tried to placate the woman. "Uhh, err, nooo. At least not the kind who sells her body..." and then realizing he wasn't even sure about that, he added, "at least, I hope not."
An even louder gasp escaped Hannah's lips and before she realized it, she had already slapped the man. It did not feel as satisfying as she hoped it would. Granted, her hand seemed to sting a lot more than his face looks.
"Listen now, Hannah Grace, I did not mean to call you a prostitute but I certainly did not pay for a fake marriage only to be slapped like this."
"Pay?! Is this why you think I'm a whore? Because you. paid. me?!" At that point, Hannah started slapping the man's chest.
"No, you listen to me now, Mr. Archer fucking Easton! You most certainly did not pay me and I am most certainly not a whore!"
The words echoed in the empty space while the two of them just stared at each other. Seconds passed before they finally somehow got a grasp of the situation they were in.
"You mean, Lorna didn't wire you the money yet?"
"Who the hell is Lorna?!"
" You said your name was Hannah Grace. My secretary-- she, arranged for all this. Wait... wait a second. If you didn't get paid to marry me then why did you?"
"Because!!!" Heaving at the surreality of it all, Hannah found herself crouching on her heels, her face covering her horrified face.
"I wasn't supposed to marry you! I was supposed to marry my best friend! For my visa!"
"Yes, you were supposed to marry me, Hannah. Why didn't you wait for me?"
And there he was— Lucas, in all his shining blonde glory and wondrously white tux, standing at the entrance of the chapel, looking just a little bit winded from what seemed to be a sprint to this chapel.
"Hannah, please tell me I heard wrong. Please don't tell me you just got married."